Big Sky conference games attendance

[oldrunner]

There were a lot of empty seats in the student section, but there were also a lot of people above the portals, all around the arena. The season ticket side filled in a little bit better. There were at least 6k there.

 

[WILDCAT]

Not trying to be negative, but, does anyone else have a hard time believing that Weber is actually averaging over 6,000 a game? If the Dee holds 12,000, no way in hell was it over half full last night.

If Weber's like every place else they report tickets out and not butts in the seats. They also include cheerleaders, band, game crew, etc. Attendance across the Big Sky is plunging, and it seems to be taking a bigger dip than normal this year. Mid-major basketball is a dying market.

It's funny, the Weber/SUU broadcast on KJZZ last night said pretty much the same thing. Social media and technology is kinda destroying mid major basketball...I mean why go to a game and spend 20 bucks when you can watch the game for free in the comfort of your own home?

I think that is why only so many of our games are on tv this year. Denver, UVU, SUU and the Montana's are our only ones this year compared to all our home games last year. I think Weber is trying to get people to come to the other ones but still trying to get at least a little exposure. Broadcasting throughout the southwest is a good start, now to work on broadcasting in the northwest as well.

 

[Webergrad02]

Not trying to be negative, but, does anyone else have a hard time believing that Weber is actually averaging over 6,000 a game? If the Dee holds 12,000, no way in hell was it over half full last night.

Yeah there was no way the Dee was even close to half full last night, the student side and the corners were pretty empty.

The arena started filling up after the game had started but it still seemed kinda empty

I don't want to be too negative either but there are some things I need to address.

I would guess that there was between 3,500 - 4,000 last night. One concession vendor told me that sales are down a good chunk over a few years ago.

I keep thinking the student section will get better once the season rolls along and school gets back into session. It's bad. Alot of the chants like the turnover you suck aren't happening regularly. What happened to the rowdy bunch of jersey wearing students in the front row? There was a guy last night in the front row where maddawg used to stand just standing there in a business suit with his arms folded.

What happened to the tradition of standing until Weber scored the first bucket of each half? I know that there are some of the Wildcat Club that due to age can't stand very long, but hardly anyone stands for the first possession of the second half. Are we losing this tradition?

What is the deciding factor for whether or not the band shows up?

SATOG has been getting really hungry and thirsty this season.

What was up with Rob Alexander blowing Cha into the microphone before SUU took foul shots in the second half of last nights game? I can't remember too many times when he has done stuff like that in past. I really respect Rob as being one of the best PA announcers, but I don't think a PA announcer should say anything into the microphone before an opponent takes a foul shot.

 

[WILDCAT]

Not trying to be negative, but, does anyone else have a hard time believing that Weber is actually averaging over 6,000 a game? If the Dee holds 12,000, no way in hell was it over half full last night.

Yeah there was no way the Dee was even close to half full last night, the student side and the corners were pretty empty.

The arena started filling up after the game had started but it still seemed kinda empty

I don't want to be too negative either but there are some things I need to address.

I would guess that there was between 3,500 - 4,000 last night. One concession vendor told me that sales are down a good chunk over a few years ago.

I keep thinking the student section will get better once the season rolls along and school gets back into session. It's bad. Alot of the chants like the turnover you suck aren't happening regularly. What happened to the rowdy bunch of jersey wearing students in the front row? There was a guy last night in the front row where maddawg used to stand just standing there in a business suit with his arms folded.

What happened to the tradition of standing until Weber scored the first bucket of each half? I know that there are some of the Wildcat Club that due to age can't stand very long, but hardly anyone stands for the first possession of the second half. Are we losing this tradition?

What is the deciding factor for whether or not the band shows up?

SATOG has been getting really hungry and thirsty this season.

What was up with Rob Alexander blowing Cha into the microphone before SUU took foul shots in the second half of last nights game? I can't remember too many times when he has done stuff like that in past. I really respect Rob as being one of the best PA announcers, but I don't think a PA announcer should say anything into the microphone before an opponent takes a foul shot.

I think Weber has done a lot to enhance the actual game experience, the smoke machines are pretty cool, but they need to start getting the students involved. There is no reason our student section should be that empty, even against teams that have a 4-whatever record. The in game experience is there, now go after the students.

I noticed last night that as soon as the 2nd half started that they had SATOG giving out stuff or the blimp was flying around which takes the attention away from the game itself and once people realized that the game had started again they just decided to stay seated. The best fix for that is to have all the promotional stuff and the SATOG crap finished before the 2nd half starts.

I was wondering the same thing about the band last night, however, more and more people are clapping during the fight song which is encouraging.

I'm sorry there was a time last night when the game was coming to an end and SATOG came out and I literally yelled "God take his microphone". SATOG needs to go.

I heard him do that too and at first I was trying to figure out where the sound was coming from.

 

[baller]

I saw the announcement that last nights game would be on Cox Cable in several major markets in the Southwest. I couldn't find it on the TV guide so called Cox and they knew nothing about a Weber/SUU game being shown on their cable company. Did anyone here actually see the game broadcast on Cox Cable?

 

[WSUfan1]

Not trying to be negative, but, does anyone else have a hard time believing that Weber is actually averaging over 6,000 a game? If the Dee holds 12,000, no way in hell was it over half full last night.

Yeah there was no way the Dee was even close to half full last night, the student side and the corners were pretty empty.

The arena started filling up after the game had started but it still seemed kinda empty

I don't want to be too negative either but there are some things I need to address.

I would guess that there was between 3,500 - 4,000 last night. One concession vendor told me that sales are down a good chunk over a few years ago.

I keep thinking the student section will get better once the season rolls along and school gets back into session. It's bad. Alot of the chants like the turnover you suck aren't happening regularly. What happened to the rowdy bunch of jersey wearing students in the front row? There was a guy last night in the front row where maddawg used to stand just standing there in a business suit with his arms folded.

What happened to the tradition of standing until Weber scored the first bucket of each half? I know that there are some of the Wildcat Club that due to age can't stand very long, but hardly anyone stands for the first possession of the second half. Are we losing this tradition?

What is the deciding factor for whether or not the band shows up?

SATOG has been getting really hungry and thirsty this season.

What was up with Rob Alexander blowing Cha into the microphone before SUU took foul shots in the second half of last nights game? I can't remember too many times when he has done stuff like that in past. I really respect Rob as being one of the best PA announcers, but I don't think a PA announcer should say anything into the microphone before an opponent takes a foul shot.

The two dudes down there in business suits....... They were full-time LDS missionaries.

I think the issue with dropped numbers, food revenue ect. is not becasue mid-major basketball is dying product, it is because the Big Sky is a dying conference. Who really wants to go to a game where the opponent has won a whopping 2 D1 wins?

 

[Webergrad02]

The two dudes down there in business suits....... They were full-time LDS missionaries.

I think the issue with dropped numbers, food revenue ect. is not becasue mid-major basketball is dying product, it is because the Big Sky is a dying conference. Who really wants to go to a game where the opponent has won a whopping 2 D1 wins?

That is even funnier. We need missionaries to help fill the student section. Probably also explains the lack of offensive chants.

Who really wants to go to a game where the opponent has won a whopping 2 D1 wins?
Obviously 2 mormon missionaries wanted to see a team with 2 D1 wins.

 

[oldrunner]

The two dudes down there in business suits....... They were full-time LDS missionaries.

I think the issue with dropped numbers, food revenue ect. is not becasue mid-major basketball is dying product, it is because the Big Sky is a dying conference. Who really wants to go to a game where the opponent has won a whopping 2 D1 wins?

That is even funnier. We need missionaries to help fill the student section. Probably also explains the lack of offensive chants.

Who really wants to go to a game where the opponent has won a whopping 2 D1 wins?
Obviously 2 mormon missionaries wanted to see a team with 2 D1 wins.

The two missionaries were probably there trying to save SUU. Shoulda called in the heavy hitters with a revival preacher.

 

[DeeWildcatTailgater]

We have done great creating an exciting fan experience but people go for the atmosphere created by a great student section. They go to see students get rowdy. Someone posted a comment on FB that the student section was moving behind the opponent's second half basket like USU's always has and BYU and Utah both did a few years back. Can anyone confirm? We have a year to notify season ticket holders that seats have moved. We should put a purple wildcat banner in the gap like BYU and Utah both have in theirs. Then paint the white wall behind the basket purple with black or silver bars like a cage and maybe have a wildcat inside. Writing on the wall should read "Welcome to the Ogden Zoo", the new name of our super annoying and distracting student section. If we can be even 1/10th as annoying as BYU or USU, it's a wild success. The face of crazy students in the Ogden Zoo will cause nightmares to opposing players who brick freethrow after freethrow. The band should be given front row seats in section S to highlight them as a part of the show. When they play during timeouts, people will watch and listen because they are right by the court. Just go to any BYU, Utah or USU game and you'll see what I mean. The student section should stand where the opposing fans currently sit at the front of section Q. Could you imagine how annoying timeouts would be with the likes of Baker or Neff leaning over the wall 8 feet from the opponent's coach? It will be even harder to get home games. I believe, the "curtain of doom" along with the students and band will allow for a critical mass to be reached. What I'm talking about is 15 band members + even 30 students with coordinated chants and free throw distractions with fat heads etc. along with COD will equate to the "too cool" students feeling the desire and obligation to join in. There also needs to be a counter of free throws missed. Our student section isn't improving. It's time for a change. 30 rowdy students in the right location will do more than 100 in the wrong location.

 

[Junctioncat]

Too bad the crowd wasn't larger. I will be interested in how big the crowd is Saturday. I imagine there is a difference in Saturday attendance vs. Thursday attendance.

Side note, does anyone know how many people stream games? I have switched from radio to streamimg.

 

[WILDCAT]

Not trying to be negative, but, does anyone else have a hard time believing that Weber is actually averaging over 6,000 a game? If the Dee holds 12,000, no way in hell was it over half full last night.

Yeah there was no way the Dee was even close to half full last night, the student side and the corners were pretty empty.

The arena started filling up after the game had started but it still seemed kinda empty

I don't want to be too negative either but there are some things I need to address.

I would guess that there was between 3,500 - 4,000 last night. One concession vendor told me that sales are down a good chunk over a few years ago.

I keep thinking the student section will get better once the season rolls along and school gets back into session. It's bad. Alot of the chants like the turnover you suck aren't happening regularly. What happened to the rowdy bunch of jersey wearing students in the front row? There was a guy last night in the front row where maddawg used to stand just standing there in a business suit with his arms folded.

What happened to the tradition of standing until Weber scored the first bucket of each half? I know that there are some of the Wildcat Club that due to age can't stand very long, but hardly anyone stands for the first possession of the second half. Are we losing this tradition?

What is the deciding factor for whether or not the band shows up?

SATOG has been getting really hungry and thirsty this season.

What was up with Rob Alexander blowing Cha into the microphone before SUU took foul shots in the second half of last nights game? I can't remember too many times when he has done stuff like that in past. I really respect Rob as being one of the best PA announcers, but I don't think a PA announcer should say anything into the microphone before an opponent takes a foul shot.

The two dudes down there in business suits....... They were full-time LDS missionaries.

I think the issue with dropped numbers, food revenue ect. is not becasue mid-major basketball is dying product, it is because the Big Sky is a dying conference. Who really wants to go to a game where the opponent has won a whopping 2 D1 wins?

It's not just a Big Sky problem, it's not even a mid major problem. It's an NCAA wide problem.

Well I can't speak for anybody else on here, but I don't go to a Weber game to watch the opponents. I go to watch and root for Weber. Regardless of who they are playing.

 

[oldrunner]

:+1:

 

[WILDCAT]

Northern Colorado @ North Dakota- 2,352
Portland State @ Eastern Washington- 2,026
Montana State @ Montana- 5,546
Northern Arizona @ Weber State- 7,110
Southern Utah @ Idaho State- 1,721
Sacramento State @ Idaho- 1,629


1. Weber State - 33,749 - 6,749 - 5
2. Montana - 27,833 - 3,976 - 7
3. Montana State - 15,237 - 2,539 - 6
4. North Dakota - 10,551 - 2,110 - 5
5. Eastern Washington - 10,223 - 1,703 - 6
6. Southern Utah - 8,197 - 2,049 - 4
7. Idaho State - 7,901 - 1,580 - 5
8. Idaho - 7,889 - 1,127 - 7
9. Northern Colorado - 5,631 - 1,407 - 4
10. Northern Arizona - 5,322 - 1,064 - 5
11. Sacramento State - 3,877 - 775 - 5
12. Portland State - 2,762 - 552 - 5


Kudos to the fans of the 6 schools who showed up and raised thier team's average. All 6 averages went up :clap:

I'm also going to take this time to be a jerk and laugh at Big Bad Idaho who's fans constantly belittle everything about this conference, yet for as big and as bad as they are they are tied with Montana with the most conference home games and yet they are 8th in total attendance and have the 4th lowest average. :lol: :rofl: :lmao:

 

[Junctioncat]

Not trying to be negative, but, does anyone else have a hard time believing that Weber is actually averaging over 6,000 a game? If the Dee holds 12,000, no way in hell was it over half full last night.

Yeah there was no way the Dee was even close to half full last night, the student side and the corners were pretty empty.

The arena started filling up after the game had started but it still seemed kinda empty

I don't want to be too negative either but there are some things I need to address.

I would guess that there was between 3,500 - 4,000 last night. One concession vendor told me that sales are down a good chunk over a few years ago.

I keep thinking the student section will get better once the season rolls along and school gets back into session. It's bad. Alot of the chants like the turnover you suck aren't happening regularly. What happened to the rowdy bunch of jersey wearing students in the front row? There was a guy last night in the front row where maddawg used to stand just standing there in a business suit with his arms folded.

What happened to the tradition of standing until Weber scored the first bucket of each half? I know that there are some of the Wildcat Club that due to age can't stand very long, but hardly anyone stands for the first possession of the second half. Are we losing this tradition?

What is the deciding factor for whether or not the band shows up?

SATOG has been getting really hungry and thirsty this season.

What was up with Rob Alexander blowing Cha into the microphone before SUU took foul shots in the second half of last nights game? I can't remember too many times when he has done stuff like that in past. I really respect Rob as being one of the best PA announcers, but I don't think a PA announcer should say anything into the microphone before an opponent takes a foul shot.

The two dudes down there in business suits....... They were full-time LDS missionaries.

I think the issue with dropped numbers, food revenue ect. is not becasue mid-major basketball is dying product, it is because the Big Sky is a dying conference. Who really wants to go to a game where the opponent has won a whopping 2 D1 wins?

It's not just a Big Sky problem, it's not even a mid major problem. It's an NCAA wide problem.

Well I can't speak for anybody else on here, but I don't go to a Weber game to watch the opponents. I go to watch and root for Weber. Regardless of who they are playing.

NFL viewership has gone down as well. I really believe that technology is drastically changing sports viewership. My mom doesn't go to many wildcat games, but she religiously follows Garside's facebook recaps. I no longer stay up for the ten oclock sports coverage, praying they throw Weber a bone. I go to this forum or the internet. Sports are just as popular as ever, but the way we view them is changing rapidly. I am impressed that our attendance is as high as it is, really.

 

[oldrunner]

NFL viewership has gone down as well. I really believe that technology is drastically changing sports viewership. My mom doesn't go to many wildcat games, but she religiously follows Garside's facebook recaps. I no longer stay up for the ten oclock sports coverage, praying they throw Weber a bone. I go to this forum or the internet. Sports are just as popular as ever, but the way we view them is changing rapidly. I am impressed that our attendance is as high as it is, really.

There is still nothing quite like being at the game and that is true of any sporting event. When you are there, you are part of it. People, in general, don't get out like they used to. It's easy to become passive and sedentary. I make every effort to get out of the house, get involved in the community, and live a happier, healthier life.

 

[Junctioncat]

NFL viewership has gone down as well. I really believe that technology is drastically changing sports viewership. My mom doesn't go to many wildcat games, but she religiously follows Garside's facebook recaps. I no longer stay up for the ten oclock sports coverage, praying they throw Weber a bone. I go to this forum or the internet. Sports are just as popular as ever, but the way we view them is changing rapidly. I am impressed that our attendance is as high as it is, really.

There is still nothing quite like being at the game and that is true of any sporting event. When you are there, you are part of it. People, in general, don't get out like they used to. It's easy to become passive and sedentary. I make every effort to get out of the house, get involved in the community, and live a happier, healthier life.

Oldrunner, I could not agree more! When my father passed away 7 years ago, Weber State games were positive, happy, communal experiences that helped me get through a dark time in my life. I love the energy of the crowd and seeing the team play well live.

My point about technology is not that it should replace the in-game experience. I see new media as an integral part in Weber State Athletics engaging current and future fans.

 

[WILDCAT]

NFL viewership has gone down as well. I really believe that technology is drastically changing sports viewership. My mom doesn't go to many wildcat games, but she religiously follows Garside's facebook recaps. I no longer stay up for the ten oclock sports coverage, praying they throw Weber a bone. I go to this forum or the internet. Sports are just as popular as ever, but the way we view them is changing rapidly. I am impressed that our attendance is as high as it is, really.

There is still nothing quite like being at the game and that is true of any sporting event. When you are there, you are part of it. People, in general, don't get out like they used to. It's easy to become passive and sedentary. I make every effort to get out of the house, get involved in the community, and live a happier, healthier life.

Oldrunner, I could not agree more! When my father passed away 7 years ago, Weber State games were positive, happy, communal experiences that helped me get through a dark time in my life. I love the energy of the crowd and seeing the team play well live.

My point about technology is not that it should replace the in-game experience. I see new media as an integral part in Weber State Athletics engaging current and future fans.

Technology has changed the way sports is viewed. And I think it may have been a good call by WSU to not air all their home games this year

 

[Siouxfan2]

Northern Colorado @ North Dakota- 2,352
Portland State @ Eastern Washington- 2,026
Montana State @ Montana- 5,546
Northern Arizona @ Weber State- 7,110
Southern Utah @ Idaho State- 1,721
Sacramento State @ Idaho- 1,629

.5 North Dakota Hockey - 197,098 - 11,594 avg
1. Weber State - 33,749 - 6,749 - 5
2. Montana - 27,833 - 3,976 - 7
3. Montana State - 15,237 - 2,539 - 6
4. North Dakota - 10,551 - 2,110 - 5
5. Eastern Washington - 10,223 - 1,703 - 6
6. Southern Utah - 8,197 - 2,049 - 4
6.5 UND Womens bb - 1661 avg
7. Idaho State - 7,901 - 1,580 - 5
8. Idaho - 7,889 - 1,127 - 7
9. Northern Colorado - 5,631 - 1,407 - 4
10. Northern Arizona - 5,322 - 1,064 - 5
10.5 North Dakota women's hockey - 911 avg
11. Sacramento State - 3,877 - 775 - 5
12. Portland State - 2,762 - 552 - 5


Kudos to the fans of the 6 schools who showed up and raised thier team's average. All 6 averages went up :clap:

I'm also going to take this time to be a jerk and laugh at Big Bad Idaho who's fans constantly belittle everything about this conference, yet for as big and as bad as they are they are tied with Montana with the most conference home games and yet they are 8th in total attendance and have the 4th lowest average. :lol: :rofl: :lmao:

Very much admire Weber's bb attendance, so please don't take this wrong. But we are the only school that has big time, meaning national championship, competing with BB for attendance. In our DII days, used to have bb crowds of 5 or 6000 and even crowds of 10 k for rivalry games. Now there is too much local competition within UND. Haven't looked, but even Montana might be down this year in women's bball attendance. Wish some BB games would be scheduled for our big arena. Ever since that hockey arena was built, our bb attendance has taken a dive.

 

[ajwildcat]

Northern Colorado @ North Dakota- 2,352
Portland State @ Eastern Washington- 2,026
Montana State @ Montana- 5,546
Northern Arizona @ Weber State- 7,110
Southern Utah @ Idaho State- 1,721
Sacramento State @ Idaho- 1,629

.5 North Dakota Hockey - 197,098 - 11,594 avg
1. Weber State - 33,749 - 6,749 - 5
2. Montana - 27,833 - 3,976 - 7
3. Montana State - 15,237 - 2,539 - 6
4. North Dakota - 10,551 - 2,110 - 5
5. Eastern Washington - 10,223 - 1,703 - 6
6. Southern Utah - 8,197 - 2,049 - 4
6.5 UND Womens bb - 1661 avg
7. Idaho State - 7,901 - 1,580 - 5
8. Idaho - 7,889 - 1,127 - 7
9. Northern Colorado - 5,631 - 1,407 - 4
10. Northern Arizona - 5,322 - 1,064 - 5
10.5 North Dakota women's hockey - 911 avg
11. Sacramento State - 3,877 - 775 - 5
12. Portland State - 2,762 - 552 - 5


Kudos to the fans of the 6 schools who showed up and raised thier team's average. All 6 averages went up :clap:

I'm also going to take this time to be a jerk and laugh at Big Bad Idaho who's fans constantly belittle everything about this conference, yet for as big and as bad as they are they are tied with Montana with the most conference home games and yet they are 8th in total attendance and have the 4th lowest average. :lol: :rofl: :lmao:

Very much admire Weber's bb attendance, so please don't take this wrong. But we are the only school that has big time, meaning national championship, competing with BB for attendance. In our DII days, used to have bb crowds of 5 or 6000 and even crowds of 10 k for rivalry games. Now there is too much local competition within UND. Haven't looked, but even Montana might be down this year in women's bball attendance. Wish some BB games would be scheduled for our big arena. Ever since that hockey arena was built, our bb attendance has taken a dive.

Since you are relatively new to the Big Sky (and a short timer at that) You may not know that WSU used to average 10k+ a game, so saying UND is the only school that has had big time attendance is pure hog wash.

 

[Webergrad02]

Northern Colorado @ North Dakota- 2,352
Portland State @ Eastern Washington- 2,026
Montana State @ Montana- 5,546
Northern Arizona @ Weber State- 7,110
Southern Utah @ Idaho State- 1,721
Sacramento State @ Idaho- 1,629

.5 North Dakota Hockey - 197,098 - 11,594 avg
1. Weber State - 33,749 - 6,749 - 5
2. Montana - 27,833 - 3,976 - 7
3. Montana State - 15,237 - 2,539 - 6
4. North Dakota - 10,551 - 2,110 - 5
5. Eastern Washington - 10,223 - 1,703 - 6
6. Southern Utah - 8,197 - 2,049 - 4
6.5 UND Womens bb - 1661 avg
7. Idaho State - 7,901 - 1,580 - 5
8. Idaho - 7,889 - 1,127 - 7
9. Northern Colorado - 5,631 - 1,407 - 4
10. Northern Arizona - 5,322 - 1,064 - 5
10.5 North Dakota women's hockey - 911 avg
11. Sacramento State - 3,877 - 775 - 5
12. Portland State - 2,762 - 552 - 5


Kudos to the fans of the 6 schools who showed up and raised thier team's average. All 6 averages went up :clap:

I'm also going to take this time to be a jerk and laugh at Big Bad Idaho who's fans constantly belittle everything about this conference, yet for as big and as bad as they are they are tied with Montana with the most conference home games and yet they are 8th in total attendance and have the 4th lowest average. :lol: :rofl: :lmao:

Very much admire Weber's bb attendance, so please don't take this wrong. But we are the only school that has big time, meaning national championship, competing with BB for attendance. In our DII days, used to have bb crowds of 5 or 6000 and even crowds of 10 k for rivalry games. Now there is too much local competition within UND. Haven't looked, but even Montana might be down this year in women's bball attendance. Wish some BB games would be scheduled for our big arena. Ever since that hockey arena was built, our bb attendance has taken a dive.

ARE YOU JOKING? You know the NCAA keeps records on all of those numbers. The highest attendance year with UND in Division II was 2002 when you averaged 3,800 per game. You realize that is 200 fans less than our worst attendance year ever (2006) when we averaged 4,046. You may have been one of the biggest fish in the little D II pond. But Weber State has been swimming with sharks in the ocean for years. Sorry to let facts get in the way of your "we are the only school that has Big Time attendance narrative.
http://www.ncaa.org/championships/statistics/ncaa-mens-basketball-attendance