Any comments or excuses on attendance?


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Read all you SWAC powers in the office. See if you give the regular season champ a bye into the championship game. And give the team that finished 2nd a bye into the semifinal game. Then you are at least guaranteeing 2 groups of fans to make long term plans for stay at the tournament. Fans of the regular season champs will obviously will have a longer stay if they choose to come at the beginning of the tournament.But still they have a guarantee that they know their team will be in the championship game. Anyway both fans at least will make long term plans for the SWAC tournament knowing that team will be playing for the tournament championship and semifinal game. It's only logical. I posted this idea in another thread and Kendrick was the only that responded to it.:cool:
 
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I think the Alabama schools are to blame. They should be there to support the tournament no matter where it is :) alteast that's what the excuse has been for years now... why change the excuse when the site changes. lol. Just applies to the bamas now.
 



When are you SoWACKers going to realize that the culprit that is stealing your basketball attendance at the tournament is the garbage basketball that is played in the SoWACK.

It is not the location, it is not the arena, it is not the SoWACK Office, it is the talent level on the court. Win some non-conference games, get out of the first round for once, recruit a decent basketball player. Jeeeeeeeeeshhhh!
 
TheShizza said:
When are you SoWACKers going to realize that the culprit that is stealing your basketball attendance at the tournament is the garbage basketball that is played in the SoWACK.

It is not the location, it is not the arena, it is not the SoWACK Office, it is the talent level on the court. Win some non-conference games, get out of the first round for once, recruit a decent basketball player. Jeeeeeeeeeshhhh!
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Hey, you stay outta SWAC business, buddy!
 
Oracle said:
There was so much criticism of the attendance in B'Ham that I had to find an old Sports View magazine article about the tournament before it came to B'Ham. That article recommended the termination of the tournament because of low attendance. I don't specifically remember where the previous tournament had been held (I think it was Baton Rouge or somewhere on the Mississippi Gulf Coast) but the article roasted the SWAC for even putting it on.

A lot of the criticism was made without any empirical evidence to substantiate it. Posters wanted tthe tournament held somewhere else....anywhere except B'Ham. Now this goes to show that B'Ham drew as well as anywhere else.

The SWAC basketball tourney is what it seems to be:it has low attendance because there is only a small percentage of the population interested in it.
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So again there are no posts that anyone can find ON THIS MESSAGE BOARD that said anything about moving our tournament because of the attendance.

The bottomline is we aren't a basketball conference per-say, so that's one reason for the low attendance but the truth is, when we performed better, our attendance was better...bottomline.

Again there are no threads on THIS MESSAGE BOARD/FORUM that has any group of people complaining about basketball attendance and because of it the tournament should be moved.

Now I do remember a thread saying that they should either do away with the tournament and just let the regular season champ represent us or have a four team tournament, but I think pbla idea has alot of merit to it.
 
"NOISE TALKA" said:
I think the Alabama schools are to blame. They should be there to support the tournament no matter where it is :) alteast that's what the excuse has been for years now... why change the excuse when the site changes. lol. Just applies to the bamas now.
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:wavey: wasup bruh? Where have you been? I missed you at the Super Bowl party. :lol::lol::lol::lol:
 
bluedog said:
So again there are no posts that anyone can find ON THIS MESSAGE BOARD that said anything about moving our tournament because of the attendance.

The bottomline is we aren't a basketball conference per-say, so that's one reason for the low attendance but the truth is, when we performed better, our attendance was better...bottomline.

Again there are no threads on THIS MESSAGE BOARD/FORUM that has any group of people complaining about basketball attendance and because of it the tournament should be moved.

Now I do remember a thread saying that they should either do away with the tournament and just let the regular season champ represent us or have a four team tournament, but I think pbla idea has alot of merit to it.
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It may have not been a thread, but there was numerous discussions about moving it. That is why I went to the trouble of finding and posting that article.
 
Oracle said:
It may have not been a thread, but there was numerous discussions about moving it. That is why I went to the trouble of finding and posting that article.
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Understood but that was the basis of this thread, People claiming that there were SWAC alums/fans on this board complaining about attendance to the basketball games and them wanting it moved because of that and trying to pawn it off as factual.
 
Attendence was actually pretty good tonight... It had to be more then I have ever seen in BHam.. Lets see whats up tomorrow...
 
bluedog said:
Now I do remember a thread saying that they should either do away with the tournament and just let the regular season champ represent us or have a four team tournament, but I think pbla idea has alot of merit to it.
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It's a good idea but I will be the bad guy and shoot that one down :lol:

1) The Big East conference shows that double byes dont work...a team could be rollin goin into the tourney and then have to just sit waitin on those games (then again some commentators on TV said that some of those teams in this day and age probably dont care as much as about winning the tourney as they do about going deep into the tourney as compared to a team thats playing for its tourney life)

2) Even if you allowed all the teams in and gave the first two teams the double bye or one bye, if people are talkin about how bad the attendance is now, do you honestly think the fans (including people on this board) would even do that knowing that there is a chance that their team might lose? If JSU loses after a bye, they are leaving...


If you want people to attend, you do have to make the tourney an event and not just about the basketball... people talk about how bad SWAC football is and the product on the field, but people still do attend those games because of the atmosphere... the SWAC tourney has to do this or just do like the other smaller conferences do and just hold the tourney on campus...
 
Tigerpride said:
For something to be "the place to be" you have to have interests from ALL age groups. That is something we lack. This is more of an alumni event. How do we change that? People go to Classics and the CIAA tournament becasue whether you are 18 or 25 or 35 or 55, there is something/someone for you to do. I just can't see our students/young adults road tripping to Shreveport BUT for it to happen, this tourney and its events need to be pumped up to the younger demographic. Not sure what schools are there but we need invites/flyers sent to schools about events/parties going on especially frat/soror parties. I know that when I was 23ish and even 27ish (im not far from that now but Im just sayin), a road trip was nothing but a word...but I would need to THINK I would be able to have a good time there. I think the element missing is that age group. IF college age people and young adults thought they could go to Shreveport and kick-it with their frats, sorors, and fine sisters and brothers from 9 other schools...they would come...and KEEP coming until they get old. We are the SWAC dammit...fugg the CIAA. :D

Hell, I'm STILL looking for good road trips. :lol:
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I ahve never agreed with you more!
 
kendrick said:
All of this comes down to simple premises. Are you willing to spend your entertainment dollar by going to the SWAC Tournament when there are other options available?

I don't know what the regular season attendance numbers are, but you can't expect those who don't attend regular season games in their own backyard to travel to X city to watch a tournament where there is a good chance your team will be one and done. I think we also have to factor in the quality of the product on the floor when looking into if fans will attend.

I just believe that no matter what ploys to draw interest are in place, people are just not passionate about college basketball in the SWAC the same as college football.
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You still have to have other things going on. Sure the game is being played but what else is going on?

You could have a job fair (like the Big 10)
You could work with local stations/companies and convince them to have an event in the same location as the games.
You could have a health fair or vendor expo
You could have free concerts featuring local talent-heck a local hospital here had their openign of a new wing with Fred Hammond performing-90% of the folks were there for him and stayed despite the rain for the entire event.

In other words youget enough stuff around that event that you attract folks, who might attend a game.

Also remember what 3 events are coming up that can hamper the attendance.

1) PAYDAY for many is this Monday. Can't go to a game without money
2) St Patrick's Day. More folks are getting ready for that
3) SPRING BREAK.-Folks don't have to attend a SWAC tourney
 



skyvolt2000 said:
You could have a job fair (like the Big 10)
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I doubt the Big Ten Tournament is sold out because of a job fair. The bottom line is that those folks who show up are 1. Really into college basketball to begin with. 2. The Big Ten basketball product is a solid one as a whole. That is why the tournament has drawn well over the years.

People crying about making it event only are admitting that the product on the floor is bad. When you cry about ticket prices, you are admitting the product on the floor is bad. People are not going to watch bad basketball no matter what is done.
 
kendrick said:
People crying about making it event only are admitting that the product on the floor is bad. When you cry about ticket prices, you are admitting the product on the floor is bad. People are not going to watch bad basketball no matter what is done.
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This is the truth. But when it comes down to it we just aren't a basketball conference. The emphasis is just football and the quality play is still sub par. We need to become more well rounded.
 
northern tiger said:
This is the truth. But when it comes down to it we just aren't a basketball conference. The emphasis is just football and the quality play is still sub par. We need to become more well rounded.
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Building interest in the tournament has to start long before March. And that means there has to be interest in the sport throughout the regular season.

Each individual school has to invest a little bit more in the basketball product. Schools have to promote and market the sport better. Schools have to brainstorm in coming up with plans to get butts in the seats from Day One. Maybe you will get people wanting to go to the tournament.

You just can't say if we move the tournament to this city and have these events surrounding it, people will come. The basketball has to be compelling as well. The programs have to be solid. They have to play good competitive basketball in the SWAC and outside the SWAC. And the fans are telling you that the basketball is not compelling because they don't deem the basketball as being quality.

And I think what hurts college basketball at the HBCU level, is that schools take those long ass beatdown road trips to start the season. Kinda hard to drum up interest in the SWAC product if games are not being played on campus when the program is gone for a month. I think it is equally tough when those teams lose on that month-long road trip.

I believe promoting the sport more combined with a good product on the court will do wonders for the SWAC Tournament.
 
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After going home for homecoming and maybe attending one other football game, most SWAC alums/fans don't have funds left to attend the SWAC basketball tourney. :shame:
 
kendrick said:
I doubt the Big Ten Tournament is sold out because of a job fair. The bottom line is that those folks who show up are 1. Really into college basketball to begin with. 2. The Big Ten basketball product is a solid one as a whole. That is why the tournament has drawn well over the years.

People crying about making it event only are admitting that the product on the floor is bad. When you cry about ticket prices, you are admitting the product on the floor is bad. People are not going to watch bad basketball no matter what is done.
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Comparing Big Ten basketball with it's history to the SWAC is stupid man. Many would say our football isn't that great, but WE still attend that in droves. So it's NOT all about what's on the field or court.

Fact is what works for the SEC or Big Ten will not work for the SWAC or MEAC fior that matter. Both of those conferences have grown their brand enough to where it does not matter where they have the tournament. It's a happening wherever it is.

When the SWAC attempts to do that, then maybe you can compare us to some of the bigger conferences.
 
SU Jag 79 said:
Comparing Big Ten basketball with it's history to the SWAC is stupid man. Many would say our football isn't that great, but WE still attend that in droves. So it's NOT all about what's on the field or court.

Fact is what works for the SEC or Big Ten will not work for the SWAC or MEAC fior that matter. Both of those conferences have grown their brand enough to where it does not matter where they have the tournament. It's a happening wherever it is.

When the SWAC attempts to do that, then maybe you can compare us to some of the bigger conferences.
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good post!

and what I said when this move was announced shole came to fruition. I won't "blame" the attendance on Shreveport, just like I never blamed Bham. Some folks were hellbent on saying Bham was the problem. Well, I think that can be put to bed now.
 
The attendance was not great in Bossier City but it was better than Birmingham. All of those people bragging about a&m and asu attendance didn't show up because they had more than a 100 mile drive and didn't have to pay hotel cost. Bottom line, those who wanted to attend attended those who didn't decided not to attend. I'm on my way back from Bossier City As I type. We are who we are! Period!
 
Demographics of each individual and what their preference is ( prefs are). That's what it boils down to.

Some (SWAC alums) support the entire SWAC, lol for whatever ungodly reason, and then there are some of us who are supportive of our school and our school alone. I can't speak for my other alums but if PV wasn't in it, there was no way I was going to be w/in 200 miles of the SWAC tourney. lol :emlaugh: I support PV exclusively, outside of that one MEAC school lol. :bowdown:
 
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