Empty seats at the tournament

Donate To GopherHole
GophersInIowa

GophersInIowa

Well-known member
Joined
Nov 21, 2008
Messages
43,005
Reaction score
24,725
Points
113
Is it just me, or has there been a bunch of empty seats at tournament games this year? I know it's being played at Jerry world but there are a ton of empty seats at the Florida-Michigan game today. I've noticed a lot of them at most all locations. Or is it just that the games are being played in much larger arenas now days?
 


There was a story a few days ago on ESPN Radio that while overall ticket sales are just slightly down, the actual numbers at games are way down. The pod system has helped some, but it's definitely an issue.

Go Gophers!!
 

BleedGopher said:
There was a story a few days ago on ESPN Radio that while overall ticket sales are just slightly down, the actual numbers at games are way down. The pod system has helped some, but it's definitely an issue.

Go Gophers!!
Click to expand...

Why would people/businesses purchase tickets and then not use them? That is just weird to me. You should be able to find someone that would go.
 

I think Kansas getting knocked out on Friday definitely did not help the attendance for today.
 


DontHassleTheHoff said:
I think Kansas getting knocked out on Friday definitely did not help the attendance for today.
Click to expand...

Yup. KU has a really strong fan base - travel well but really aren't there for the basketball - they are there for KU only. Hate to have been a scalper there today. Eat a lot of seats.
 

Disappointing that tickets are expensive, families would have a hard time affording getting their chlldren in the games and those pricey seats are empty. Its not about families, its about big business. We are watching professional sports.
 

Move the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight back to arenas.
 





Scoreboard said:
Disappointing that tickets are expensive, families would have a hard time affording getting their chlldren in the games and those pricey seats are empty. Its not about families, its about big business. We are watching professional sports.
Click to expand...
It is big business, but tickets were going for 10-20 on craigslist and ebay, and I'm sure many Kansas fans just gave away their tickets. smaller arena=higher prices

If you're worried about the NCAA generating revenue, worry far more about television ratings rather than the attendance at the games.
 






goldengophers said:
Move the Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight back to arenas.
Click to expand...

Absolutely. This is a huge part of the problem. Playing basketball in football stadiums.

I went to the tourney a few years ago at Univ of PHX stadium, where the AZ Cards play. Just a crappy atmosphere, too many bad seats, just an unbelievable grease fire. For those that went, it was the same year and same setup as when the Gophers beat Louisville in December of that season. Just crappy.

Get it back to venues like The Pit in Albuquerque, Thomas and Mack in Vegas, Carrier Dome, MSG, etc. Cripes I'm getting old, I remember when the Final Four was at The Pit when I was in college.
 

Why don't they do what every other NCAA Tournament does and play the games regional? I've always wondered why the call the brackets the West Regional when Ohio State is in the West but Oregon is in the Midwest. I think more fans would travel if it wasn't across the country.
 

Some of this is natural.

There were plenty of empty seats in the 17,000 seat arena in Austin, too. Same thing happens yearly at the Big Ten tourney, which is far more regional. I don't think regional sites would help all that much.

Part of the issue is whenver you have several schools involved, many fans only are interested in their own school. So, when Michigan is playing Kansas, the arena has all of the Michigan and Kansas fans, but only part of the Florida and Florida Gulf fans are. And, vice versa.

In addition, the reason some of these regionals are in football stadiums is because they use those as a test run for future Final Fours (i.e. Arlington this year for regionals and next year as Final Four).

No matter, we will never see again a Final Four in an arena, so the football stadiums will continue to host Final Fours (and because of that, also regionals).
 

I had NCAA hockey tix this weekend. Went to the gopher game, but then had no desire to see the whioux or regional final which were included on the ticket.
 

tjgopher said:
Some of this is natural.

There were plenty of empty seats in the 17,000 seat arena in Austin, too. Same thing happens yearly at the Big Ten tourney, which is far more regional. I don't think regional sites would help all that much.

Part of the issue is whenver you have several schools involved, many fans only are interested in their own school. So, when Michigan is playing Kansas, the arena has all of the Michigan and Kansas fans, but only part of the Florida and Florida Gulf fans are. And, vice versa.

In addition, the reason some of these regionals are in football stadiums is because they use those as a test run for future Final Fours (i.e. Arlington this year for regionals and next year as Final Four).

No matter, we will never see again a Final Four in an arena, so the football stadiums will continue to host Final Fours (and because of that, also regionals).
Click to expand...
I've got no comeback to that, you are right. I don't know what would enhance attendance, I would love to travel to watch the Gophers, it would be nearly impossible for me to get a flight, time off work, etc with a week's notice.
 

I've been to quite a few region finals. Have never ordered tickets in advance. The region semis are sometimes a tough ticket, but the final is almost always very cheap. I went to a Duke/Kentucky game in St Louis a few years ago and paid $5 for a lower level seat.
 

MNfootballfan said:
I've got no comeback to that, you are right. I don't know what would enhance attendance, I would love to travel to watch the Gophers, it would be nearly impossible for me to get a flight, time off work, etc with a week's notice.
Click to expand...

That's why I go to BTT and not NCAA games. Can plan ahead. I know this year, they sold every ticket, but most sessions, except for Saturday, had empty seats.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.



Top Bottom