We need Crisler to be a hostile environment on Saturday

100% agree. My wife and I are longtime season ticket holders, and we rant about this every game! We very rarely miss a game, but when we have to, it’s easy to give away our tickets to someone who is very eager to attend. It’s easier than ever with electronic transfer! There is no excuse for all the empty seats, especially in the lower bowl, game after game.

I have season tickets for football and basketball and at both I sit next to season ticket holders who have never used the seats. At least the football market is crazy enough that it is usually M fans, but the only time the basketball tickets have sold all season has been to away fans. I had to sit next to some 20 year old bro from CMU who screamed in my face the entire game while I said absolutely 0 to him. A giant F you to whoever buys the seats next to me. Having complained a few times I can tell you the athletic department could not care less and has no plans to even think of ways to enforce attendance. As long as they get their $ at the end of the day they have no incentive to do otherwise. 

I remember saying the same thing about all the empty seats at joe louis arena for red wings games 20 years ago. It was ridiculous and embarrassing to look at.  This is much worse since the arena is smaller and its college ffs.

what students should they move from the upper level because I saw those upper-level student sections with mostly empty seats at last nights game?

There were a lot of games in the Beilein ere where Crisler was a legitimate home court advantage and a really fun atmosphere.  I wonder what changed the last few years.  A couple thoughts:

1. With the football team's success, people don't care as much about basketball.

2. In the early 2010s, basketball success was new and exciting for most of us.  Then the 2013 final four run was another level of success that build excitement.

3. The last two seasons, our team hasn't been as good.  

4. Tickets for a lot of games are super expensive ($140 for lower level this Saturday before fees which StubHub doesn't allow you to see anymore?  So maybe $160 each)

I'd guess it's a combination of #1 and 3.  Anybody have thoughts?

I've been to a few games in my day where the student crowds were great, and others where it was awful. It isn't unusual in terms of split between upper and lower level seats. Their location and amount in the lower level will always be debated/scrutinized, but they still need to at least show up.

I think it was a somewhat valid excuse prior to renovation. Certainly couldn't expect it to match something very vertical like triple decker Beaver Stadium.

yeah, the “sound goes up and out” thing really doesn’t apply any more.

The Big House has had some pretty good crowds the last couple of years.  Washington and OSU in 2021 and PSU / MSU last year.  

I think having most of our big games at noon leads to a quieter crowd.

You're exactly right about this. Starting with the 2021 OSU game and continuing through last season, the crowds were noticeably louder both when I attended and on the games I watched on TV. They didn't make any change to the design of the stadium in that time period.