And so it begins...

[mamasa 15,684]

Football has grown exponentially. I think that's the biggest reason. I also think that most people with no rooting interest choose to watch on TV rather than go down to watch. It used to be an event that people in Indianapolis attended because they followed the tournament throughout in the paper and read the story lines. Now it just seems like you get a few pieces in the Star when it gets close to Semi State but other than that it's back page material. 

 

We're originally from Milan, so we have a strong interest in high school basketball (beaten into our heads).  I did a paper years ago regarding the correlation between the introduction of multi-class basketball and the decline of attendence/ratings.  It very well could have been coincidence or that I was wanting to read into it (it was a persuasion argument paper), but it was pretty clear.  Add to that the reasons you mentioned, and it looks like high school basketball needs some great marketing! 

[CampHoosier 3,697]

We're originally from Milan, so we have a strong interest in high school basketball (beaten into our heads).  I did a paper years ago regarding the correlation between the introduction of multi-class basketball and the decline of attendence/ratings.  It very well could have been coincidence or that I was wanting to read into it (it was a persuasion argument paper), but it was pretty clear.  Add to that the reasons you mentioned, and it looks like high school basketball needs some great marketing! 

 

Read Bill Benner's article on the subject. Great read

 

http://www.ibj.com/articles/34078

[GloryDays 6,039]

Kind of off topic, but along the same lines- in your opinion, what's causing the drop in interest/attendence in high school basketball games?

I don't know about mid and upstate attendance but here in southern  In gymnasiums are packed.

As far as the state tourney goes class basketball happened and It's just not the same.

[Str8Hoosiers 2,965]

This isn't really on this exact topic but it is somewhat related and i don't think it deserves it's own thread.... I read a few posts with people asking where is the line going to be drawn etc....

 

Recently a young female played in the Little League World Series..... now somebody is wanting to put her in a commercial (and pay her for appearing in the commercial) so they contacted the NCAA to get their approval. NCAA gave a conditional approval that she could do it but all the proceeds had to be placed into a trust fund that she couldn't access until after College (or lose any eligibilty so if she didn't go to college she could of course access it then).

 

Is it just me or is that ludicrous..... the NCAA can tell a young kid what to do... Not anywhere close to going to college, let alone the fact that it has nothing to do with a college paying her.

 

I don't understand all the facts so if somebody knows why this is please let me know.... What if there was a child actor that ended up being an athelete... would this be an issue because he/she made money before going to college? High School kids can have jobs but student atheletes in college can not...

[mdn82 25,765]

Kind of off topic, but along the same lines- in your opinion, what's causing the drop in interest/attendence in high school basketball games?

When they took away single class in Indiana.

[Hovadipo 59,061]

^ Agreed. This is why the NCAA needs to die. Idk why they have a say in her making money. And she isn't even making the money playing a sport. Absolutely ridiculous.

[ou812dude 3,326]

I don't know about mid and upstate attendance but here in southern  In gymnasiums are packed.

As far as the state tourney goes class basketball happened and It's just not the same.

yup...you beat me to it...

almost all games at Borden High are standing room only now...

I know that's the case at places like Lanesville, Jeffersonville, New Albany, Clarksville, Silver Creek...and so on and so on...

 

edit: class basketball has actually helped southern Indiana for 2 reasons...

 

#1 gives small time towns/teams a chance to compete in the post season

#2 makes 4A schools have to actually compete in Sectionals...

 

btw...ins't college basketball classed (D1 D2 D3, NAIA)...and thriving while doing so?

does anybody want to watch Hanover play UCLA at any point?

[Kepner 1,261]

I have still been to a lot of packed basketball games for high school. My high school is in the North Central Conference and it used to be pretty darn competitive with some great recruits coming out of that conference over the years ( Blackmon Sr, Alford, Jay Edwards, Lyndon Jones,  Zach Randolph, Bonzi Wells, Dominic James, James Blackmon Jr). But it seems like that conference isn't as competitive as it big as it used to be.