NCAA Attendance

[MUfan12]

Someone at MU should check on this- https://twitter.com/MarquetteMBB/status/498905617571274752/photo/1

The NCAA counted that game at the Al, which dipped the average below 14K, and took MU out of the top 20.

http://i.turner.ncaa.com/sites/default/files/images/2015/07/06/mens-attendence.pdf

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

@mikebroeker: @brewcity77 we were told last summer it would be a home game for RPI purposes only. Currently re-connecting w. @NCAA

[Markedman]

@mikebroeker: @brewcity77 update. NCAA says miscommunication last summer, game is a HOME game for all purposes. We'll be back in top 10 this year! #mubb

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

And there go any future games at the Al.

[MUfan12]

And there go any future games at the Al.

Thank God.

[TedBaxter]

Don't know why they would have thought it would only be for RPI purposes.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

Don't know why they would have thought it would only be for RPI purposes.

Because that's what the NCAA told them when they first proposed the game. We were playing in a gym 25% the size of our normal venue, of course that will have an adverse affect on overall attendance. My guess is what the NCAA calls "miscommunication" is probably closer to being misleading information.

Of course, Broeker can't outright say that...

[The Reptile]

The NCAA has a rule book almost as thick as the tax code. No doubt the rules can be interpreted different ways by different people. That's what happens in any bureaucracy.

[Alan Bykowski, "brewcity77"]

The NCAA has a rule book almost as thick as the tax code. No doubt the rules can be interpreted different ways by different people. That's what happens in any bureaucracy.

Very true, but I remember this being a question that was specifically asked of the NCAA when the game was proposed because of Marquette's attendance rankings and perennial place in the top-20. Not sure they'd have played that game if they were given the correct information.

[Nukem2]

In the end, a home game is a home game is a home game.

[MKE_GoldenEagleFan]

In the grand scheme of things does it REALLY matter?

[TheSultan]

In the grand scheme of things does it REALLY matter?


Exactly. It's a nice thing to talk about, but that's about it.

[IWB]

Seriously? Yes it does matter. Not only is it something you pitch to recruits and their parents, it is something that you pitch to sponsors and advertisers. How many ads/commercials do you see playing on the Jumbotron at games? or playing on the scrolling boards by the bench or between upper & lower decks? All of those are ads sold by MU/Nelligan/Leerfield, and in every single one of those presentations they bring up attendance, top 10/20 national attendance. It makes a difference.

Also look at perception around the nation. Does anyone outside of MU's diehard fan base know about this? Will anyone that sees MU drop out of their spot think, "No, that's not right, they played a game at The AL."

Look at Creighton - Prior to their coming to the Big East, they were often talked about on this board because of their huge fan base/ticket sales. Any naysayer out there that sees that can say, "Look, MU did not make the tourney and their ticket sales dropped".

It does matter, it matters a lot, in a lot of different ways.

[IrwinFletcher]

If anyone would take a moment to think this through, average attendance means nothing in college.

MU draws more than Duke every single season. So are there more Marquette fans than Duke? Of course not.
Does Syracuse have an inherent advantage due to their stadium? Of course.

So it is nice to tell players, families and sponsors, but is quite meaningless other than that.

[CaribouJim]

If anyone would take a moment to think this through, average attendance means nothing in college.

MU draws more than Duke every single season. So are there more Marquette fans than Duke? Of course not.
Does Syracuse have an inherent advantage due to their stadium? Of course.

So it is nice to tell players, families and sponsors, but is quite meaningless other than that.

So if MU was averaging 3,000 - 5,000 in attendance back when the Big East was looking at bringing in the CUSA teams, including MU, it wouldn't have mattered to the BE decision makers when it came time to give MU a thumbs up or a thumbs or is it a negative when it comes to recruiting for DePaul when recruits see an environment like a morgue when going to a home game for DePaul? So when MU was on their recent longest (at the time) home winning streak in the nation, MU's large crowds didn't play at least a small part in it? If there was lethargic support as far as attendance goes, would a coach like Wojo even given MU a second thought? Doesn't larger attendance translate into more revenue and resources for MU and the b-ball program that we are all crazy about?

I just don't get the throw away attitude on the importance of putting fannies in seats in this thread - it is HUGELY important and always will be. I'm not talking about the anomaly this past year with game at the AL, just in general.

[BLT]

The NCAA has a rule book almost as thick as the tax code. No doubt the rules can be interpreted different ways by different people. That's what happens in any bureaucracy.

And Philly Cream Cheese on a bagel is a meal. Or was...I think they finally changed that.

[Nukem2]

Seriously? Yes it does matter. Not only is it something you pitch to recruits and their parents, it is something that you pitch to sponsors and advertisers. How many ads/commercials do you see playing on the Jumbotron at games? or playing on the scrolling boards by the bench or between upper & lower decks? All of those are ads sold by MU/Nelligan/Leerfield, and in every single one of those presentations they bring up attendance, top 10/20 national attendance. It makes a difference.

Also look at perception around the nation. Does anyone outside of MU's diehard fan base know about this? Will anyone that sees MU drop out of their spot think, "No, that's not right, they played a game at The AL."

Look at Creighton - Prior to their coming to the Big East, they were often talked about on this board because of their huge fan base/ticket sales. Any naysayer out there that sees that can say, "Look, MU did not make the tourney and their ticket sales dropped".

It does matter, it matters a lot, in a lot of different ways.Yeah, folks like Sultan talk big and throw a lot of dust in the air to discombobulate things. Things like this do matter, not so so much because of absolute stats but more so in terms of real support. Recruits will notice empty stands whether in person or by being alerted to that fact. Sultan, you can do better than this.

[IrwinFletcher]

So if MU was averaging 3,000 - 5,000 in attendance back when the Big East was looking at bringing in the CUSA teams, including MU, it wouldn't have mattered to the BE decision makers when it came time to give MU a thumbs up or a thumbs or is it a negative when it comes to recruiting for DePaul when recruits see an environment like a morgue when going to a home game for DePaul? So when MU was on their recent longest (at the time) home winning streak in the nation, MU's large crowds didn't play at least a small part in it? If there was lethargic support as far as attendance goes, would a coach like Wojo even given MU a second thought? Doesn't larger attendance translate into more revenue and resources for MU and the b-ball program that we are all crazy about?

I just don't get the throw away attitude on the importance of putting fannies in seats in this thread - it is HUGELY important and always will be. I'm not talking about the anomaly this past year with game at the AL, just in general.

If MU was averaging 3K-5K in attendance, they would have been bad. Doesn't matter how big their stadium is.

All I am saying is that average attendance in college basketball has a direct correlation to size of stadium. That is it. Nothing more.

[TheSultan]

Yeah, folks like Sultan talk big and throw a lot of dust in the air to discombobulate things. Things like this do matter, not so so much because of absolute stats but more so in terms of real support. Recruits will notice empty stands whether in person or by being alerted to that fact. Sultan, you can do better than this.


Having butts in the seats matters. Having a great atmosphere matters. I agree that these are hugely important for recruiting, for fans and for team performance.

Falling out of the top 20 in attendance for a year because they had to play a game at the Al doesn't matter. It's just a statistical anomoly that can be explained away.

[MUMac]

And Philly Cream Cheese on a bagel is a meal. Or was...I think they finally changed that.

That all changed last year when the NCAA allowed all student athletes to be given 3 meals per day. There continues to be the "training table" during the season, as well.

[Goose85]

The one area where it could be an issue is if in the sponsors contracts the amount they pay is tied to the prior year average attendance figures.

[IWB]

Big 10 official website today with headline, "Big 10 Leads Nation in Attendance Again".