1,500 in attendance - how to get another 1k??

[gatorbogey]

had 1,503 in attendance for the gator vs gamecock women's BB game.
had 2,609 for the gator vs vols game.

UK, as a comparison, had 4,862 in attendance in lexington when they hosted the gators women bb team.

for UK fans, that's about 19% of what attend the men's game in Rupp.
for UF: the vols game was about 21% of what attend the mens game but the % was down to 12% for the gamecock game.

we need to get about another 1,000 to attend the 'usual' SEC games. any suggestions?

the USCe game was on a weekend where the men also hosted a game. would that sort of weekend "doubleheader" get better attendance? or do gator fans get fatigued? better to have the men on the road and the woman host a game exclusively? should the sec start to do that w/ the schedules? when the men host, women on the road and vice versa? i think they do that in tennis, right? or try to....

if you've never been to one, what will it take to get you to attend a game or, if you have gone to a gator women bb game, what will it take for you to attend more games?

[enviroGator]

Ok, I'll say it... I'm sure I'm not the only one thinking it...

Shirts and skins?

[gatorbogey]

good one!

[g8rboy]

move home games to kentucky?

[EastTNG8TR]

The number one way to get fans is success on the court which is coming. A lot of young talent this year and even more added next. Some bigger name opponents would be nice to see in the non conference slate. We don't have to schedule UCONN at this point, but North Carolina, Maryland, Miami, Purdue, etc could draw a little more support than USF, Pacific, etc. Could get us on TV a bit more too and help generate some momentum with a win. Double headers are best on the same day if you want fans there for both games. Also, we need better media coverage. Gatorsports, Gatorbait, GatorCountry, and even GatorZone do a poor job of following the team. Very little was reported when Cassie Peoples joined the squad. It took several days for anything to come out on Bannister. Also, though I know it is common practice, lack of team news hurts interest. Most people aren't going to scavenge for news on the status of Chandler Cooper this year or Kayla Lewis last year. Lastly, some sort of marketing ploy just to get people in the stands a first time or two and win them over is needed. Free hot dogs and tee shirts are NOT exciting. Have a sort of lottery....raise ticket prices by one dollar. Then have a drawing....each game....if 1500 people showed the winning ticket holder gets 1,500 bucks. Anything along those lines I think could get some new faces in the crowd and hopefully win them over when they see the team play.

[tupacbiff]

Tge easiest way to increase attendance is to give every attendee $25. Outside of that or free alcohol I can't see it happening.

[gatorbogey]

you know, even if you got 25 of the 'regular' rowdy reptiles to attend the women's BB game, that would add a LOT of energy to the atmosphere and make it 'fun'. the fans that do attend do cheer a bit more than 'nornal'. i think they feel obligated. but at times, you can hear your own voice echo too.

i like the dollar raffle deal.

[tupacbiff]

How about just stop selling tix and letting fans attend. Save on other costs like labor, food etc.

[gatorbogey]

$4 doesn't matter one way or the other. might even make more money in concessions w/ people attending for free. they should try it for one game, just to get a data point.

but students are coming in for free - right? "free" doesn't really attract them.

[tupacbiff]

Free devalues tge product not that it can have any less perceived value. Unfortunately for equality the women's game is simply inferior.

[Bear1974]

Until they learn how to beat top 25 teams and then beat top ten teams then attendance is always going to be low. Winning big and winning meaningful games will bring out more people.

[stingbb]

Watched a little of the game on TV and it sure did not look like there was anywhere near 1500 people at that game.

And, quite honestly, that basketball was very hard to watch (as women's basketball often is) and I just don't see the interest that will ever get a lot more fans to the O'Dome.

[gatorbogey]

point isn't to quibble about the attendance numbers - although we always do whether is hoops or baseball or football that isn't completely sold out....point is: how do we get more to attend. just asking for another 1,000 for games like USC...just to match watch was reported for the vols/gators' game.

[HALLGATOR]

Winning should draw more attention. The more attention it gets and the more people, in turn, are talking about it the more likely attendance should increase.

[UFreak]

Win. No moral victories. Win

[gatorbogey]

i think the fanbase is potentially there - BD has helped build up the gator basketball fan. getting 25% of the gator basketball fan to attend would be a good mark to make. if the women do start winning [more], going to the ncaa's and performing well, the program could take-off from there. it's poised to do just that.

in the meantime, would be good to get a few 'rowdy reptiles' to attend - have them grouped together - to help keep the crowd energized.

may want to institute the half-court shot to win a 'semester's tuition' - that might motivate some to attend, and pick the most vocal student that's cheering during the game not just at breaks (to get a t-shirt)...pick the fans that are actually engaged in the action and cheering for the team.

[Bear1974]

Again you create a buzz in your sport by winning and winning meaningful games. There is no promotion you can put out there right now that would entice more people to come out to watch.

Softball had very little support - but the minute they started winning, beating top teams and winning big in the NCAA tourney then all of sudden the attendance numbers spiked up - and then you add to the icing on the cake in terms of attendance numbers by doing your promotional things.

[tommyuf21]

Originally Posted by Bear1974

Again you create a buzz in your sport by winning and winning meaningful games. There is no promotion you can put out there right now that would entice more people to come out to watch.

Softball had very little support - but the minute they started winning, beating top teams and winning big in the NCAA tourney then all of sudden the attendance numbers spiked up - and then you add to the icing on the cake in terms of attendance numbers by doing your promotional things.

You can add some of the men's sports into that equation as well. My guess is that baseball attendence faltered during the McMahon years, but two consecutive CWS appearances has helped change that.

Still, men's hoops attendence is not satisfactory when you take into account the performance of the program since 1999. If the men can't sell out against decent foes, you can't complain much about a young (but still 'not there yet') women's program doing well at the gate.

Sadly, football is the only sport that seems to bring them out in huge numbers and this was true 25 years ago when I attended UF.