Think about it; it has to make a difference.

[Sycamore Proud]

The Shockers are hosting UNI on FSI. I'm impressed with the Wichita crowd--full house and loud just like I knew it would be. I'm thinking why doesn't IS fill the place like that. Then I turn to Google for answers. Wichita population is over 384,000. Terre Haute population is not quite 61,000. The attendance at the HC today was over 5K without the students and band. You have to see the point in this. We did fairly well attendance wise with 1/6 the population of Wichita. I now there are many other factors that attract fans to games. But the extra 1/4 million people to draw from has to be the largest factor.

Shockers up by 12 with 6 min left.

For what it's worth, the population of Omaha is over 415,000.

 

[Bluethunder]

The other key is how many large companies/corporations in Wichita and Omaha hire WSU and Creighton grads, thus keeping the alumni base close to home. Many ISU grads do not stay in Terre Haute, and instead go towards Indianapolis, the Chicago area, Lousville area, etc. I don't have numbers to back this up, but feel confident in this assessment.

The majority of our alumni are at a minimum an hour away in Indy.

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

I was really happy with the crowd we had today.

You play basketball like we did today in front of the crowd we did today and the people will come back. All things considered, Colts game, holiday weekend and recent weather that we've had I thought it was an excellent crowd. Plenty of excuses people could have made not to come - plus the game was on WTWO!

 

[Sycamore Proud]

Great point Bluethunder--there is not a big attraction employer to keep good people in Terre Haute. And SSOM, you are right--today's crowd was great. And I don't even want to talk about median family incomes and tradition.

 

[region rat]

The Shockers are hosting UNI on FSI. I'm impressed with the Wichita crowd--full house and loud just like I knew it would be. I'm thinking why doesn't IS fill the place like that. Then I turn to Google for answers. Wichita population is over 384,000. Terre Haute population is not quite 61,000. The attendance at the HC today was over 5K without the students and band. You have to see the point in this. We did fairly well attendance wise with 1/6 the population of Wichita. I now there are many other factors that attract fans to games. But the extra 1/4 million people to draw from has to be the largest factor.

Shockers up by 12 with 6 min left.

For what it's worth, the population of Omaha is over 415,000.

The Shockers draw at the MVC Tourney as well, a winning tradition is key. Remember back to the days of Larry Bird.

 

[Bluethunder]

I remember when Coach Waltman was hired and someone mentioned that we only drew around 4k a game. He replied that we must have the most loyal 4k fans in all of basketball to have twenty losing seasons in a row and till draw 4k. As the years have gone on, i have seen the wisdom in his statement.

In Cleveland during the NCAA tournament, each team brought about the same number of fans, but ours were far more vocal and passionate. 4-5k very vocal fans in the Hulman Center is just as loud as many other sold out arenas.

fyi - cant help but notice i don't see as many empty seats in Bloomington this year. We talk all the time about how winning will bring people to the Hulman Center, if you don't believe that, look at IU. Three years ago i would see a half full arena. Now the band wagoners and hangers on are back!