Bears+snow+Xmas parties+ no students+weak opponent=

[dogsrus]

Empty arena.

Any guesses......I'm going with 5900.

[Da Coach]

Bradley's attendance has never been that low in my lifetime.
8,300

[houstontxbrave]

Bradley's attendance has never been that low in my lifetime.
8,300

Tickets sold probably not, but I can think of two games right off the top of my head that were very small... Home v Alaska Anchorage and the home v UNI... yes it was a snow storm but the actual crowd was well below the 5K.

There were crowds in Mo's first season that were very close to 5K actually in the stands.

[Majik45]

Wasn't the UNI game on TV and at the first tv timeout they invited everyone down from the upper bowl to the lower bowl?

[houstontxbrave]

Wasn't the UNI game on TV and at the first tv timeout they invited everyone down from the upper bowl to the lower bowl?

Yes. It was a strom that dropped like 3 ft of snow on the ground. BU played really well that day. I believe Rob Dye had a great game.

BU often has very good crowds and I would agree are rarely under 6K but to say never is well not right. Tickets sold is a whole different story then seats filled.

Truth told there were even at times empty seats in the fieldhouse... shocking but true.

[Da Coach]

Some are obsessed with demeaning the attendance figures for Bradley because they aren't happy with the team's results, and want a change of coach. OK, we get it. Do we need threads before and after every game?

Yes, the attendance has been down this year, but the more important figure- season ticket sales, and ticket revenue, are not off by much. And for all the reasons mentioned, I expect the attendance tonight to be lower than usual. But it is not a phenomenon unique to Bradley.
Here is just 1 article about this phenomenon that I came across about a BCS school with severe attendance problems, despite starting off with one of their best records in many years-

http://www.omaha.com/article/20101218/BIGRED/712189791

Nebraska is 9-2 and undefeated at home (8-0), but their actual average attendance has been just 5,564 (the school posts both tickets sold and actual attendance), and that includes a game against Creighton that drew an actual crowd of 8,102 (many of them Creighton fans). Even that was 2,000 less than any other previous match with Creighton in their 33 year series. 2 of the 8 smallest crowds in their arena's history have come this season, and not due to weather problems.
It's happening everywhere. The majority of D1 schools have seen a drop in attendance, most of them much bigger than Bradley's. It is due to multiple factors- the economy, the proliferation of available sports on TV/cable/satellite, including more televising/streaming of home games for fans, other entertainment interests such as computers, digital gaming, online streaming of virtually any sporting event, and other varied entertainment interests.
Yes, I agree the team's losing record, and the key injuries have a little to do with it, but not nearly as much as some would like to believe.

[dogsrus]

I don't know about others but I don't want a new coach...I just want wins and excitment.

And since you brought it up I disagree....tickets sold is NOT whats importaint. Rears in the actuall seats mater, at least to me. It shows people care enough to go.

I spoke with several longtime rabid fans about tonites game and the response across the board was when asked if they were going tonite was..MEH...will see.

And LOSING is the main reason we are down. BU bucks trends when they win. We went through some hard economic times during Hawk/Les years and the place was full every nite.

[amckillip]

I'll be there. I bought 7 tickets, knowing who 5 of the people were that were going for sure and haven't been able to find 2 people to take the other tickets, for free... That is kind of an issue IMO. Though I still think our attendance is way better than many on here seem to think.

[ser_solace]

Well, at least, I plan on making the drive down. heh.

[Double D]

Our family doesn't miss many....we will tonight.

Middle School Holiday Band concert.

[Da Coach]

And LOSING is the main reason we are down. BU bucks trends when they win. We went through some hard economic times during Hawk/Les years and the place was full every nite.

How then do you explain programs that are winning and whos attendance is down as much or more than Bradley's?
Northern Iowa drew 3,253 yesterday to their home game. The weather was not a factor, they are winning (7-3), they have had more success in the last couple years than any MVC school, and they currently have the 2nd best RPI among MVC teams, yet their attendance is far worse than Bradley's. They would love to get the number of fans that will be at the game tonight.

Please don't answer by saying "I don't care about UNI, I care about Bradley". The point is there are many reasons for the lower attendance, and it's is happening almost everywhere, even with winning teams. Bradley fans have been through losing stretches before, attendance has stayed strong, and they have always returned.

And there was never as prolonged or deep a recession duing the Hawk/Les or the Molinari era.

[dogsrus]

How then do you explain programs that are winning and whos attendance is down as much or more than Bradley's?
Northern Iowa drew 3,253 yesterday to their home game. The weather was not a factor, they are winning (7-3), they have had more success in the last couple years than any MVC school, and they currently have the 2nd best RPI among MVC teams, yet their attendance is far worse than Bradley's. They would love to get the number of fans that will be at the game tonight.

Please don't answer by saying "I don't care about UNI, I care about Bradley". The point is there are many reasons for the lower attendance, and it's is happening almost everywhere, even with winning teams. Bradley fans have been through losing stretches before, attendance has stayed strong, and they have always returned.

And there was never as prolonged or deep a recession duing the Hawk/Les or the Molinari era.

I can't speak for UNI...I don't follow them closely enough to comment.

I DO know BU very well though and understand when and why fans come to games. In ALL my years ONE thing brought them out.....check that TWO things....good opponents and winning, especially at home.

We win and defend home court and NOTHING will keep BU fans away. Nothing.

So you don't think if BU was 7-1 right now coming off an NCAA appearance and undefeated at home we'd be drawing better....?

[BU RICK]

This is kind of in jest, so don't be too mad, but it's kind of really not in jest

This is the most challenged, afraid to play under the 'bright lights' team I've seen at Bradley. How else do you explain multiple missed layups during games, layups off the front of the rim and bottom of the backboard, passes to nowhere, opposite hand shots from three feet away that don't hit rim or backboard, continually rushing to miss shots. How do you explain all the easy shots we miss? You guys must really put the fear in our own players by just sitting in the stands and cheering them on - I just don't understand it

I've got an easy answer, but no one will listen
pick five players, any five
pull names out of a hat or throw darts at a dartboard
when you've got the five names, let them all play together for 20 full minutes
let them build up a sweat, let them get 'into the game', don't take them out if they make a mistake, make them so winded they forget about the 'bright lights'.... let them play, make them have an individually good game, get them some confidence - whatever happened to that up-tempo game, huh.

If you take them out every 3-4 minutes, they'll never get over it.

Let the other 5 start and play the second half and see if they can get over their fears.

Nothing worse than playing any physical game and not building up a sweat.

[dogsrus]

How else do you explain multiple missed layups during games, layups off the front of the rim and bottom of the backboard, passes to nowhere, opposite hand shots from three feet away that don't hit rim or backboard, continually rushing to miss shots. How do you explain all the easy shots we miss?

I can explain it...we just aren't real good. People make it so complicated sometimes (not you)....we just don't have alot of talent. Sorry if that offends some but its just how I see it.

Nice guys....great grad rates..hard workers for sure.

[srw]

This isnt going to be a stellar attendance for Bradley.

IMO Da Coach and Dru are right....

Im more concerned about Feb 1 on.

I do think BU needs to win tonight..no matter who plays