Help re-Establish a Louisiana Basketball FANdation

[NewsCopy]

They are averaging 2,857 in attendance over eight games this season at the Cajundome, where they are 8-0.

Ragin’ Cajuns coach Bob Marlin wants to more than double that this week for each of a pair of key Sun Belt Conference home games, the first coming Thursday night against a league-leading Georgia State team that’s won nine straight and the second coming Saturday against Western Kentucky in front of a national cable-TV audience on ESPN2.

The rest of the story
_ Advertiser sub _

[CajunEXPRESS]

Sad days for USL basketball. There was a day, a year, a decade, a quarter century, a half century when those numbers would have been seen as abysmal. Can someone tell me when was the last time prior to Lee that USL ever averaged 2857 fans?

Not blaming Bobby Marlin, but I do recall a couple of seasons back when he was particularly upset that after a four game win streak the fans had not come back and chastised all who did not attend. He forgot that his team had been pretty much a loser since his first year and that 11 game win streak.

Basketball is an intimate sport, it needs fans to be at it's best, and it's best is very very much fun. Go there this week, we have a great GaSt team coming in Thursday, and an old rival who will probably not be back for decades. Let's make sure the new rival understands it is a tough place to win on the road, and make sure the goat lovers get bested once again.

[Cajunjeb]

Keep winning and the butts will come for their seats...

[CajunJack55]

I'm assuming Marlin does not have an attendance bonus like HUD does...maybe he should start calling out our fan base as well, especially the students.

[BrockMeaux]

Sad days for USL basketball. There was a day, a year, a decade, a quarter century, a half century when those numbers would have been seen as abysmal. Can someone tell me when was the last time prior to Lee that USL ever averaged 2857 fans?

At least since I became a student in 2002, UL has ALWAYS had much lower attendance from Opening Day to mid-January than from mid-January through March. Our students and general fans start showing up after winter break/the holidays/football. I don't like it because those things never kept me from basketball, but it's reality for us.

[duggie85]

I am all for increasing attendance and creating awareness how good we are at home, but if you want people to notice what's going on, don't wait till the morning of the event (by no means blaming Buckley btw).

[Cajunsmike]

Game against Georgia State is not until tomorrow. Jay has been telling people all week on his show that the game will be entertaining. Posts on this site letting people know that it should be a fun game started Sunday. All the athletes of the non basketball sports are being told to go to the game if they can and bring other students with them. I believe everyone in the area who cares about Cajun basketball knows about Thursday's game by now.

[duggie85]

Game against Georgia State is not until tomorrow. Jay has been telling people all week on his show that the game will be entertaining. Posts on this site letting people know that it should be a fun game started Sunday. All the athletes of the non basketball sports are being told to go to the game if they can and bring other students with them. I believe everyone in the area who cares about Cajun basketball knows about Thursday's game by now.

I'm an idiot. Thought today was Thursday.

[Turbine]

I'm an idiot. Thought today was Thursday.

Only in Thursistan.

Your overall point is a good one, advance hype is a key.

[ulXrunner]

Students are the key. But what is being done to bring them to the dome besides "Hey come out it will be a great game!" I personally don't see much at the games that would excite a 18-22 year old. They want student support, they need to understand what students want. Hit the sidewalks and ask kids what it would take to get them to the game. We are so successful with our fan base with regards to NO Bowl. Reason being is most are going for the partying around the game. We need to bring a party to these kids. Make these games a spectacle, a can't miss. Make the basketball game part of that party. (And I mean party in a good time sense, not getting drunk.)
But we have adults who are really not in touch with these kids today making the decisions. You want kids to come, spend a little money to keep them entertained. Be creative in that sense. The same ole just keeps us basketball fans entertained.

See ya'll Thursday!

[duggie85]

Students are the key. But what is being done to bring them to the dome besides "Hey come out it will be a great game!" I personally don't see much at the games that would excite a 18-22 year old. They want student support, they need to understand what students want. Hit the sidewalks and ask kids what it would take to get them to the game. We are so successful with our fan base with regards to NO Bowl. Reason being is most are going for the partying around the game. We need to bring a party to these kids. Make these games a spectacle, a can't miss. Make the basketball game part of that party. (And I mean party in a good time sense, not getting drunk.)
But we have adults who are really not in touch with these kids today making the decisions. You want kids to come, spend a little money to keep them entertained. Be creative in that sense. The same ole just keeps us basketball fans entertained.

See ya'll Thursday!

They should do a parking pass half-court shot or something twice a game as well as the money 3 point shot.

[BananaHammock]

I hate to say it but have they thought about doing some kind of promotions to get more people in attendance? Buy one ticket get one free? Last game I went to the beer was so expensive that I almost left. Make the beer more reasonably priced and more students would probably go.

Note: I have been working out of state and haven't been to a game this year, maybe they do these things already.