RebKell's Junkie Boards

[PRballer]

AP reporting the women's tournament a 5,067 per game average through 48 games. That's the highest since 2008.

This is impressive and thanks in large part to South Carolina, Mississippi State, Louisville and Oregon. Some obvious concerns if you look at reported attendance in the box scores in Storrs, South Bend, Knoxville, Palo Alto, LA and Austin. Significant drop/fall off from those teams' regular season averages.

Here's the actual story:
http://www.espn.com/womens-college-basketball/story/_/id/22848113/ncaa-women-tourney-attendance-highest-level-2008

The bit about South Carolina and their creative marketing/direct engagement strategies are interesting - and it paid off in their efforts to get above 10,000 fans. Traditional powers like Notre Dame, UConn, Texas and Stanford drew well below their averages and I recall Muffet complaining pretty in the press last year about the 9pm start time, claiming a majority of their fans are older or younger kids and it would take a negative toll on attendance figures. And yet, they still drew only 5,000 or below in South Bend.

Compare that sour grapes approach to Staley and South Carolina who turned it into a marketing campaign opportunity with the pajamas and the "late slip" stunt - seems like the newer blood is being creative in putting fans in the seats, having explicit goals to draw above 10,000?

*From Muffet herself:
"I think it's the new teams, Mississippi State and South Carolina drew really well," Notre Dame coach Muffet McGraw said. "It's good to have more teams doing well."

Yes it is - but you gotta work for it!

*(and no offense meant to Notre Dame, Muffet has put a great product on the floor, earned the W's and has built an impressive following for her team over the 6-7 years, making it a surprise when they draw 5,000 for NCAA games).

Really interested to see what the numbers are this weekend. Guessing Albany and Spokane will be strong in-arena attendance given the teams playing there and how those two areas have support regionals in the past (which is relatively strong, especially in Spokane). Lexington might be okay if Louisville fans travel, but otherwise it's been a dud experiment and there are no SEC teams there (Stanford 3 years in a row there? Huh?). Baylor hasn't drawn well in OKC recently so no reason to think they will do well further away in Kentucky. Oregon State? Who knows but unlikely.

KC regional will rely on Mississippi State momentum and their rabid/new fans to get some excitement in the arena. It's a big drive but they will do it, I imagine. Sadly, I don't think NC State, UCLA and Texas fans will rock the Sprint Center. Sorry.