how to build bb attendance

[Mousegriz]

My point isn't to diss on the out of state players. Those years of "local" all conference players probably only included no more than 3 - 4 Montana kids on each roster.....but those that played had more impact. Kirk Walker and Kevin Crsiwell put butts in the seats and Riley Bradshaw and Emerson could too.

 

['68griz]

I don't know. Perhaps I am an exception, but when kid puts on that maroon and silver uni, he/she becomes "a Montana kid." I honestly almost never know the home town of any player. I guess i just don't understand why that matters. And, FWIW, I'm a native Montanan, for three generations.

 

[mtgrizrule]

My point isn't to diss on the out of state players. Those years of "local" all conference players probably only included no more than 3 - 4 Montana kids on each roster.....but those that played had more impact. Kirk Walker and Kevin Crsiwell put butts in the seats and Riley Bradshaw and Emerson could too.

Emerson will be at Lewis and Clark State this coming year.

I consider all GRIZ Montana once they commit to us. That goes for all sports. I do prefer scholarships going to Montana born and or raised kids, but not to sacrifice how competitive the GRIZ are.

 

[Mousegriz]

Guys with 8,000+ and 13,000+ posts to this board may see all Griz as "Montana kids" once they sign to play. They probably also go to plenty of mens's Bball games. If not, then "build attendance" and start going to more

We're trying to "build" attendance by attracting new fans that don't attend or old fans that aren't coming to games like they used to. Did some of them quit coming because there have been noticeably fewer MT HS kids making an impact that past 20 years? I say yes. If Riley Bradshaw were a returning 4th year senior and two time 1st team All Big SKy player like Jamar was last year, do you think a few more area people would come to games? I say yes.

The Griz program isn't going to "make MT kids better" so they can play here and make an impact but the fact that less are doing so the past 20 years has affected attendance.

 

[grizindabox]

I think people just don't want to admit that basketball is not the draw it used to be, and it is not just a problem at UM. I think the days of 7500 fans at a Griz basketball games are over. At the collegiate level, you get butts in the seat by winning or by alumni/community loyalty and the Griz have a pretty good track record with both and still are lucky to see over 4000 at a game. As for the number of in-state kids on the roster, I doubt it makes a big difference one way or the other.

 

[statler & waldorf]

If you refer to the numbers posted by PotomacGriz, it is obvious that interest in Griz basketball since 1978 is declining. Pointing the finger at marginalizing student participation, or the change from quarters to semesters, ticket prices, the rise of Griz football, changing demographics, or just generalized disinterest in basketball, or none of the above is just conjecture. Perhaps there is a thesis on file at the library which looked into this apparent mystery. Someone out there that needs a subject for his/her thesis, here you go. A new look at already published material on the subject is the first step. I lean toward generalized disinterest in basketball.

 

[Potomac Griz]

I think people just don't want to admit that basketball is not the draw it used to be, and it is not just a problem at UM. I think the days of 7500 fans at a Griz basketball games are over. At the collegiate level, you get butts in the seat by winning or by alumni/community loyalty and the Griz have a pretty good track record with both and still are lucky to see over 4000 at a game. As for the number of in-state kids on the roster, I doubt it makes a big difference one way or the other.

Have to agree with you on that. I do think though that a more exciting up tempo game could draw some more fans. It would take something amazing for us to start getting 7000+ a game again. We'd need much better home competition, exciting basketball, and a long winning tradition with some good NCAA wins and wins over big name top 50 teams in the regular season. We'd almost need to become the next Gonzaga I think to see 7000+ a game again. We'd probably need to be in a different conference for basketball too.