Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

[NorCalJack]

Here is a link to the NCAA Men's BB attendance figures for 2008-09.


Here is the press release from the Summit League announcing the attendance increase.

Summit League Nets NCAA’s Largest Men’s Basketball Attendance Increase in 2008-09






ELMHURST, Ill. – The Summit League recorded the NCAA’s largest men’s basketball attendance increase during the 2008-09 season. An average of 617 more fans per game moved the league up six spots to a No. 16 ranking according to the national attendance figures recently released by the NCAA.

“We had an outstanding year on the court and that translated to an increase in the popularity of Summit League basketball,” said Commissioner Tom Douple “Certainly these attendance figures are exciting and very welcome news. Seeing our attendance rise at a significant rate bodes well for our league.”

A total of 341,489 fans attended 127 games hosted by Summit League teams in 2008-09, an average of 2,689, up 30 percent from the previous year. The average attendance total placed the league No. 16 nationally, up from a No. 22 ranking and 2,072 average in 2007-08. Only three other leagues increased their attendance during the past season.

The Summit League averaged 4,421 fans per game for its 2009 tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D., up nearly 50 percent over its 2007-08 average of 2,975 in Tulsa. Only one league saw a larger attendance increase at its 2009 tournament.

You can read the entire article here.

Go State!!!
Go Jacks!!!

[HandoEX]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

The Summit League averaged 4,421 fans per game for its 2009 tournament in Sioux Falls, S.D., up nearly 50 percent over its 2007-08 average of 2,975 in Tulsa. Only one league saw a larger attendance increase at its 2009 tournament.

I wonder if the tournament would have seen a significant attendance boost if it wasn't for the blizzard during the championship game too. I still have my 4 unused tickets for that game that I didn't get to use. Does anyone know if the attendance was based off of tickets sold or butts in seats?

[filbert]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

Average for all D-I games was 5,125.

Conferences:
1. Big 10 -- 12,519
2. SEC -- 11,625
3. ACC -- 10,943
4. Big East -- 10,882
5. Big 12 -- 10,395
6. Pac 10 -- 8,541
7. Mountain West -- 8,280
8. Missouri Valley -- 7,752
9. C-USA -- 5,799
10. Atlantic 10 -- 5,640
11. WAC -- 5,375
12. Colonial -- 3,630
13. Horizon -- 3,483
14. West Coast -- 2,892
15. Mid-American -- 2,949
16. Summit -- 2,689
17. Sun Belt -- 2,538
18. Ohio Valley -- 2,500
19. Metro Atlantic -- 2,462
20. Southern -- 2,421
21. Big Sky -- 2,292
22. America East -- 2,036
23. Mid-Eastern -- 2,005
24. Atlantic Sun -- 1,972
25. Big West -- 1,871
26. Ivy -- 1,792
27. Big South -- 1,785
28. Patriot -- 1,693
29. Southland -- 1,658
30. Southwestern -- 1,531
31. Northeast -- 1,130
32. Independents -- 953

Centenary -- 761
IPFW -- 2,183
IUPUI -- 1,358
NDSU -- 3,596
Oakland -- 4,156
Oral Roberts -- 5,625
SDSU -- 2,487
S. Utah -- 2,705
UMKC -- 1,855
W. Illinois -- 1,059

USD - not listed in the report, but UND is listed under D-II with 1,623, good for #28 in D-II. I believe that next year they'll get listed under "Reclassifying Teams to Division I" which was lead this year by CSU-Bakersfield with 1,739.

[valleyrabbit]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

This is very impressive for such a "lowly" (sarcasim) league. There is no league ahead of us that we should be ahead of. We really aren't that far behind the MAC and the WCC. A lot of credit needs to be given to Douple for raising the profile of this league. The XDSU's have added a lot, but Oakland had the highest jump in attendance nearly doubling what they had a year ago. I think this league is really moving up now. The RPI will come. Contrary to what many think we are in a good league.

Centenary -- 761- rumored to leave, we hope not,
IPFW -- 2,183- pretty solid, some room to grow
IUPUI -- 1,358- moving to conseco would be huge
NDSU -- 3,596- probably at a peak with the season they had, but with a new arena could grow
Oakland -- 4,156- good number for amount of other sports entertainment in region
Oral Roberts -- 5,625- very solid, near a peak
SDSU -- 2,487- plenty of room to grow, I would expect this number to be near 4000 before long
S. Utah -- 2,705- probably at a peak
UMKC -- 1,855- program needs to improve
W. Illinois -- 1,059- this is pathetic, not a bb school
USD- ????- who is counting the attendance? No in reality the U should be able to average 2500-3000 once they get up and going.

Bottom line, some programs are probably peaked out, while others have room to grow. There will always be some team that has a down year balance by another that has an outstanding year. I think this league could long term average over 3000 per game.

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

Some good points valleyrabbit.

The Summit is 16th out of 32. The highest it could possibly get is probably 12th, but I agree, 16th is probably about the highest we can get.

I think the league has a bright future. Is it a league that's going to get an at-lage birth any time soon? Probably not. But ORU, Oakland and newcomers NDSU and SDSU are pretty serious about competing and tehri fanbases are pretty solid.

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

I think the Summit attendance continues to rise next year....

*SDSU - We averaged over 4k in D2 when we were successful. That has fallen in the D1 move b/c of lack of success. The good news is we have improved by around 300 people per game the last two years. And this next year, if we improve like we think we can (our first winning year in D1 and top 3 or 4 in conference) the attendance could jump by 500+.

*IUPUI - You would think the move to Conseco would only help them.

*IPFW - They should also be improved next year and you would figure the attendance would follow.

*Oakland - Should be a very good team again and continue to climb in attendance.

*NDSU - Will probably see a slight drop off but last years success could energize the base for awhile. I will say that they will probably draw more on the road now b/c of last year. SDSU should also draw a little on the road simply b/c people are getting more familiar w/ them just like the xDSU's attendance will be helped by fans becoming increasingly familiar w/ Summit opponents.

*ORU - Will continue to lead the conference in attendance. They will also be improved this year, which should help.

*The bottom three this year should be UMKC, Centenary and WIU. They were also in the bottom four in attendance last year. I don't expect any improvement at all as they all look to have tough years, but they can't really drop much further either (save for UMKC). Cent was under 1,000 and WIU slghtly over 1,000, nowhere to go but up. UMKC was over 1,800 and that could drop as they look to be a mess right now.

SDSU attendance in D1:
2009 - 2,487
2008 - 2,186
2007 - 1,850
2006 - 2,070
2005 - 1,617

[Jacks-02]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

I think the Summit attendance continues to rise next year....

*SDSU - We averaged over 4k in D2 when we were successful. That has fallen in the D1 move b/c of lack of success. The good news is we have improved by around 300 people per game the last two years. And this next year, if we improve like we think we can (our first winning year in D1 and top 3 or 4 in conference) the attendance could jump by 500+.

*IUPUI - You would think the move to Conseco would only help them.

*IPFW - They should also be improved next year and you would figure the attendance would follow.

*Oakland - Should be a very good team again and continue to climb in attendance.

*NDSU - Will probably see a slight drop off but last years success could energize the base for awhile. I will say that they will probably draw more on the road now b/c of last year. SDSU should also draw a little on the road simply b/c people are getting more familiar w/ them just like the xDSU's attendance will be helped by fans becoming increasingly familiar w/ Summit opponents.

*ORU - Will continue to lead the conference in attendance. They will also be improved this year, which should help.

*The bottom three this year should be UMKC, Centenary and WIU. They were also in the bottom four in attendance last year. I don't expect any improvement at all as they all look to have tough years, but they can't really drop much further either (save for UMKC). Cent was under 1,000 and WIU slghtly over 1,000, nowhere to go but up. UMKC was over 1,800 and that could drop as they look to be a mess right now.

SDSU attendance in D1:
2009 - 2,487
2008 - 2,186
2007 - 1,850
2006 - 2,070
2005 - 1,617

Nice post, and I agree that we should be able to increase attendance significantly this year. Adding White and Fiegen from Madison should help alot in getting more locals interested in going to the games and an improved team should help as well if they can start the season with a few wins out of the gate.

[rcjacks]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

Nice post, and I agree that we should be able to increase attendance significantly this year. Adding White and Fiegen from Madison should help alot in getting more locals interested in going to the games and an improved team should help as well if they can start the season with a few wins out of the gate.

I bet attendance does rise for the State men next year as well. The better the product on the floor the more people sitting in the seats. One great thing the Summit has to like about adding the Dakotas is that we support our local college teams.

The NSIC just came out with its report and Northern State averaged approximately 4700 fans. I know it was a historical season for Northern, but that is great number. Further proof that we South Dakotans love our basketball.

The average attendance at the Summit Tournament, I'm convinced, is because of our state's support of SDSU and North Dakota's support of NDSU. We love our state local college teams in this state.

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

Didn't the women break the Summit tourney attendance record in the first day this year?

And the men put the most people in the seats in like 17 years this year?

And that is after it's been in Tulsa awhile. As we've seen, ORU draws well, but that doesn't mean their tourneys are attended well. It goes back to what I said about U of Denver and Chicagio State yesterday - being a low major school in a major market isn't a good thing. In the Dakotas the Summit is the only show in town.

As far as the Summit tourney goes, if you want to throw fairness out the window and are worried about dollars, people in the stands and growing the interest of your league, you'll put the Summit in SF and Fargo every two years. And really, the bid process is fair. If you want it, bid for it. Why should the tourney go to the Quad Cities or Union HS in Tulsa after SF showed what it can do? Did you see other low-major tournies on ESPN compared to the Summit (attendance wise)? Wasn't even close....and we had a blizzard!

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

I bet attendance does rise for the State men next year as well. The better the product on the floor the more people sitting in the seats. One great thing the Summit has to like about adding the Dakotas is that we support our local college teams.

I think the Summit tourney in SF could serve as a bowl game does in football as far as interest and fan support to start off next year. Think about it, our second to last game of the season saw us knock off the conference power in a great game in front of a packed Arena. And if you weren't there you heard about it. Alot of fans are going to remember that game going into next season and I'll bet b/c of that, the hype of the recruiting class and just the buzz that the team will be better will lead to better attendance from day one next year. And better attendance leads to better play...and better recuiting. We've turned the corner.....spread the word!

[rcjacks]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

I think the Summit tourney in SF could serve as a bowl game does in football as far as interest and fan support to start off next year. Think about it, our second to last game of the season saw us knock off the conference power in a great game in front of a packed Arena. And if you weren't there you heard about it. Alot of fans are going to remember that game going into next season and I'll bet b/c of that, the hype of the recruiting class and just the buzz that the team will be better will lead to better attendance from day one next year. And better attendance leads to better play...and better recuiting. We've turned the corner.....spread the word!

The fans that already go to the games will remember the conference win, but not the fans who don't go to the games. If we put a string of wins together next year, that will get people in the seats not last years conference tournament win.

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

The fans that already go to the games will remember the conference win, but not the fans who don't go to the games. If we put a string of wins together next year, that will get people in the seats not last years conference tournament win.

I think b/c it was in SF that alot more people were exposed to it than normal. And the people that didn't go surely heard about it or were more interested in the outcome just b/c of the hype around the game. That is why I think State should do a Sioux Falls game every year. Do it over Christmas break when the kids are gone.

I was surprised to see alot of people at that SDSU game that I never knew supported SDSU. And some people I saw that weren't SDSU supporters might have been swayed a little. I know three guys I took (non-SDSU guys) were really impressed and had fun.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

*SDSU - We averaged over 4k in D2 when we were successful. That has fallen in the D1 move b/c of lack of success.

This seems to be a common misconception of the glorious days of DII. Our last 4 years of DII the win loss record was 97-27. We won a blistering 78% of our games and still only averaged over 4000 one time:

Season
01--3484
02--4227 (Home game with NSU, 4 home conf tourney/playoff games that year over 4000)
03--3492
04--3266 (Last year in NCC, Last year of Friday/Saturday double headers, USD/Augie/NSU)
05--1617
06--2070
07--1850
08--2186(First year in Summit, Thursday/Saturday format, some double headers)
09--2487

Has their been a drop in attendance that success would help? Sure, but take out the transition and throw in 4 more double headers and it is no where near as bad as a lot of people think (Stu, if you're reading this, I'm talking to you). And we are generating more revenue than we ever did in DII, think how much we'll make once we get back to around that 3000 mark.

[TeaJackrabbit]

Re: Men's BB Attendance 2008-09

You are right. Now that I think of it, I remember looking back at old D2 numbers and we were always around that 3,500 mark. All the NCC schools were up there in attendance. We all fed off one another and knew the rivalries.

No question we can get back there and will get back there.

We will be possibly the most improved team in the Summit next year. 2,200-2,500 showed up when we were losing 20 games a year!

The addition of USD and UND will help alot. Not only will those games draw way more, but the interest around the state and area will rise. The familiarity of the Summit will continue to skyrocket. Suddenly there are 4 Summit schools in the Dakotas. A few years ago few around here could name a Summit (Mid Con) school. A couple years ago we had no idea of the history of some of the Summit programs. Now we know that, in our little world, ORU and Oakland are a big dogs and when they come to Frost it's a big deal. We always heard how it was going to take time. Well, it has....but that time is about up....