University of Cincinnati Sports: Another dip in attendance

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Another dip in attendance

With one home game remaining on the 2007-08 schedule – Thursday vs. DePaul – the Bearcats have seen their attendance fall for the fourth straight season.

UC is averaging 8,477 fans per game this season, the lowest average in the 19 years the Bearcats have played in Fifth Third Arena and a 23.3 percent decline from the 11,059 that UC averaged in 2004-05, the last year that Bob Huggins was the head coach and the year in which the Bearcats made their most recent appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
That figure is down four percent from last year’s 8,831, which was the previous low at Fifth Third.

“Am I concerned?,” said UC athletic director Mike Thomas. “No, I’m not. I’m actually excited about the future. I think what Mick and the kids have done this year, what the future looks like with the kids on board, the kids that are coming back and the kids that he has committed for next year, I think all arrows are pointed in the right direction.”

61 Comments:

at 5:27 PM

Anonymous said...

Was he sweating when he said that? He has to be concerned. Everything he said is true that Mick has the program going in the right direction, but without some more progress on the court and in the seats, UC basketball will be a cash drain instead of the cash cow it used to be.

at 5:49 PM

Anonymous said...

I've heard MT say this year was actually ahead of where many thought they'd be. He's been around the block to know when you win the fans show up, and when you don't....well, you get a dip like this year. He doesn't seem like the panicky type, anyway.

at 6:00 PM

Unknown said...

Bill, what do you estimate is the amount of revenue lost by that drop in fan attendance? Also, if you know, how is that revenue shared at UC?

Thanks.

at 6:15 PM

Anonymous said...

How long is UC willing to give Mick Cronin to turn this program around? I've heard some say 5 yrs.

How low does attendance have to get before UC makes a coaching change? I doubt if UC can afford to give Mick 5 yrs.

From my recollection, Tony Yates was not even given two years before he was replaced.

at 6:36 PM

Anonymous said...

Somebody killed the goose that laid the golden eggs. It made no business sense. Everybody who wanted Huggins to leave should chip in extra.

They have to give Mick a decent chance. I vote for five years minimum. Who would want to be head coach after a series of dismissals? At least wait until the roster is full, so the next guy doesn't have to start from scratch.

at 6:58 PM

Anonymous said...

Today, UC is on a two year losing streak. Attendance is on a 4+ year downward spiral. Local TV FOX lost interest in televising games. Two years into the MC experiment, the players still struggle for motivation to hustle every game to win. We still wait for 4-5 star BB recruits, when we are suppose to get excited about settling for 3 star recruits, from the "greatest recruiter in D1 basketball". The negatives are mounting.....

Is there any wonder that UC fans are disgruntled and looking for an outlet to vent frustration?

at 7:11 PM

Anonymous said...

From my recollection, Tony Yates was not even given two years before he was replaced.

Tony Yates coached the Cats for 6 full seasons. His first was the 83-84 season, and his last was the 88-89 season.

at 7:23 PM

Anonymous said...

Of course the attendance continues to dip. Despite the positive posters here, many UC fans are not impressed with Mick's coaching or the team's "improvement" this year.

Sippin' Mick Moniker Maker

at 7:27 PM

Anonymous said...

Fox dropped UC because they were forced to pre-empt American Idol.

at 7:45 PM

Anonymous said...

1) Mick has at LEAST five years. Period.

2) Local TV Fox "lost interest" because now that we're in the Big East and all the games are televised. Nice spin attempt, just remember to get the whole story.

at 8:01 PM

Anonymous said...

UC will end the season with a losing record, 13-17 most likely, a losing record in conference play, a losing record out of conference, and an improvement of only 2 games from last year's 11-19 record. All of the starters are a year older into the program and UC added H and a bunch of Freshman. Bottom line is that UC played very lazy early on, then competitve, then lazy again. Mick did not have the Jucos ready to play hard early on this year.
As a coach I give Mick a "C".

Will UC beat a lazy DePaul team?
Will the Seniors just quit again?
IMHO UC will be about .500 next year, then the following year a bubble team.

at 8:11 PM

Anonymous said...

Koch, what's your point? I think people are watching their discretionary spending pretty much across the board. Everyone I know is tightening their belts. Are we supposed to be surprised that UC isn't selling a ton of tickets? What a scoop!

You're a total boob.

at 8:16 PM

Anonymous said...

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at 8:44 PM

Anonymous said...

JT, you are correct. American Idol ratings are higher than UC BB. This is not a postive for UC.

Had Fox been running UK BB to pre-empt American Idol in Lexington, The bleeding blue would be watching UK BB and not AI. The public has spoken. Thanks for making the argument better.

at 8:45 PM

Anonymous said...

Anon 6:58 you are not bright. Gates and Cash are 4 star recruits and will help this team get back to the NCAA next year. Also, I think its funny how people ignore that in the great Huggins last few years attendence was already dropping. Wake up people and get the facts straight. UC basketball is heading in the right direction. If you don't like it then get out of here you are not needed.

at 8:49 PM

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately, UC basketball attendance has never been good while Huggins was the coach. Way too many cupcake out of conference games and there were only a few good teams in CUSA. If you are going to have a weak OOC schedule while in the CUSA, you can't play the slow, boring offensive style that Huggins plays. Once Mick has his players it will be up-tempo and exciting. Fans will be back.

Sippin' Mick Moniker Maker

at 9:01 PM

Anonymous said...

Bearcat in Atlanta,

Although the UC administration would probably never admit this, one of the reasons that Mick Is coach at UC is because the upper echelon coaches were poised to avoid UC like the plague. Honestly, what high level coach would want to come to a place where the BB program was demolished and with Zimpher as president? Can you think of even one? Actually, names weren't even being tossed around much, because of the stigma surrounding the entire Zimpher and Huggins fiasco.

at 9:05 PM

Anonymous said...

Anon 7:11,

Those were the sorriest six years in UC BB history. I remember them all too well, although I would rather forget. And these past two seasons look very similar to the Tony Yates era of excuses.

at 9:06 PM

Anonymous said...

Fox dropped UC basketball, because it is now substandard.

at 9:55 PM

Anonymous said...

Speaking of Zimpher, I heard the prez of NOW (national organization of women who hate men and love abortion)
say "all boats must rise" on Mike McConnels show. Made me want to puke.

at 9:58 PM

Anonymous said...

For the teenage blogger, Huggins brought UC basketball and attendance back to resprectability. Maybe you were not in attendance during the annual sellouts of Memphis, Louisville, among others. Although sellouts were not the norm durig the cream puff opening home schedule. Those 40 point blowouts were brutal. But at least he beat the bellermanes and SW whatevers.

Huggins attendance figures definately dropped off when he lost his rollover contract. Recruiting fell way off too. But short sighted people can only see so far.

at 10:00 PM

Anonymous said...

8:49 -

Your impersonation attempts are starting to scare me.

I would never make the comment about Huggins' slow, boring style without also adding that Mick has shown NO signs he can recruit the players to play a different style himself.

The REAL Sippin' Mick Moniker Maker

at 10:14 PM

Anonymous said...

...one of the reasons that Mick Is coach at UC is because the upper echelon coaches were poised to avoid UC like the plague.

Actually the reason Mick is the coach is that he's considered one of the most promising young coaches in the country by people who actually make a living in the game.

It's the same reason Bobby Cremins tried to hire him away from UC when he was only 27, the same reason Rick Pitino hired him away a couple of years later, the same reason Murray State hired him as their head coach.

You can deny it, you can post all the negative drivel you want, you can hold your breath for all I care. But the truth is the truth, and there's a reason all those people make a living in the game and you're just whining about it.

at 10:21 PM

Anonymous said...

Yeah..Yates was there for 6 seasons. And was I beleieve was let go due to some shady practices that put UC on probation.
To give a coach only 2 years, especially the condition UC was in, is ridiculous.
You have to have more patience than that!

at 10:26 PM

Anonymous said...

IMHO mick is a one-trick pony - a good recruiter. Of course other coaches wanted him - to recruit. Not to coach.

4 things coaches do:

1) Bring money into the school
2) Recruit kids
3) Graduate kids
4) Win

Crowell he ran off after one year, no graduation.
Hall was a mistake to recruit, so was Jason Henry, Both had known issues.
Mitchell - good recruit but bad attitude, mick couldn't fix that one yet.
Adam H: not a great recruit.
Declining attendance because of a second year of losing.

Goins and Huggins set the table for the Big East buffet - and now we are starving for good basketball.

The University left me and went another direction, and so far it is not up, up or up. How many years will this continue. A little too early for MT to admit his mistake hire.

So hang in there 'Nation', just send in more UCATS fees and mo money for football cause basketball is still declining.

Go Cats!

at 10:35 PM

Anonymous said...

Anon 10:14

Why was he considered one of the best young coaches in the game? Because he could use Huggs and Pitino and win in a crappy conference?

I don't even think people realize how hard it is to recruit and win at UC. It's not like the program had any positive tradition or momentum before Huggins came along. Like it or not HE became the program and Cincinnati is a professional sports town. The average fan had more allegiance to Huggs than they did the school. You can hate that all you want but the attendance figures prove I'm right.

at 12:06 AM

Anonymous said...

Fox dropped the 'Cats because ESPN televises all of the games on their network. Keep spinning it haters.

Sippin' Mick Moniker Maker

at 12:10 AM

Anonymous said...

Was Yates given a NAIA forward and a JUCO power forward to start with?

Was Yates coaching in the BEast or a conference remotely as good?

Was Yates given 2 months to recruit 7 players field a team to compete?

at 1:56 AM

Anonymous said...

UC says its ticket allotment for the Big East tourney has sold out.

I guess UC fans are really upset with Mick and UC's progress to sell out their ticket allotment and travel to NYC.

Nice try Mr. IQ

at 7:14 AM

Anonymous said...

If the football program continues the momentum and improvement, this will ease the financial pain of fewer people going to basketball games. Unfortunately, this will extend the time given to Cronin to attempt to bring the program back.

If the football games were averaging 20,000 or less with the decrease in basketball attendance, there would be a greater sense of urgency to turn the program around sooner. As long as the football games sell out, the AD, President, etc. at UC are less concerned about 8000 per game at basketball games.

at 7:33 AM

Anonymous said...

So UC BB attendance is in decline? Why should this come as a surprise to anybody? Regardless of how excited Mike Thomas pretends to be and talks about the "arrows" pointing in the right direction, we fans are not being fooled. This is indicated by not only the empty seats, but by declining support. Although a number of fans are diehard ones and a few rather vocal ones appear on this blog, there is still a bad smell to UC BB. And until UC BB is truly exciting again and can be viewed as nationally relevant, we who see that "it is what it is" will simply not be fooled by a facsimile.

Sincerely,

President of the "We Love Mick No Matter What' Fan Club

at 7:49 AM

Anonymous said...

I would call winning back to back National Championships having some serious tradition. True, at the time Huggins was hired there was no momentum. But if he could restore a once proud tradition at UC, why can't Coach Cronin? Its not like Huggs came in as the worlds most sought after coach at the time he was hired, he forged his own identity. Allow Coach Cronin the time to do the same.

at 8:47 AM

ucbearcatfan said...

UC attendance since the first of the year

Syracuse 10,123
Villanova 10,373
Pittsburgh 10,684
UConn 10,481
Marquette 11,843
St. John's 7,884
USF 8,127
Providence 8,773

average 9,786

This shows that that when the Bearcats are winning and playing top level opponents they will draw well. It also shows once again the fair-weather fans that exist in the Cincinnati area.

UC needs to beef up its early season home schedule next season.

at 9:09 AM

Anonymous said...

7:33 Anon said

"Although a number of fans are diehard ones and a few rather vocal ones appear on this blog, there is still a bad smell to UC BB. And until UC BB is truly exciting again and can be viewed as nationally relevant, we who see that "it is what it is" will simply not be fooled by a facsimile."

So in other words you are a typical Cincinnati fair weather fan that only shows up when the team is winning?

at 9:49 AM

Anonymous said...

Maybe he just can't handle the fact none of this should have happened. Bob Huggins should be on the sidelines and UC should have Beasley, Mayo, and Walker on the court together. The program becoming irrelevant did not have to happen.

at 10:06 AM

Anonymous said...

JT,

You are referring to a select number of fans. Namely the ones who show Mick and the team blind support no matter how poor their performance.

Look at the small crowds at 5/3 as the true evidence.

Sippin' Mick Moniker Maker

at 10:08 AM

Anonymous said...

The only way MT can see "the arrows pointed in the right direction" would be if he was standing on his head.

at 10:13 AM

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:09,

You asked: "So in other words you are a typical Cincinnati fair weather fan that only shows up when the team is winning?"

Actually, it’s far from it. I've always shown up for the Cats through the years and that includes the sorry Yates/Badger era of choke worthy basketball.

At this point in time, I've very disappointed in what has transpired with BB at UC in the past 4 to 5 years, especially with the antics surrounding the Bot, Nancy and yes, also Huggins.

I firmly believe that UC will recover, but I believe that it will take longer than we would like to believe. And, lastly, I'm not at all convinced that UC has the coach to do it quickly. On that count, I would gladly be proven wrong.

Out of curiosity, just how long have you been a UC fan?

Sincerely,

President of the 'We Love Mick No Matter What' Fan Club

at 11:38 AM

Anonymous said...

Cincinnati fans are suckers. Look at how long fans have supported recent 15+ years of losing by the REDS and Bengals. Why should these same fans not support a losing UC BB program? As MT likes to say, we're all headed in the right losing direction.

at 11:41 AM

Anonymous said...

Flash!
UC has sold out its allotment of 500 BE tickets. That's right, 500.

at 12:03 PM

Anonymous said...

Anon 11:41,

Thanks for pointing out the VAST number of tickets that have been sold. That shows, if nothing else, that at least 500 folks have blindly bought into the Mike Thomas/Mick Cronin (suppported by NZ) rhetoric. And the half dozen or so very vocal ones post quite often on this blog. How long is this area going to tolerate, and sadly, support mediocrity (as evidenced by the support given the Reds and Bengals)?? Is UC basketball the next to join that infamously average twosome? Let's do our best to insist that it does not! To those who've purchased tickets to the BE tourney, hope that at least the weather is nice...

at 12:12 PM

Anonymous said...

Anon 9:49,

Your assessment of how I view the situation with UC is pretty much on the mark. And even if it did have to happen, it was one of the most mishandled dismissals that I have witnessed in my lifetime. And I, for one, would absolutely love to see UC BB back on the top. However, with me, seeing is believing. As a famous saying goes: "Actions speak far louder than words."

Sincerely,

President of the 'We Love Mick No Matter What' Fan Club

at 12:14 PM

Anonymous said...

This is refreshing...
http://cincinnati.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=782130

at 12:21 PM

Anonymous said...

Out of curiosity, just how long have you been a UC fan?

I have been a UC fan since the early seventies. I sat through Tony Yates and Ed Badger. I was UC student during those years and hardly missed a game.

at 12:40 PM

Cheviot Sports Authority said...

Hmmmm,
Must be a lot of people who agree that the UC basketball is not where it should be. Am I allowed to say that?

St CSA

at 12:41 PM

Anonymous said...

11:41am ....if your number is correct that makes less than 6% of the diehard 8,477 average attendance buying BE NYC tickets. Wow...

at 12:49 PM

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:14'

Thanks for directing us to such a heartwaming story. I certain that you and NZ are SO happy that you can hardly see straight. NOW, let's get back to WINNING!!!!! That's what the rest of us want.

at 12:51 PM

Anonymous said...

As UC basketball is not up to pare,what are your suggestions to help the program return to the top 25?

at 12:58 PM

Anonymous said...

But guys, Cronin has all five seniors graduating this year. When did they change the rule to allow JUCOs to count toward graduation?

at 1:02 PM

Anonymous said...

11:41am ....if your number is correct that makes less than 6% of the diehard 8,477 average attendance buying BE NYC tickets. Wow

How would you propose that they buy more than their alottment?

Wow again.

at 1:15 PM

Anonymous said...

Anon 12:58,

The rule was changed as soon as Huggins left UC. After that, it no longer had any real value...

at 1:17 PM

Anonymous said...

I believe that the two people who are totally pleased at this point with UC BB each bought 250 tickets apiece to make it look good!

at 2:34 PM

Anonymous said...

UC can't get fans to attend games at the Shoe, so why on earth does Mike Thomas want to build an even bigger arena?

Yes, the Shoe is a dump, but a new arena would just mean more empty seats! Put a better product on the floor or the Cyclones will have bigger crowds next season.

at 2:53 PM

Anonymous said...

Must be a lot of people who agree that the UC basketball is not where it should be.

It's not where people would LIKE it to be, but it's right about where one would expect it to be two years after nearly killing it by neglect.

People who understand the game and the business of college basketball realize that, and are enjoying the process of watching Mick rebuild the program.

People who are ignorant of the game and business of college basketball will never undertstand it, and will continue to whine and snipe until it's back and then they'll suddenly fill the stands again.

at 2:56 PM

Anonymous said...

a little surprised attendance went down in Mick's second year - I thought his first would have been the worst.

Maybe a second year of losing record played a role - from my view not seeing progress early in the year was a huge let down, but they have turned it around the second half or so.

Bill - remember MT's thought for an interview next year at this time; if they have improved, he can gloat. If they haven't, curious if he is still feeling the same way.

at 3:23 PM

Anonymous said...

Anon 2:53,

Congratulations on your sweeping generalizations and determination that all of us who are displeased with the current state of affairs with UC BB are either:

1) Ignorant of the game and/or;
2) Ignorant of the business of college basketball.

In other words, if we do not agree with you, then we are ignorant.

In fact, you stated: "It's not where people would LIKE it to be, but it's right about where one would expect it to be two years after nearly killing it by neglect."

That statement is NOT accurate. The UC BB program was not nearly killed by neglect. The truth is that UC BB was almost killed by both purposeful action and purposeful inaction. Certainly, someone who has knowledge of the game and of the business of college basketball would quickly recognize something so obvious.

at 3:39 PM

Anonymous said...

the shoe has no influence on present BB attendance. A losing BB team produces low attendance.

at 6:20 PM

Anonymous said...

So much to correct ... so little time.

Mike Thomas does not want to build a larger arena.

After last season's record it is no surprise attendance is slightly down this year. Still had good crowds for the big name teams, just like during Huggs' time.

After interviewing several candidates around the country, Mick was MT's first choice, period.

Giving to UCATS is up, as are the number in UCATS.

This thread is the same old, getting extremely tired tirade by the "Huggs is the only coach for UC and we can't win without him" crowd.

I never thought Z wanted to kill UC basketball. She just wanted Huggs gone and screwed up the process of getting rid of him. The result was basically the death penalty for basketball, but we're climbing out. She wants UC basketball to succeed, because when it does she is completely vindicated. Think about that the next time you accuse her of wanting poor athletics. That premise is repeated often, and it is completely senseless and ludicrous on its face.

President of the "We Love Mick No Matter What' Fan Club

at 8:03 PM

Anonymous said...

As UC basketball is not up to pare, what are your suggestions to help the program return to the top 25?

at 8:46 AM

Anonymous said...

UCbearcatfan if you’re going to post on this blog please don’t post positive facts about the program it just confuses CSA, Sippin’ Mick Moniker Maker, & the rest of the negative bunch. In the future please stick with the appropriate topics of Mick can’t coach (no matter what other coaches & media say), the players can’t play (any 5 people on this board could beat Louisville, West Virginia, Syracuse, Villanova, Etc.) no one goes to the games (disregard your post to believe that one), & everyone hates the program (just read their posts). By doing this you will allow the others to continue their uniformed & irrelevant rants without interruption. Thanks

at 2:41 PM

Anonymous said...

Mike Thomas can't fill the arena he has now. Why would he build a bigger one for a coach that won't be here in two years.

Sippin' Mick Moniker Maker

Previous Posts

Tuesday, March 04, 2008

Another dip in attendance

61 Comments: