Kevin Foote-Cajun Basketball Attendance ?

[CajunJack55]

_ Keeping things in perspective, is there another southern mid major other than Memphis that has drawn over 7000 this year. If there is, I don't know of one. Memphis is not a basketball mid major despite being in CUSA due to their tradition.

Western Kentucky had 7,326 vs. Louisville and North Texas had 7,105 vs. Texas Tech both early in the season. With Saturday's game we have the third highest of the season in the SunBelt. Very impressive considering who Western and North Texas was playing and it was so early in the year.

UAB, Tulsa, Houston but that's usually when Memphis comes to town.

[California Cajun]

_ Kevin commented on his show today that while Saturday's attendance was OK, he was hoping it would be larger. He then went on to wonder if it was possible for the team to ever draw 10000 fans ever again. Granted it has happened in the past but the landscape has changed since then and it has been almost 20 years since it occurred. I called in and commented that it was a little soon to expect that as we have had 5 consecutive poor seasons coming into this year and Coach Marlin has not been here long. In my view, if he has time to promote his program and more importantly, do something that will attract national attention, it is possible to get 10000 in the Dome at some point in the future. Keeping things in perspective, is there another southern mid major other than Memphis that has drawn over 7000 this year. If there is, I don't know of one. Memphis is not a basketball mid major despite being in CUSA due to their tradition. Does anyone else think we are capable of once again getting a 10000 crowd in the Dome for basketball? _

I think the last 10,000 crowd was for the nationally-televised game vs. UMass.

The entertainment value and expectations of a good time are what has attracted the fans in increasing numbers, and this is the best atmosphere I've seen since the Paschal days. That makes large crowds possible.

The Sun Belt could chip in and make the WKU-UL series a home and home game every year. I think it might attract 9-10,000 fans next year based on the excitement experienced last Saturday night.

[Bunch24]

Did Kev say whether he was in attdce or not, Saturday night?

Z

He was not there, he was working. Getting Saturday's off to attend a basketball or football game you're not covering is awfully rare in our business.

His wife and kids were there though. Pretty sure his wife and kids make every home game. Pretty sure he'd also like to be there with them instead of working.


igeaux.mobi

[CajunAmos]

A later caller (JR) noted that Southern Illinois is averaging over 7000 with a losing record. There are a couple of other mid-major schools who historically have averaged high attendance numbers. I think it's reasonable to expect us to get back to an average attendance figure of 6000 or so with just a steadily successful team who averages 18-20 wins and makes the NCAA tournament every three years or so. This will give us some games of higher and some lower.

It should also be noted that UL has never had an active ticketing program to sell season tickets for any sport. There has been a few individual promotions or one time "sales" for season or individual game tickets, but nothing as a year long activity. THIS IS NOW BEING DONE. There is a group of folks working with College Ticketing, who are actively promoting all UL sports teams season tickets. The basketball was up this year (about 30% I heard), softball is up (about 70%). Baseball is up as well, as demonstrated by the over 10,000 attendance for the three games this weekend, which set a record high for a weekend series. I heard Jay say on the radio that this probably won't be the first, as season ticket sales will mean our game attendance probably won't fall below 3200 per game.


Listed below are the top 100 attendance figures from the NCAA for the 2010 season.

2010 NCAA DIVISION I MEN'S BASKETBALL ATTENDANCE (Average)

1. Kentucky 24,111
2. Syracuse 22,152
3. Louisville 19,397
4. Tennessee 19,168
5. North Carolina 17,786
6. Wisconsin 17,230
7. Maryland 16,792
8. Memphis 16,498
9. Kansas 16,433
10. Marquette 15,617
11. Indiana 15,296
12. Illinois 14,870
13. Michigan St. 14,759
14. Texas 14,629
15. Creighton 14,495
16. Ohio St. 14,181
17. BYU 16 14,029
18. UNLV 13,917
19. Arizona 13,815
20. Purdue 13,681
21. Vanderbilt 13,623
22. New Mexico 13,595
23. Minnesota 13,453
24. North Carolina St.13,184
25. Arkansas 13,182
26. Iowa St.12,491
27. West Virginia 12,375
28. Dayton 12,259
29. Georgetown 12,040
30. South Carolina 11,994
31. Kansas St. 11,884
32. Wake Forest 11,833
33. Michigan 11,725
34. Connecticut 11,685
35. Oklahoma St. 11,585
36. Florida 10,947
37. Alabama 10,945
38. Villanova 10,936
39. Oklahoma 10,650
40. Missouri 10,349
41. Wichita St. 10,333
42. Pittsburgh 10,289
43. Virginia 10,141
44. Xavier 10,123
45. Nebraska 9,964
46. Texas A&M 9,889
47. Utah St. 9,792
48. Iowa 9,550
49. Clemson 9,465
50. California 9,423
51. Washington 9,383
52. Bradley 9,339
53. Duke 9,314
54. Texas Tech 9,290
55. Virginia Tech 9,272
56. Utah 9,202
57. LSU 8,935
58. UTEP 8,697
59. DePaul 8,451
60. Notre Dame 8,402
61. Providence 8,289
62. Penn St. 8,150
63. UCLA 8,081
64. Cincinnati 8,076
65. Georgia Tech 7,979
66. Siena 7,853
67. Fresno St. 7,767
68. Arizona St. 7,526
69. Baylor 7,457
70. Florida St. 7,336
71. Washington St. 7,323
72. San Diego St. 7,227
73. St. Louis 7,149
74. Oregon 7,122
75. Seton Hall 7,103
76. Old Dominion 6,995
77. Mississippi St. 6,878
78. Butler 6,852
79. Georgia 6,834
80. Missouri St. 6,645
81. Stanford 6,598
82. Illinois St. 6,561
83. Temple 6,376
84. Auburn 6,286
85. Mississippi 6,278
86. Colorado 6,267
87. Charlotte 6,156
88. St. John's (NY) 6,107
89. Oregon St. 6,084
90. Gonzaga 6,000
91. VCU 6,000
92. UAB 5,970
93. Nevada 5,895
94. George Mason 5,837
95. Hawaii 5,667
96. New Mexico St. 5,659
97. UNI 5,642
98. Tulsa 5,491
99. Marshall 5,481
100. UCF 5,411

[CajunAmos]

Just for reference, I've attached the media guide pdf section showing the individual game & season average attendance numbers.

The rest of the story

[Zeebart21]

He was not there, he was working. Getting Saturday's off to attend a basketball or football game you're not covering is awfully rare in our business.

His wife and kids were there though. Pretty sure his wife and kids make every home game. Pretty sure he'd also like to be there with them instead of working.


igeaux.mobi

Thank you, Brady. I know Kev loves his Cajuns!! Glad his family represented!


Z

[UL_Cajuns]

_ Absolutely, these things are organic.

In light of the slow start, 7G is nothing short of amazing.

Half the crowd were there because they are fans. Half the crowd was there because UL is winning. Half the crowd was there because they wanted to be where people are.

With all those halves working in your favor, (under the perfect storm) it is easy to see how the place could overflow. _

Too add: The weather was perfect too.

[IHateLaState]

We were getting 1-2k per game... then it began rising... forget why... so now 7k is not the standard.. 10k is????

How many schools would die to have 7k per game... This giant is awakened and anyone (listening Kev) that tries to diminish what is a great thing should just Please

[Cajunsmike]

_ A later caller (JR) noted that Southern Illinois is averaging over 7000 with a losing record. There are a couple of other mid-major schools who historically have averaged high attendance numbers. I think it's reasonable to expect us to get back to an average attendance figure of 6000 or so with just a steadily successful team who averages 18-20 wins and makes the NCAA tournament every three years or so. This will give us some games of higher and some lower.

It should also be noted that UL has never had an active ticketing program to sell season tickets for any sport. There has been a few individual promotions or one time "sales" for season or individual game tickets, but nothing as a year long activity. THIS IS NOW BEING DONE. There is a group of folks working with College Ticketing, who are actively promoting all UL sports teams season tickets. The basketball was up this year (about 30% I heard), softball is up (about 70%). Baseball is up as well, as demonstrated by the over 10,000 attendance for the three games this weekend, which set a record high for a weekend series. I heard Jay say on the radio that this probably won't be the first, as season ticket sales will mean our game attendance probably won't fall below 3200 per game.


Listed below are the top 100 attendance figures from the NCAA for the 2010 season.

2010 NCAA DIVISION I MEN'S BASKETBALL ATTENDANCE (Average)

1. Kentucky 24,111
2. Syracuse 22,152
3. Louisville 19,397
4. Tennessee 19,168
5. North Carolina 17,786
6. Wisconsin 17,230
7. Maryland 16,792
8. Memphis 16,498
9. Kansas 16,433
10. Marquette 15,617
11. Indiana 15,296
12. Illinois 14,870
13. Michigan St. 14,759
14. Texas 14,629
15. Creighton 14,495
16. Ohio St. 14,181
17. BYU 16 14,029
18. UNLV 13,917
19. Arizona 13,815
20. Purdue 13,681
21. Vanderbilt 13,623
22. New Mexico 13,595
23. Minnesota 13,453
24. North Carolina St.13,184
25. Arkansas 13,182
26. Iowa St.12,491
27. West Virginia 12,375
28. Dayton 12,259
29. Georgetown 12,040
30. South Carolina 11,994
31. Kansas St. 11,884
32. Wake Forest 11,833
33. Michigan 11,725
34. Connecticut 11,685
35. Oklahoma St. 11,585
36. Florida 10,947
37. Alabama 10,945
38. Villanova 10,936
39. Oklahoma 10,650
40. Missouri 10,349
41. Wichita St. 10,333
42. Pittsburgh 10,289
43. Virginia 10,141
44. Xavier 10,123
45. Nebraska 9,964
46. Texas A&M 9,889
47. Utah St. 9,792
48. Iowa 9,550
49. Clemson 9,465
50. California 9,423
51. Washington 9,383
52. Bradley 9,339
53. Duke 9,314
54. Texas Tech 9,290
55. Virginia Tech 9,272
56. Utah 9,202
57. LSU 8,935
58. UTEP 8,697
59. DePaul 8,451
60. Notre Dame 8,402
61. Providence 8,289
62. Penn St. 8,150
63. UCLA 8,081
64. Cincinnati 8,076
65. Georgia Tech 7,979
66. Siena 7,853
67. Fresno St. 7,767
68. Arizona St. 7,526
69. Baylor 7,457
70. Florida St. 7,336
71. Washington St. 7,323
72. San Diego St. 7,227
73. St. Louis 7,149
74. Oregon 7,122
75. Seton Hall 7,103
76. Old Dominion 6,995
77. Mississippi St. 6,878
78. Butler 6,852
79. Georgia 6,834
80. Missouri St. 6,645
81. Stanford 6,598
82. Illinois St. 6,561
83. Temple 6,376
84. Auburn 6,286
85. Mississippi 6,278
86. Colorado 6,267
87. Charlotte 6,156
88. St. John's (NY) 6,107
89. Oregon St. 6,084
90. Gonzaga 6,000
91. VCU 6,000
92. UAB 5,970
93. Nevada 5,895
94. George Mason 5,837
95. Hawaii 5,667
96. New Mexico St. 5,659
97. UNI 5,642
98. Tulsa 5,491
99. Marshall 5,481
100. UCF 5,411 _

Southern Illinois is in basketball country and will draw well no matter how poor they are doing.

[Boomer]

Well here is my _____---I know that the att. at other places is marked up to unreal levels or my eyes have really gone South----I remember one year at a football game that the scanners weren't working in the rain and that one time they just left---I also see that in a rush many are missed---bottom line is that others inflate as we deflate att.-----I will not lie--If I could do that picture altering deal --no action photo would have an empty seat behind it!!!! But the photo of the UL - Monroe game last year with the UL band taking up the most seats was unreal--Wonder if I would use that in recruiting--Z uses the Southern game to mock the Techsters butt on the SB board!!!!

[Bunch24]

Thank you, Brady. I know Kev loves his Cajuns!! Glad his family represented!


Z

He actually does love Cajun basketball. I realize he doesn't talk a lot about UL athletics on his show, but it's a combination of nobody calling to talk about it and him just not knowing too much about the programs because he never really gets to see them play.

On the other hand, he watches a lot of Astros and Saints, and enough high school sports to know what he's talking about.

[Cajunsmike]

_ He actually does love Cajun basketball. I realize he doesn't talk a lot about UL athletics on his show, but it's a combination of nobody calling to talk about it and him just not knowing too much about the programs because he never really gets to see them play.

On the other hand, he watches a lot of Astros and Saints, and enough high school sports to know what he's talking about. _

Actually since the reunion, Kevin has talked a lot about Cajun basketball on his show. Main reason is more callers want to talk about it. He seems to know enough about it to have a good conversation. Now his Cajun football knowledge is much less than basketball. That is probably due to folks wanting to talk about Saints/LSU during that time of year.