Attendance Average for 2008

[RussDaBus]

Getting almost 3900 a match is what it would take and it looks like they have only done that twice this year. Against Purdue on 9/26 they got 5800 and they got 3932 on 10/17 against Michigan. It could be pretty close. Either way #5 or #6 is truly a great accomplishment. Penn State should be drawing more fans than us anyway. They have won over 50 straight matches and are #1 in the country.

[SpanglerFan316]

We can't crontrol other teams' attendance. Maybe we should set goals for ourselves and let our national ranking take care of itself. Look at our attendance history.
2005 1998 http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/...df?MOD=AJPERES
2006 2083 http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/...df?MOD=AJPERES
2007 2550 http://www.uwbadgers.com/pdf/?id=6499
2008 3097 http://uwbadgers.com/pdf/?id=9011
I think a reasonable goal would be to increase attendance by 500 per game each year. Next year's team should be great with MEH as a sophomore and our huge junior class as seniors. After that, our Top 10 ranking and general success should keep the program improving. If the AD finds more money for travel in OOC play, this might help recruiting more Top 100 PrepVolleyball.com's Senior Aces. Imagine passing Nebraska in attendance and in NCAA tourney success in 4 or 5 years (or sooner :D ).

[SubGod22]

I hope we increase by 500 next year but wonder if that will happen. Obviously it's been growing at a better pace than I'd thought, but you just have to wonder when it'll flatten out a little. I do think we can get to the 4-5 thousand mark, but I'm not sure how quickly.

I'd be happy getting to 3250 next year.

[SpanglerFan316]

I'd be happy getting to 3250 next year.

3250 might happen even if we do nothing. I think current volleyball fans could help improve this to 3500 if we work at it.

I hope we have a tougher OOC schedule next year. I would not expect us to go undefeated but I would expect us to be a better team and start to gain national respect, especially if we don't bomb in the 2008 NCAA tourney. We will have a great product, WSU VB, to sell and it's up to us to sell it to friends, family, random strangers, etc.

[SpanglerFan316]

Does the MVC VB tourney matches count in our attandance total and average? What about a possible NCAA subregional?

[SubGod22]

I'd doubt it.

[The Mad Hatter]

An undefeated regular season at home gave us around a 300 person increase in attendance.

I think our best chance to have a better increase than that is to be given a regional this year. People who haven't come out previously would show up for an NCAA regional and would give exposure for the team to a wider audience, many of whom might come back for the regular season next year.

[SpanglerFan316]

An undefeated regular season at home gave us around a 300 person increase in attendance.

3097 - 2550 = 547. How does 547 = 300?

[1972Shocker]

Does the MVC VB tourney matches count in our attandance total and average? What about a possible NCAA subregional?

I don't think they are counted.

[1972Shocker]

Purdue drew 4,931 to its two weekend matches which dropped their average from 2,919 to 2,837 if my calculations are accurate:

#5 - Wichita State - 40,259/13 = 3,097 Average (0 Remaining @ Home)
#6 - Penn State - 41,809/14 = 2,986 Average (2 Remaining @ Home)
#7 - Purdue - 31,203/11 = 2,837 Average (2 Remaining @ Home)
#8 - Michigan State - 34,262/12 = 2,856 Average (0 Remaining @ Home)

[The Mad Hatter]

An undefeated regular season at home gave us around a 300 person increase in attendance.

3097 - 2550 = 547. How does 547 = 300?

Sorry, for some reason I was thinking that we were over 2,700 last year. Maybe just wishful thinking.

Thanks for the correction. Hopefully we can keep increasing at the rate we have been, and I still think hosting a regional is the best way to get a boost in attendance for next season.

[1972Shocker]

I still think hosting a regional is the best way to get a boost in attendance for next season.

I have to agree with TMH here. A regional will give us our first and best chance to get more first timers a very compelling reason to come and see what all the hub-bub surrounding the VB team is all about.

[The Mad Hatter]

I just looked at Purdue's weekend attendance numbers, and they actually hurt their season attendance with crowds of 2,493 and 2,438 (for Penn State no less).

They now need to average 4,529 over their last two home matches to pass us, so they no longer appear to be much of a threat.

As was noted previously (but I'll mention it again since it isn't on this page) Penn State needs to average 3,879.5 in their last two matches to pass us.

[rrshock]

I think that WSU pretty much has that #5 spot wrapped up barring any dramatic attendances from PSU. And by the looks of it, it would take a couple more years of solid growth to move up any farther than that.

[The Mad Hatter]

I think that WSU pretty much has that #5 spot wrapped up barring any dramatic attendances from PSU. And by the looks of it, it would take a couple more years of solid growth to move up any farther than that.

You are right, the gap to #4 is pretty big, but there is a big difference between being #5 and #6, in terms of perception (bigger than between #5 and #4). If we can continue to be top 5 in the nation in attendance, that is awfully impressive and certainly won't hurt recruiting.