Ryan Center Attendance - Historical Analysis

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

Average home attendance for URI currently sits at 5,435 with two home games remaining. I would think this number will only increase with expected large crowds for the last two remaining games with Davidson and St. Joe's. It would appear that URI is headed toward its 4th best seasonal home average (including all in and post season tournament games) in the 13 years since the Ryan Center opened. This would be a stark turn around as it would follow a period of the three worst average seasons of the facility.

RHODE ISLAND HOME ATTENDANCE 2014-15

OPPONENT | ATTENDANCE | TO DATE | AVERAGE
Pace | 4,210 | 4,210 | 4,210
UMass-Lowell | 4,320 | 8,530 | 4,265
Nebraska | 7,657 | 16,187 | 5,396
Delaware St | 4,613 | 20,800 | 5,200
Detroit | 4,694 | 25,494 | 5,099
Brown | 5,015 | 30,509 | 5,085
Fordham | 4,810 | 35,319 | 5,046
VCU | 6,011 | 41,330 | 5,166
LaSalle | 4,481 | 45,811 | 5,090
St Bonaventure | 5,312 | 51,123 | 5,112
GW | 7,097 | 58,220 | 5,293
St Louis | 5,314 | 63,534 | 5,295
UMass-Amherst | 7,118 | 70,652 | 5,435

Past Seasons

RYAN CENTER URI HOME ATTENDANCE BY YEAR
SEASON | GAMES | TOTAL | AVERAGE
2013-14 | 16 | 71,058 | 4,441
2012-13 | 15 | 64,368 | 4,291
2011-12 | 15 | 57,428 | 3,829
2010-11 | 16 | 72,598 | 4,537
2009-10 | 17 | 88,853 | 5,227
2008-09 | 14 | 74,196 | 5,300
2007-08 | 15 | 88,731 | 5,915
2006-07 | 15 | 67,293 | 4,486
2005-06 | 16 | 76,150 | 4,760
2004-05 | 14 | 65,227 | 4,659
2003-04 | 17 | 97,762 | 5,751
2002-03 | 17 | 96,194 | 5,658

RYAN CENTER URI HOME ATTENDANCE BY AVERAGE
SEASON | GAMES | TOTAL | AVERAGE
2007-08 | 15 | 88,731 | 5,915
2003-04 | 17 | 97,762 | 5,751
2002-03 | 17 | 96,194 | 5,658
2008-09 | 14 | 74,196 | 5,300
2009-10 | 17 | 88,853 | 5,227
2005-06 | 16 | 76,150 | 4,760
2004-05 | 14 | 65,227 | 4,659
2010-11 | 16 | 72,598 | 4,537
2006-07 | 15 | 67,293 | 4,486
2013-14 | 16 | 71,058 | 4,441
2012-13 | 15 | 64,368 | 4,291
2011-12 | 15 | 57,428 | 3,829

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

As stated numerous times by many fans, winning drives attendance. It is therefore no surprise that the highest home averages correspond with the better season records. The fact that crowds have returned this season further bears this out. There remains a market in Kingston throughout the years so long as the program is winning.

RYAN CENTER URI HOME ATTENDANCE BY AVERAGE RECORDS
SEASON | WINS - LOSSES |
2007-08 5,915 | 21 - 12 | NIT
2003-04 5,751 | 20 - 14 | NIT
2002-03 5,658 | 21 - 11 | NIT
2014-15* 5,435 | 19 - 6 | ???
2008-09 5,300 | 23 - 11 | NIT
2009-10 5,227 | 26 - 10 | NIT
2005-06 4,760 | 15 - 13 |
2004-05 4,659 | 6 - 22 |
2010-11 4,537 | 20 - 14 | CBI
2006-07 4,486 | 19 - 14 |
2013-14 4,441 | 14 - 18 |
2012-13 4,291 | 8 - 21 |
2011-12 3,829 | 7 - 24 |

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 9 years ago

The numbers from last year seem weird. In Obe's contest thread, he is showing home attendance last year through 13 games as over 4900. To get to 4441 that would mean the last three games last year averaged only 2047 per game? Is that right?

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 9 years ago

This Wednesday also sees us having a game with no corresponding game for the friars.....I have seen many friar/basketball fans at some of our games this year like Nebraska, VCU, where there was no game in Providence......

....I would expect a higher number of casual State of RI fans to come to the Davidson game given our Heat right now and the media hyping a good foe together with PinkOut....might be a standing room type of crowd.....

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

theblueram wrote:The numbers from last year seem weird. In Obe's contest thread, he is showing home attendance last year through 13 games as over 4900. To get to 4441 that would mean the last three games last year averaged only 2047 per game? Is that right?

His contest excluded the NIT Tip-Off games that were not part of the season ticket package. The numbers I used as noted are for all regular season and post season games including the in-season LVIT, Legends, and NIT Tip-Off tournaments as well as the post season A-10 Tournament, CBI, and NIT home games played at the Ryan Center.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 9 years ago

Of course we will have to inform them who Terrell, Garrett, Mathews and Martin are.....

theblueram · Unread post by **theblueram** » 9 years ago

Got it. Thanks RF1

Iggy1979 · Unread post by **Iggy1979** » 9 years ago

3829. That'll get you fired.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

Iggy1979 wrote:3829. That'll get you fired.

And so it did as that was Baron's last season (as I am sure you were aware of).

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 9 years ago

If you look at the fluctuation that is the difference in winning or losing....about 2k fans (3800 to 5900). You have about 4K URI die hards that will be there win, lose or draw. You get an add'l 2K with some modicum of winning and exciting games. Add an NCAA tourney and those numbers can be 6-7K consistently.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

bigappleram wrote:If you look at the fluctuation that is the difference in winning or losing....about 2k fans (3800 to 5900). You have about 4K URI die hards that will be there win, lose or draw. You get an add'l 2K with some modicum of winning and exciting games. Add an NCAA tourney and those numbers can be 6-7K consistently.

Exactly. The market is there. The five year down cycle did not have a negative long term permanent effect. As soon as the team was good again this season, crowds returned to the Ryan Center. If there could ever be consistent success, URI would come close to knocking out the Ryan Center most games.

Rhody74 · Unread post by **Rhody74** » 9 years ago

My dream is that we'll get to the point where there's pressure to expand Ryan Center.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

The only thing about drawing 6-7K consistently, that will be tough to do when we're playing Brown or some other lower level OOC program, or say Fordham in conference.

I doubt we will fill the place for teams like that, no matter how good we get.

An average of say, 6500, might be a realistic number to expect. Nothing wrong with that.

Smokinjimit · Unread post by **Smokinjimit** » 9 years ago

Since we have moved to the Ryan center we have not made the dance. If we
Can make it this season with our best players coming back the sky is the limit.
We may not sell out every game but we will avg close to 7k a game. Will
Be interesting to see if the program runs in the black after this season.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

If we sell out the final two games (which seems at least possible if not likely), we would be at 5,731 for the season, which would basically tie for our second most attended season. With raised expectations entering the season and hopefully a couple better OOC games, it is reasonable to expect that we broach the 6000 mark for the first time in Ryan Center history next season, and possibly break way past that mark for the foreseeable future.

Blue Man · Unread post by **Blue Man** » 9 years ago

TruePoint wrote:If we sell out the final two games (which seems at least possible if not likely), we would be at 5,731 for the season, which would basically tie for our second most attended season. With raised expectations entering the season and hopefully a couple better OOC games, it is reasonable to expect that we broach the 6000 mark for the first time in Ryan Center history next season, and possibly break way past that mark for the foreseeable future.

An atmosphere like that would make huge things happen. Easier to recruit, easier to get things for the program, everything just gets better.

What a place this program is in right now. I will continue to say it: thank you Dan.

Unread post by **ATPTourFan** » 9 years ago

TruePoint wrote:If we sell out the final two games (which seems at least possible if not likely), we would be at 5,731 for the season, which would basically tie for our second most attended season. With raised expectations entering the season and hopefully a couple better OOC games, it is reasonable to expect that we broach the 6000 mark for the first time in Ryan Center history next season, and possibly break way past that mark for the foreseeable future.

YES

Even the games vs the Browns and other low-end teams will average in the 5000s instead of the low 4000s. Long way to go to be like VCU and literally sell out the place for the season IN ADVANCE.

Ramulous · Unread post by **Ramulous** » 9 years ago

I'm sorry to say to say that I do not want to outgrow the Ryan Center.......my dream is to have a waiting list for season tickets.....and have season tickets tied to contributions or seat licenses.....I know a lot of us here cannot afford seat licenses....but the fact of the matter is this would be a great way to raise funds to retain a coach who is being courted with BCS money...also all beer sales should be allowed to be taken back to the seats and this money can be put in a restricted account to pay a worthy coach who is being courted with BCS money...

Sorry guys.....

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

Ramulous, with the location of the RC being in the hinterlands, I doubt that URI will ever outgrow the RC.

If we were near a metropolitan area, then things might be different.

Providence is 25 miles away, plus they have a basketball team most of them root for up there.

In RI miles, 25 might as well be 100.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 9 years ago

The increase in attendance over last year translates into a revenue increase of $250,000 which will fund even further upgrades to the program. Yes, high capacity crowds with a big student participation makes Ryan an intimidating place for any opponent, but don't forget the money generation potential. There is no reason to doubt that next season we can add another $300K to the pot.

rodfromcranston · Unread post by **rodfromcranston** » 9 years ago

Hmm, Bloomington Indiana, South Bend Indiana, Iowa City, Iowa. Tuscaloosa, AL,
Tempe, AZ, Gainesville, FL, Champaign, IL., Athena,GA., Corvallis, OR.....
what do they all have in common?
Not exactly metropolitan cities. However, they all support, not only 15,000 seat arenas,
but 80,000 seat stadia.
I won't even get into Storrs,CT.
So, RI can't support a, say, 10,000 seat arena in Kingston?
Please.

Unread post by **SGreenwell** » 9 years ago

I doubt there would be much appetite for building something bigger than the Ryan Center - I think they'd be more likely to just raise ticket prices, if the demand does warrant it eventually.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

SGreenwell wrote:I doubt there would be much appetite for building something bigger than the Ryan Center - I think they'd be more likely to just raise ticket prices, if the demand does warrant it eventually.

If they really wanted to go from 7600 to, say, 9500, they wouldn't knock the building down and start over again. Seats can always be added. We are really getting way ahead of ourselves. We wouldn't add seats unless we sold the Ryan out for 10 years running.

bigappleram · Unread post by **bigappleram** » 9 years ago

Love the emotional swings on here....6 months ago the sky was falling because we lost our assistant coach. Now we want to bulldoze our beautiful arena and build the metrodome. Go Rhody!

Blue Man · Unread post by **Blue Man** » 9 years ago

bigappleram wrote:Love the emotional swings on here....6 months ago the sky was falling because we lost our assistant coach. Now we want to bulldoze our beautiful arena and build the metrodome. Go Rhody!

I will take this over that for sure haha!

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

Was surprised by the lower than expected turnout tonight. I had thought this game would have attendance easily in excess of 7k. 6,050 was disappointing and surprising. Even with a sellout in the last game vs SJU next weekend, this season cannot move into 3rd place for best average attendance for the Ryan Center. It looks like it is pretty much locked into 4th place.

RHODE ISLAND HOME ATTENDANCE 2014-15
OPPONENT | ATTENDANCE | TO DATE | AVERAGE
Pace | 4,210 | 4,210 | 4,210
UMass-Lowell | 4,320 | 8,530 | 4,265
Nebraska | 7,657 | 16,187 | 5,396
Delaware St | 4,613 | 20,800 | 5,200
Detroit | 4,694 | 25,494 | 5,099
Brown | 5,015 | 30,509 | 5,085
Fordham | 4,810 | 35,319 | 5,046
VCU | 6,011 | 41,330 | 5,166
LaSalle | 4,481 | 45,811 | 5,090
St Bonaventure | 5,312 | 51,123 | 5,112
GW | 7,097 | 58,220 | 5,293
St Louis | 5,314 | 63,534 | 5,295
UMass-Amherst | 7,118 | 70,652 | 5,435
Davidson | 6,050 | 76,702 | 5,479

adam914 · Unread post by **adam914** » 9 years ago

I thought the crowd was fantastic tonight, regardless of what the number is.

EZBuckets · Unread post by **EZBuckets** » 9 years ago

adam914 wrote:I thought the crowd was fantastic tonight, regardless of what the number is.

Agreed Adam.

I don't care what the final tally was. That place was as loud as I've ever heard it.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 9 years ago

Still, about 1000 less than the UMass game. I know some of those were UMass fans, but nowhere near 1000 of them. Is it possible that only close followers of the program, like us in here, realized what a huge game this was for us? Is Davidson not sexy enough for the fringe fan? I don't get it, especially with the history of large crowds on Pink Out night.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

Billyboy78 wrote:Still, about 1000 less than the UMass game. I know some of those were UMass fans, but nowhere near 1000 of them. Is it possible that only close followers of the program, like us in here, realized what a huge game this was for us? Is Davidson not sexy enough for the fringe fan? I don't get it, especially with the history of large crowds on Pink Out night.

Pink Out attendance has actually been well short of sellouts for several years. It has not been a near automatic sellout as it was the first four seasons.

Pink Out Games Attendance
2015 Davidson 6050
2014 St Joe's 4712
2013 Xavier 6154
2012 St Joe's 3554
2011 Dayton 5415
2010 Richmond 7109
2009 Dayton 7218
2008 Xavier 7657
2007 UMass 7201

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 9 years ago

Then last night was still 6th of 9. Once again, with the way this program has turned, I still don't get it.

Rhodyhooopz · Unread post by **Rhodyhooopz** » 9 years ago

seemed like more than 6050 last night

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 9 years ago

Apparently the students turned out in force for the Davidson pink-out, but not the casual fan. Pink out or not, this important game should have drawn a bigger crowd.

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

I have a strong suspicion that the 6050 number announced does not include some late student entries or something. It obviously wasn't a sellout, but I would have thought it was closer to 6700 or 6800.

RAM67 · Unread post by **RAM67** » 9 years ago

The parking lot seemed like a lot more than 6050. Second toughest exit for me this year.

Rhody83 · Unread post by **Rhody83** » 9 years ago

EZ did a great job keeping the students and all fans engaged.
Loudest crowd I have ever heard.
I was initially disappointed by the empty seats. There were also less students than the UMass game.
I think the 6,000 was right.
By the second half it was so loud my mind had it as a huge crowd.

Iggy1979 · Unread post by **Iggy1979** » 9 years ago

Donaldson has blogged on the disappointing crowd and I can't disagree with him. If Dan ever leaves it will be because URI fans were too fickle to fill the Ryan Center.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 9 years ago

Iggy1979 wrote:Donaldson has blogged on the disappointing crowd and I can't disagree with him. If Dan ever leaves it will be because URI fans were too fickle to fill the Ryan Center.

I agree. That's why I obsess about attendance and ticket sales. If we're a preseason top 25 pick next year, is that enough to fill the RC? If we do end up in the NIT and host a game, I'll be very curious to see how many people show up.

scine20 · Unread post by **scine20** » 9 years ago

I wonder how many games over the years they've sold out in the Ryan Center.

In my memory:

2002-2003: Pitt, Temple (NIT)
2003-2004: Providence, St. Joseph's
2005-2006: Providence
2007-2008: Providence, Dayton, Xavier, UMass
2008-2009: UMass
2009-2010: Providence
2011-2012: Providence
2013-2014: Providence
2014-2015: Nebraska, GW

I'm sure there's been a few more, that's just what I remember off the top of my head.

Obadiah · Unread post by **Obadiah** » 9 years ago

My records show 13 sellouts. I do not show Temple NIT game as a sellout nor this year's GW game.

Billyboy78 · Unread post by **Billyboy78** » 9 years ago

Obadiah wrote:My records show 13 sellouts. I do not show Temple NIT game as a sellout nor this year's GW game.

And in 8 of those, I'm guessing there were quite a few fans of the opposing team there.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

Next season will be telling when it comes to attendance.

If we get off to a great start, and get ranked, there's no excuse not to fill the RC when a good opponent comes to town.

Like I've said, we're never going to fill the place for Fordham or the like, or Brown, etc. OOC.

If we can average between 6000 and 6500, that's about as good as it will get around here, imo.

Blue Man · Unread post by **Blue Man** » 9 years ago

Billyboy78 wrote:
Iggy1979 wrote:Donaldson has blogged on the disappointing crowd and I can't disagree with him. If Dan ever leaves it will be because URI fans were too fickle to fill the Ryan Center.
I agree. That's why I obsess about attendance and ticket sales. If we're a preseason top 25 pick next year, is that enough to fill the RC? If we do end up in the NIT and host a game, I'll be very curious to see how many people show up.

I agree 100% with this. However, we all need to be patient with this.

It took 3 years to build the team up, but you have to build up the fan base. You can't start building a fan base until you have a team. This is the first time in 5 years we have a team the first time in 10 that you see any "hope."

Honestly people in my age bracket like BPR and others are in the minority of having seen a winner. Most of our fans are unaware that keaney ever was a basketball gym, never mind saw games there. No one that has gone to school at URI in the past decade and a half, or watched all their games in the Ryan Center, has any clue what NCAA basketball is like.

There's no fan base here. Baron killed everything. Literally General Sherman'd the shit out of our entire program. It's a small minority of our fans who have a connection to this team, because there's only a small minority of fans that have been given anything to cheer about or connect to during the time they've cared about hoops.

You have to think that right now is the first time you're building a fan base. That's just the reality. It's bullshit and pathetic and I completely get Dan's frustration with it...but it will come. It comes from the students first. You can clearly see they're showing up. They're engaged. They're AWESOME. That Davidson game was something else. These kids are "in." - no matter what happens this year - they're all committed.

The seniors that got to watch this team, and go on this ride - will remember it, and make the trips back to kingston for big games - or some will stay around and become season ticket holders.

The underclassmen will make it a point to be at all the games, not just the big ones. The new kids will just "get it" because there's a fan base.

That's how it starts.

Unfortunately large swaths of fans don't show up for behind the scenes hard work - they show up for winners. That's why Dan is all about a winning culture.

We're winners now. Expect the crowds to follow.

Iggy1979 · Unread post by **Iggy1979** » 9 years ago

Blue Man: I'm patient but worried. You gotta think that Dan took a look at the Davidson crowd and thought: You gotta be kidding me! Do you know where this program was and where it is now!
Thank God for the students, because in the end they kinda made up for it.
My pet peeve are the season ticket holders who think buying the tickets is how they support the program, and don't realize that using them is important.

scine20 · Unread post by **scine20** » 9 years ago

Obadiah wrote:My records show 13 sellouts. I do not show Temple NIT game as a sellout nor this year's GW game.

I thought they announced the GW game as a sellout.

The Temple game wasn't a sellout? It sure seemed like it. That place was rocking and I didn't see any empty seats.

rambone 78 · Unread post by **rambone 78** » 9 years ago

Iggy, I will be worried if we make the NCAA tourney and they still don't come.

Yes, this program is in a far better place than it was a couple years ago, but we still haven't won anything.

We're getting closer and closer. But that's the operative word, closer. We're not there yet.

Until we get "there" and convince the laggards, they aren't coming en masse.

We're part of a small but growing group of fans that actually give a shit about this program.

We know what's coming. But others don't. They have to see us beat good teams, not just come close.

Next season, I expect us to finally get over the hump, and start beating the best the A10 has to offer.

josephski · Unread post by **josephski** » 9 years ago

Blue Man wrote:
I agree 100% with this. However, we all need to be patient with this.

It took 3 years to build the team up, but you have to build up the fan base. You can't start building a fan base until you have a team. This is the first time in 5 years we have a team the first time in 10 that you see any "hope."

Honestly people in my age bracket like BPR and others are in the minority of having seen a winner. Most of our fans are unaware that keaney ever was a basketball gym, never mind saw games there. No one that has gone to school at URI in the past decade and a half, or watched all their games in the Ryan Center, has any clue what NCAA basketball is like.

I'm curious to what you mean by the part I bolded?

Unread post by **TruePoint** » 9 years ago

Iggy1979 wrote:My pet peeve are the season ticket holders who think buying the tickets is how they support the program, and don't realize that using them is important.

This is a big issue to me, and I encourage anyone who cares about it to contact the athletic department after the seasons to express concern. They know how many times each ticket was scanned, right? Season ticket holders that don't scan at more than, say, 75% of games should be moved back in the building away from the court (since all those empty seats in the 100 level are a TERRIBLE look on TV), and they should really be encouraged to give up their tickets altogether and just donate cash. Because as long as there are people who see their ticket purchase as a donation and not a commitment to go to games, we are always going to have conspicuous open seats even when we "sell out" games.

RF1 · Unread post by **RF1** » 9 years ago

http://www.providencejournal.com/articl ... 14010/NEWS

Blue Man · Unread post by **Blue Man** » 9 years ago

josephski wrote:
Blue Man wrote:
I agree 100% with this. However, we all need to be patient with this.

It took 3 years to build the team up, but you have to build up the fan base. You can't start building a fan base until you have a team. This is the first time in 5 years we have a team the first time in 10 that you see any "hope."

Honestly people in my age bracket like BPR and others are in the minority of having seen a winner. Most of our fans are unaware that keaney ever was a basketball gym, never mind saw games there. No one that has gone to school at URI in the past decade and a half, or watched all their games in the Ryan Center, has any clue what NCAA basketball is like.

I'm curious to what you mean by the part I bolded?

Ah gotcha -

For the students that enrolled at URI from 2000-2014, or in the time that the Ryan Center was built, they never had first-hand experience of their team in the NCAA's.

They never had the buzz or the national coverage physically on their campus. The third week in March was for other teams and schools - March Madness was something URI watched but never participated in.

The reason there are people like myself or the much more seasoned ones who have high expectations and think URI basketball is a big deal is because we were involved in the past. We were fans and got to see it all happen before our eyes. We got to turn on the NCAA to watch our team instead of just watch "good games" or track our brackets.

No one who's been doing brackets in that time have ever had the chance to even put in the joke one where they have their team win it all. It's sad, but when you don't know what you're missing, you're not really hungry to get it back.

It's hard for fans to make a connection to a team if they don't have that kind of legitimate success. This is the first time we've had that since I hit puberty.