NCAA Official 2018-19 Men's Basketball D1 Attendance Numbers

[RF1]

The NCAA has released the official Men's Basketball D1 attendance numbers.

The A-10 had the 9th highest attendance league average. Its post season tournament average of 6,800 was good for 11th place among other conferences. Dayton led the league for the 22nd straight season and had the 22nd highest average in the nation at 12,957. URI rose to 4th best average (despite a drop in its average) passing Richmond. URI had been 5th best average behind Richmond for several of the last few seasons.

ATLANTIC 10 HOME ATTENDANCE BY AVERAGE 2018-19
TEAM | GAMES | TOTAL | AVERAGE | LY AVERAGE | DIFF
DAYTON | 17 | 220,277 | 12,957 | 12,996 | -0.3%
VCU | 17 | 129,829 | 7,637 | 7,637 | 0.0%
ST LOUIS | 17 | 117,136 | 6,890 | 6,235 | 10.5%
URI | 14 | 81,153 | 5,797 | 6,216 | -6.7%
RICHMOND | 17 | 97,408 | 5,730 | 6,491 | -11.7%
GEORGE MASON | 17 | 73,701 | 4,335 | 4,087 | 6.1%
ST BONAVENTURE | 15 | 64,117 | 4,274 | 4,286 | -0.3%
DAVIDSON | 16 | 60,793 | 3,800 | 4,276 | -11.1%
ST JOE'S | 16 | 59,077 | 3,692 | 3,688 | 0.1%
UMASS | 17 | 47,468 | 2,792 | 2,994 | -6.7%
GW | 17 | 40,488 | 2,382 | 2,648 | -10.1%
DUQUESNE | 19 | 43,854 | 2,308 | 1,813 | 27.3%
LASALLE | 14 | 29,577 | 2,113 | 1,911 | 10.6%
FORDHAM | 19 | 35,419 | 1,864 | 1,566 | 19.0%
TOTAL | 232 | 1,100,297 | 4,743 | 4,783 | -0.8%


Source: http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketb ... ndance.pdf


URI once again had the third best average attendance in New England behind only Providence and UConn.

NEW ENGLAND MEN'S BASKETBALL D1 HOME ATTENDANCE BY AVERAGE 2018-19
TEAM | GAMES | TOTAL | AVERAGE | LY AVERAGE | DIFF
PROVIDENCE | 18 | 171,761 | 9,542 | 9,547 | 0.0%
UCONN | 18 | 155,734 | 8,652 | 7,829 | 10.5%
URI | 14 | 81,153 | 5,797 | 6,216 | -6.7%
BOSTON COLLEGE | 18 | 94,377 | 5,243 | 5,160 | 1.6%
UMASS-AMHERST | 17 | 47,468 | 2,792 | 2,994 | -6.7%
VERMONT | 18 | 48,480 | 2,693 | 2,929 | -8.0%
YALE | 14 | 22,359 | 1,597 | 1,306 | 22.3%
HARVARD | 11 | 17,055 | 1,550 | 1,511 | 2.6%
HOLY CROSS | 14 | 19,050 | 1,361 | 1,641 | -17.1%
FAIRFIELD | 12 | 16,280 | 1,357 | 1,347 | 0.7%
QUINNIPIAC | 14 | 17,150 | 1,225 | 1,587 | -22.8%
BROWN | 16 | 19,589 | 1,224 | 882 | 38.8%
UMASS-LOWELL | 13 | 15,640 | 1,203 | 1,119 | 7.5%
NORTHEASTERN | 13 | 14,526 | 1,117 | 1,142 | -2.2%
MAINE | 12 | 12,109 | 1,009 | 1,028 | -1.8%
CCSU | 12 | 12,057 | 1,005 | 1,428 | -29.6%
HARTFORD | 14 | 11,894 | 850 | 1,408 | -39.7%
DARTMOUTH | 14 | 11,581 | 827 | 868 | -4.7%
BRYANT | 14 | 10,530 | 752 | 634 | 18.6%
BU | 15 | 11,025 | 735 | 694 | 5.9%
SACRED HEART | 13 | 8,422 | 648 | 442 | 46.6%
UNH | 14 | 5,362 | 383 | 481 | -20.4%
TOTAL | 318 | 823,602 | 2,590 | 2,589 | 0.0%

[Rhodymob05]

How do some schools have 4 more home games then others?

[RF1]

How do some schools have 4 more home games then others?

The difference is actually greater when you compare Fordham and Duquesne (19) to Harvard (11) and Maine/CCSU/Fairfield (12) or even within the A-10 to URI and LaSalle (14) home games.

I believe the difference for the A-10 schools is that some are not worried about SOS and are willing to buy more guarantee games against low level opponents. 17 was the average number of home games for A-10 members.

Most P5 and Big East teams play an even higher number as they rarely play true road games. Lower rated leagues such as the Ivy, America East, NEC, and MAAC play among the fewest as Harvard had only 11 and Maine, Central Ct State, and Fairfield only played 12 games at home.

[Rhodymob05]

Good explanation. Creates misleading attendance numbers.

[RF1]

Worth noting that UMass drew far more fans to its men's hockey games than its men's basketball games in 2018-19:

UMass 2018-19 Attendance
Men's Basketball 17 | 47,468 | 2,792
Men's Hockey 18 | 87,776 | 4,876

As many older URI fans know from the 90's, UMass fans are what are known as front runners. They came out in the 90's when they had a top ranked hoops team and came out this past season for a top ranked hockey team. They do not come out in especially large numbers when the team is not top ranked. Even though the school has some 10K more undergraduates and tens of thousands more alumni than URI, its hard core loyal group of support is less than Rhody. URI's worst season on the court and at the gate since the Ryan Center opened was 3,829 back in 2011-12. It was the only instance in the 17 years of the Ryan center to have averaged less than 4k. In the last decade, UMass has had six seasons where it averaged below 4k.

UMASS HOME ATTENDANCE BY AVERAGE AT THE 9,493 SEAT MULLINS CENTER
SEASON | GAMES | TOTAL | AVERAGE
2009-10 | 14 | 55,823 | 3,987
2010-11 | 17 | 56,096 | 3,300
2011-12 | 16 | 68,471 | 4,279
2012-13 | 14 | 73,564 | 5,255
2013-14 | 13 | 85,069 | 6,544
2014-15 | 15 | 68,291 | 4,553
2015-16 | 16 | 53,841 | 3,365
2016-17 | 18 | 59,338 | 3,297
2017-18 | 17 | 50,901 | 2,994
2018-19 | 17 | 47,468 | 2,792
TOTAL | 157 | 618,862 | 3,942

[Rhody83]

The UMass Hockey was ranked #2 in the country and made it to the NCAA Championship game.

[RF1]

The UMass Hockey was ranked #2 in the country and made it to the NCAA Championship game.

I know. That was my point. They came out for hockey this year because they were top ranked. Same with basketball during the last few seasons with Calipari. They do not come out in especially large numbers when a team is not super successful.

[RF1]

Worth also noting that New England's only P5 member Boston College was fourth yet again in average attendance with just 5,243 per game. This despite being located in the region's largest city and having the most attractive schedule of opponents (10 of the 18 were Minnesota, Providence, Virginia, Florida State, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Miami, Louisville, UNC, NC State).

[reef]

Where does URI land nationally at 5797 ???

[RF1]

Where does URI land nationally at 5797 ???

The only ranking list per the above NCAA site link was just for the top 30. The list with all schools was not by average rank but instead was sorted in alphabetical order. I however read on the Dayton board that URI ranked 92nd nationally out of 353 D1 teams.

[Rhode_Island_Red]

Worth also noting that New England's only P5 member Boston College was fourth yet again in average attendance with just 5,243 per game. This despite being located in the region's largest city and having the most attractive schedule of opponents (10 of the 18 were Minnesota, Providence, Virginia, Florida State, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Miami, Louisville, UNC, NC State).

The Beanpot notwithstanding, Boston is not and never has been a college-sports town. Lots of people jumped on the bandwagon for the Tom Davis teams in the early 80s, but that was all.

[Rhodymob05]

It's funny, there are teams in the south and out west that most fans have never heard of but can get 9-10K a game. Southern Illinois Salukis, for example, has an arena that reminds me of a P5 program, yet I never heard of the school. Sometimes its the location that makes a difference, no matter the team's success and team support.

[NYGFan_Section208]

It's funny, there are teams in the south and out west that most fans have never heard of but can get 9-10K a game. Southern Illinois Salukis, for example, has an arena that reminds me of a P5 program, yet I never heard of the school. Sometimes its the location that makes a difference, no matter the team's success and team support.

What??? Clyde's alma mater???

[TruePoint]

How do some schools have 4 more home games then others?

Their message boards must be nirvana

[ramster]

Worth also noting that New England's only P5 member Boston College was fourth yet again in average attendance with just 5,243 per game. This despite being located in the region's largest city and having the most attractive schedule of opponents (10 of the 18 were Minnesota, Providence, Virginia, Florida State, Syracuse, Notre Dame, Miami, Louisville, UNC, NC State).

The Beanpot notwithstanding, Boston is not and never has been a college-sports town. Lots of people jumped on the bandwagon for the Tom Davis teams in the early 80s, but that was all.

Exactly right R.I. Red. And Boston never will be a College Sports town either. Bruins, Celtics and Red Sox walking distance or easy subway access.
It’s because BC is in the ACC that they get the attendance they get. No surprise their attendance numbers are what they are.

[josephski]

It's funny, there are teams in the south and out west that most fans have never heard of but can get 9-10K a game. Southern Illinois Salukis, for example, has an arena that reminds me of a P5 program, yet I never heard of the school. Sometimes its the location that makes a difference, no matter the team's success and team support.

In most of those areas people don't feel as connected to a professional sports team so they root for the closest college team. Look at a city like Syracuse where the closest professional teams, Bills and Sabres, are still 2+ hours away. If you grew up there then you're likely a fan of the Bills and Sabres if you follow the NFL and NHL but Syracuse is your city's team. New England as a whole will probably always care more about professional sports than college.

[ramster]

It's funny, there are teams in the south and out west that most fans have never heard of but can get 9-10K a game. Southern Illinois Salukis, for example, has an arena that reminds me of a P5 program, yet I never heard of the school. Sometimes its the location that makes a difference, no matter the team's success and team support.

In most of those areas people don't feel as connected to a professional sports team so they root for the closest college team. Look at a city like Syracuse where the closest professional teams, Bills and Sabres, are still 2+ hours away. If you grew up there then you're likely a fan of the Bills and Sabres if you follow the NFL and NHL but Syracuse is your city's team. New England as a whole will probably always care more about professional sports than college.

Especially so in a City Like Boston that is a huge Pro Sports town and loves the Bruins and Celtics who play in the well located TD Garden and the Red Sox at Fenway. There is a lot of new building going on around North Station and TD Garden, plus the nearby Seaport area and also around Fenway.
College sports will never be big in Boston. Boston College did well to get into the ACC to represent New England

[rjsuperfly66]

In the years leading up to that batch of realignment, BC did a good job building their resume. 5 years before, they made 4/5 NCAA Tournaments and 1 NIT in basketball, and went 5/5 in bowl games. In their last seasons in the Big East, basketball got up to #3 in the country, and football was 1 win away (a choke at home against Syracuse) from playing in a BCS game. Unfortunately bad decision-making undermined both programs, but their complete resume at that time would have stood up against pretty much anyone who would have considered jumping conferences.

[JimSidd]

Let’s face it: some in administration (most?) think about revenue generation first and the actual athletics second. Plus, you have the 800 pound gorilla that is football and the Big East doesn’t have it. Take this for what it’s worth, but I read/heard back in the day that BC jumped at the chance to join the ACC at that time because UCONN had just started its football program and the decision makers at BC were worried that once the UCONN football program got established, the ACC would come calling there and BC would be left holding the bag. I can see that scenario playing out, since UCONN fits the ACC school profile much better than BC.

[ramster]

It was a brilliant move by BC to join the ACC when the opportunity presented itself.
You are right, UConn’s worst nightmare was BC getting the invite to the ACC before them
In hindsight, UConn should have stayed in the NBE and would have saved millions of $$$ to return to the NBE and depart the AAC
Of course if the AAC venture had resulted in an invite to a P5 conference then a different story (like Rutgers)
Now it looks like Basketball and Hurley are driving the bus with Football in a tough spot.

[RF1]

It was a brilliant move by BC to join the ACC when the opportunity presented itself.
You are right, UConn’s worst nightmare was BC getting the invite to the ACC before them
In hindsight, UConn should have stayed in the NBE and would have saved millions of $$$ to return to the NBE and depart the AAC
Of course if the AAC venture had resulted in an invite to a P5 conference then a different story (like Rutgers)
Now it looks like Basketball and Hurley are driving the bus with Football in a tough spot.

UCONN did stay in what was the original Big East. The legal entity that was the original Big East is just now known as the AAC after it rebranded itself. It is why the AAC has the same Providence HQ and commissioner. It was the Catholic-7 that broke off from the original Big East. They however purchased the Big East name rights and MSG tournament contract during their exit. There has never been any public indication that UConn was asked to be a part of their new group at that time of the breakup.

[ramster]

It was a brilliant move by BC to join the ACC when the opportunity presented itself.
You are right, UConn’s worst nightmare was BC getting the invite to the ACC before them
In hindsight, UConn should have stayed in the NBE and would have saved millions of $$$ to return to the NBE and depart the AAC
Of course if the AAC venture had resulted in an invite to a P5 conference then a different story (like Rutgers)
Now it looks like Basketball and Hurley are driving the bus with Football in a tough spot.

UCONN did stay in what was the original Big East. The legal entity that was the original Big East is just now known as the AAC after it rebranded itself. It is why the AAC has the same Providence HQ and commissioner. It was the Catholic-7 that broke off from the original Big East. They however purchased the Big East name rights and MSG tournament contract during their exit. There has never been any public indication that UConn was asked to be a part of their new group at that time of the breakup.

However the tangled web of the Big East dismantled the bottom line is Boston College got the coveted Atlantic Coast Conference opportunity and left UConn on the outside looking in.
Now UConn’s Football Program is in a much less attractive position playing as an FBS Independent. Not much fun for UConn football fans - pretty apparent as this has played out in the Boneyard.

AAC Is leaving Providence for Dallas Texas in 2020.
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/colleg ... ers-dallas

[RF1]

AAC Is leaving Providence for Dallas Texas in 2020.
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/colleg ... ers-dallas

They only stayed because of the long term lease. Lease is expiring in 2020 and it makes zero sense to keep the HQ in Providence when most of its schools are thousands of miles away. Move to Dallas was already a done deal before UConn made its decision to leave.

[Rhody83]

UConn did get the largest share of the $70 million the NBE paid the AAC to keep the Big East name and MSG contract.

[ramster]

How much did Uconn get?

[ramster]

AAC Is leaving Providence for Dallas Texas in 2020.
https://sportsday.dallasnews.com/colleg ... ers-dallas

They only stayed because of the long term lease. Lease is expiring in 2020 and it makes zero sense to keep the HQ in Providence when most of its schools are thousands of miles away. Move to Dallas was already a done deal before UConn made its decision to leave.

Agree. The plan to leave Providence was long in the works before UConn left
AAC Football will be stronger overall without the Huskies who finished an abysmal (1-11) last year. Kind of like posters wanting Fordham out of the A10. Addition by subtraction for AAC Football. UConn lost their last game 57-7 at home vs Temple. They were easily the worst team in the AAC.