Mark Rudi @mrudi19
5m

Attendance for this year's WAC Tourney final between NMSU-Bakersfield was 2,444, up from 1,673 between same two teams in 2016 WAC final

Mark Rudi @mrudi19
3m

WAC men's basketball tournament semifinals attendance was also up in 2017. 2,190 attended WAC semis this year, up from 1,729 in 2016.

(03-27-2017 05:44 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  Mark Rudi @mrudi19
5m

Attendance for this year's WAC Tourney final between NMSU-Bakersfield was 2,444, up from 1,673 between same two teams in 2016 WAC final

Mark Rudi @mrudi19
3m

WAC men's basketball tournament semifinals attendance was also up in 2017. 2,190 attended WAC semis this year, up from 1,729 in 2016.

I expect the attendance numbers to increase substantially now that GCU is tournament eligible. NMSU brings approximately 1000 fans, I would be disappointed if GCU doesn't bring at least that many to the WAC tourney next season.

I saw a bit of the title game on ESPNU. It was so late here on the east coast that I didn't watch for long, but the crowd looked pretty good. How many does Orleans Arena seat for basketball?

(03-27-2017 06:16 PM)72Tiger Wrote:  I saw a bit of the title game on ESPNU. It was so late here on the east coast that I didn't watch for long, but the crowd looked pretty good. How many does Orleans Arena seat for basketball?

7,471 for Basketball.

Only 3 teams are realistically going to bring fans for bball. NMSU, Bako when they're good like this year, and GCU this coming year. Thats what it seemed like on broadcasts at least.

Can anyone there confirm how many fans of each school they saw?

We ran a Twitter poll of SU fans and if they A) were going this year B) have gone but not this year C)/D) havent gone for price/level of caring.... and unsurprisingly all 20+ people to even respond answered C or D

(03-27-2017 09:00 PM)SeattleVandals Wrote:  Only 3 teams are realistically going to bring fans for bball. NMSU, Bako when they're good like this year, and GCU this coming year. Thats what it seemed like on broadcasts at least.

Can anyone there confirm how many fans of each school they saw?

We ran a Twitter poll of SU fans and if they A) were going this year B) have gone but not this year C)/D) havent gone for price/level of caring.... and unsurprisingly all 20+ people to even respond answered C or D

Utah Valley brought a decent group; approximately a hundred or more. If the WAC can prosper the next 6 years, Cal Baptist should add to the WAC Tournament environment once they are eligible.

(03-27-2017 06:12 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-27-2017 05:44 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  Mark Rudi @mrudi19
5m

Attendance for this year's WAC Tourney final between NMSU-Bakersfield was 2,444, up from 1,673 between same two teams in 2016 WAC final

Mark Rudi @mrudi19
3m

WAC men's basketball tournament semifinals attendance was also up in 2017. 2,190 attended WAC semis this year, up from 1,729 in 2016.

I expect the attendance numbers to increase substantially now that GCU is tournament eligible. NMSU brings approximately 1000 fans, I would be disappointed if GCU doesn't bring at least that many to the WAC tourney next season.

Given the novelty of it being GCU's first season of eligibility, I expect turnout at the Orleans will be solid. It is a real possibility, however, that attendance for GCU doesn't approach that 1000 mark. Students will rally, just like they do for the LC roadie. Even if they doubled the NMSU trip numbers, that gets GCU to a generous 400-500 Havocs?

They great unknown will be if/how adult GCU fans (ie alumni, University employees, etc) turn out. Casual fans and community groups will be off the table. I think we will learn a lot about how big the core fan base really is for GCU. Even though the arena is near or over capacity every night, my gut tells me that core is much smaller than some might expect.

(03-28-2017 01:08 AM)gleadley Wrote:  

(03-27-2017 06:12 PM)NMSUPistolPete Wrote:  

(03-27-2017 05:44 PM)CrimsonPhantom Wrote:  Mark Rudi @mrudi19
5m

Attendance for this year's WAC Tourney final between NMSU-Bakersfield was 2,444, up from 1,673 between same two teams in 2016 WAC final

Mark Rudi @mrudi19
3m

WAC men's basketball tournament semifinals attendance was also up in 2017. 2,190 attended WAC semis this year, up from 1,729 in 2016.

I expect the attendance numbers to increase substantially now that GCU is tournament eligible. NMSU brings approximately 1000 fans, I would be disappointed if GCU doesn't bring at least that many to the WAC tourney next season.

Given the novelty of it being GCU's first season of eligibility, I expect turnout at the Orleans will be solid. It is a real possibility, however, that attendance for GCU doesn't approach that 1000 mark. Students will rally, just like they do for the LC roadie. Even if they doubled the NMSU trip numbers, that gets GCU to a generous 400-500 Havocs?

They great unknown will be if/how adult GCU fans (ie alumni, University employees, etc) turn out. Casual fans and community groups will be off the table. I think we will learn a lot about how big the core fan base really is for GCU. Even though the arena is near or over capacity every night, my gut tells me that core is much smaller than some might expect.

You are absolutely correct. If NMSU had GCU ticket pricing policy, we would have 8000-10000 fans at every game. I would say this year there were at least 1500 Aggie fans at the tourney. There are always two sections right behind the Aggie bench that are full, but this year the opposite side of the arena of the benches was packed and I would say 99% of them were Aggie fans. All the other schools definitely brought more fans this year with the exception of Chicago State.