Forum › Forum › Lehigh Sports › Lehigh Men’s Basketball › Scheduling/Attendance
This topic contains 24 replies, has 8 voices, and was last updated by StablerBum 11 years, 1 month ago.
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September 13, 2013 at 3:22 pm #11271
I was going to put this under the Scheduling thread, but thought I would start a new thread instead. Now that the schedule is almost known, how many fans will be in the seats to watch this year’s team?
I did some research from the NCAA, and our home attendance last year was 1,795 (hope I have the correct year), which must be the highest in ages, but they were watching probably our best team ever, and arguably our best player ever (at least early on). We nicked Lafayette who drew 1,783 per game. And the high and low were Bucknell at 3,239 and Colgate 496 (ouch). We know these numbers are usually vastly inflated for Stabler, as I was at a bunch of games last year, and I would say the only one with 1,795 in the building was Bucknell.
As for attendance this year, I can’t see getting 1,000 for the OOC games, with the dreck that is coming to Stabler. Even diehards like us, probably won’t go to see those teams, unless you are living in the ABE area. Can we get 1,500 on average? 1,250? I would probably guess somewhere in between those figures. Personally, I would rather travel to the good OOC games, and catch the high priority conference games at Stabler. I am going to shoot for Minnesota, Pittsburgh, then home games Bucknell, BU, Loyola, Lafayette, perhaps Army. Road games in conference, will travel to Lafayette and Bucknell.
September 13, 2013 at 3:35 pm #11272Sorry, forgot to post link:
http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/attend/2013.pdf
BU 750 per game, yikes?
September 13, 2013 at 4:16 pm #11273One way that LU can boost attendance is to do something about transporting the students to Stabler. There is no question that the location of the Arena is factor. As for the Schedule, I think you are right it will be difficult to draw non-student participation at unattractive OOC home games. In-conference home games will probably stay on par with other years. People will want to see Bucknell, BU, Laf, Army, and Loy. These four and LU are really the only legit contenders for PL title.
September 13, 2013 at 5:06 pm #11274I think the goal should be 1,700+. Allow for a little bit of slippage post CJ, but hope that you can continue to build on the momentum generated. It seems that the Administration and Athletic Department are trying to increase transportation options and the formation of Clutch’s Crew seems to have helped increase student interest. Students are the key (other than performance on the court) as they create the atmosphere and make the environment more fun for the casual fan. Staying above 1,700 is ambitious for sure, but that is what they should be stiving for IMO.
Not only is the OOC schedule mundane for Lehigh fans but they aren’t exactly schools with alumni bases or students that will come to Bethlehem. Please please please find a way to get some of the Philly mid majors on the schedule.
September 13, 2013 at 9:49 pm #1127790 – let me know if you book minny trip as I am all booked and ready to go, I fly out Friday mid morning. If you end up going we should try to get seats together through LU.
Who else wants in on minny trip? SBum? Toddcudd? Tmh?
September 13, 2013 at 9:56 pm #11278I am sure there will be an alumni get together pre game out in minny and would be a great time to catch ip over aome beers! Also as I said in a other post minny hosts penn state Saturday in football, which I am also going to get to. All are welcome to join!
September 14, 2013 at 2:13 am #11279I’m seriously considering the minny trip – would LOVE to see the start of the season, and meet some of you other junkies. Gonna have to figure out how to sell it to the “boss” however.
I’ll work on a plan…September 14, 2013 at 4:24 am #11280Haha I hear ya Todd, I lucked into this being such an easy sell cause my best bud moved out there and I still haven’t visited, so it aligned perfectly.
September 14, 2013 at 1:23 pm #11282Another Basketball Junkie checking in……..
As LUHoops00 knows, I’ll be unable to attend the Minny game (taking my granddaughter to Disney World) but do plan on being at our Home Opener 4 days later on Tuesday the 12th vs. Rider and would hope to catch up many of you there for a first hand account of the Gopher game. For those in the metro NYC area, let’s try to show our support for the team by showing up at Fordham three days later on Friday, 11/15. Maybe kick it off with a “Happy Hour” at a neighborhood watering hole around 5 o’clock. What do ya say?
September 17, 2013 at 5:09 pm #11315I’m a big fan of Rose Hill, so I am planning on hitting Fordham game.
September 19, 2013 at 10:24 am #11343FYI Per twitter, Lehigh Lacrosse schedule almost done and ready to be released!
November 13, 2013 at 9:34 pm #12144Maybe we can track attendance here for the season.
Game 1: 1,042
Average: 1,042
’65 relayed info on the Rider thread that season tickets stayed stable after the graduation of CJ, Gabe, and Holden. That’s great news. Any chance they increased ’65?
November 13, 2013 at 10:28 pm #12149No, the word I got was “level.” By the way, the 1,042 from last night appeared legit. As posted on another thread, the student section was full top to bottom with more than a handful pushed up into the yellow seats, as well. They saw a great game and, with a win or two on the road in the next two weeks (no guarantee), there’s hope anyway that they should return in mass for the Sacred Heart game on Sunday, Dec. 1st.
PS I’ve made it to every home opener for the past few years. This year’s crop of students were the liveliest.
November 14, 2013 at 8:42 pm #12166Sacred Heart on a Sunday afternoon seems like a tough draw. I don’t have any data at all to back up, but it always seems like we draw better for night games than day. Students don’t seem to turn up for weekend day games.
Other problem is arena is so big, 1,042 looks empty. That is probably most of low level seats, students, and most of upstairs is empty seats, except sprinkling upstairs around midcourt. Even 2,500 there is less than half capacity. To have a “real college atmosphere”, you need to probably put 4,000 in there, and that is never happening. It is so cavernous in there, that the building is always lacking energy.
November 14, 2013 at 9:59 pm #12168We haven’t played a Sunday afternoon game at home against an OOC opponent in years. Certainly not in the last three. With Week 13 of the NFL on tap (AZ @ Phil, Miami @ NYJ, and NYG @ Wash) and exams right around the corner, there’s little likihood of a big student turnout. Of course, going 3 and 2, or dare I say 4 and 1, on our upcoming 5 game/ 12 day road trip would help. If either were to happen, I would hope 300+ students and a pep band shows up to welcome our road weary guys home. Fitting, don’t you think?
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