Yes, when we are winning, the pigs aren't playing, the weather is good, there is no good NFL or college football game competing with us, we have some sort of promotion, the stars are aligned, etc. we can get crowds in the 3,000-4,000 range. But how many folks "really" care about UALR basketball. Obviously, there are some folks who can't easily attend (Pappy, Robert C) and really do care. But how could any "real" fans, in Central Arkansas, not be excited to get there first look at the reigning Sun Belt champions with a bunch of new, highly touted recruits? It really makes me wonder if we have more than 200 or 300 folks that "bleed maroon". Judging by participation on this board, that may be a high number. I thought I had gotten to the point where I don't worry about attendance since we now have an oncampus arena and no one is threatening to close down the program. But yesterday's "crowd" was beyond ridiculous.

(11-14-2011 01:19 PM)mjs Wrote:  It really makes me wonder if we have more than 200 or 300 folks that "bleed maroon".

That probably is a good estimate. And it won't increase a good deal as long as our administration is so subservient to points northwest.

And then there are a few occasions when it seems like there are more. Like the Southern Illinois game, and the Creighton game a while back.

Siu was a big name in mid major ball at that time and that was a great crowd.

Creighton had Altman after he had taken and quit he hog job.

[quote='mjs' pid='7136702' dateline='1321294760']
Yes, when we are winning, the pigs aren't playing, the weather is good, there is no good NFL or college football game competing with us, we have some sort of promotion, the stars are aligned, etc.


You forgot "When it's not hunting season"

I care but I'm outside Central Arkansas and everyone who comes with me or meets me there are at least 70 miles away.
I couldnt make it Sunday because of my sons soccer match but I'll be there Tuesday

(11-14-2011 04:49 PM)Karl B Wrote:  I care but I'm outside Central Arkansas and everyone who comes with me or meets me there are at least 70 miles away.
I couldnt make it Sunday because of my sons soccer match but I'll be there Tuesday

Counting Pappy's twelve, Karl, and Doc may be back, there could be as many as 314 in attendance.

(11-14-2011 05:02 PM)LRTrojan Wrote:  

(11-14-2011 04:49 PM)Karl B Wrote:  I care but I'm outside Central Arkansas and everyone who comes with me or meets me there are at least 70 miles away.
I couldnt make it Sunday because of my sons soccer match but I'll be there Tuesday

Counting Pappy's twelve, Karl, and Doc may be back, there could be as many as 314 in attendance.

If we get an article in the paper, I predict we even have a few more than that. On the other hand, my wife, son, and daughter-in-law can't make it Tuesday so we may be down a few right there.

(11-14-2011 01:19 PM)mjs Wrote:  Yes, when we are winning, the pigs aren't playing, the weather is good, there is no good NFL or college football game competing with us, we have some sort of promotion, the stars are aligned, etc. we can get crowds in the 3,000-4,000 range. But how many folks "really" care about UALR basketball. Obviously, there are some folks who can't easily attend (Pappy, Robert C) and really do care. But how could any "real" fans, in Central Arkansas, not be excited to get there first look at the reigning Sun Belt champions with a bunch of new, highly touted recruits? It really makes me wonder if we have more than 200 or 300 folks that "bleed maroon". Judging by participation on this board, that may be a high number. I thought I had gotten to the point where I don't worry about attendance since we now have an oncampus arena and no one is threatening to close down the program. But yesterday's "crowd" was beyond ridiculous.

MJS- I thought we had decided not to let this subject drive us insane. I guess "crowds" like Sunday's make that resolution hard to keep. I will say that weekend afternoon games, especially when it's pretty nice outside, are tough sells for most programs, more so early in the season. But I noticed that even a lot of the "hardcore" that I know weren't in attendance.

(11-14-2011 05:40 PM)PTJR Wrote:  I will say that weekend afternoon games, especially when it's pretty nice outside, are tough sells for most programs, more so early in the season.

Tough sell, for sure. HS football playoffs season. Into the heart of rivalries in the college football season. Beautiful Sunday afternoon.

All the reasons listed above are no excuse for a D-1 team in a metropolitan area of half a million, for not drawing at least a couple of thousand per game. Even with a bad team. Here we have a state of the art arena, and are coming off an NCAA appearance to boot. I still believe they need to hire a promoter like Bill Valentine. Once you get them coming, a exciting basketball program should be able to keep them.

I'd still like to see some type of television deal like we had when Newell was here. Maybe tape delaying all home games instead of live broadcasts.

How in the hell an AD or Chancellor of a University can look at a half empty arena, game after game, year after year without asking some serious questions, I don't know. That's why no one will ever convince me that Fayetteville doesn't call some of the shots here too.

Piss poor coverage by the Democrap paper, and the local TV stations don't help either. I watched the 9 o'clock news on FOX 16 last night, and they didn't even show any video of the game. Still showing video of the Saturday hog football game, and some pro football video.

Since I'm new to UALR, I don't know what efforts have been made to up attendance, but I do know that the push needs to begin at the very top--president/chancellor with that person being active and aggressive with the media not just for athletics, but for the university--Constantly talking with energy about the athletics programs. All UALR coaches should be encouraging their teams to be in attendance at each others competitions. They in turn can bring one classmate/dorm mate, etc. and things begin to build. What kind of support $$$ does the marketing department get?

Everyone has a responsibility to help the program.

(11-14-2011 06:53 PM)roundball2239 Wrote:  Since I'm new to UALR, I don't know what efforts have been made to up attendance, but I do know that the push needs to begin at the very top--president/chancellor with that person being active and aggressive with the media not just for athletics, but for the university--Constantly talking with energy about the athletics programs. All UALR coaches should be encouraging their teams to be in attendance at each others competitions. They in turn can bring one classmate/dorm mate, etc. and things begin to build. What kind of support $$$ does the marketing department get?

Everyone has a responsibility to help the program.

You make some good points and ask some good questions. I think whatever marketing budget we have is aimed entirely at selling season tickets to corporations, selling ads to companies, and getting donations to the program. Economically it makes !00% sense. Selling 10 club seats, even if they are never used, brings in $7900. We'd have to sell 1317 six dollar tickets to bring in that much money. Selling 10 coaches row seats brings in $20,000. Takes a lot of $6 tickets to make that much money. The AD is doing what he has to do to make the program viable. They only have so much man power. It is painful for us fans who want more butts in the seats. I guess all we can do is take the MichaelsPappy approach and bring a couple of dozen friends and relatives to the games. I haven't figured out a way to make people, who buy tickets, come to the games.

(11-14-2011 05:40 PM)PTJR Wrote:  

(11-14-2011 01:19 PM)mjs Wrote:  Yes, when we are winning, the pigs aren't playing, the weather is good, there is no good NFL or college football game competing with us, we have some sort of promotion, the stars are aligned, etc. we can get crowds in the 3,000-4,000 range. But how many folks "really" care about UALR basketball. Obviously, there are some folks who can't easily attend (Pappy, Robert C) and really do care. But how could any "real" fans, in Central Arkansas, not be excited to get there first look at the reigning Sun Belt champions with a bunch of new, highly touted recruits? It really makes me wonder if we have more than 200 or 300 folks that "bleed maroon". Judging by participation on this board, that may be a high number. I thought I had gotten to the point where I don't worry about attendance since we now have an oncampus arena and no one is threatening to close down the program. But yesterday's "crowd" was beyond ridiculous.

MJS- I thought we had decided not to let this subject drive us insane. I guess "crowds" like Sunday's make that resolution hard to keep. I will say that weekend afternoon games, especially when it's pretty nice outside, are tough sells for most programs, more so early in the season. But I noticed that even a lot of the "hardcore" that I know weren't in attendance.

I've been out of town for nearly two weeks. Just returned this evening. Hated to miss the games, but as long as I can walk, I'll be there with bells on (or at least my Trojan shirt) tomorrow night. I'm really looking forward to seeing the team for the first time. From the posts I've been reading this evening, our youngsters seem to have a lot of talent. I was going to come to the ladies game tonight, but my son in law gave my tickets away as I had instructed him to do since he thought I wasn't coming back until tomorrow. Just as well. I drove around 600 miles or more today. Probably needed to stay home and rest up. See you guys tomorrow night for sure.

I've said it over and over.

It is all about relevance.

No one gives a hoot in hell if UALR (or ASU) wins the NW quad upper division of the Sun Belt.

People are interested in relevant basketball and that means putting a team on the court that they expect will be able to beat some name football school that doesn't play good basketball and every so often can knock off a ranked team. It means having a team that is a contender for the NCAA Tournament or NIT and not because they get an NIT auto for winning the league regular season or a team that wins 3/4 games in the conference tournament and has to play in. It means putting out a 12 or 13 seed or better that can win a first round game.

There is a reason why UALR attendance and Arkansas State attendance in basketball SUCKS since the late 80's and early 90's. We don't put relevant teams on the court.

(11-15-2011 08:53 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  It is all about relevance.

In Arkansas "relevance" is spelled FAYETTEVILLE.

(11-15-2011 08:53 AM)arkstfan Wrote:  I've said it over and over.

It is all about relevance.

No one gives a hoot in hell if UALR (or ASU) wins the NW quad upper division of the Sun Belt.

People are interested in relevant basketball and that means putting a team on the court that they expect will be able to beat some name football school that doesn't play good basketball and every so often can knock off a ranked team. It means having a team that is a contender for the NCAA Tournament or NIT and not because they get an NIT auto for winning the league regular season or a team that wins 3/4 games in the conference tournament and has to play in. It means putting out a 12 or 13 seed or better that can win a first round game.

There is a reason why UALR attendance and Arkansas State attendance in basketball SUCKS since the late 80's and early 90's. We don't put relevant teams on the court.

You make some good points. Relevance might help bring the average Joe out to the games. My question was about how many folks "really" care and are diehard fans of our program. "Real" fans come out no matter if you or winning or losing, no matter who you are playing, what the weather is, what else is on TV, etc. We just don't have many of those. I guess I remember living in New Orleans, 30 years ago, and seeing 70,000+ come out for every Saints game even though they were terrible. Those are "real" fans. When I was growing up in NY, the Giants were terrible, but they sold out every game and there was a waiting list of 30,000 to get season tickets. I certainly don't expect us to have 70,000 diehard fans, but a couple of thousand would be nice.

(11-15-2011 01:04 PM)mjs Wrote:  "Real" fans come out no matter if you or winning or losing, no matter who you are playing, what the weather is, what else is on TV, etc.

Those are hard to come by at our level.

Even Fayetteville's support is more superficial than appears on the surface. Watch attendance start going down if they aren't winning. By a big percentage.

Might be an interesting question to ask on the general board of the other programs. How many hard-core fans? and give a precise definition.