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

so, yesterday it was asked why our attendance was so poor at the ODU game. when i said it was pretty average, i think it was suggested that I'm not very familiar with UAB basketball

when i said average, i meant that attendance (4,127) was pretty consistent with our average over the years. looking back over the years, i stand by that (especially if you break down game by game attendance over the years). however, yes it was quite a bit off of the season average of 2,901.

it was stated that our attendance has steadily gotten worse over the last few years. this years attendance is awful, but i don't think its gotten "steadily worse."

it was also suggested that attendance was down because of the watts fiasco. prior to his announcement, we averaged 2250. afterwards, 3226. the last 3 home games have been our 2nd, 3rd and 4th highest attended of the season (behind LSU).

For many years, attendance has been pretty crappy and has been a pretty consistent group. When the team is really good, a few more people come out. When really bad, a few stay home. But on top of the standard group, the only thing that consistently brings out extra people is an SEC or highly ranked opponent rolling into town. Over the previous 14 years, we've averaged 4825. granted, we haven't had that many since 2010/11, but 1) we also haven't won 20 games since then and 2) our conference opponents aren't helping as much with attendance as they once did

if this team stays on a roll, attendance for this year will pick up a bit (will probably still be well below average). if they stay on a roll and start well next season, attendance will be back up to average...and again, somebody will suggest that they miss the days when there were a lot more people at every game.

below, you can see the records and home attendance for the past decade and a half

2014/2015: 10-10---2901
2013/2014: 18-13---4304
12/13: 16-17---4118
11/12: 15-16---4564 (davis' last season)
10/11: 22-9---5167
09/10: 25-9---5970
08/09: 22-21---4953
07/08: 23-11---5011
06/07: 15-16---4752 (davis' first season)
05/06: 24-7---5465 (anderson's last season)
04/05: 22-11---6037
03/04: 22-10---4909
02/03: 21-13---4423 (anderson's first season)
01/02: 13-17---3927 (murry's last season)
00/01: 17-14---3952

Combine Watts and early season struggles and you get bad attendance

UAB needs a 5500 seat arena now. Clearly with the future of our conference affiliation in limbo, we definitely wouldn't need a 8500 seat arena for Sun Belt or Big South foes. And it definitely doesn't look as if we needed for this current CUSA.

(01-25-2015 09:03 AM)mobileblazer Wrote:  Combine Watts and early season struggles and you get bad attendance

So you think watts has made attendance worse?

Watts has made attendance worse.

People not showing up to games doesn't help.

Apathy. Getting people to come out to our games is tough enough. The whole Watts fiasco(rumors started prior to basketball season) just gives people one more reason to stay home. Poor ol UAB, why bother, they don't have a say. Watts has soured many come every so often fans. We will need to win them back.
1) get rid of Watts
2) have leaders with "the" vision for UAB
3) Watch this team as they grow up and on to bigger things.

When is the last time UAB has have a big marketing push in Birmingham? Meaning TV, billboards, promotional events at the games...

I used to see ads on TV all the time for UAB football and basketball, but in the past three or four years those have dried up. Nothing going on at the game other than the game. As if the athletics department doesn't have a marketing team at all. Maybe that should be a focus of the new AD, regardless of what happens with football. They need to put UAB out there in the community and make people want to come to the games, whatever sports we end up with.

(01-25-2015 09:38 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Watts has made attendance worse.

I'm not buying this. You can't pin poor attendance on this Watts thing. If anything, I would think the Watts ordeal has galvanized UAB fans. At least that's the freaking hope.

Attendance is at an all-time low because our record was awful to start the season, no one is familiar with these young players and and we're not playing basketball at home anymore. If we would have upset a few teams in the Bahamas, been ranked early in the season, gone to the tourney last year, had established players or an established coach, then attendance would be better. Attendance will improve as the team improves and starts getting some pub. No more talk of needing a smaller arena or whatever. No more talk of Watts causing attendance problems. All nonsense. Just get better.

(01-25-2015 10:18 AM)mixduptransistor Wrote:  When is the last time UAB has have a big marketing push in Birmingham? Meaning TV, billboards, promotional events at the games...

I used to see ads on TV all the time for UAB football and basketball, but in the past three or four years those have dried up. Nothing going on at the game other than the game. As if the athletics department doesn't have a marketing team at all. Maybe that should be a focus of the new AD, regardless of what happens with football. They need to put UAB out there in the community and make people want to come to the games, whatever sports we end up with.

Great point.

If everyone threw their full support into basketball (& ignored the football issue) then Watts would be happy.

People know this.

There have been several games so far this year that should have had at least 3 to 4 thousand in attendance, instead it was around 1500 at best.

(01-25-2015 10:18 AM)Agent Orange Sauce Wrote:  

(01-25-2015 09:38 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Watts has made attendance worse.

I'm not buying this. You can't pin poor attendance on this Watts thing. If anything, I would think the Watts ordeal has galvanized UAB fans. At least that's the freaking hope.

Attendance is at an all-time low because our record was awful to start the season, no one is familiar with these young players and and we're not playing basketball at home anymore. If we would have upset a few teams in the Bahamas, been ranked early in the season, gone to the tourney last year, had established players or an established coach, then attendance would be better. Attendance will improve as the team improves and starts getting some pub. No more talk of needing a smaller arena or whatever. No more talk of Watts causing attendance problems. All nonsense. Just get better.

For me and my family your explanation of attendance partially fits. We had never been to a U of B basketball game before the canceling of the football team. This whole UABOT fiasco has "Galvanized" our support for UAB athletics and our city of Birmingham. Its no secret how the UABOT has steered the masses towards two product lines (Alabama)or(Auburn).

(01-25-2015 10:24 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  If everyone threw their full support into basketball (& ignored the football issue) then Watts would be happy.

People know this.

There have been several games so far this year that should have had at least 3 to 4 thousand in attendance, instead it was around 1500 at best.

You people should make up your mind. I thought destroying all athletics made Watts happy. Now you say supporting basketball makes him happy. Please decide once and for all what makes him happy.

Supporting basketball doesn't make Watts happy.

Fans ignoring what he did to football is what really makes him happy.

He just wants everyone to believe that he did it for basketball.

We know better.

(01-25-2015 10:48 AM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(01-25-2015 10:24 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  If everyone threw their full support into basketball (& ignored the football issue) then Watts would be happy.

People know this.

There have been several games so far this year that should have had at least 3 to 4 thousand in attendance, instead it was around 1500 at best.

You people should make up your mind. I thought destroying all athletics made Watts happy. Now you say supporting basketball makes him happy. Please decide once and for all what makes him happy.

MB, this is just my logic, if the basketball team is successful in conference it makes the perceived plan of moving the total athletic program out of CUSA or D1 a tough road for Watts and company. It would be easier to justify as they have done with football if there is minimal support. So I have pulled my head out of the sand as a concerned Alabama citizen and started supporting.

(01-25-2015 09:38 AM)the_blazerman Wrote:  Watts has made attendance worse.

i don't buy it, and i agree with AOS and bearded dragon.

Last year, November, we averaged 3500 (went 5-2). This year, in Nov, 2300 (went 2-5). i can't see how one can blame watts for that. i don't recall anybody saying they weren't going to games b/c of rumors of the football team shutting down. we were a very young team, and many of the casual fans believed it might be one of the worst teams we ever put on the floor, and they didn't want to show up to watch

Last year, in Dec, we averaged 4475 (went 10-3 with a huge crowd against UNC). This year, in Dec, 3365 (went 4-9, our worst ever record through our first 13 games). given those records and opponents, i think almost anybody would predict that last years attendance would be much better. the main effect Watts had on these was that the student section greatly increased for a couple of games (it seems that they've dropped to their previous level of apathy--although i can't really see the student section, so i don't know that for sure).

last year, going into the ODU game, we were 13-6. 2,491 people showed up to watch.
this year, going into the ODU game, we were 9-10, 4,127 people showed up

--after the loss to Illinois State, we stood at 3-6. For the next home game, against UNC-Asheville, 2,100 showed up (not shocking).
--had a good crowd for the LSU game, as fans come out to watch the SEC.
--went on the road, closing the trip with a good win against MTSU, next game, 2400 showed up for FAU.
--at 2-0 in conference, 2,800 came out for FIU
--went on the road, came back at 4-1 in conference, 3,000 showed up for charlotte
--at 5-1, 4,100 came out for ODU (a lot more than last year)

as we've started winning, attendance has gone up every single game since the Illinois State loss (except for the SEC fans)

I think it's really just a bunch of issues that will be resolved with time. Two of the most prominent reasons are probably being relatively lackluster since making the NCAA tournament around a decade ago and the lack of conference awareness for the most part. People knew Louisville, Memphis, Marquette, Cincinnati, etc. and would be up for those games and not so much North Texas, Charlotte, etc. As we collectively get better, get some teams ranked, and start getting more bids to the tournament, that could change in a big way. Same thing with our team. Coach Haase has turned a corner. Win and people will turn out. Marketing is another issue that I hope the school would make a better effort in.

I think we're well on a way, and that's really good with the conference tournament looming on the horizon.

As far as Dr. Watts go, I think he has had a minimal impact. Some people are probably still boycotting, and some people are probably coming out when they normally wouldn't to support in light of the circumstances. I do believe he ultimately wants basketball and athletics in general to flop. The new Dr. Watts will make sure to say he fully supports basketball, though.

People that used to come with me(preWatts) no matter our record refuse my constant offers. They are just unwilling to commit to UAB as they wait for the next shoe to fall. We have turned off some and turned on some. I just know Watts unilateral decision has had a negative impact on the group I regularly attend with as well as myself. In my little group attendance is much less because of Watts.

The team on the floor last night was the best UAB basketball team I've seen in quite a while. Get out and support them. They deserve it. Staying home does not hurt Watts.

Attendance is a function of more than one variable. Many variables are involved. You can't just focus on one variable and draw conclusions. It's not that simple!

I believe one of the many variables is the Watts Effect. Admittedly the Watts Effect had an immediate positive response in the student section, but that has cycled down now.

The uncertainty of whether UAB will even be in C-USA next season is another variable. I for one am not very excited to watch UAB play conference games when the threat of being kicked out of the conference is hanging over our heads.

The ever present threat of the UA/Bryant Bank dominated BOT is another factor. UAB doesn't even have control of their own school.

The poor showing, or lack of wins, early in the season is a factor.

Having a bunch of new, young players could be a factor.

Not being in the Big Dance or even the NIT lately is a factor.

The weather is a factor.

Promotion or lack of promotion is a factor.

There is a lot to consider when trying to understand attendance numbers. It's extremely complex. To think otherwise is naive.

This is not a differential equation, this is a partial differential equation with more variables than we can even imagine. Even if we just consider the main variables, the ones with the most weight, it would be difficult to grasp.

Therefore, IMHO, the Watts Effect is real and it is having a negative impact on attendance, particularly with non-students. To what degree? Who knows?

However, it's still fun to speculate.