Attendance

#1

Hoosier

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#1
I noticed in the Air Force game recap that the LVs had a season-high crowd of 8,032, which got me wondering about attendance over the years. First of all, I think playing weak teams at home is clearly going to depress attendance, not to mention struggles on the court in recent years. Nonetheless, if the LVs win, the fans will come. Here is what I found about attendance, historically speaking.

YEARLY ATTENDANCE RECORDS AT
THOMPSON-BOLING ARENA (32 YRS.)
-------------------------------
YEAR W-L PCT AVG. ATT.
1987-88 12-2 .857 6,998
1988-89 15-0 1.000 5,063#
1989-90 14-1 .933 5,682
1990-91 15-1 .938 4,738#
1991-92 14-0 1.000 6,639*
1992-93 13-0 1.000 6,002
1993-94 15-0 1.000 6,542
1994-95 15-0 1.000 8,032*
1995-96 14-1 .933 8,042
1996-97 14-2 .875 10,500*#
1997-98 16-0 1.000 14,969*#
1998-99 14-0 1.000 16,565*#
1999-00 13-2 .867 15,341*
2000-01 15-0 1.000 15,510*
2001-02 12-2 .857 14,295*
2002-03 16-0 1.000 12,585 [what happened? NCAA runner-up]
2003-04 12-2 .857 14,403*
2004-05 14-1 .933 13,449*
2005-06 12-2 .857 15,356*
2006-07 15-1 .938 14,678*#
2007-08 14-1 .933 15,796*#
2008-09 13-2 .867 13,999*
2009-10 17-0 1.000 12,896*
2010-11 17-0 1.000 12,069*
2011-12 12-3 .800 14,414*
2012-13 16-2 .889 11,390*
2013-14 15-3 .833 11,038*
2014-15 18-0 1.000 10,375
2015-16 13-4 .765 10,412
2016-17 13-3 .813 9,184
2017-18 14-3 .824 8,788
2018-19 10-7 .588 8,028
-------------------------------
TOTALS 452-45 .909 10,649
* Led NCAA in home attendance
# Won National Championship
 
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#6
#6
Drawing 8000 for Air Force is a huge crowd. I would expect next Sunday to see that jump to 11 at least when we play texas.
The university is publicizing the game pretty well, so I do expect to see a jump in attendance. The crowd yesterday was into the game at times and deathly quiet at others. I'm hoping that playing a traditional power -- even if they ARE down this season -- will bring out the diehards and get everyone fired up. There's a major push to get people to be sure to wear "the REAL Tennessee orange" to next week's game so as not to confuse anyone watching on TV which orange-clad team's fans were in the stands. Good stuff.

I believe there are enough people still alive that have fond memories of when Pat and Jody used to battle neck-and-neck, so I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that 12-14,000 will show up -- for old times' sake. I'll be there, and I'll be bringing friends. Be there if you can! :)
 
#8
#8
When your playing teams with rpi’s in the 300s. I think we will have a bigger crowd this Sunday. Hell, I’m coming up from Florida. It’s the first game I am spending travel money to come to Knoxville this year. Transportation and hotels are not cheap, so if I have to pick and choose which games to come up for, I’m going to pick the ones that seem to be the most competitive.
 
#9
#9
Thank you, Decker Moss, for making the trip to see them on Sunday. Not everyone who really, really WANTS to go can afford to go or else find it impossible to get off work, so it's great when folks can find a way to make it happen. :)
 
#11
#11
Everyone is studying for finals. The University of Tennessee has become an academic powerhouse.

Check your calendar. There is a thing called Thanksgiving break where students travel home and eat turkey and have time with their families. Most students are probably returning to campus late Sunday afternoon.
 
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#12
#12
Check your calendar. There is a thing called Thanksgiving break where students travel home and eat turkey and have time with their families. Most students are probably returning to campus late Sunday afternoon.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I didn't make the connection.

Good call
 
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#13
#13
Ohhhhhhhhhhhh!!! I didn't make the connection.

Good call
I bet UT reports attendence as season ticket sales plus individual game tickets sold whether the ticket holders come or not (i.e., not turnstile count). But there were much more than 3,000 there for the AF game.
 
#14
#14
When your playing teams with rpi’s in the 300s. I think we will have a bigger crowd this Sunday. Hell, I’m coming up from Florida. It’s the first game I am spending travel money to come to Knoxville this year. Transportation and hotels are not cheap, so if I have to pick and choose which games to come up for, I’m going to pick the ones that seem to be the most competitive.

Hope you make it...if you do, let me know what section and I will say hi
 
#15
#15
I bet UT reports attendence as season ticket sales plus individual game tickets sold whether the ticket holders come or not (i.e., not turnstile count). But there were much more than 3,000 there for the AF game.

You are correct about this. UT was one of the last schools to report both ticket sales and actual attendance. But, they began following the standard within the NCAA about 12 years ago and just report tickets sold.

Jim
 
#16
#16
Whats all the fuss about the attendance? We are still in the Top 10 in women's basketball attendance. Just like the football attendance times has changed and its not just about attendance anymore and more about the experience. Many schools are very happy with their capacity and crowd because they are loud. So if we come to the games and be very supportive, the team will feed off of that.
 
#17
#17
Whats all the fuss about the attendance? We are still in the Top 10 in women's basketball attendance. Just like the football attendance times has changed and its not just about attendance anymore and more about the experience. Many schools are very happy with their capacity and crowd because they are loud. So if we come to the games and be very supportive, the team will feed off of that.

It also wouldn't stink to be able to tell recruits that our attendance leads the nation. For many, many years Tennessee was always at the top of the pile. Top 10 is great, but as someone who has been in the arena both during the #1 attendance years and these Top 10 years, trust me... 14-15,000 is MUCH better than 8-9,000.

For the season of 2000-01, Tennessee easily lead the nation with an average of 15,510. That year South Carolina averaged 1,502. Now South Carolina leads the nation. All it took was a winning program and the fans were there and loyal. I want that for Tennessee again, and I believe it's going to happen. :D
 
#18
#18
It also wouldn't stink to be able to tell recruits that our attendance leads the nation. For many, many years Tennessee was always at the top of the pile. Top 10 is great, but as someone who has been in the arena both during the #1 attendance years and these Top 10 years, trust me... 14-15,000 is MUCH better than 8-9,000.

For the season of 2000-01, Tennessee easily lead the nation with an average of 15,510. That year South Carolina averaged 1,502. Now South Carolina leads the nation. All it took was a winning program and the fans were there and loyal. I want that for Tennessee again, and I believe it's going to happen. :D


I can agree with some of what your saying. But attendance doesn't make recruits come to colleges. If that were the case Duke would never get the best players to come to a small gym. Its the nostalgia and program history and a great coach. I would love to get the attendance up again like it was but we lost a lot of the fanbase when we loss Pat. A lot of fans came out to support Tennessee favorite daughter. Now if we want the attendance to grow simple bring a family member or a friend. A lot of season passers come by themselves.
 
#19
#19
I don't think nostalgia and program history are big enticements like they used to be. Kids have short memories. Besides a great coach, things like recent/current success, chance to win a NC, preparation for the pro level, location, chance to play with/against friends, influence of HS/AAU coaches, and academic programs are all in the mix. Current recruits were only 10 years old the last time Tenn won an NC.
 
#21
#21
I don't think nostalgia and program history are big enticements like they used to be. Kids have short memories. Besides a great coach, things like recent/current success, chance to win a NC, preparation for the pro level, location, chance to play with/against friends, influence of HS/AAU coaches, and academic programs are all in the mix. Current recruits were only 10 years old the last time Tenn won an NC.


All of that is true but you cant tell me program history doesn't play into it heavily. Kids are still looking at the Big names. But I think we got of topic of why attendance has fallen.
 
#22
#22
I won't be attending any home games this year, unless my lotto ticket comes though for me. I am now living >900 miles from Knoxville. :(
 
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