The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

(01-26-2015 03:07 PM)CajunBlazer Wrote:  I have been attending UAB basketball game since the program inception and have attend almost every home game since Bartow Arena opened.

There was time when UAB played at the BJCC, where big games like DePaul were sold out - over16,000 - and I would say that low attendance against inferior opponents in those days was in the 5,000 range.

All of that changed when when we moved most of the games to the new on campus facility - now known as Bartow Arena. (At first big games were still played at the BJCC.) However, it wasn't the change of venues that was the problem. It was about that time the letter which Gene Bartow had sent to the NCAA two years before was leaked to press. the letter pointed out cheating in Alabama basketball recruiting.

Until then many Alabama football fans in Birmingham were also UAB basketball fans. However, with the release of the letter many of those fans were really ticked off because in the letter Gene insinuated that Bear Bryant tolerated cheating and Bryant was considered a god by most Alabama fans. Most of those fans quit coming to UAB basketball games and vowed never to return. We lost a good percentage of our fans as result of that letter being released. Since that time we rarely fill up the 8,500 seats at Bartow.

Since that time attendance at UAB basketball, while reduced from its hay day, has varied from from year to year depending on the performance of the team, the amount of enthusiasm they generated, and the quality of the opponents. Games before Christmas are usually less well attended unless we are playing a big name opponent, while games after the holidays are usually better attended. Students are more likely to attend games during the week than on the weekend.

All of that said, Given the quality of the play lately and with all other factor considered, I would say that attendance right now is lower than what I would normally expect. I contribute that to the Watts factor. From what I have observed, there are UAB fans, including Blazer Club members, that are far more interested in football than basketball. I suspect some people who are not big basketball fans don't feel like supporting one of the UAB athletic programs which is supposed to benefit funding wise by the cutting of football.

That said, I expect attendance will continue to improve through out the rest of this year if the team continues playing well.

You know what, I think you're right about that CajunBlazer. And it's too bad for everybody.