Backup site - DavidsonCats.com

[PsychoCat]

I think we're talking butts in seats. Maybe the UNCC game was 70%, and I wasn't at the game on the 24th (don't worry, I found a taker for my tickets) but I would be surprised if it reached that much. I am assuming we report tickets sold not actual gate?

I know that holiday/ooc games/lousy opponents are all arguments, but I agree with others that this year's attendance is running below the same period from previous years. Heck, I'm pretty sure our SoCon years' exhibition games against Lenoir Rhyne were much better attended than this year's version against W&L.

I think we realize there is a demand problem, and Cobb's OP is wondering why.
Maybe conference games will be a pleasant surprise.

[Wildcat16]

Not to mention, easily the most accessible/affordable option for families/individuals to enjoy basketball in the Charlotte area.

UNCC is not good, Hornets games are expensive-ish, and not everyone wants to deal with the hassle of uptown Charlotte. Bring the family to Davidson and sit in the empty lower level seats and enjoy quality D1 basketball up close.

[catdad]

Last night's atmosphere was the most subdued I've ever seen for a game with the Niners. Great win but definitely disappointed in the crowd. I do think that Chris Clunie wants to improve the fan experience at games and I believe he will be willing to do some new things to help make that happen. Getting the D-Block re-activated would be a good first step.
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"I like to dream yes,..."

[Bill Cobb]

I've been in that arena for every D1 game (save 2) for 30 years. I can peg crowds pretty accurately. We were no where close to 70% full for UNCC. Perhaps tickets sold, but that has always been a bogus statistic.

UNCC was half full at best.

Jamie and his folks have done a remarkable job making Belk as good a place to watch a game as they can. Our students and season ticket holders have done a lousy job showing up. Our players and coaches certainly deserve better.

Some thoughts:

* Need to do something with the Pep Band. I understand Ken Davis doesn't have access to the kids from Mooresville HS any more as he is retired. If we don't have enough musicians at Davidson to make the Pep Band worthy, let's hire some folks out. Hell, hire the band from the United House of Prayer for All People. I've seen them at various parades. They can play and are fun. Let Ken direct it. And pay him.

* Need to emphasize cheerleading more. Lest we forget, we are a D1 school, not some D3 institution playing in front of 150 fans. Find some money and start recruiting. And, doesn't the A-10 require a certain number of "Spirit Team Members". We have to be falling short.

* Fix the damn lights. (I understand the athletic department is not at fault).

* Jamie may need to think about folks who consistently don't use their season tickets. Perhaps track their ticket use and if it falls below a certain attendance threshold, move them upstairs and move some deserving folks down?

No idea what to do about student attendance. Those kids flummox me.
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"I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter."
Crash Davis

[MLC67]

Merely uniformed speculation - availability of most games on live video streaming diminishes the crowd size that turns out for live game attendance. Also, the modern culture seems to favor isolation rather than communal social interactions - too many young people playing computer games by themselves?
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All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for men of good will to do nothing. Eddie Burke

Esse Quam Videri

[DC69Wildcat]

UNCC attendance at last night's game was terrible, and the ones who did show up were practically comatose. Of course, they never had anything to cheer for after their 8-7 lead. Their one attempt to get the "Ni-i-ners" cheer going was quickly drowned out by the 10 or so members of the pep band yelling "Sco-o-re-board." Pitiful.
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"We should've thrown our number 7 pitcher against Davidson......" Post by Tar Heel baseball fan 16 minutes into the game.

[bvgerd]

Its the same problem and conversation brought up every year, although as a long distance fan I cant say if this year is any worse. As was said before you cant make people show up and we usually just circle the drain in apportioning blame between students not showing up, people who buy season tickets as support but dont show up to more than a handful of games, or the college staff's perceived lack of advertisement or creative approach to outreach or encouraging more fans. As much as Id love games to have a full crowd/great atmosphere and for students and families to be as invested in the team as we all are, most simply have different interests that are bigger priorities for them.

The easiest way to get more people to show up is to try and take care of business and keep winning. The better we are as a program and the more success we have the more people will show up.

[citycat]

If you live south of Huntersville, it is far easier to go to a game in downtown Charlotte than it is to go to a game at Davidson. I left my house near Quail Corners at 4:10, took 485 and 77, and parked at Davidson at 5:20.

They announced the toll lanes on 77 will open a year late. Sections of the project are scheduled to open this year, but probably not in time to help our attendance.

This doesn't affect attendance, but it is strange that you can buy a beer in the lobby and take it into the game, but you cannot take a beer from the Fastbreak Club into the game.

[graveline]

Dartmouth the football team was in San Diego
Charlotte was in thanksgiving break. Lotta kids home with families. Football and soccer seasons over, so they weren’t trapped here
For two years in a row the schedule has been awful for the students. Tons of games during Christmas/spring break. A paucity of Friday/Saterday night games. The rumor I heard was Nichols was outright hostile to his players D block activities. I have no idea where Abel falls on this scale. As mentioned previously, the administration bends over backwards if any opposing team could be offended. The taking of them unc signs and the booting of the speedo men was indefensible. Also, I’m hazy on details, but I know of a number of die-hard supporters who have been driven away. Remember chip and meg? Great people, great fans, and huge supporters even though neither was an alumni. Someone in the administration managed to torch that bridge, and unfortunily I know of a number of similar stories. Which just sucks all around. Door and me are somehow still amongst the youngest regulars, and we are old ass men. I hope Chris can mend some fences and prevent others from being burned. Youthful enthusiasm could be a big plus. However a number powers that be need to put aside arrogance and really work hard to make the guests feel welcome, not just the ones who donate large sums or happen to play for the warriors
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If anyone disagrees with anything I say, I am quite prepared not only to retract it, but also to deny under oath that I ever said it

[tcccat]

https://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/story/sports/college/football/2018/09/12/sec-football-attendance-problem-shrinking-crowds-cheaper-food-mascots-alabama-auburn/1280185002/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/early-lead/wp/2018/02/13/college-football-attendance-sees-second-largest-decline-in-history/?utm_term=.98c3b8fd926a

Perhaps Davidson basketball can buck these larger trends (I think they could/should), but attendance at college football and NFL games is on a downward trend and college football has been for the last ten years approximately. Last year, the SEC, presumably the cornucopia of college football, experienced the largest drop in history, from one year to the next.

I don't know if it is lack of interest among millenial students or so much more available television coverage or the constant pace of life and program/attendance options that are before us on a daily basis. Even if the product is as good as ever, it seems more marketing and sales are required than 5-10 years ago.

[BDL]

Student attendance is bad most of the year except for a few conference games. A lot of the blame is on us but I also think there is some blame to go around.

For example, I have a friend in the band who can’t go on Tuesdays or Thursdays now because his Chinese Professor scheduled the class AT from 7-8 on those days. I also had mandatory RLO meetings scheduled on the same day as the Charlotte and Cle State games (My co-hall counselor and I did make the first half for both games at least). There is also almost no outreach to us in terms of marketing anymore except for a Crier email that just lists all sporting events in the week ahead (and basketball is usually last). Of course there is always the excuse of the sheer amount of work we have, especially now as we are in finals season.

[DC69Wildcat]

There has been no halftime entertainment so far. Where are the Bouncing Bulldogs, the Frisbee catching dogs, Red Panda, the chair balancing guy, or even the elementary school unicycle teams and tumbling teams? Heck, Red Panda is worth seeing even without a basketball game.
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"We should've thrown our number 7 pitcher against Davidson......" Post by Tar Heel baseball fan 16 minutes into the game.

[ac3983]

Text from a friend that lives in VA last night:

-It looks like they are filming the game on FaceTime

-Welp, and now they put up the Nintendo scoreboard on the screen



Perhaps wrong thread, but maybe this can force more people to come to games?!

[i77cat]

[citycat]

What is an an AT and a RLO?

Can you get your freshman hall to go to a game?

College games seem very small to most freshmen now. In '73-'74, some guys on our hall remarked they'd never been in a gym as big as Johnston Gym. The Charlotte Coliseum was monstrous.

My kids went to other colleges. They never became big fans of their schools' team because they were/are Panthers' and Hornets' fans.

They'll go to Davidson games if mom and dad buy the tickets, they get to go to the Fastbreak Club, and either Steph or Denzel is going to be there.