(02-15-2019 10:14 AM)7 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 01:23 AM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  It is basketball season and a recruiting thread ends up engaged in football attendance issues. Sorry statement for state of NIU MBB. I try to get to a couple of games each year for football and basketball and admit I like watching games on ESPN when cold. I am too old to take the cold for outdoor football season.

Bsketball season doesn’t exist at NIU. It’s foktball season or waiting for football season

If you have been to a football game recently, you would say there is no football season either, unless you mean IHSA. I guess fans still support high school football. The MAC is actually turning into a pretty darn good basketball league. Reports from Toledo this evening are indicating a full house in attendance for the invasion of #25 Buffalo. If the MAC is going FCS in football, Id think it would be wise for schools that have not invested much in basketball to get on board or they will be left behind. Basketball is probably going to be the only major sport at some MAC schools in a decade. Akron, Ohio, Kent, Toledo, Buffalo are already ahead of the game in this regard.

(02-14-2019 03:35 PM)Beach Boy Wrote:  

(02-14-2019 03:02 PM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  The Illini use to draw between 50,000-60,000 a game at the beginning of the decade.
It's now down below 40,000.

Hell, I attended a game at Champaign in the 80s that drew 78,000 — an alltime record. Almost literally bumped into Keith Jackson. Unforgettable. Things really have changed for the Fighting Illini ...

Whoa Nelly!

Sent from my SM-G950U using Tapatalk

Ok, nap over. Since this thread has gone over from recruiting to football whatever (more or less) this is the first of two posts on attendance. I have official home stats going back to 1995 (being an admitted fanatic FB fan since a student in 1973 myself). (if you can figure out how old I am from that, you'd be wrong ... but please don't anyway).

Some notes on this post: Northern actually began weekday night games to get on tv back in 1999, but those were openers. Mid- to late-season weekday games began in 2004, which I have delineated with +++++. There were no weekday games in 2007. Note the attendance drop-off beginning in about 2014.

Do what you want with this.

WEEKDAY GAMES, HOME, ATTENDANCE
1999:
Western Ill. 17,930 (thurs)
2001:
South Florida 14,426 (thurs)
2002:
Wake Forest 19,653 (thurs)
2003:
Maryland 28,018 (thurs)
++++++++++++++++++
2004:
Bowling Green 25,819 (fri)
2005:
Ball State 18,732 (weds)
Western Michigan 18,361 (thurs)
2006:
Toledo 19,267 (tues)
Central Michigan 18,139 (fri)
2007:
(none)
2008:
Central Michigan 13,543 (weds)
Navy 17,932 (tues)
2009:
Eastern Michigan 10,527 (thurs)
Ball State 13,305 (thurs)
2010:
Toledo 18,472 (tues)
2011:
Ball State 12,391 (tues)
Eastern Michigan 13,012 (tues)
2012:
Toledo 17,813 (weds)
2013:
Ball State 18,290 (weds)
Western Michigan 17,679 (tues)
2014:
Toledo 8,462 (tues)
2015:
WMU 10,194 (weds)
Ohio 9,755 (tues)
2016:
Bowling Green 4,790 (tues)
Toledo (Chicago game) 10,180 (weds)
2017:
Boston College 16,421 (fri)
EMU 8,872 (thurs)
Ball State 6,603 (Thurs)
WMU 7,732 (Weds)
2018:
Toledo 5,887 (weds)
Miami-Ohio 4,878 (weds)

Ok, here's the other one. Again, note the drop-off beginning in 2014. Home attendance at HS hit a peak in '02 to '06. Any opinions what happened after '13?

AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE. Huskie Stadium only; does not include Chicago games.

1995: 15,264
1996: 12,964
1997: 13,093
1998: 15,475
1999: 11,752
2000: 15,757
2001: 14,604
2002: 20,956
2003: 23,575
2004: 27,052
2005: 22,176
2006: 20,771
2007: 17,863
2008: 18,095
2009: 14,889
2010: 17,760
2011: 18,253
2012: 15,670
2013: 20,669
2014: 13,563
2015: 13,942
2016: 10,879
2017; 11,291
2018: 10,404

(02-15-2019 07:15 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Ok, here's the other one. Again, note the drop-off beginning in 2014. Home attendance at HS hit a peak in '02 to '06. Any opinions what happened after '13?

AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE. Huskie Stadium only; does not include Chicago games.

1995: 15,264
1996: 12,964
1997: 13,093
1998: 15,475
1999: 11,752
2000: 15,757
2001: 14,604
2002: 20,956
2003: 23,575
2004: 27,052
2005: 22,176
2006: 20,771
2007: 17,863
2008: 18,095
2009: 14,889
2010: 17,760
2011: 18,253
2012: 15,670
2013: 20,669
2014: 13,563
2015: 13,942
2016: 10,879
2017; 11,291
2018: 10,404

Averaging 15,000 fans the year you make the Orange Bowl is just pathetic lol. Played 1 weeknight game in Huskie Stadium and had a big 12 team visit that year.

(02-15-2019 07:15 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Ok, here's the other one. Again, note the drop-off beginning in 2014. Home attendance at HS hit a peak in '02 to '06. Any opinions what happened after '13?

AVERAGE HOME ATTENDANCE. Huskie Stadium only; does not include Chicago games.

1995: 15,264
1996: 12,964
1997: 13,093
1998: 15,475
1999: 11,752
2000: 15,757
2001: 14,604
2002: 20,956
2003: 23,575
2004: 27,052
2005: 22,176
2006: 20,771
2007: 17,863
2008: 18,095
2009: 14,889
2010: 17,760
2011: 18,253
2012: 15,670
2013: 20,669
2014: 13,563
2015: 13,942
2016: 10,879
2017; 11,291
2018: 10,404

As long as ESPN deal continues, should continue to see that drop. Hopefully we get a slight Hammock bump but it wont overcome larger scale trend. Hate to beat a dead horse but you just have to find a way make the schedule accessible to fans again. Joe q public fan is not going to rearrange their lives anymore

(02-15-2019 05:03 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 10:14 AM)7 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 01:23 AM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  It is basketball season and a recruiting thread ends up engaged in football attendance issues. Sorry statement for state of NIU MBB. I try to get to a couple of games each year for football and basketball and admit I like watching games on ESPN when cold. I am too old to take the cold for outdoor football season.

Bsketball season doesn’t exist at NIU. It’s foktball season or waiting for football season

If you have been to a football game recently, you would say there is no football season either, unless you mean IHSA. I guess fans still support high school football. The MAC is actually turning into a pretty darn good basketball league. Reports from Toledo this evening are indicating a full house in attendance for the invasion of #25 Buffalo. If the MAC is going FCS in football, Id think it would be wise for schools that have not invested much in basketball to get on board or they will be left behind. Basketball is probably going to be the only major sport at some MAC schools in a decade. Akron, Ohio, Kent, Toledo, Buffalo are already ahead of the game in this regard.

No I meant the basketball program is hot ass and has been for 2 decades now. Has nothing to do with attendance

(02-15-2019 10:57 PM)7 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 05:03 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 10:14 AM)7 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 01:23 AM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  It is basketball season and a recruiting thread ends up engaged in football attendance issues. Sorry statement for state of NIU MBB. I try to get to a couple of games each year for football and basketball and admit I like watching games on ESPN when cold. I am too old to take the cold for outdoor football season.

Bsketball season doesn’t exist at NIU. It’s foktball season or waiting for football season

If you have been to a football game recently, you would say there is no football season either, unless you mean IHSA. I guess fans still support high school football. The MAC is actually turning into a pretty darn good basketball league. Reports from Toledo this evening are indicating a full house in attendance for the invasion of #25 Buffalo. If the MAC is going FCS in football, Id think it would be wise for schools that have not invested much in basketball to get on board or they will be left behind. Basketball is probably going to be the only major sport at some MAC schools in a decade. Akron, Ohio, Kent, Toledo, Buffalo are already ahead of the game in this regard.

No I meant the basketball program is hot ass and has been for 2 decades now. Has nothing to do with attendance

Neither program has a fan base right now, they are similar in that respect.

(02-15-2019 11:17 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 10:57 PM)7 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 05:03 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 10:14 AM)7 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 01:23 AM)MGMFIN86 Wrote:  It is basketball season and a recruiting thread ends up engaged in football attendance issues. Sorry statement for state of NIU MBB. I try to get to a couple of games each year for football and basketball and admit I like watching games on ESPN when cold. I am too old to take the cold for outdoor football season.

Bsketball season doesn’t exist at NIU. It’s foktball season or waiting for football season

If you have been to a football game recently, you would say there is no football season either, unless you mean IHSA. I guess fans still support high school football. The MAC is actually turning into a pretty darn good basketball league. Reports from Toledo this evening are indicating a full house in attendance for the invasion of #25 Buffalo. If the MAC is going FCS in football, Id think it would be wise for schools that have not invested much in basketball to get on board or they will be left behind. Basketball is probably going to be the only major sport at some MAC schools in a decade. Akron, Ohio, Kent, Toledo, Buffalo are already ahead of the game in this regard.

No I meant the basketball program is hot ass and has been for 2 decades now. Has nothing to do with attendance

Neither program has a fan base right now, they are similar in that respect.

Actually football has a big following. You will see what I’m talking about this season. Hammock has a lot of alumni excited again. As for NIU basketball? They suck plain and simple and done so for decades. Nobody outside of a handful of dog pound members care about NIU basketball. They need an NCAA tournament run to even remotely catch anyone’s attention. That’s what decades of losing will do to you.

(02-16-2019 03:59 AM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 11:17 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 10:57 PM)7 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 05:03 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 10:14 AM)7 Wrote:  Bsketball season doesn’t exist at NIU. It’s foktball season or waiting for football season

If you have been to a football game recently, you would say there is no football season either, unless you mean IHSA. I guess fans still support high school football. The MAC is actually turning into a pretty darn good basketball league. Reports from Toledo this evening are indicating a full house in attendance for the invasion of #25 Buffalo. If the MAC is going FCS in football, Id think it would be wise for schools that have not invested much in basketball to get on board or they will be left behind. Basketball is probably going to be the only major sport at some MAC schools in a decade. Akron, Ohio, Kent, Toledo, Buffalo are already ahead of the game in this regard.

No I meant the basketball program is hot ass and has been for 2 decades now. Has nothing to do with attendance

Neither program has a fan base right now, they are similar in that respect.

Actually football has a big following. You will see what I’m talking about this season. Hammock has a lot of alumni excited again. As for NIU basketball? They suck plain and simple and done so for decades. Nobody outside of a handful of dog pound members care about NIU basketball. They need an NCAA tournament run to even remotely catch anyone’s attention. That’s what decades of losing will do to you.

NIU football won the MAC this year and noone cares at all. It's sad times for sure. I do think you might be onto something with Hammock though. Since he was hired I've noticed NIUs social media interaction has taken sharp upward turn. I think a new basketball hire and few players to get excited about would do the same thing for hoops.

(02-16-2019 04:12 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-16-2019 03:59 AM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 11:17 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 10:57 PM)7 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 05:03 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  If you have been to a football game recently, you would say there is no football season either, unless you mean IHSA. I guess fans still support high school football. The MAC is actually turning into a pretty darn good basketball league. Reports from Toledo this evening are indicating a full house in attendance for the invasion of #25 Buffalo. If the MAC is going FCS in football, Id think it would be wise for schools that have not invested much in basketball to get on board or they will be left behind. Basketball is probably going to be the only major sport at some MAC schools in a decade. Akron, Ohio, Kent, Toledo, Buffalo are already ahead of the game in this regard.

No I meant the basketball program is hot ass and has been for 2 decades now. Has nothing to do with attendance

Neither program has a fan base right now, they are similar in that respect.

Actually football has a big following. You will see what I’m talking about this season. Hammock has a lot of alumni excited again. As for NIU basketball? They suck plain and simple and done so for decades. Nobody outside of a handful of dog pound members care about NIU basketball. They need an NCAA tournament run to even remotely catch anyone’s attention. That’s what decades of losing will do to you.

NIU football won the MAC this year and noone cares at all. It's sad times for sure. I do think you might be onto something with Hammock though. Since he was hired I've noticed NIUs social media interaction has taken sharp upward turn. I think a new basketball hire and few players to get excited about would do the same thing for hoops.

Yep Seems like all the coaches have bought in and are drawing a lot of hype to the program via social media. You could tell the alumni love the hire and are excited to see what happens. I’d expect a boost in attendance this year.
How long is Monty’s contract? He really needs to go. NIU b-ball has been better with him but he can’t take them to the next step (NCAA tourney). A fresh face may be able to change the culture and recruiting.

(02-16-2019 09:06 AM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(02-16-2019 04:12 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-16-2019 03:59 AM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 11:17 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 10:57 PM)7 Wrote:  No I meant the basketball program is hot ass and has been for 2 decades now. Has nothing to do with attendance

Neither program has a fan base right now, they are similar in that respect.

Actually football has a big following. You will see what I’m talking about this season. Hammock has a lot of alumni excited again. As for NIU basketball? They suck plain and simple and done so for decades. Nobody outside of a handful of dog pound members care about NIU basketball. They need an NCAA tournament run to even remotely catch anyone’s attention. That’s what decades of losing will do to you.

NIU football won the MAC this year and noone cares at all. It's sad times for sure. I do think you might be onto something with Hammock though. Since he was hired I've noticed NIUs social media interaction has taken sharp upward turn. I think a new basketball hire and few players to get excited about would do the same thing for hoops.

Yep Seems like all the coaches have bought in and are drawing a lot of hype to the program via social media. You could tell the alumni love the hire and are excited to see what happens. I’d expect a boost in attendance this year.
How long is Monty’s contract? He really needs to go. NIU b-ball has been better with him but he can’t take them to the next step (NCAA tourney). A fresh face may be able to change the culture and recruiting.

Monty’s contract goes thru next season.

(02-16-2019 10:21 AM)HuskieDave Wrote:  

(02-16-2019 09:06 AM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(02-16-2019 04:12 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  

(02-16-2019 03:59 AM)JoeNovak Wrote:  

(02-15-2019 11:17 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  Neither program has a fan base right now, they are similar in that respect.

Actually football has a big following. You will see what I’m talking about this season. Hammock has a lot of alumni excited again. As for NIU basketball? They suck plain and simple and done so for decades. Nobody outside of a handful of dog pound members care about NIU basketball. They need an NCAA tournament run to even remotely catch anyone’s attention. That’s what decades of losing will do to you.

NIU football won the MAC this year and noone cares at all. It's sad times for sure. I do think you might be onto something with Hammock though. Since he was hired I've noticed NIUs social media interaction has taken sharp upward turn. I think a new basketball hire and few players to get excited about would do the same thing for hoops.

Yep Seems like all the coaches have bought in and are drawing a lot of hype to the program via social media. You could tell the alumni love the hire and are excited to see what happens. I’d expect a boost in attendance this year.
How long is Monty’s contract? He really needs to go. NIU b-ball has been better with him but he can’t take them to the next step (NCAA tourney). A fresh face may be able to change the culture and recruiting.

Monty’s contract goes thru next season.

Rats.....I suppose Temple taking both Rod and Monty off our hands is a long shot.