Attendance problem for MBB?
It looks like only single seats are available when I was going to buy tickets for Saturday's game, so Saturday might be a sellout.
But so far through 17 home games, we've had 0 sellouts. Not even the game against MSU sold out. In fact, it was the lowest-attended MSU game since the 70s.
What is contributing to this? Even in horrendous seasons we sold out at least a couple games.
If Saturday fails to draw an announced sellout, it will be the first time since the 1998-99 Brian Ellerbe season.
Here are the attendance figures so far-
| Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
| 11/11 | Howard | W 76-58 | 10,094 |
| 11/13 | IUPUI | W 77-65 | 10,812 |
| 11/26 | Mount St. Mary's | W 64-47 | 9,410 |
| 11/30 | Virginia Tech | L 70-73 | 9,981 |
| 12/3 | Kennesaw State | W 82-55 | 10,687 |
| 12/6 | Texas | W 53-50 | 10,613 |
| 12/13 | Central Arkansas | W 97-53 | 9,486 |
| 12/17 | UMES | W 98-49 | 12,020 |
| 12/22 | Furman | W 68-62 | 10,634 |
| 1/4 | Penn State | W 72-69 | 11,385 |
| 1/7 | Maryland | L 70-77 | 11,527 |
| 1/14 | Nebraska | W 91-85 | 11,145 |
| 1/21 | Illinois | W 66-57 | 12,234 |
| 1/26 | Indiana | W 90-60 | 11,267 |
| 2/4 | Ohio State | L 66-70 | 12,196 |
| 2/7 | Michigan State | W 86-57 | 11,864 |
| 2/16 | Wisconsin | W 64-58 | 12,128 |
February 22nd, 2017 at 2:24 AM ^
so you usually do know which team is going to show up at home. And all three loses were close so it's not like they weren't at least exciting. So every game you could have attended at Crisler was either a win or an exciting/close game. Only thing to complain about that is the abundance of cupcakes on the schedule.
What happened to having some MAC teams or at least teams we have heard of on the schedule? There really is no excuse in basketball for not playing a better nonconference schedule because you acually get rewarded for it regardless of the results in basketball instead of being punished for it like in football when it comes to playoff/tournament consideration.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:10 AM ^
Just my opinion as someone who really doesn't like basketball, so take that for what it is, but IMO there's just too many games and most happen on weeknights. I'm just not going to go watch a fairly average team on a Tuesday night at 8pm; especially when I can watch it on TV. Unlike football where being at the game is truly key in the experience for me (tailgating + the emtion of the stadium) basketball just doesn't do the same for me. Any big game I'd have no problem watching at home.
If games meant more, the experience at the game and emotional ties to every W/L might mean more. As it stands, an average team like Michigan has a good shot at making the tournament, which dilutes the importance of games. It's also my argument as to why I don't want to expand the CFB playoff.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:15 AM ^
In my opinion. You have two games a week, and odds are one is going to be on the road.
The Pistons would play 2, sometimes 3 home games a week and during their pinnacle, they'd sell out an isolated building located away from everyone in Auburn Hills.
As a non-alum, I try to make as many games as possible. But the program is just so stale, and the fact that they didn't make a huge jump up after 2014 is really troubling. If they were winning and winning consistently with some really exciting players, I think you'd see a lot more people. I'd get in my car to go see Malik Monk or Josh Jackson or whatever big time impact player. There's just nothing "fun" about this team.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:31 AM ^
Of course, winning does bring in the people but two things - 1. Even when winning, Michigan wasn't selling out many home games and 2. There are fewer college basketball fans than NBA fans, and by a pretty signifcant amount. Unless there are fewer games at more reasonable times, I just don't see many CBB teams filling up their stadiums moving forward unless they're in the middle of a fantastic season.
February 22nd, 2017 at 2:29 AM ^
to rally this team as a senior?! A top 10 offense nationally?!! The German Sensation?!!! Nothing fun about this team? Geez, it's sad you need a lottery pick one-and-done to get excited about the team.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:24 AM ^
For a pretty well-thought out statement.
February 22nd, 2017 at 2:32 AM ^
for about a month with nearly every game bordering on "must win" territory. Only way they could mean more is if we were competing for a conference title.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:14 AM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 9:14 AM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 9:19 AM ^
If we're really good, we sell out our 9pm games because they're usually WORTHY of being late games (OSU mustard and ketchup bottle game in 2013, MSU in 2012, 2013 etc.)
But forget about it if we aren't good. Which is understandable. I was offered free student section tickets from a friend who had a test the next day for the MSU game this year and I couldn't do it because it was at 9pm. I wouldn't get back to where I live until 1am.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:26 AM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 9:44 AM ^
actually think that the 9 PM games are on our schedule because a lot of the times were set when it was still assumed we were going to be good going forward. It doesn't sound like those games are popular here, but those are usually ESPN's "big game" time slot. That is when Duke v. UNC is every year, and a 9:00 PM is frequently the Jay Bilas "lead" game of the week. I think it was widely believed that we were going to be 9 PM worthy for many years. Hasn't turned out that way.
February 22nd, 2017 at 2:56 AM ^
this year (not in 2015 obviously), but our competition for our three 9pm games are all having pretty bad years (Texas, IU and MSU) - such that the networks are probably more disappointed in them.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:47 AM ^
What's average attendance been the past 10 years - just curious. I happened to go in the Fab 5 era where we had to camp out for split season tickets so I don't have a point of reference as most. But generally we've hit on the topics of basketball being 2nd tier at UM but someone posted an article a few years ago that even at Duke student attendance is falling.
I think we are hitting a tipping point where it's just very comfortable to watch games at homes on very big TVs with much cheaper food and drink and it's a hassle to go to games and deal with parking, driving, ridiculous pricing of concessions, and for increasingly many just they are priced out of the product. You are narrowing the pool of people year after year who will go to a game - hence why I am curious what the trend has been the past decade. When the team is winning big you get the bandwagon fans more - when it's like it is this year, you get more the die hards... who are affected more by the issues above and are a smaller pool.
I also think until a few weeks ago this was a pretty boring product to watch; that has turned the corner but the larger issues remain. Game threads here fell off, there was apathy, the style if play etc is not one that lends to "sportscenter", we don't have a dynamic personality or NBA player ala a Webber type or heck a Nic and Burke type.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:20 AM ^
Living about 65 miles out of Ann Arbor makes it difficult for me to want to make the trip for a weekday game; especially the 9 pm games. The earlier starts make it a hell of a trip to get out there but at least I'm home usually by 10:30. When I was in Grad School/lived in Ann Arbor, I would StubHub tickets an hour before the game if they were low. I went to countless number of games by myself even. It just is difficult now to have the energy and/or the time to head out there. Weekend games are best, but even those sometimes aren't the most ideal. I already use up 6-8 of my Saturdays out of the year to go to football games, and like others said, once you have been to Crisler once or twice after the renovation, it kind of loses its flash.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:58 AM ^
use 3-9 of your Saturdays . . . .
February 21st, 2017 at 9:27 AM ^
For me, it's the "gameday experience." I've been to most home games this season, and the team is still fun to watch. Not fun, however, is sitting in Crisler. The TV timeouts are something out of Michigan's control. That doesn't mean that Athletics has to subject the fans at Crisler to as much advertisements as the fans watching on TV. I hate the constant "FREEEE PIZZAAAAA," sponsored dance cams, and overbearing announcer ("Duncan Robinson for THREEEEEEEEEEEeeeeeeeee!").
You can find that shit at any random NBA arena. Do you know what's unique to Michigan? Its people. Give me more interviews with the players. Give me a no-nonsense announcer a la Carl Grapentine. Cut the canned music and advertisements during timeouts and LET THE BAND PLAY.
After this year, when I'm no longer required to be there as part of the band, I don't think I'll attend another game. The fans are pretty good, and the team is fun. But the way Athletics runs the games makes Crisler unbearable.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:31 AM ^
That announcer is new, and holy cow does he suck. It's obnoxious as hell.
We used to have the Tigers announcer who yelled but he only yelled when the crowd noise dictated it.
February 21st, 2017 at 11:34 AM ^
Yeah I wasn't that big of a fan of Bobb Vergiels at Crisler, but he could at least control himself. This new guy shouts at everything. The alumni band has taken to mimicking his "THREEEEEEEeeeeee" after every time he says the word, even if it's for an opponent's made basket.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:28 AM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 9:29 AM ^
It's both the lack of excitement for this years basketball team plus general decline in interest in spectator sports. Their nose dive at the beginning of conference play didn't help matters.
Honestly, the Athletic Department should consider holding back on further capital projects. I fully expect athletic revenue to plateau and possibly decline in the immediate future, even with the new TV contract. As a sports fan, it's sad, but I don't see this trend reversing. Minus Harbaugh, football attendance may have been on a permenant decline. With Harbaugh, I suspect Michigan has only delayed the inevitable decline.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:34 AM ^
Lot of excuses in here on this one. All of those things don't seem to affect places like Rupp Arena which holds 23,500 if I recall correctly. And you can't say its always this way when WD points out it would be the worst since 98-99.
It's pretty simple in my opinion. Good to great players draw people or sometimes excitement about the program can do this. There is no excitement and optimism about the program for the people who would actually pay for tickets.
Put it this way, half of the fans (just like on here) can't stand the style of play and the level of recruiting so they aren't going to pay to watch and the other half seem to be content (note: not excited) with the status quo as long as it is a clean program that makes the tournament. That my friends, is a perfect recipe for apathy and low ticket sales. You want attendance to go up? Ask for an exciting atmosphere unapologetically and demand greatness.
Kentucky basketball is steeped in tradition and a winning history. But when it came time to step it up, they went out and got Calipari. And even though I am not a fan of ole Slick Johnny, the point remains the same. I like the attitude they have. They don't give a shit what you or I think about their program. They are there to win. Period. It's the same way our football program is now with Harbaugh. He is there to get results and most importantly, enjoy doing it. Risk/reward. Stop worrying about what you're going to lose, what the worst case scenario brings, and do something that gets people excited.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:55 AM ^
seriously would not want Kentucky's basketball program. It is built entirely on the one and done concept and is not, in that way, an actual college basketball team. Many of those guys don't ever set foot in a college classroom as they only have to remain eligible to play for one semester. The entire premise is kind of fraudulent.
I get what you are saying regarding our program, but I don't want Kentucky's program. They can keep that.
February 21st, 2017 at 2:38 PM ^
Hired mercenaries- they live in luxury condos which are nicer than probably many of us live in, let alone other students or other student athletes. *A few lucky non athletes get to live there as well to get around the rules. Watching guys for 3-4 years or at least 2 is far more satisfying to me.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:00 AM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 9:36 AM ^
Understanding that this is never happening and I don't support this idea, would we sell out more if Crisler was located in the middle of the diag? I had two reasons why I only went to one weeknight game and only a handful of weekend games.
1. Distance from main campus
2. No university bus service to Crisler to cut down on travel time
If the arena was in the middle of campus, that would eliminate at least an hour of travel time for someone coming from North Campus. I probably would've purchased season tickets.
I don't know if they have free bus service for students now, but that would help. Also, they should do whatever they can to stick to a 7PM start time. If that means fewer games on ESPN, then so be it. Even as TV viewer, I'd prefer the earlier start time.
February 21st, 2017 at 11:33 AM ^
It's definitely a factor - the distance isn't an issue for football 7-8 times/yr but it is for basketball.
I live in CT and Gampel Pavilion is on their central campus, and always packed, men and women. But they're also a basketball school. I think Michigan has to be playing consistently at a high level to fill Crisler.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:41 AM ^
I think it's a mixture of basketball having recently been great and now not being great and football also having been awful the years basketball was being great. Now that football is back to being great and basketball is no longer great, fans only want to see the teams that are currently great, not the teams that were recently great but are now no longer great.
Got it? Great!
February 21st, 2017 at 9:42 AM ^
they are the basketball equivalent of a 7-5 or 6-6 football team. If Hoke had not been fired, Michigan Stadium would have started to get pretty sparse as well. Michigan fans can't tolerate mediocrity
February 21st, 2017 at 9:48 AM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 9:49 AM ^
even though it's usually better than what we do recruit. The football team fits the culture of what the university expects from a football team, but the basketball team doesn't fit what the culture expects from its basketball team. Michigan basketball got hit by a scandal and it stopped trying to be Michigan basketball and started trying to be Duke, Jr because donors were worried that football could be touched by it. There's a reason why Beilein's couple years of success came when he recruited guys whose game was more athletic and tough like M looked in the 80s and 90s than the current rendition of hope our threes go in. Guys like James Young from a few years ago and Josh Jackson should be going to Michigan.
February 21st, 2017 at 9:52 AM ^
Seems pretty newsy. Donnal won't be getting a 5th year.
Next Saturday will be Michigan's Senior Night and John Beilein said on his radio show tonight, that he appreciates all five departing players.
(He included center Mark Donnal, who apparently will play his fifth year elsewhere.)
February 21st, 2017 at 10:04 AM ^
our recent luck is any indicator, that fifth season will be played at Wisconsin where he will hit a game winning three pointer against us next year.
February 21st, 2017 at 1:35 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:04 AM ^
(Going into "get off my grass" mode):
When I was a student, there were exactly two Big Ten schedules per week.
You either played Wed-Sat or Thursday-Sun. It would alternate each week, but those were the two schedules.
Contrast with today, when you could have home games any day of the week.
Also, I took a look - between the only semi marquee non conference home game this year (Texas) and the B1G home schedule, we have ten interesting home game - only 10!
5 of those 10 started at 9pm. PSU game started at 8:30.
On top of that you have the classic 9pm showdowns vs Howard and Central Arkansas.
Basically, the home schedule was complete garbage for fans.
Fix the schedule (and the team a bit) and I'm sure that would help attendance.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:08 AM ^
Lest we forget the lovely scheduled game after the football game on 11/26 against Mount St. Mary's.
Funeral atmosphere.
AD scheduling is clueless. I've outlined it before. The decisions make no sense for the people. Shouldn't you want to maximize your attendance? More people means more money.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:12 AM ^
was a basketball game after The Game? Wow. I didn't even know that. That is malpractice.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:13 AM ^
Are we really complaining about when the Mt St Mary's game was scheduled? Seriously?
February 21st, 2017 at 10:19 AM ^
It's just clueless.
Hockey and MBB both played OSU at the same time. Hockey wasn't even televised so the AD had the say when it would be played.
MBB season opener took place the same time as a Hockey game against top-5 Boston U, who we wound actually beating that night.
The scheduling makes no sense. You're cutting into your attendance, and what a surprise, neither game sold out in either of those examples.
I'm sure John Beilein found playing Howard at 9pm completely necessary.
February 21st, 2017 at 12:13 PM ^
I'm fairly certain the basketball staff has more to do with their scheduling than the department. There may be a couple of games that the AD wants to schedule, but it's the coaching staff scheduling a majority of the games. AD obviously has to "approve" the schedule.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:27 AM ^
This generation of college kids doesn't have the passion for athletics that prior generations did, and they are too busy staring at their God forsaken phones to care about REAL action and athleticism going on around them. If they can't Share it/tweet it/ emoji it, how can it possibly be relevant. Facebook is the devil, and needs to die
February 21st, 2017 at 10:30 AM ^
About that.
If that was the case, there wouldn't be sold out games in college football and certain basketball schools every week.
People are just as passionate as they've always been. They just broadcast it more now because there's an avenue for that.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:49 AM ^
Twitter has helped me keep a closer eye on our teams.
I've been having notifications for U-M teams sent to my phone back when I had a metroPCS phone through SMS twitter.
February 21st, 2017 at 11:00 AM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 11:02 AM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 1:34 PM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 1:30 PM ^
Isn't even that popular with college kids as it is compared with adults these days. Instagram is the most popular with their demographics if I'm mistaken
February 21st, 2017 at 10:33 AM ^
February 21st, 2017 at 10:34 AM ^
There wouldn't be a basketball thread without you reminding people they don't care about basketball.
February 21st, 2017 at 10:44 AM ^