We'll be hard-pressed to break 5K fans for Michigan St. game

[PiscatawayMike]

We've been bemoaning attendance figures for a while, but, simply, it's a damn shame that it's highly likely the attendance for tomorrow night's game vs. Michigan State will be less than 5,000.

That's No. 3 Michigan State... a team led by a sure-fire NBA lottery pick and a legendary coach... a team that could very well win the national championship this season.

I'm not pointing blame at anyone for the paltry attendance. I can list the reasons/excuses. It just makes me sad. College hoops has long been my favorite sport. Obviously, not many in the area feel the same.

So many tix still available. So disappointing. That is all.
https://ev12.evenue.net/cgi-bin/nco...text=&pc=&caller=&appCode=&groupCode=M18&cgc=

 

[kcg88]

Win meaningful games and the fans will come.

 

[bac2therac]

its pretty sad...but too many home games are hurting interest plus for some reason people wait until January and February to start showing up for games. Its speaks to how decimated the fanbase is, a top team comes in and draw flies and RU is on the improve but fans will not show up until they believe RU can win these games and they are going to have to start finishing over 500 for that. Back in the day we drew 6-7K for games against Lafayette, Delaware and St Bonaventure. Now a crowd of 5K is labelled a good crowd by the board

students will be there no doubt and for SHU but after that I am not so sure if the team does not win a big game somewhere

 

[soundcrib]

Need to win a game we're not expected to win. Tomorrow might be ugly too.

 

[SJScarlet]

While the attendance will be disappointing, it will be well over 5000, unless tons of people with tickets don't show up. The 300 sections hold about 2200 people. There are probably a couple hundred tickets left in the 200s, but there are at least that many sold in the 300s. With a full student section, should be as much as 5800 with walk up.

 

[Degaz-RU]

While the attendance will be disappointing, it will be well over 5000, unless tons of people with tickets don't show up. The 300 sections hold about 2200 people. There are probably a couple hundred tickets left in the 200s, but there are at least that many sold in the 300s. With a full student section, should be as much as 5800 with walk up.

You beat me to it. I looked at all of the sections on sk.com and this is my conclusion as well. Could even top 6,000. '

But since sk.com doesn't make the student sections available online, all of this is dependent on the student section actually selling out, which is not a foregone conclusion right before finals.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

6K would be better.... but disappointing nonetheless.

 

[SJScarlet]

You beat me to it. I looked at all of the sections on sk.com and this is my conclusion as well. Could even top 6,000. '

But since sk.com doesn't make the student sections available online, all of this is dependent on the student section actually selling out, which is not a foregone conclusion right before finals.

That said, I thought availability looked similar for Florida State, yet apparently less than 5k went through the turnstiles for that one. Not only is attendance disappointing, but apparently some people with tickets don't even show up for marquee games o_O

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

Conference games are too early in the season.

No doubt that RU vs SHU has more juice and fan interest than MSU.

Plus it's a Saturday game.

 

[whofrewdatmataRU13]

Sometimes the 7 o'clock weekday games are tough to make depending on work etc, still expecting a decent turnout.

 

[hinson32]

Even when RU was winning we never drew well. Go back and look at attendance for the 78-83 years. You will surprised at how low it is.

 

[Knight Owl]

MSU has been crushing teams.

37.1% 3pt
50.2% fg
72.5% ft
43 rpg
82 ppg
19 apg
5 spg
7 bpg

Probably a legit final four team.

 

[whofrewdatmataRU13]

MSU has been crushing teams.

37.1% 3pt
50.2% fg
72.5% ft
43 rpg
82 ppg
19 apg
5 spg
7 bpg

Probably a legit final four team.

Nice.

Doucoure isn't afraid of anyone, that's why we play the game.

 

[BigEastPhil]

My thoughts:

- Lack of Marketing for Basketball
- Game is during a weeknight
- Casual fan is still in "football" mode
- We miss the geographical rivalries that we had in the Big East with Cuse; UConn; Nova etc. There was more of an "it" factor with BE squads.
- Mich State doesn't have busloads of alumni like Indiana; Wisconsin; Michigan; Penn State; Maryland etc in the NJ area.

That being said, if game was on weekend, crowd would probably be 7-8K.

Also because I believe it's going to rain tomorrow night, I don't expect a big walk up.

 

[Knight Owl]

Nice.

Doucoure isn't afraid of anyone, that's why we play the game.

Doucoure is going to be great. Team has to shoot 40% from 3 pt land to have a shot.

 

[RUJMM78]

The biggest reason for low attendance is the lack of Interest in college athletics in NJ.All the lame excuses that are said become gospel on a annual basis.My counter argument is that there are approximately 9 million people in NJ and Rutgers can't sellout a 8000 seat RAC which is rather conclusive data to show non interest.

 

[whofrewdatmataRU13]

The biggest reason for low attendance is the lack of Interest in college athletics in NJ.All the lame excuses that are said become gospel on a annual basis.My counter argument is that there are approximately 9 million people in NJ and Rutgers can't sellout a 8000 seat RAC which is rather conclusive data to show non interest.

Maybe because we have more to do in the tri state than tend to the crops and milk cows

 

[BoroKnight]

Even when RU was winning we never drew well. Go back and look at attendance for the 78-83 years. You will surprised at how low it is.

Very, very true. I can remember during the 1981-82 season, we were so pumped because we sold out a game. One game. We won 20 that year (legitimately, I might add.)

 

[RutgersRaRa]

People are still in football mode, which is partly why early-season games are typically warm-up contests. I'm watching Wisky at PSU right now and there might be 3k. BTW 14 seconds left and Wisky up 64-63.

 

[Mr Magoo]

Hill, Rice, and Jordan buried this program. It’s going to take some time. I like where we are headed.

 

[koleszar]

I'm watching Wisky at PSU right now and there might be 3k.

They must be all tending the crops and milking the cows.:)

 

[FELONIOUSMONK]

We are bringing 4999 of our closest Rutgers friends.That gets us over the top.

 

[RutgersRaRa]

FSU at #5 Florida right now (9-11pm Monday). Curious to see how good FSU is. Right now they're up 14-11.

 

[S_Janowski]

The biggest reason for low attendance is the lack of Interest in college athletics in NJ.All the lame excuses that are said become gospel on a annual basis.My counter argument is that there are approximately 9 million people in NJ and Rutgers can't sellout a 8000 seat RAC which is rather conclusive data to show non interest.

No. The biggest reason is we haven't made, or come close to making the tourney since 1991.

The casual fan isn't paying attention to the rebuild that Pikiell is working and unfortunately the last 3-5 years have killed off a bunch of die hard season ticket holders.

It will take another 1-2 years but once Pikiell gets this thing going the place will have consistent sell outs.

Also, a 7pm weeknight game is not convenient or easy to make for probably 3/4s of the state. I went to the FSU game straight from work last week at 5:30pm and didn't get back home until after 11pm and clocked 130 miles. Pretty big commitment for a basketball game.

 

[S_Janowski]

My thoughts:

- Lack of Marketing for Basketball
- Game is during a weeknight
- Casual fan is still in "football" mode
- We miss the geographical rivalries that we had in the Big East with Cuse; UConn; Nova etc. There was more of an "it" factor with BE squads.
- Mich State doesn't have busloads of alumni like Indiana; Wisconsin; Michigan; Penn State; Maryland etc in the NJ area.

That being said, if game was on weekend, crowd would probably be 7-8K.

Also because I believe it's going to rain tomorrow night, I don't expect a big walk up.

All good points.

 

[JimmyJack39]

No. The biggest reason is we haven't made, or come close to making the tourney since 1991.

The casual fan isn't paying attention to the rebuild that Pikiell is working and unfortunately the last 3-5 years have killed off a bunch of die hard season ticket holders.

It will take another 1-2 years but once Pikiell gets this thing going the place will have consistent sell outs.

Also, a 7pm weeknight game is not convenient or easy to make for probably 3/4s of the state. I went to the FSU game straight from work last week at 5:30pm and didn't get back home until after 11. Pretty big commitment for a basketball game.

This. I'm a casual RU basketball fan and I work in the city for I can't make the game. RU fans have been beaten down. They look at this MSU game and think there's no shot we win this game so why bother. Until we can prove that we have a competitive B1G team, you're not going to see much interest. Fans will come once this program shows it has the ability to make the NCAA tourney, but don't blame RU fans. Blame the incompetence of past administrations to care about this basketball program. When the program hasn't made an NCAA tourney in 26 years and hasn't come close in over a decade, what do you expect?

 

[bac2therac]

the falloff in interest is dramatic...here are some attendence numbers from the Bannon years...earlier season non conference games

12/5/98: FDU 7,420
11/14/98: Wagner 7,218
12/99: Maryland Baltimore County 7,109
1/25/99: Lafayette 6,903
12/27/98: Lehigh 6,521
12/18/99: Elon 6,101

all 6 of those schools dregs that should not attract any crowds yet they will all draw more than tomorrows game against a top 10 school....thats what decades of losing will do to a fanbase.

 

[TobyTyler1]

I was at the njit game on Sunday and you want to talk small crowds...I would say in 125 range and not exaggerating.

 

[bac2therac]

I was at the njit game on Sunday and you want to talk small crowds...I would say in 125 range and not exaggerating.

we have games vs NJIT on Thursday and then FDU on Saturday. I think we actually could have more for FDU than MSU because its on a weekend but the NJIT game will have very small attendance

 

[TobyTyler1]

we have games vs NJIT on Thursday and then FDU on Saturday. I think we actually could have more for FDU than MSU because its on a weekend but the NJIT game will have very small attendance

njit has only one player, Tarke, a 6'6" lefty , I liked his game, aggressive , attacking

 

[ColonelRutgers]

People are just not going to be impressed beating up on a string of tomato cans. We need to prove we can be competitive (and BEAT) a name brand team before anyone other than we diehards are going to take notice, shell out decent coin, and brave central Jersey traffic for a 7pm worknight tipoff for a game they can watch from the comfort of their couch. If it's dollar dog night then people will show up too.

 

[Knight Owl]

FSU at #5 Florida right now (9-11pm Monday). Curious to see how good FSU is. Right now they're up 14-11.

FSU blowing out Florida 68-53 and pulling away.

 

[JimmyJack39]

the falloff in interest is dramatic...here are some attendence numbers from the Bannon years...earlier season non conference games

12/5/98: FDU 7,420
11/14/98: Wagner 7,218
12/99: Maryland Baltimore County 7,109
1/25/99: Lafayette 6,903
12/27/98: Lehigh 6,521
12/18/99: Elon 6,101

all 6 of those schools dregs that should not attract any crowds yet they will all draw more than tomorrows game against a top 10 school....thats what decades of losing will do to a fanbase.

Exactly. There used to be a decently successful program here. Fast forward twenty years and we've been the worst power 5 basketball school in the country. No kidding the fan base will take a hit. Only way to bring it back is continue to improve and create an NCAA tourney caliber program

 

[bowlgoal]

MSU has been crushing teams.

37.1% 3pt
50.2% fg
72.5% ft
43 rpg
82 ppg
19 apg
5 spg
7 bpg

Probably a legit final four team.

Nice.

Doucoure isn't afraid of anyone, that's why we play the game.

Doucoure shouldn’t be afraid of anyone. He’s going to be a great player and is starting to get things done now.

 

[bowlgoal]

The 7pm start time is a real killer even if we only hVe 5500 fans. I have to leave Nyc early and take the train to NB before heading over to the RAC. Traffic builds for 5500 and if you are driving over even from New Brunswick and it’s 6:30pm, you’ll barely make tip off. The 7:30pm start time was a little easier.

I come to every game. Casual fans will join when we start winning more games and/or get a big win. If you don’t want to come watch, easier for me to get in and out of the RAC. But.... I wouldn’t mind the traffic.

 

[RUJMM78]

Maybe because we have more to do in the tri state than tend to the crops and milk cows

Another lame excuse disparaging another part of the country.The facts are with every lame excuse possible there still are millions of people to draw from that live within a hours drive of the Rutgers campus.

 

[wheezer]

The 7pm start time is a real killer even if we only hVe 5500 fans. I have to leave Nyc early and take the train to NB before heading over to the RAC. Traffic builds for 5500 and if you are driving over even from New Brunswick and it’s 6:30pm, you’ll barely make tip off. The 7:30pm start time was a little easier.

I come to every game. Casual fans will join when we start winning more games and/or get a big win. If you don’t want to come watch, easier for me to get in and out of the RAC. But.... I wouldn’t mind the traffic.

I have the same problem, coming from N Jersey...... obligations keep me from leaving home till about 6:00pm, and then I have to deal with traffic heading south, either the parkway or turnpike....Now, I get to the RAC either just before tipoff, or maybe 10 minutes into the game..

7:30 would be much, much better for me..... but to the schedule makers it probably is a better fit at 7:00, for games on tv after that.

 

[lester19]

This early in the season attendance is a problem all around the country. The season starts too early (just a few years ago the season-opening tournaments didn't start until around Thanksgiving with the regular season starting just after. There are too many out of conference games overall. This year because of the early Big Ten tournament they even had to push two conference games into December. RU has four games this week, three at home. I'm a season ticket holder, but I just can't make all of these games, especially against some of the nobodies that we have on the schedule. Life gets in the way.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

I sold my tickets for tonight.

 

[G- RUnit]

Sometimes the 7 o'clock weekday games are tough to make depending on work etc, still expecting a decent turnout.

It's a major issue. Try driving down 287 or 18 at rush hour. Games were at 7:30 for decades for a reason. Love the B1G but its all about TV and not necessarily attendance anymore. 7:00 start is really tough. That's not a lame excuse. It's commuter reality.