MVC and BU Attendance

[Da Coach]

The NCAA just released their yearly compilation of attendance statistics for college basketball.

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/attend/2017.pdf

Here are the average attendance figures for the MVC schools-
Wichita State 10,738
Illinois State 5,943
Bradley 5,487
Northern Iowa 4,535
Missouri State 4,185
Evansville 4,115
Indiana State 3,945
Drake 2,843
Loyola 1,861

And Valparaiso's was- 3,086

For 2016-17, Bradley's total home attendance was 82,318 (15 games), and their average was 5,487 per game. That ranked 96th among Division I schools.

Unfortunately, that is the lowest total home attendance, the lowest average attendance, and the lowest ranking in the last 40 years, and possibly since Bradley moved into The Robertson Memorial Field House 78 years ago. (thanks go to JG & MC)

It is also the first time in memory that ISU had a higher average attendance than Bradley


Here are the Bradley attendance figures for the last 40 years:
Year/rank/Gms..total.....avg....change
2017 #96 15 82,318 5,487 down 466 (all games at Carver)
2016 #91 15 89,299 5,953 up 227 (all games at Carver)
2015 #94 16 91,614 5,726 down 882 (Carver average 5827)
2014 #74 17 112,335 6,608 up 51 (Carver average 6,984)
2013 #79 18 118,024 6,557 down 1,083
2012 #68 16 122,245 7,640 down 807
2011 #56 16 135,148 8,447 down 892
2010 #52 15 140,079 9,339 up 229
2009 #55 18 163,981 9,110 down 490
2008 #52 19 183,392 9,600 down 128
2007 #53 17 165,376 9,728 up 508
2006 #54 14 129,086 9,220 down 117
2005 #51 15 140,065 9,337 up 159
2004 #52 15 137,667 9,178 down 173
2003 #47 14 130,907 9,351 up 279
2002 #47 13 117,935 9,072 down 50
2001 #51 15 136,683 9,112 down 1,066
2000 #41 14 142,495 10,178 up 646
1999 #44 15 142,980 9,532 down 237
1998 #41 13 127,001 9,769 up 144
1997 #41 14 134,755 9,625 down 47
1996 #44 13 125,733 9,672 up 151
1995 #47 14 133,288 9,521 up 707
1994 #46 16 140,700 8,794 up 1,523
1993 #67 13 94,523 7,271 up 278
1992 #78 13 90,904 6,993 down 391
1991 #70 13 95,995 7,384 down 357
1990 #65 13 100,632 7,741 down 1,177
1989 #51 13 115,939 8,918 down 1,098
1988 #36 16 160,263 10,016 up 1,307
1987 #41 14 121,922 8,709 down 199
1986 #37 14 124,712 8,908 up 1,366
1985 #60 15 113,124 7,542 up 350
1984 #62 15 107,881 7,192 down 1,821
1983 #38 16 144,209 9,013 up 1,730
1982 #56 17 123,810 7,283 down 33
1981 #55 14 102,430 7,316 up 63
1980 #59 16 116,050 7,253 up 503
1979 #64 14 94,500 6,750 down 113
1978 #56 16 109,800 6,863
1977

[tornado]

Home attendance is down everywhere in the Valley..but....
Bradley now leads the MVC in home average attendance!!

4,704 - Bradley
4,355 - Missouri State
4,166 - SIU
3,997 - Evansville
3,782 - ISU
3,371 - UNI
2,943 - Indiana State
2,536 - Drake
2,534 - Valparaiso
1,593 - Loyola

too bad there was so much dismal press leading into this season since the MVC is clearly better than all the press & pundits had predicted...
The doom & gloom crap probably killed interest and attendance

[bradleyfan124]

Bradley's attendance will get even better as the season goes on

[Da Coach]

That Loyola attendance amazes me. They joined the MVC in 2013. They averaged 2,278 in the prior season (2012-13). It was predicted their attendance would skyrocket once they moved from the Horizon League to the superior Missouri Valley Conference, played better competition, and had more natural rivalries against Illinois schools like Bradley and ISU. Plus, their arena, the Joseph J. Gentile Arena, also underwent a beautiful upgrade and complete renovation just prior to their first season in the MVC.
And now they are picked by some to win the MVC. They are undefeated, and have the best RPI they have had at this point in a season in memory. But despite all those changes and the improved state of their basketball program, the attendance did the exact opposite as was predicted. Attendance is on track this season to be significantly lower than any recent season!
Here are their attendance numbers.
Since joining the MVC in 2013, their attendance has nosedived. And, the average attendance seems to be worse in the years when they have winning records! This year's average of 1,593 is embarrassing.

Year_Attendance_Record
2010-11- 2,428 - 16-15
2011-12- 2,277 - 7-23
2012-13- 2,278 - 15-16 - Joined MVC after the 2012-13 season
2013-14- 1,928 - 10-22
2014-15- 1,745 - 24-13
2015-16- 1,832 - 15-17
2016-17- 1,862 - 18-14
2017-18- 1,593 - 7-0