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Games 2/9
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The Optimist Offline
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Post: #21
RE: Games 2/9
(02-10-2013 01:17 AM)Campbell4President Wrote:  
(02-09-2013 05:05 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  official attendance for Ohio/BG announced at 10,846.

Ohio fans:

What is your average attendance for this year? It amazes me that you guys can get that many to attend your games in the middle of nowhere when in a metro area the size of Toledo, we get 4200. Hopefully with a full squad next year, there will be more excitement and we'll be bringing in better crowds in T Town.

6,488

The Convo is an old building, but it is a special college hoops venue, IMO. It has a big-time feel to it. When students walk in, they get that "wow" factor and get excited about Ohio basketball. Since so many Ohio University students live on campus, the support from them is key.

The 1:30 drive from Columbus for many alums isn't too bad when you consider low ticket prices, a usually good on-floor product, a major-level atmosphere and getting to return to the place where you spent the greatest 4ish years of your life. This is especially doable on Saturdays..
02-10-2013 11:13 AM
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ksu sucks Offline
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Post: #22
RE: Games 2/9
(02-10-2013 10:53 AM)RobertN Wrote:  university is pretty much the only thing they have to do.

That might be true, but I still think OU deserves recognition for their attendance. (Although given some of the goofy things their fans say, I don't blame others for giving them a hard time)

Out of curiosity, I looked into OU's attendance for the year. Yesterday's crowd of 10,000 was certainly an anomaly. It's the second highest this season after their home opener of 12,194. That brings their season average to 6462. (Arena seats 13000 by the way)

OU's attendance is funny, though. They had ~4500 against Buffalo on a Saturday. That's less than what Akron had versus Buffalo on a Saturday. Then they were able to jump to ~10,000 yesterday vs BG.

Regardless, they should be commended for their attendance.
(This post was last modified: 02-10-2013 12:06 PM by ksu sucks.)
02-10-2013 12:05 PM
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The Optimist Offline
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Post: #23
RE: Games 2/9
(02-10-2013 12:05 PM)ksu sucks Wrote:  
(02-10-2013 10:53 AM)RobertN Wrote:  university is pretty much the only thing they have to do.
OU's attendance is funny, though. They had ~4500 against Buffalo on a Saturday. That's less than what Akron had versus Buffalo on a Saturday. Then they were able to jump to ~10,000 yesterday vs BG.

The Buffalo game was when students were on Winter Break. No doubt about it, Ohio's attendance is heavily dependent on the students being in town.
02-10-2013 12:14 PM
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perimeterpost Offline
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Post: #24
RE: Games 2/9
(02-10-2013 10:53 AM)RobertN Wrote:  
(02-10-2013 01:17 AM)Campbell4President Wrote:  
(02-09-2013 05:05 PM)perimeterpost Wrote:  official attendance for Ohio/BG announced at 10,846.

Ohio fans:

What is your average attendance for this year? It amazes me that you guys can get that many to attend your games in the middle of nowhere when in a metro area the size of Toledo, we get 4200. Hopefully with a full squad next year, there will be more excitement and we'll be bringing in better crowds in T Town.
Well, because in the middle of nowhere, a sporting event at the university is pretty much the only thing they have to do.

I don't agree with that logic. If that were the case then we we would see the same gap in other sports, such as football.

South East Ohio is sparsely populated with a high poverty rate and very few alumni. Most alums have to travel from the Cleveland or Columbus areas. I believe the locals and alums turnout in spite of these obstacles not because of a lack of entertainment options, but because the product has been consistently good for decades and the Convo has a big time feel to it. Also, the student section is the largest in the MAC not because a perennial top 5 party school has a lack of entertainment options, let's be real.

If there's one thing about Ohio's crowds that other schools could borrow from I think it would be the decision to prioritize the student and band seating areas. Ohio doesn't divide their students and put them under the baskets, they are front and center in prime seats across from the benches. Also, the band sits directly across from the vistor's bench and plays really loud during time outs. I believe a lively student section is also a draw to the locals as it ads to the atmosphere. Prioritize the students and the locals and alums will follow.

In this pic you can see the placement of the student section with the band on the far right end of it.

[Image: convo_pano.jpg]
02-10-2013 12:18 PM
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JSF Offline
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Post: #25
RE: Games 2/9
Ugh, how much long are people going to trot out the "there's nothing else to do" trope? It's the 21st Century. There is EVERYTHING ELSE TO DO. Never in human history have there been more options of things to do.
02-10-2013 02:05 PM
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ksu sucks Offline
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Post: #26
RE: Games 2/9
The only negative to OU's location is that there isn't a large population base to draw fans from. I think that's obvious from the abrupt decrease in attendance during winter break. That decrease led to a somewhat average MAC turnout.

There is no question that OU's attendance is buoyed by their strong student support. That sounds like a problem most MAC schools wished they had.

Akron has certain limitations that make OU's student section set up impossible. Only ~1,000 student tickets are given out for big games like OU and Kent State. The other ~5,000 tickets are sold to alumni/casual Northeast Ohio sports fans. The worst part is, the student section is forcibly broken up into three sections(due to the JAR's ridiculous design). It makes it hard to develop a loud, unified student section similar to what Akron soccer had going.

I have confidence that the athletic department will eventually build a new arena, especially given the increasing student/casual fan attendance. There's a lot of rumors floating around but nothing of substance yet.

Until then...just keep winning..the JAR is LOUD when it's sold out.
(This post was last modified: 02-10-2013 06:04 PM by ksu sucks.)
02-10-2013 06:03 PM
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OhioBobcatJohn Offline
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Post: #27
RE: Games 2/9
Ohio also has been very creative with promotions. For Next Saturday's 11am tip they are giving away McDonalds breakfast to the first thousand students who can get out of bed that early. Blackout Breakfast they are calling it. Blackout jerseys usually means Ohio brings their A game. Ohio is very good when that happens.
02-11-2013 01:10 AM
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UofToledoFans Offline
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Post: #28
RE: Games 2/9
It's weird how some schools have a focus on attending sporting events and cheering. OU has great student support. Toledo just isn't recognized as a basketball school. Although OU isn't much better than Toledo, they have built an atomosphere/ tradition of a basketball school. Toledo's men could be at sell outs as early as next year if they continue to build the program! But with an arena of 7,300+ I couldn't see Toledo selling out for their WNIT championship run in a building that held 13,000. Kudo's to you Ohio.

To EMU, and some other MAC schools struggling with attendance Toledo is probably considered big time, because we have fans ranging from 3-6k per game. Ohio is really the team that should be looked upon as innovative.... 5-11k is insane.
(This post was last modified: 02-11-2013 01:56 AM by UofToledoFans.)
02-11-2013 01:52 AM
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