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[Bill Cobb]

Where are the fans? Where are the students? Where is "D" Block?

Last night's turnout and atmosphere was abysmal. Frankly, it's been pretty crappy all season.

As a charter season ticket holder in Belk Arena, this is the most surprising year ever in terms of lackluster fan support. And, when folks are there it is not especially loud. Last night was about as rowdy as a colonoscopy center waiting room.

Is there something going on that I don't know about? Even the women's games have skimpier crowds than usual.

I'm perplexed. Help me out.
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"I believe there ought to be a constitutional amendment outlawing Astroturf and the designated hitter."
Crash Davis

[MikeMaloy15]

Setting aside the medical reference, I agree.

[Wildcat16]

Someone mentioned last night that the lighting (especially in the upper levels) makes the fans feel like they are at an opera and less inclined to cheer/be rowdy. But there are also so few people in the upper levels that this comment has little to do with the lack of student involvement.

Plus we've seen some of our own board members chastised for being boisterous so maybe we want a calm and soothing atmosphere for the opponent.

[GeauxWildcats04]

The disaster that is I-77 has kept me away from weekday games the past couple years.

[PsychoCat]

What Cobb said. Although I thought D Block stopped showing up in an organized fashion last year or the year before.

I thought attendance & atmosphere might turn around last night, but it did so only because of the UNCC fans. I'm flummoxed. Conscientious objectors to the availability of beer?

[PsychoCat]

[i77cat]

Can't make people go. I've had trouble giving tickets away. I scan the crowd before the tip, looking for single Wildcat fans with bad seats. Then I offer them an upgrade. Maybe if folks see the game from better seats, they'll come back. Or maybe they'll upgrade their season ticket. Plenty of season ticket holders show up only a few times per season.
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"McKillop is a gentleman. He could have played 'name that score' if he so desired."---St Joe's fan

[BDL]

Honestly, the crowds have been fine. Especially because every opponent we’ve played at home has been a sub-200 kenpom team.

Northeastern game doesn’t count because 90% of the students were on break.

[citycat]

Several posters have addressed the poor crowds. Attendance is bad at most schools' games this time of year.

As to why our fans are so quiet, that message has been sent to fans from the top for over 20 years. Our AD came to games, even on weekends during breaks, as if someone was being funeralized. Polite clapping was mandatory. Loud throat clearers were removed.

When we first joined the A10, and maybe through today, there was an announcement that yelling and commenting about opposing teams'/players' characteristics were frowned upon and would be dealt with severely.

We can't change the age and timidity of our season ticket holders. We could encourage more students to come to games by linking attendance at sports events with Phys Ed credits. Have the students scan their card upon entry and exit to make sure they attend all or nearly all of the game/match/meet.

Do the same thing for the Pep Band. Make playing in the Pep Band a Music credit. If a student shows up for enough games, s/he earns an A.

The new AD dresses like a fan for the games. That's a help. Why not have a contest to see which freshman hall has the highest % of hallmates at a game? Have a contest for upperclass halls at a different game.

At any event during break, give students who attend the game/match/meet double credit. Someone is clogging up the roads these days. Davidson students need to do their part.

[citycat]

The Northeastern game was a terrible day and time for geezers. When you have grandkids in 2 places, you spend Wednesday-Friday with one grandchild and Friday-Sunday with the other.

The Friday/Saturday after Thanksgiving is a good time to play a game on the road at a P5 school for the money.

Not to be confused with taking the price on Wilson.

[ac3983]

[seamac77]

We don't try hard enough. Collectively we are too 'smart' to think marketing actually works.

[BDL]

In terms of the timidity of the crowds, its hard to get riled up when you’re comfortably beating awful teams like UNCC and Cle State.

During the Dartmouth game an adult in front of me was taunting and berating The Dartmouth players the whole game. Maybe he has a personal connection to them but I found that distasteful. Im super obnoxious as a fan but I will not yell at college players, they’re kids. I will yell at coaches (Hurley), refs, and make stupid comments though.

[BDL]

[ac3983]

Student support from a bodies in seats perspective has not been great for many years and I feel like that horse has been beaten.

There really has been an improved experience, parking, etc so its surprising more people don't show up. Especially with the $50 season ticket which is cheap as can be, and you can basically sit wherever you want.

At the end of the day there is always going to be a reliance on people that know the program to do some legwork to bring friends, coworkers etc. This is why I suggested some sort of incentive program in a previous thread to further push people to do it. It's basically free marketing for the department in the hands of your most knowledgable sales people.