One of the biggest reasons it is difficult to get those of us who live 2 hours away to come to a weeknight game
is TV! It is a lot easier to watch in my man-cave than drive 4 hours for an hour and a half game.
At my age, I don't like driving in the dark anymore and the quality of televisions these days is incomparable.
There was a time when I didn't miss many home games. Now, coming to a couple of the biggest games on a weekend is
a great experience. We need to do a better job of giving our unused tickets away. Great seats on the 50 yd line.

(01-22-2024 01:29 PM)BSKB 24 Wrote:  One of the biggest reasons it is difficult to get those of us who live 2 hours away to come to a weeknight game
is TV! It is a lot easier to watch in my man-cave than drive 4 hours for an hour and a half game.
At my age, I don't like driving in the dark anymore and the quality of televisions these days is incomparable.
There was a time when I didn't miss many home games. Now, coming to a couple of the biggest games on a weekend is
a great experience. We need to do a better job of giving our unused tickets away. Great seats on the 50 yd line.

Truth

(01-22-2024 09:41 AM)bjk3047 Wrote:  

(01-22-2024 08:59 AM)jmuwyhamhgawd Wrote:  

(01-22-2024 08:41 AM)Dukeman Wrote:  Average basketball attendance in 1992/1993 was 6,086

It was even higher in the previous years

What has changed?

Is this a serious question?

Someone's not familiar with Dukeman's antics.

100% chance Dukeman isn't attending most JMU hoops games

(01-22-2024 08:41 AM)Dukeman Wrote:  Average basketball attendance in 1992/1993 was 6,086

It was even higher in the previous years

What has changed?

The Lefty era indirectly followed the highly attended & successful Lou era.

Lefty was not as "Big Dance" successful of Lou was, but was the big name top 5 known coach who brought in big time games, vs perhaps the this year's easiest schedule in JMU D1 history.

To get to the next level attendance wise this team needs to get to the NCAA tournament with a respectable seed and play well. This school/town has shown it will support a winner, but the program needs to take a step up success and schedule wise to get to the 5.5-6k average for home games.

We're certainly trending that way now.......

(01-22-2024 03:38 PM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-22-2024 08:41 AM)Dukeman Wrote:  Average basketball attendance in 1992/1993 was 6,086

It was even higher in the previous years

What has changed?

The Lefty era indirectly followed the highly attended & successful Lou era.

Lefty was not as "Big Dance" successful of Lou was, but was the big name top 5 known coach who brought in big time games, vs perhaps the this year's easiest schedule in JMU D1 history.

To get to the next level attendance wise this team needs to get to the NCAA tournament with a respectable seed and play well. This school/town has shown it will support a winner, but the program needs to take a step up success and schedule wise to get to the 5.5-6k average for home games.

We're certainly trending that way now.......

I became a fan during the late Lefty years. Even at the downfull, the Convo had some really impressive attendance from time to time. Hell, even during some of the Dillard years the Convo was rocking.
Why was there so many attending during the down years? Simple... history. While I missed out on the good JMU years, friends were telling me about the great times. There were moments where I saw it. But as the years went on, those times were fewer and fewer.
The downfall didn't happen overnight. It took decades to destroy the legacy.
Plus we had so many bad years in a row it led to awful attendance.
Fixing what happened doesn't happen overnight. As good as our team is this year, it's still dealing with the last few decades of history. You don't turn around attendance overnight. It's a loooooong process. Honestly, I'm pleased to see the student turnouts. That is a great sign for the future.
I have absolute faith that we can get to 7k+ average or more. But it's going to take consistent years of winning like we are starting to see.
The stink of the late 90s through Rowe era is hard to get rid of, but By is building MBB back to glory.

You also have to remember that from the mid 90’s and earlier, the attendance figures reported were huge swags. All of those reported attendance numbers are nice and round such as 5,500 or 6,000. They were just kinda eyeballed and often really overstated, at least around 95-96.

Not sure if he’s made any other games but there was a Dukeman sighting at the Radford game..

(01-22-2024 04:33 PM)Top Dawg Wrote:  You also have to remember that from the mid 90’s and earlier, the attendance figures reported were huge swags. All of those reported attendance numbers are nice and round such as 5,500 or 6,000. They were just kinda eyeballed and often really overstated, at least around 95-96.

I don't recall that ever being the case. If anything it was the opposite. I believed we added the students to the tickets sold to come up with the attendance which led to an overstated attendance at the games due to the no shows of ticket holders. Even during the Lefty years there were a lot of no shows at many games in the lower sections. In Lefty's early years there were 6,000+ fans at a lot of games.

Due to counting tickets sold versus actual attendance post Lefty era we would sometimes list attendance of 2,100 while you could clearly see there was less than 1,000 in attendance at a lot of games.

That we've come to 4000+ from less than 1,000 at games is a big improvement.

As I said before - to move up to the next attendance level we need post season success and a more attractive home schedule. Too bad Mason, VCU, Tech, and UVA will not play us anymore.... A game with JMU would help Mason attendance wise as well.

(01-23-2024 09:46 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-22-2024 04:33 PM)Top Dawg Wrote:  You also have to remember that from the mid 90’s and earlier, the attendance figures reported were huge swags. All of those reported attendance numbers are nice and round such as 5,500 or 6,000. They were just kinda eyeballed and often really overstated, at least around 95-96.

I don't recall that ever being the case. If anything it was the opposite. I believed we added the students to the tickets sold to come up with the attendance which led to an overstated attendance at the games due to the no shows of ticket holders. Even during the Lefty years there were a lot of no shows at many games in the lower sections. In Lefty's early years there were 6,000+ fans at a lot of games.

Due to counting tickets sold versus actual attendance post Lefty era we would sometimes list attendance of 2,100 while you could clearly see there was less than 1,000 in attendance at a lot of games.

That we've come to 4000+ from less than 1,000 at games is a big improvement.

As I said before - to move up to the next attendance level we need post season success and a more attractive home schedule. Too bad Mason, VCU, Tech, and UVA will not play us anymore.... A game with JMU would help Mason attendance wise as well.

college hoops is so stupid. there is no reason for us not to be playing home and homes with gmu, VCu, GW, Richmond, UVa, VT - even American & Navy. it would be great for both sides. reduced travel and expenses, less classes missed, better attendance - replace some of these morgan state, coppin state, keystone games

(01-23-2024 10:18 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 09:46 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-22-2024 04:33 PM)Top Dawg Wrote:  You also have to remember that from the mid 90’s and earlier, the attendance figures reported were huge swags. All of those reported attendance numbers are nice and round such as 5,500 or 6,000. They were just kinda eyeballed and often really overstated, at least around 95-96.

I don't recall that ever being the case. If anything it was the opposite. I believed we added the students to the tickets sold to come up with the attendance which led to an overstated attendance at the games due to the no shows of ticket holders. Even during the Lefty years there were a lot of no shows at many games in the lower sections. In Lefty's early years there were 6,000+ fans at a lot of games.

Due to counting tickets sold versus actual attendance post Lefty era we would sometimes list attendance of 2,100 while you could clearly see there was less than 1,000 in attendance at a lot of games.

That we've come to 4000+ from less than 1,000 at games is a big improvement.

As I said before - to move up to the next attendance level we need post season success and a more attractive home schedule. Too bad Mason, VCU, Tech, and UVA will not play us anymore.... A game with JMU would help Mason attendance wise as well.

college hoops is so stupid. there is no reason for us not to be playing home and homes with gmu, VCu, GW, Richmond, UVa, VT - even American & Navy. it would be great for both sides. reduced travel and expenses, less classes missed, better attendance - replace some of these morgan state, coppin state, keystone games

Everything is engineered around NET now and trying to qualify for the tourney. Hopefully at some point it will become in the mutual best interests of some of these teams to play each other. In state schools may tend to fear taking a loss to us, especially UVA, VT and VCU.

(01-23-2024 10:42 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 10:18 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 09:46 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-22-2024 04:33 PM)Top Dawg Wrote:  You also have to remember that from the mid 90’s and earlier, the attendance figures reported were huge swags. All of those reported attendance numbers are nice and round such as 5,500 or 6,000. They were just kinda eyeballed and often really overstated, at least around 95-96.

I don't recall that ever being the case. If anything it was the opposite. I believed we added the students to the tickets sold to come up with the attendance which led to an overstated attendance at the games due to the no shows of ticket holders. Even during the Lefty years there were a lot of no shows at many games in the lower sections. In Lefty's early years there were 6,000+ fans at a lot of games.

Due to counting tickets sold versus actual attendance post Lefty era we would sometimes list attendance of 2,100 while you could clearly see there was less than 1,000 in attendance at a lot of games.

That we've come to 4000+ from less than 1,000 at games is a big improvement.

As I said before - to move up to the next attendance level we need post season success and a more attractive home schedule. Too bad Mason, VCU, Tech, and UVA will not play us anymore.... A game with JMU would help Mason attendance wise as well.

college hoops is so stupid. there is no reason for us not to be playing home and homes with gmu, VCu, GW, Richmond, UVa, VT - even American & Navy. it would be great for both sides. reduced travel and expenses, less classes missed, better attendance - replace some of these morgan state, coppin state, keystone games

Everything is engineered around NET now and trying to qualify for the tourney. Hopefully at some point it will become in the mutual best interests of some of these teams to play each other. In state schools may tend to fear taking a loss to us, especially UVA, VT and VCU.

everybody over thinks it. they think they are going to crack the at large bid code with some alchemy of perfectly corographed games

- schedule games that make sense and are interesting for the fans
- win games
- if you have a good team, you will win the games you need to get an invite
- if you lose those games, you probably dont deserve to go

ie. UVA came to JMu 2 years ago and lost. no NCAA, but they werent that good. 14 losses. Last year, we went to uva and they won. they were better, 7 losses on the year and they went to the NCAA. both great atmopsheres, great for hoops and both teams. yes, anecdotal.... but you get the point

(01-23-2024 11:39 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 10:42 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 10:18 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 09:46 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-22-2024 04:33 PM)Top Dawg Wrote:  You also have to remember that from the mid 90’s and earlier, the attendance figures reported were huge swags. All of those reported attendance numbers are nice and round such as 5,500 or 6,000. They were just kinda eyeballed and often really overstated, at least around 95-96.

I don't recall that ever being the case. If anything it was the opposite. I believed we added the students to the tickets sold to come up with the attendance which led to an overstated attendance at the games due to the no shows of ticket holders. Even during the Lefty years there were a lot of no shows at many games in the lower sections. In Lefty's early years there were 6,000+ fans at a lot of games.

Due to counting tickets sold versus actual attendance post Lefty era we would sometimes list attendance of 2,100 while you could clearly see there was less than 1,000 in attendance at a lot of games.

That we've come to 4000+ from less than 1,000 at games is a big improvement.

As I said before - to move up to the next attendance level we need post season success and a more attractive home schedule. Too bad Mason, VCU, Tech, and UVA will not play us anymore.... A game with JMU would help Mason attendance wise as well.

college hoops is so stupid. there is no reason for us not to be playing home and homes with gmu, VCu, GW, Richmond, UVa, VT - even American & Navy. it would be great for both sides. reduced travel and expenses, less classes missed, better attendance - replace some of these morgan state, coppin state, keystone games

Everything is engineered around NET now and trying to qualify for the tourney. Hopefully at some point it will become in the mutual best interests of some of these teams to play each other. In state schools may tend to fear taking a loss to us, especially UVA, VT and VCU.

everybody over thinks it. they think they are going to crack the at large bid code with some alchemy of perfectly corographed games

- schedule games that make sense and are interesting for the fans
- win games
- if you have a good team, you will win the games you need to get an invite
- if you lose those games, you probably dont deserve to go

ie. UVA came to JMu 2 years ago and lost. no NCAA, but they werent that good. 14 losses. Last year, we went to uva and they won. they were better, 7 losses on the year and they went to the NCAA. both great atmopsheres, great for hoops and both teams. yes, anecdotal.... but you get the point

Agree. I'd toss in Georgetown and George Washington as well as Hampton, NSU, and Longwood. If you're D1 and a bus ride we need to be playing. Not necessarily every season but shouldn't go more than four seasons without being on the schedule.

Going to try to help the attendance numbers on Saturday against ODU, bringing four along to root from NOVA.

Quick question, went to a game last year when the students were on break and parking in the garage was super easy. Should I anticipate having to get to it early on Saturday? If it fills up early, where's the next best option to park? Thanks!

JMU’s men’s home attendance average through 13 games now up to 5250.
I believe this number is #2 in the SBC. ODU is #1 in home attendance at around 5900.

(01-23-2024 11:39 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 10:42 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 10:18 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 09:46 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(01-22-2024 04:33 PM)Top Dawg Wrote:  You also have to remember that from the mid 90’s and earlier, the attendance figures reported were huge swags. All of those reported attendance numbers are nice and round such as 5,500 or 6,000. They were just kinda eyeballed and often really overstated, at least around 95-96.

I don't recall that ever being the case. If anything it was the opposite. I believed we added the students to the tickets sold to come up with the attendance which led to an overstated attendance at the games due to the no shows of ticket holders. Even during the Lefty years there were a lot of no shows at many games in the lower sections. In Lefty's early years there were 6,000+ fans at a lot of games.

Due to counting tickets sold versus actual attendance post Lefty era we would sometimes list attendance of 2,100 while you could clearly see there was less than 1,000 in attendance at a lot of games.

That we've come to 4000+ from less than 1,000 at games is a big improvement.

As I said before - to move up to the next attendance level we need post season success and a more attractive home schedule. Too bad Mason, VCU, Tech, and UVA will not play us anymore.... A game with JMU would help Mason attendance wise as well.

college hoops is so stupid. there is no reason for us not to be playing home and homes with gmu, VCu, GW, Richmond, UVa, VT - even American & Navy. it would be great for both sides. reduced travel and expenses, less classes missed, better attendance - replace some of these morgan state, coppin state, keystone games

Everything is engineered around NET now and trying to qualify for the tourney. Hopefully at some point it will become in the mutual best interests of some of these teams to play each other. In state schools may tend to fear taking a loss to us, especially UVA, VT and VCU.

everybody over thinks it. they think they are going to crack the at large bid code with some alchemy of perfectly corographed games

- schedule games that make sense and are interesting for the fans
- win games
- if you have a good team, you will win the games you need to get an invite
- if you lose those games, you probably dont deserve to go

ie. UVA came to JMu 2 years ago and lost. no NCAA, but they werent that good. 14 losses. Last year, we went to uva and they won. they were better, 7 losses on the year and they went to the NCAA. both great atmopsheres, great for hoops and both teams. yes, anecdotal.... but you get the point

Unfortunately UVA considered that a disaster and Bennett said they won't play us again. They have no interest in playing competitive teams in state.

(02-12-2024 04:28 PM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 11:39 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 10:42 AM)JMURocks Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 10:18 AM)PGJMU Wrote:  

(01-23-2024 09:46 AM)Dukester Wrote:  I don't recall that ever being the case. If anything it was the opposite. I believed we added the students to the tickets sold to come up with the attendance which led to an overstated attendance at the games due to the no shows of ticket holders. Even during the Lefty years there were a lot of no shows at many games in the lower sections. In Lefty's early years there were 6,000+ fans at a lot of games.

Due to counting tickets sold versus actual attendance post Lefty era we would sometimes list attendance of 2,100 while you could clearly see there was less than 1,000 in attendance at a lot of games.

That we've come to 4000+ from less than 1,000 at games is a big improvement.

As I said before - to move up to the next attendance level we need post season success and a more attractive home schedule. Too bad Mason, VCU, Tech, and UVA will not play us anymore.... A game with JMU would help Mason attendance wise as well.

college hoops is so stupid. there is no reason for us not to be playing home and homes with gmu, VCu, GW, Richmond, UVa, VT - even American & Navy. it would be great for both sides. reduced travel and expenses, less classes missed, better attendance - replace some of these morgan state, coppin state, keystone games

Everything is engineered around NET now and trying to qualify for the tourney. Hopefully at some point it will become in the mutual best interests of some of these teams to play each other. In state schools may tend to fear taking a loss to us, especially UVA, VT and VCU.

everybody over thinks it. they think they are going to crack the at large bid code with some alchemy of perfectly corographed games

- schedule games that make sense and are interesting for the fans
- win games
- if you have a good team, you will win the games you need to get an invite
- if you lose those games, you probably dont deserve to go

ie. UVA came to JMu 2 years ago and lost. no NCAA, but they werent that good. 14 losses. Last year, we went to uva and they won. they were better, 7 losses on the year and they went to the NCAA. both great atmopsheres, great for hoops and both teams. yes, anecdotal.... but you get the point

Unfortunately UVA considered that a disaster and Bennett said they won't play us again. They have no interest in playing competitive teams in state.

I was standing next to Carla Williams at UVa when we almost pulled off the second win. She looked like someone drowned her puppy. I knew that was the end of the series.

I think for Men's sports attendance is mostly driven by 2 things:
1) Winning; and
2) Relevance.

We may very well lose just 1 home game in Men's basketball this season. If we go 17-1 to 15-3 for the next 5 years attendance will definitely continue to rise.

Relevance, if between our team, the Sun Belt profile, and the the quality of opponents we play can stay at or improve slightly over the next 5 years attendance will likely increase even if we are not a near guaranteed home win.

The more our fanbase sees us win at home or on the road, the more effort they will make to attend games. With better results, we'll get draws to play better teams in tournaments, and more teams will take a chance they can bet us on the road.

The MAC/SBC arrangement seemed to work well for both Men and Women (especially how the 2nd game was determined). A similar arrangement with A10 or even CUSA, for basketball would build some relevance and help solve a few scheduling issues. Plus I think these games against other G5 schools helps when we play a team - and fans later see them in the NCAA/NIT tourn.

Realistically, JMU isn’t going to have another record this good in the future. This has been a magical season so far at 22-3.
Winning against good teams is what maximizes attendance. But you can’t beat good teams if you don’t play good teams.

JMU has played a terrible schedule. We can’t deny that. Obviously , Coach has no control over the Sun Belt schedule, but the other 13 OOC games have to be better and that includes home games since we are talking about attendance.
I checked to schedules to quantify things.
These are the 5 home games Byington scheduled…
#275 Howard
#206 Radford
#347 Buffalo
#XXX Keystone Cops
#360 Coppin State


This comes after scheduling these 5 home games last year…
#XXX Valley Forge
#351 Hampton
#149 Eastern Kentucky
#XXX Gallaudet
#363 Long Island


2023-2024 would have been the best year for JMU to play a strong OOC schedule and see how good this Dukes team could be.

Most of those games are coming during a stretch in late November and December when Harrisonburg is a ghost town. Seems like a reasonable approach to schedule some cupcakes when it would be tough to expect good attendance.

JMU sent out season ticket info for next season

“Student Section & General Admission”