Randy, most Illinois schools are basketball schools first. NIU is a basketball school that got good in football so we let basketball slide. Win a few consecutive years in a row and we can get to crowds of 4-5k. Many MAC schools do better than those numbers.

EMU at BSU had 5921 fans, Miami at Akron had 4405 fans, Ohio at BGSU had 3795 fans, CMU at NIU had 3016 fans, Buffalo at Kent St had 3005 fans on Friday night, Toledo at WMU had 2264 fans

(02-23-2020 05:04 PM)dc1 Wrote:  Randy, most Illinois schools are basketball schools first. NIU is a basketball school that got good in football so we let basketball slide. Win a few consecutive years in a row and we can get to crowds of 4-5k. Many MAC schools do better than those numbers.

NIU isn't those schools. Minus a few years here and there, never have been. Opposition isn't an attraction for NIU and away fans alike, albeit I bet CMU had 150+.

Get to that point where you are winning 20+, making the big dance/NIT every few years and not every decade or two, they will come.

It’s about making the games a big event and eventually it becomes cool to go to games currently it’s not the thing to do. Winning helps a lot but isn’t everything. 9-19 Illinois St played at home the same time as us and drew 5063. Going to basketball games there is considered the thing to do. I acknowledge that it helps that their students have to long of a drive to go home every weekend like NIU students. May this year be the start of the 20 win/NCAA tournament runs.

At 3,000+, yesterday’s game seemed very crowded. I tried to walk to the other side of the arena a couple times and could not do it because of the crowds of people. The lines at the concessions stands were unreal. I cannot imagine what it would be like if over 9K people were crammed into the Convo. It would be impossible to move. And, they would probably run out of hot dogs 5 minutes after the doors open.

(02-23-2020 09:23 PM)dc1 Wrote:  It’s about making the games a big event and eventually it becomes cool to go to games currently it’s not the thing to do. Winning helps a lot but isn’t everything. 9-19 Illinois St played at home the same time as us and drew 5063. Going to basketball games there is considered the thing to do. I acknowledge that it helps that their students have to long of a drive to go home every weekend like NIU students. May this year be the start of the 20 win/NCAA tournament runs.

I agree. A lot of other areas are more remote and/or larger population in vicinity. More of a "thing to do." It's hard to make it an even every Saturday from the schools and fans perspective. I mean you don't go to many places with that high% of kids and a stuff like bouncy dog pound. Seeing kids interact with Victor E. Mission/Mission II is always cool. But yes, winning would have to be the overwhelming factor in making fans regulars.

If they win they will come. We can only hope. Yesterday was a reminder of how things could be

I have been as frequent as anyone saying NIU should move on from Coach Monty, and the future of NIU basketball does not look especially bright, but I think even as a critic I have to admit this season may be his finest season coaching ever. To put this team in position for a bye this late in the season, when looking at the talent level of this roster, I have to say is quite impressive. Granted a good part of the blame of lack of talent falls on him, but to me he has shown an adaptability and flexibility this year to adjust to specific opponents.

(02-23-2020 11:27 PM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I have been as frequent as anyone saying NIU should move on from Coach Monty, and the future of NIU basketball does not look especially bright, but I think even as a critic I have to admit this season may be his finest season coaching ever. To put this team in position for a bye this late in the season, when looking at the talent level of this roster, I have to say is quite impressive. Granted a good part of the blame of lack of talent falls on him, but to me he has shown an adaptability and flexibility this year to adjust to specific opponents.

Agreed, this has been the most enjoyable, fun to watch year since he's been here.

Add people in the south side upper level seats to the crowd Saturday and the convo would be the best arena in the MAC. That should be athletics goal, I have made it mine and will do as much as I can to help get there.