Big Sky attendance

[AlumniWSU]

Much is said lately about the low attendance at the Dee, it is definitely disappointing & fact. But noticeable also is that declining attendance isn't just with Wildcat basketball, it's showing at a lot of mid-major venues. In the BSC. it seems lousy home attendance is all around, except for maybe the Montana's, especially the Bobcats. They drew a high of 6K vs. the Griz; for Weber, it was reported 3800 (even though the news implied a "sold out" Bozeman)? Montana drew just under 3K vs. Wildcats. Of course, Saturday's are the higher counts. Maybe the announced attendance is counted differently at some places, but nothing now days even approaches the bigger crowds of yesteryears.

Just saying, it's not all just about a program's status, some reasoning is on the matter of practically every game is on TV (ESPN+) now. There needs to be an adjustment (lowering) of ticket prices in marketing the incentive of being there to get the full experience! WSU athletics come on, get with it, even though you're not alone...maybe just the one with little or no marketing! Hello, AD Crompton, Hello!!

 

[talhadfoursteals]

The regular season is worthless. It doesn't matter. Fans want to attend competitive games that leads to something. Get rid of Boise and go back to the regular season champ hosting the tournament. ALSO, only 6-8 teams should be allowed to go. Teams need to earn their way into the post-season conference tournament. Some teams don't deserve to keep playing. The regular season needs to mean something.

 

[Greatx3]

The regular season is worthless. It doesn't matter. Fans want to attend competitive games that leads to something. Get rid of Boise and go back to the regular season champ hosting the tournament. ALSO, only 6-8 teams should be allowed to go. Teams need to earn their way into the post-season conference tournament. Some teams don't deserve to keep playing. The regular season needs to mean something.

I completely agree and this was my exact thought when the conference switched to a fixed site tournament with all teams participating. It makes the regular season totally pointless, and i'd be willing to bet that it has had a negative impact on attendance conference wide.

 

[Vikings07]

Anytime I see promos for the tournament on ESPN+ the arena looks 90% empty. Not surprising for a city that's home to zero teams in the conference. Fully agree on letting the regular season champ host.

 

[AlumniWSU]

Is the conference making any money from the tourney? Can't be much from the slacking attendance at it. Also wonder what ESPN kicks in, if any to the conf./teams? Agree that from the beginning the fixed site tournament was a bust decision by the Big Sky trying to Band-Aid traveling last minute to No. Dakota. Also because most all others were doing a tournament.

The travel issue seems mute now & besides the Big Sky isn't the same big elite conference that has a multitude of ranked contenders. For a one bid conference into the big dance, there's a danger that some 10-20 team that get's lucky & hot for the moment represents & becomes a laughing stock rep. for the BSC. Come on Big Sky, get back to making the regular season count for something! Can't help but improve fan interest.

 

[talhadfoursteals]

Why wouldn't the Big Sky want its best team representing in the Big Dance? The current format doesn't ensure that. The conference should do everything in its power to ensure the best team throughout the entire season, not just one week, gets to represent. Hosting a tournament on its home floor where it gets a REAL bye makes sense to me. There are also other advantages. The team doesn't have to travel. They get to stay in their own beds at their own houses.

Next, it makes the regular season far more exciting. Even for those teams fighting for the sixth spot. It makes every game worthwhile. Worthwhile games get fans excited. For a one bid, Mid-major conference that needs a definite shot in the attendance arm, this is an easy one. The Big Sky has hurt its basketball with Boise. I remember watching a Monday night gave where ISU hosted Montana hoping the Bengals could upset the Grizz. If Idaho State won, which they didn't, Weber would have hosted. Now...who cares.

Personally, I've never heard a good reason for the neutral tournament. Each one I've been told easily can be shot down. None of them make any sense. Truth, they went to it to give every coach a participation ribbon. College athletics does not exist to help coaches keep their jobs.

I have a lot of beef with this one. With Sac leaving, there isn't a school in the Sky that doesn't have a nice facility to host a tournament. Every school is accessible on short notice and each school has the infrastructure and technology already in place. This is a win for the host school, community, and for the conference regular season. I bet attendance would improve if the regular season champion hosted the post-season tournament where only six teams got in.