Attendance next year?

[Bradley3342]

Anyone have any thoughts on how this pandemic is going to affect our attendance next season? Season still a go? Fans wanting to stay away from large crowds? Allowing limited number of fans attending? I’m hoping none of this comes to pass and we can start filling Carver once again. The future looks bright for Bradley basketball!

[Da Coach]

Yeah, nobody knows for sure. I believe this coronavirus epidemic will subside before next season comes around, and things will get back to normal. Hope I am not being overly optimistic. If if does, I'd like to see a rise in attendance, but there has not been much increase the last couple years despite a return to winning and success, and 20+ win seasons. Here are the attendance numbers over the last decade or so:
.........Nat.
Year/rank/Gms..total.....avg....change
2020........17..96,059..5,651 up 222
2019........16..86,871..5,429 down 270
2018 .......15..85,489..5,699 up 212
2017 #96 15 82,318 5,487 down 466
2016 #91 15 89,299 5,953 up 227
2015 #94 16 91,614 5,726 down 882
2014 #74 17 112,335 6,608 up 51
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

As can be seen, even after winning the 2019 MVC Tournament for the first time since 1988, and playing in the NCAA for the first time since 2006, the 2020 average attendance only rose 222 fans per game, and it is still below where it was 2 years ago! And Bradley's attendance is down nearly 40% from where it was in 2010 (9,339 per game). We know most of the reasons for the drop, but I think a lot of people thought the attendance would rebound a bit better than it has, considering the recent successes. All we can hope for is to keep the winning going, and more people will come.

I'm thankful this coronavirus epidemic happened when it did, and not a month or two earlier when it would have had a devastating effect on the 2019-20 season. Or if it happened a few months later when it would have impacted the 2020-21 season.

[Dub]

Anyone have any thoughts on how this pandemic is going to affect our attendance next season? Season still a go? Fans wanting to stay away from large crowds? Allowing limited number of fans attending? I’m hoping none of this comes to pass and we can start filling Carver once again. The future looks bright for Bradley basketball!

I think this will blow over by then. This is America, and I’ve been impressed by how much social acceptance (and social pressure) there has been so far regarding restrictions, but I think people are nearing their limit of giving their lives and freedoms away. I give it about 2 more weeks before the sentiment turns to “screw it.”

[Tommy]

I'll only speak to that which I know - I will be at every game, and if there were games right now, I'd be at them, as well!

[Bradley3342]

My sentiment as well guys. Not trying to downplay the whole situation but I am ready to get this whole thing over with and hopefully get back to our normal lives once again!

[Tommy]

My sentiment as well guys. Not trying to downplay the whole situation but I am ready to get this whole thing over with and hopefully get back to our normal lives once again!

Right on, brother! *cough*

[Dub]

I'll only speak to that which I know - I will be at every game, and if there were games right now, I'd be at them, as well!

Guys, I think the seminal question here is this: Is Bradley Basketball, and the attendance of games thereof, essential?

I submit, that to the extent which Bradley Basketball game attendance touches on two out of three tenants of the founding of our nation, specifically liberty and the pursuit of happiness, that yes Bradley game attendance is in fact essential by definition. It’s that simple.

Thank you.

[Tommy]

Guys, I think the seminal question here is this: Is Bradley Basketball, and the attendance of games thereof, essential?

I submit, that to the extent which Bradley Basketball game attendance touches on two out of three tenants of the founding of our nation, specifically liberty and the pursuit of happiness, that yes Bradley game attendance is in fact essential by definition. It’s that simple.

Thank you.

haha! Brilliant! MERICA!

[ilikebradley]

The average people who attend Bradley games is rising each season. With Bradley winning the Valley tournament two years in a row, I mean come on, people are going to want to watch this bewildering team top their opponents next year. If this pandemic comes into play for the next season, it will be devastation to the city of Peoria. GO BRAVES!

[Bradley3342]

I see this is your first post ilikebradley! Welcome to the board!

[BUfan17]

Experts are saying that a second wave will hit us sometime this fall/winter. It will be interesting to see how everyone will react. I sure hope we can have a basketball season. The NCAA was basically a whistle blower for this whole situation with how they canceled March Madness so we will see what happens in the fall.

[PhiAlphaBoy]

Experts are saying that a second wave will hit us sometime this fall/winter. It will be interesting to see how everyone will react. I sure hope we can have a basketball season. The NCAA was basically a whistle blower for this whole situation with how they canceled March Madness so we will see what happens in the fall.

I don't see the upcoming basketball season (or any fall sports) being played in front of fans. If we're lucky there will be games, but no fans. You heard it here first.

[Da Coach]

Maybe as antibody testing becomes more widely available and less expensive, people will be able to obtain verifiable immunity IDs which certify they are immune to Covid-19. Those people cannot acquire or spread the virus, and thus would be safe to allow them to attend sports events. And eventually, maybe as soon as late 2020 or early 2021, a vaccine will become available which will confer immunity to a wider number of people, allowing us to get back to normal.

This Covid-19 virus (also called SARS-CoV-2 by scientists) is very closely related to the original SARS virus, which was known as SARS-CoV-1. They are both members of the coronavirus family. There are dozens of known coronaviruses, but only about 7 affect humans. The rest are found only in other animals. The first SARS virus epidemic (SARS-CoV-1) started in China in 2003. It spread quickly, had a high mortality rate (almost 10%), and threatened to turn into a worldwide pandemic. However, it suddenly disappeared in early 2004 and has never been seen again since. Maybe that will happen again with this current virus. We can only hope so.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2002%E...break#Timeline

[PhiAlphaBoy]

Maybe as antibody testing becomes more widely available and less expensive, people will be able to obtain verifiable immunity IDs which certify they are immune to Covid-19. Those people cannot acquire or spread the virus, and thus would be safe to allow them to attend sports events.

That's an amazing idea! I had not heard of this idea before you posted it, but it makes sense. One potential little problem though -- they still haven't determined 100% that having antibodies will prevent you from catching it again. Hopefully, by college basketball season, they'll gain an even better understanding of this monster virus.

[Da Coach]

That you are right, since it is a new virus. But if it behaves like other coronaviruses, and like the great majority of all viruses, there should be long-lasting immunity to those who were either infected or vaccinated. Let's hope so!