Average Home Attendance

[mkaufman1]

Every time I’ve made suggestions on here I’m usually roasted like a pig on a spigot but…. One big initiative in the past was getting “buy in” from student govt to create enthusiasm and attendance with the gold rush t shirts. Did that fade into the abyss? Is that worth replicating?

They still do that for opening night.

 

[GSII]

Every time I’ve made suggestions on here I’m usually roasted like a pig on a spigot but…. One big initiative in the past was getting “buy in” from student govt to create enthusiasm and attendance with the gold rush t shirts. Did that fade into the abyss? Is that worth replicating?

Maybe if people didn't see you trying to roast a pig on a spigot, you'd be taken more seriously. lol.

 

[hoopsjunkie75]

Maybe if people didn't see you trying to roast a pig on a spigot, you'd be taken more seriously. lol.

No, I definitely want to see that. PLEASE.

 

[GMU79]

Maybe if people didn't see you trying to roast a pig on a spigot, you'd be taken more seriously. lol.

I was so tempted, but I didn't.

 

[Where's the party?]

Since we are offering ideas...... There have been a few occasions when we can't attend games and I give the tickets and passes to some (younger) folks in my office. They usually take their kids and always tell me they had a great time. I have later been pleasantly surprised to find out that they have bought tickets and gone to another game. This is particularly true with folks that have kids playing basketball.

If they aren't doing this, Mason Basketball should be giving free tickets to the basketball playing kids in the area and doing outreach with with the players there. I would hit every house league in the area and organize days when the players show up, dunk a few, sign autographs, and hand out kids tickets.

Just like McDonalds, we need to get 'em while they are young.

 

[DRK331]

Attendance for the JMU game: 5262
Attendance for the ODU game (Jim Larranaga 2006 Final Four 20th anniversary): 4433

 

[mkaufman1]

Attendance for the JMU game: 5262
Attendance for the ODU game (Jim Larranaga 2006 Final Four 20th anniversary): 4433

I suspect odu didn’t help as much as Jmu did. Lot of families have kids who went to jmu and mason, probably not as common with odu. Either way the avg for the two is 4800 roughly which is not bad for our two marquee nonconf games IMHO.

 

[Patriotsince81]

I was surrounded by Madison fans, hardly noticed any ODU fans yesterday. Not much desire to travel or attend when the team is winless on the road.

 

[Pablo]

The following indicates average home attendance since the opening of EagleBank Arena (Patriot Center):

1985-86: 3,604
1986-87: 3,147
1987-88: 3,076
1988-89: 3,515
1989-90: 3,535
1990-91: 4,135
1991-92: 2,878
1992-93: 2,740
1993-94: 4,108
1994-95: 3,129
1995-96: 3,489
1996-97: 3,192
1997-98: 3,087
1998-99: 3,153
1999-2000: 2,902
2000-01: 3,354
2001-02: 3,177
2002-03: 3,347
2003-04: 3,864
2004-05: 3,938
2005-06: 4,533
2006-07: 6,834
2007-08: 6,494
2008-09: 6,295
2009-10: 5,837
2010-11: 5,896
2011-12: 5,161
2012-13: 4,562
2013-14: 4,916
2014-15: 4,082
2015-16: 4,300
2016-17: 4,234
2017-18: 4,087
2018-19: 4,335
2019-20: 4,037
2020-21: N/A
2021-22: 3,558
2022-23: 3,584
2023-24: 3,922
2024-25: 3,228
2025 - Present (8 games): 3,354

 

[mkaufman1]

Would be nice to average between 4-4500. I would take that. But we haven't gotten back over 4k since 19-20 and not close to 4500 average or more since year 3 of Hewitt. Maybe if this group keeps winning we can get over that 4k hump this year.

 

[psyclone]

Would be nice to average between 4-4500. I would take that. But we haven't gotten back over 4k since 19-20 and not close to 4500 average or more since year 3 of Hewitt. Maybe if this group keeps winning we can get over that 4k hump this year.

I'd hope so. It is discouraging to see us plateauing in the 3k area. Can't see how we can keep a top coach, even if he's an alum, when the power conferences regularly fill their places and have more NIL money.

Anyone have a sense if the decrease in attendance post-covid is a trend in the non-power conferences?

 

[Pablo]

I'd hope so. It is discouraging to see us plateauing in the 3k area. Can't see how we can keep a top coach, even if he's an alum, when the power conferences regularly fill their places and have more NIL money.

Anyone have a sense if the decrease in attendance post-covid is a trend in the non-power conferences?

It's not just a problem for non-power conferences - https://bvmsports.com/2025/12/11/buffs-mens-basketball-faces-record-low-attendance-issues-at-cu/

"Attendance for Colorado men's basketball at the CU Events Center is declining, with average figures potentially heading for the worst numbers in coach Tad Boyle’s 16 seasons. Boyle urged fans to support the team by filling the venue, particularly for crucial Big 12 matchups. Currently, the average attendance stands at 5,474, down 574 from the previous year, following a recent game that saw only 4,931 attendees. The team hopes to boost numbers with high-profile games ahead, but has struggled with attendance historically. Boyle notes the importance of making games about Colorado basketball rather than the opponents.

By the Numbers

• Current average attendance: 5,474, down from last year’s non-conference games.
• Most recent home game attendance: 4,931 against Cal Baptist.
• Record average attendance during Boyle's tenure: 10,392 in the 2012-13 season.

Yes, But
While there is optimism that attendance will rise during the Big 12 schedule, the long-term trend shows a consistent decline in game attendance, which poses challenges for sustaining a formidable home-court advantage. Boyle's approach contrasts with the prevailing NIL-driven recruitment landscape.

State of Play

• The Buffs are experiencing their lowest attendance to date under Boyle.
• Upcoming Big 12 games against top teams, such as Kansas and Arizona, are expected to draw more fans."

BTW, Colorado is 9-1.

 

[Patriot Blue]

It's not just a problem for non-power conferences - https://bvmsports.com/2025/12/11/buffs-mens-basketball-faces-record-low-attendance-issues-at-cu/

"Attendance for Colorado men's basketball at the CU Events Center is declining, with average figures potentially heading for the worst numbers in coach Tad Boyle’s 16 seasons. Boyle urged fans to support the team by filling the venue, particularly for crucial Big 12 matchups. Currently, the average attendance stands at 5,474, down 574 from the previous year, following a recent game that saw only 4,931 attendees. The team hopes to boost numbers with high-profile games ahead, but has struggled with attendance historically. Boyle notes the importance of making games about Colorado basketball rather than the opponents.

By the Numbers

• Current average attendance: 5,474, down from last year’s non-conference games.
• Most recent home game attendance: 4,931 against Cal Baptist.
• Record average attendance during Boyle's tenure: 10,392 in the 2012-13 season.

Yes, But
While there is optimism that attendance will rise during the Big 12 schedule, the long-term trend shows a consistent decline in game attendance, which poses challenges for sustaining a formidable home-court advantage. Boyle's approach contrasts with the prevailing NIL-driven recruitment landscape.

State of Play

• The Buffs are experiencing their lowest attendance to date under Boyle.
• Upcoming Big 12 games against top teams, such as Kansas and Arizona, are expected to draw more fans."

BTW, Colorado is 9-1.

You can't count on students at a lot of colleges these days. They don't care about sports anymore.

 

[jessej]

Attendance is not one problem but requires a multifactor analysis to address it

Customers
1) students - "free" but paid via fees
2) Season Ticket Holders - full and partials
3) Online purchasers of single games - GMU fans and visitors
4) Walk up purchasers - GMU fans and visitors
5) Scavengers - purchase from resale sites - Stubhub, SeatGeek, VividSeats, etc.

Schedule
a) day of week
b) time of day

Scheduling - OOC
a) Ranking
b) Rivalries - new and traditional
c) Local Ties

Scheduling - Conference
a) Handled by League and TV Contract - but needs team input to maximize attendance
e.g. Marquee games on weekends, marquee games scheduled at the right time of the season
e.g. #1 vs #2 on the last day of the regular season

Game Incentives & Day of Game Sponsorships


Based on what I have seen since watching GMU BBall since 2000 I doubt if any of this analysis has been attempted or done and the results are a half empty arena - at best
now throw in ticket price increases to cover NIL payments and you are looking at a financial disaster.

Men's Basketball is the only sport at GMU capable of producing profits, all the rest of the sports are money losers.

Here is an example
Women's BBall
Season tix -16 home games - $115
Individual game $15

All or nothing
Where is the voucher system?
16 Vouchers for $160

enables a family of 4 with 2 children under 15 to attend 4 weekend games at $40/game/family vs $60/game/family
at $15/game/seat the family may attend once, maybe twice
at a 16 voucher buy-in the Woman's Basketball program becomes part of the family's entertainment budget/schedule

Men's BBall with a Non D1 Opponents
1) Why?
2) Why is the ticket price the same as vcu/St. Louis, et al?
3) What is the damage to your ticket buying base by scheduling these types of games at a non-discounted price?

Partial answers lie in the ticket sales data

 

[jessej]

You can't count on students at a lot of colleges these days. They don't care about sports anymore.

I am waiting for the court case where the students sue a university over fees to support an Athletic Department for games/sports they don't attend