Student attendance

[mdn82 25,510]

I'll never understand the previous generations. You think that attending college games should be a top priority among college students? If it's not filling up on a regular basis then I agree, cut the student section to about 6000 and sell the rest. But acting like anyone who goes to IU should be honored to attend a college basketball game is silly. At peak interest, only about 25-30% of the student body purchases season tickets. Of those who buy, maybe half at best genuinely care about the team and know who the majority of the players are.

I am not saying it's an Indiana thing but it was that way in high school too. You just went to every game. That's why the gyms are what they are in this state. I graduated high school in 2000. It's just hard for me to understand. Just different.

[Aaron 4,262]

I am a former student and I have to say the new system is brilliant in my opinion. Instead of getting mostly balcony games you now get half your seats in GA and if you are timely and loyal you will no longer have to sit in the balcony very often. This whole system rewards loyal students as it should be.

 

Last night lower GA was full earlier than in past years because people knew if they did not get there early they would end up in the balcony. Before, there was less incentive to show up early as you knew you would get a good seat in first 25 rows no matter what in GA. Now you must show up early to get a good seat.

 

As for the balcony not being full no one would want those tickets most likely (especially for no-name U in early season) if they were released to the public every game. The games are full for break because going is a novelty. I also grew up in the area and I always went to break games prior to being a student because these were the only games you COULD go to. If every game had tickets sold you would not have the same numbers as it is no longer special.

 

The only change I could argue making is releasing Rows 26-45 of the eastside to people on the waiting list if they want them. Otherwise pre-season sell outs whether students attend or not is far more preferable to athletic department moneywise and it keeps opposing teams fans out (although that's rarely an issue).

 

There is no perfect system but the new one IU has implemented this year is certainly a step in the right direction and I'm not sure there is a better one. People will always complain no matter what system is used

[Old Friend 8,389]

Go back and read Season on The Brink. Even then Feinstein talks about Assembly Hall not being full and fans booing (which people also seem to believe never happened), but continue to romanticize the past by all means.  

Sigh.  Season on the Brink was written before I was in school, so that is not the era of which I'm speaking, but nice try.  

 

I love how you guys just fly around looking for things to disagree with so you can argue.  You don't know facts, you don't ask questions so you DO know facts, and you just fly off the handle ready to pounce for whatever reason.  I was there.  I was in the building.  There were not many empty seats for Big Ten games in the late 80's and early 90's.  There just weren't.  I sat in the top row of a full balcony several times; and there were no better seats to be found.  

 

I don't need you or anyone else to tell me I'm romanticizing.   It's nothing but an uneducated cheap shot because you feel like you have to argue.   You're wrong.  Plain and simple.  

[RBB89 3,497]

Apathy is starting to set in with the program. I just don't remember this and that was just 6 years ago

Dude, stop. We are 16-3. It's not "apathy." It's actually been an issue for a while, it's just more prominent now with the new seating system. And this is a national problem:

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/examining-the-low-student-attendance-epidemic/[attachment=3264:ImageUploadedByBtownBanners1453400663.672919.jpg]

[Hovadipo 54,697]

Dude, stop. We are 16-3. It's not "apathy." This is a national issue:

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/examining-the-low-student-attendance-epidemic/ImageUploadedByBtownBanners1453400663.672919.jpg

Apathy is becoming the new "mediocrity" on this site.

[RBB89 3,497]

Apathy is becoming the new "mediocrity" on this site.

Pffft...you're so mediocre that you're just settling for apathy.

Wait...

[Old Friend 8,389]

Dude, stop. We are 16-3. It's not "apathy." It's actually been an issue for a while, it's just more prominent now with the new seating system. And this is a national problem:

http://kentuckysportsradio.com/basketball-2/examining-the-low-student-attendance-epidemic/ImageUploadedByBtownBanners1453400663.672919.jpg

Agree with this.   Not just an IU problem.  At all.

[KB0 827]

Sigh.  Season on the Brink was written before I was in school, so that is not the era of which I'm speaking, but nice try.  

 

I love how you guys just fly around looking for things to disagree with so you can argue.  You don't know facts, you don't ask questions so you DO know facts, and you just fly off the handle ready to pounce for whatever reason.  I was there.  I was in the building.  There were not many empty seats for Big Ten games in the late 80's and early 90's.  There just weren't.  I sat in the top row of a full balcony several times; and there were no better seats to be found.  

 

I don't need you or anyone else to tell me I'm romanticizing.   It's nothing but an uneducated cheap shot because you feel like you have to argue.   You're wrong.  Plain and simple.  

 

1. "You guys" is a nice generalization considering you don't know if I'm 15,20,30,45,or 60. 

2. This "facts" argument is rich coming from someone who tried to discredit the average attendance figure, but instead wants to reference their personal memories. 

3. SotB may not have been set in the time frame you were referencing, but that's largely irrelevant. It still shows that not every game was a sellout during the magical Knight era when Indiana could do no wrong, people were paying $150000 a ticket and every seat was full for every game.

[Alford Bailey 12,339]

I'm guessing the athletic dept. doesnt care cause the seats are sold before the season even starts. I'm sayin if you want people in the seats sell them to the general public who will attend.

[Magnanimous 4,454]

I'm guessing the athletic dept. doesnt care cause the seats are sold before the season even starts. I'm sayin if you want people in the seats sell them to the general public who will attend.

If you want people in the seats then bring back the Kentucky series, shorten the OOC slate to 7 games against better teams with no tournaments halfway across the world, start conference play after winter break, win more, and win consistently. Beyond the particular issues IU has faced the last 15 years (sans the 2012 and 2013 seasons), there are structural problems with CBB that are starting to be recognized by the powers that be to bring the sport into its own beyond the NCAAT. 

[Uspshoosier 44,884]

Even with student attendance down and having a team that lost its last 3 home games they managed to finish 2nd in the big 10 in attendance and 8th nationally.
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/070615aaa.html

[RBB89 3,497]

Even with student attendance down and having a team that lost its last 3 home games they managed to finish 2nd in the big 10 in attendance and 8th nationally.
http://www.bigten.org/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/070615aaa.html

Ticket sales aren't down at all. The games are sold out. The problem is students not showing up.

[TheWatShot 13,589]

I never thought I would hear anyone say they didn't go to a basketball game because it was too cold outside. 

[Alford Bailey 12,339]

If you want people in the seats then bring back the Kentucky series, shorten the OOC slate to 7 games against better teams with no tournaments halfway across the world, start conference play after winter break, win more, and win consistently. Beyond the particular issues IU has faced the last 15 years (sans the 2012 and 2013 seasons), there are structural problems with CBB that are starting to be recognized by the powers that be to bring the sport into its own beyond the NCAAT. 

You are preaching to the choir. Still think the seats should be full in conference when we are 5-0.

[RBB89 3,497]

I never thought I would hear anyone say they didn't go to a basketball game because it was too cold outside.

Hey, it's cold in Assembly Hall too! It's rough out there.

/s

[Trish 11,483]

I never thought I would hear anyone say they didn't go to a basketball game because it was too cold outside.

It is what it is. I've only had tickets to the Wisconsin game this year and I obviously went.

Maybe if our rank gets higher, more kids will show up.

[Dalton26 16,892]

Maybe if our rank gets higher, more kids will show up.

If that's the case they should pull all student tickets and sell them to everyone else. At least then they know people will show up.

[Dannyjzur 10]

I am a student and always arrive about an hour early and am always at a prime location in the student section. But what is the biggest shame in my eyes is when there are student spots open behind the basket. Last game there were huge gaps behind the basket and that not only is a disadvantage late in a game but also looks bad on camera. Those areas need to be filled no matter the opponent. If they are not full at the start of the game then the athletic department should chose students from GA and move them over so it's all full.

But I think this argument will be lost the rest of the way due to the quality opponents and time and day of the games. The only other game that might have an issue with attendence might be the Nebraska game at 8:30 on a Wednesday night. But other then that I think us students will be filling up the seats. At least I know I will be yelling and screaming from the top of the balcony for the Maryland and Purdue games!

[USMCHoosier 157]

Play quality teams, fill up the win column and play late into the tournament. You do those things consistently, for a period of time, and you won't be able to get a seat.

[CottageGrove 563]

Absolutely.  My Sophomore year we went to the title game.  Well, we know how it went soon after.  I don't think the temperament ever changed.  Different times for sure.  I remember IU games as much as anything from college.  But, I am probably different.  I just enjoyed being part of creating that environment.  

 

I was also a sophomore during the title run in 02. And I remember attendance the same way. Even as the Davis era went off the rails attendance was good.