Declining attendance at UofU Basketball Games

[Katy Lied]

Brad Rock writes about this problem. Here are the attendance figures:


1995-96: 14,281

1996-97: 14,047

1997-98: 13,818

1998-99: 13,987

1999-00: 13,248

2000-01: 12,236

2001-02: 11,890

2002-03: 11,518

2003-04: 10,901

2004-05: 10,777

2005-06: 10,481

2006-07: 9,522

2007-08: 9,979

2008-09: 9,916

2009-10: 8,486.

Even the Michigan game pulled less fans than the average last year attendance. Wonder what's up with U Fans.

[DrumNFeather]

Many of the post-Urban U of U fans were probably not fans or at least attending the school during the Majerus era and as such, they are football fans first. I think that it used to be the reverse, basketball first, football second. Now, football is king and the new fangled fans are going to have to see consistent winning before they return to the HC.

[BoylenOver]

Majerus stopped recruiting, Utah stopped consistently getting to the 2nd weekend of the NCAA tournament, and the students since 2003 consider us to be a football school.

My (naive) guess is we get back above 10k this year with conference play.

[TripletDaddy]

This "football school" explanation would be believable if the U were selling out their undersized football venue. As it stands, they don't really pack it in there, either.

I guess I didn't know that the Huntsman Center was so small. How many does it seat? Those average attendance figures are pretty lousy.

[Surfah]

The U is a commuter school which I believe contributes heavily to the lack of fans.

[BoylenOver]

This "football school" explanation would be believable if the U were selling out their undersized football venue. As it stands, they don't really pack it in there, either.

I guess I didn't know that the Huntsman Center was so small. How many does it seat? Those average attendance figures are pretty lousy.

We've been at 95% capacity the last three seasons and averaged over a sellout last season.

The Hunty seats 14,500.

[LA Ute]

It's been a problem to some extent for years and years. Even during the Majerus era there were few sellout games. I think it's a combination of factors - commuter campus in winter weather, small population with a number of entertainment alternatives (including the Jazz), and a less-than-compelling product for the last couple of seasons. Anyway, my guess is that attendance will get better with more marquee opponents and a better record. But I don't think it will ever be great.

TD, the Huntsman seats 16,000 or so. After 40 years it is still consistently ranked as one of the best on-campus college arenas in the USA.

[TripletDaddy]

We've been at 95% capacity the last three seasons and averaged over a sellout last season.

The Hunty seats 14,500.

I this is our answer right here.

Per these stats, the U wasn't even selling out its games at its basketball zenith....the late 90s. And with general tickets that had a face value of around $10?

If they can't even sell out games in a season where the team goes to the NCAA championship game, why would the fans pay attention in a year like this year when the U has little no shot at the MWC or a conference bid?

How is it possible for a D1 program to not be able to attract 15K fans to a home basketball game?

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

How is it possible for a D1 program to not be able to attract 15K fans to a home basketball game?

Ask USC.

[TripletDaddy]

Ask USC.

They have no basketball program there.

The U couldn't even bring in 14K when they were running through the NCAA tournament!

By U fan's admission, the U was a "basketball school" until only recently with Urban's success followed by Whittingham's success. Some basketball school.

[LA Ute]

How is it possible for a D1 program to not be able to attract 15K fans to a home basketball game?

What we need around here is someone who can actually answer these Big Questions, not just pose them. How many D1 programs with a 15,000 seat arena sell out every game? We must know. I think DDDescartes is the man to tell us.

[BoylenOver]

How is it possible for a D1 program to not be able to attract 15K fans to a home basketball game?

You realize, of course, that only 14 teams averaged over 15k last year, right?

Only 43 averaged over 10k. (Utah was 45th, BTW)

[UtahDan]

You realize, of course, that only 14 teams averaged over 15k last year, right?

Only 43 averaged over 10k. (Utah was 45th, BTW)

Smack down!

[TripletDaddy]

You realize, of course, that only 14 teams averaged over 15k last year, right?

Only 43 averaged over 10k. (Utah was 45th, BTW)

All the more indication that the U really never was a basketball school.

These aren't my numbers, of course. The attendance figures don't seem to be in dispute by anyone here, although I do question BoylenOver's assertion that the U runs at 95% capacity when I see that average attendance is around 9K over the past few years.

The lack of attendance and inability to attract fans at the level of the traditional basketball schools seems to speak for itself. I was just expressing surprise.

LA Ute mentioned entertainment alternatives. Are there that many in SLC? A Utah basketball ticket is pretty affordable...it is a cheap ticket.

[il Padrino Ute]

I this is our answer right here.

Per these stats, the U wasn't even selling out its games at its basketball zenith....the late 90s. And with general tickets that had a face value of around $10?

If they can't even sell out games in a season where the team goes to the NCAA championship game, why would the fans pay attention in a year like this year when the U has little no shot at the MWC or a conference bid?

How is it possible for a D1 program to not be able to attract 15K fans to a home basketball game?

When it comes to basketball in Salt Lake City, the Jazz has been and always will be King. Majerus' best years at the U coincided with the Jazz best years as well. The Final Four appearance was the same year the Jazz were in the Finals for the 2nd time.

If I were you, I'd be more concerned about when the Y was going to advance to the 2nd round of the NCAA tournament than how many butts are in the seats at the Huntsman Center.