Empty seats sending UK a message?

[sambowieshin]

Does your source of data tell you that the patient count of patients with Covid are there because of covid..of course not. None of the charts say why they are actually there. It’s just not a complete picture.

Yup....All of the medical professionals and coroners across the entire world are working 24-7 to cover for the Covid. They want to fool us all about the dangers of a world wide pandemic and will stop at nothing to lie to us all. Coroners are known for their trickiness and deceptive ways right?
Do you have any idea how insane that sounds? Seriously.

 

[Ed323232]

Crowd looked pretty good tonight.

 

[sambowieshin]

Crowd looked pretty good tonight.

They sounded good on tv

 

[*CatinIL*]

I know plenty of people who don't watch every game. One had season tickets and let them go a few years ago. Personally, I don't watch every minute versus garbage teams anymore either. Usually channel surfing to see what other games are on that offer better matchups.
Also, I don't have a agenda...beyond wanting UK basketball to be at a elite level all of the time. Whether that's with Calipari or someone else doesn't matter in the least.
Some here need to realize that the program will be in place long after Calipari leaves. Just as it didn't begin when he got here. UK's long and storied tradition means something to the diehard fans. It didn't just happen over the last decade.
The question should be...has he improved the program while the head coach?

BW3...IMO, you nailed it! Well done!

 

[MotorCityCat1]

I still have yet to meet one person who says they don't watch anymore. I have conversations with parents at kids practices, colleagues, etc. Nothing has changed in that regard.

I can introduce you to more than a hundred people that doesn’t watch anymore

 

[HagginHall1999]

I can introduce you to more than a hundred people that doesn’t watch anymore

No thanks...and good riddance to those folks. There are 150+ newborns every day in Kentucky. Those former fans you know will easily be replaced.

 

[YardCat]

Cal begging season ticket holders to give their tickets away if they aren’t going to the game.

 

[HagginHall1999]

I know plenty of people who don't watch every game. One had season tickets and let them go a few years ago. Personally, I don't watch every minute versus garbage teams anymore either. Usually channel surfing to see what other games are on that offer better matchups.
Also, I don't have a agenda...beyond wanting UK basketball to be at a elite level all of the time. Whether that's with Calipari or someone else doesn't matter in the least.
Some here need to realize that the program will be in place long after Calipari leaves. Just as it didn't begin when he got here. UK's long and storied tradition means something to the diehard fans. It didn't just happen over the last decade.
The question should be...has he improved the program while the head coach?

This is such a silly line unless you are specifically referring to fans 25 and younger...even then who could blame them? Cal has been here 12 years. So if someone is 25 now, they were 13 when Cal got here. That means their intro to UK Basketball was likely the last few terrible years of Tubby and 2 years of BCG 🤮

 

[LineSkiCat14]

It at least seemed pretty rowdy tonight.. and for playing a nobody, that was a pretty good deal of intensity.

I still think our student sections are bordering on snooze-fest. I'll give it to Kansas and Duke.. their student sections are bat shit. Ours look awkward to me. Always have.

 

[HagginHall1999]

I know plenty of people who don't watch every game. One had season tickets and let them go a few years ago. Personally, I don't watch every minute versus garbage teams anymore either. Usually channel surfing to see what other games are on that offer better matchups.
Also, I don't have a agenda...beyond wanting UK basketball to be at a elite level all of the time. Whether that's with Calipari or someone else doesn't matter in the least.
Some here need to realize that the program will be in place long after Calipari leaves. Just as it didn't begin when he got here. UK's long and storied tradition means something to the diehard fans. It didn't just happen over the last decade.
The question should be...has he improved the program while the head coach?

This is such a silly line unless you are specifically referring to fans 25 and younger...even then who could blame them? Cal has been here 12 years. So if someone is 25 now, they were 13 when Cal got here. That means their intro to UK Basketball was likely the last few terrible years of Tubby and 2 years or BCG.

It at least seemed pretty rowdy tonight.. and for playing a nobody, that was a pretty good deal of intensity.

I still think our student sections are bordering on snooze-fest. I'll give it to Kansas and Duke.. their student sections are bat shit. Ours look awkward to me. Always have.

Yeah, UK is just out of touch. I remember having to sit in upper arena when I was in school. Makes no sense.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

This is such a silly line unless you are specifically referring to fans 25 and younger...even then who could blame them? Cal has been here 12 years. So if someone is 25 now, they were 13 when Cal got here. That means their intro to UK Basketball was likely the last few terrible years of Tubby and 2 years or BCG.


Yeah, UK is just out of touch. I remember having to sit in upper arena when I was in school. Makes no sense.

I swear to god.. Siena Saints have a better student section.

Maybe someone can explain what the deal is.. but everytime they pan to someone even remotely resembling a student.. maybe half are standing and the other look like it's a day at the movies. How do we not have a 1,000 person student section going wild all game? Some say because Rupp is off campus.. but its only a few blocks, easily walking distance. I've seen plenty of students out at the bars right by Rupp. Packed. Why aren't they there?

 

[Catfanlou]

I thought it was telling that coach Cal even mentioned low attendance on his past game show . said 18 or 19 thousand tickets were paid for but too many no shows . Asked people to give their tickets away to get people in the seats .
suggested it would b a good time to buy season tickets .
Never heard him hawk tickets before . If we truly are not selling about 2500 to tree thousand tickets a game that is a large number times 20 times the average price of the tickets .
Tried to justify cupcake games . Said they all do it and it is necessary to get team to work together . Very interesting comments in view of this thread .

 

[LowerLevelSeatA]

Yup....All of the medical professionals and coroners across the entire world are working 24-7 to cover for the Covid. They want to fool us all about the dangers of a world wide pandemic and will stop at nothing to lie to us all. Coroners are known for their trickiness and deceptive ways right?
Do you have any idea how insane that sounds? Seriously.

Like a few others on here I can tell you don’t have conversations which involve logic, time to ignore. Do your own research.

 

[sambowieshin]

Like a few others on here I can tell you don’t have conversations which involve logic, time to ignore. Do your own research.

Not doing my own research. I'm going to let the medical professionals who do it for a living do that.
Btw...Watching YouTube and cable news doesn't qualify as doing research. Consult your family doctor.

 

[LmdCat]

Some of you act like it is a mystery why fans are not showing up as they once did. There is no mystery. Are you willing to pay top dollar for bad food? Why not? You are hungry and even though the food isn't very good it is still filling. This has become UK basketball. It is filling but not very good.

 

[SemperFiCat]

Fans have figured out, that without a marquee opponent, it simply makes more sense to watch at home. It's free, more comfortable, no traffic/parking/drive home, your own beer/food, today's TVs etc, and spinkle in the COVID crap. This isn't rocket surgery, folks. Rupp will always sell out for big games, but the days of packing Rupp against cupcakes are a thing of the past. ...But, a silver lining is, those kids of games provide a good opportunity to families on a budget to find tickets and take the kiddos for a reasonable Rupp Areana experience.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

18.277 showed up on Tuesday.
18.454 showed up for the Robert Morris game.

After renovation the full capacity of Rupp is 20,545.

People are still showing up even for the crappy games.

Is a decline from 100% capacity? Yes.

Is it a significant decline and as big a deal as some make it out to be? No way.

BS

Those numbers include tickets sold. A sold ticket does not equal someone in the seat.

Your post is blatantly false.

 

[UK90]

It's not just one thing, but all of these (& probably more) I'm sure contribute:
- 65" high quality TVs (vs 25" low quality
- growth in popularity of sports bars
- last season still stings
- horrible non-conference home schedule
- concern over Covid
- cost of tickets (I assume gone up over time)
- society as a hole has much shorter attention spans
- more difficult for casual fans to become more hardcore when they don't get to know the players since most are only there 1 year, 2 max.

This is spot on. All real factors contributing to the problem.

And here’s another: today’s younger generation is just not nearly as interested in sports as prior generations were …which doesn’t bode well for the future of spectator sports. Many of today’s stadiums and arenas are too damn big for what future ticket demand will be.

The Sports Industry’s Gen Z Problem: Fewer Fans, Lower Viewership

An analysis of recent Morning Consult poll results found that Gen Zers currently between ages 13 and 23 are less likely than the general population to identify as sports fans.

morningconsult.com

 

[know1]

Once again, what do our TV ratings look like now vs. Pre 2015?

I'd bet money they have dropped off at least 20%.

It's not just an in person attendance or cost issue.

That's the issue that those who don't seem to have a problem with the state of our program don't want to think about.

Most of the hard core fans are still watching some, but most of the more casual fans aren't watching at all.

 

[PasadenaCat]

Once again, what do our TV ratings look like now vs. Pre 2015?

I'd bet money they have dropped off at least 20%.

It's not just an in person attendance or cost issue.

That's the issue that those who don't seem to have a problem with the state of our program don't want to think about.

Most of the hard core fans are still watching some, but most of the more casual fans aren't watching at all.

That's not really a UK or state of the program thing. That's a generational thing. Younger generations just don't have the continued interest in sports, particularly in watching them. The ratings for everything on tv have dropped significantly over the last several years.

 

[CowboyGumBoots]

Once again, what do our TV ratings look like now vs. Pre 2015?

I'd bet money they have dropped off at least 20%.

It's not just an in person attendance or cost issue.

That's the issue that those who don't seem to have a problem with the state of our program don't want to think about.

Most of the hard core fans are still watching some, but most of the more casual fans aren't watching at all.

Almost every TV rating known to man has dropped off like a rock since 2015. There are more options everywhere simple as that, using that to back up your opinion is a bunch of bunk plain and simple. Gonzaga TV ratings are down from 2015 their program must be in shambles too

 

[Jazzycat]

Rupp was at 95% capacity last night. I think the attendance will improve as long as the Cats keep winning..

 

[STL_Cat]

Rupp was at 95% capacity last night. I think the attendance will improve as long as the Cats keep winning..

It didn’t look 95% full on TV last night, but I agree with the 2nd part. The 2nd half was as loud as Rupp has been since pre-COVID (doesn’t take much but still).

 

[JDHoss]

That's not really a UK or state of the program thing. That's a generational thing. Younger generations just don't have the continued interest in sports, particularly in watching them. The ratings for everything on tv have dropped significantly over the last several years.

When I retired in 2016, many of the new hires in our division had no interest in sports, and the ones that did, followed mostly for the fantasy leagues and didn't attend games. College basketball itself has devolved into a niche sport for much of the country outside of a handful of schools and not really generating much interest until March Madness, which is still immensely popular, due in part to the gambling/office pool aspect of it. If for some reason UK didn't have a basketball program, my interest in college basketball would hover slightly above zero. It's just not a good product right now.

 

[PasadenaCat]

When I retired in 2016, many of the new hires in our division had no interest in sports, and the ones that did, followed mostly for the fantasy leagues and didn't attend games. College basketball itself has devolved into a niche sport for much of the country outside of a handful of schools and not really generating much interest until March Madness, which is still immensely popular, due in part to the gambling/office pool aspect of it. If for some reason UK didn't have a basketball program, my interest in college basketball would hover slightly above zero. It's just not a good product right now.

I think you can really make that argument about every sport now. It's just all such a watered-down version of what it used to be.

 

[North Carolina Blue Wildcat]

Watered down schedule to support the 1ndone development is the reason I gave up my tickets. I hardly watch early season anymore unless it’s against decent competition.

 

[LowerLevelSeatA]

Rupp was at 95% capacity last night. I think the attendance will improve as long as the Cats keep winning..

Maybe 95% “sold” (and possibly handed out by UK) but doubt 95% butts in seats.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

There has to be some photos out there.. They usually have a giant collection of photos of the game on ESPN and usually you can see the stands.

I think this team is quickly reigniting a fan base that's essentially had no basketball for 20 months.

Just HAVE to win these cupcakes, though.. Drop one and you'll clip off a lot the momentum we gain. This team can't win every game, but they have to show that the last few seasons, especially last, are in the past.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

When I retired in 2016, many of the new hires in our division had no interest in sports, and the ones that did, followed mostly for the fantasy leagues and didn't attend games. College basketball itself has devolved into a niche sport for much of the country outside of a handful of schools and not really generating much interest until March Madness, which is still immensely popular, due in part to the gambling/office pool aspect of it. If for some reason UK didn't have a basketball program, my interest in college basketball would hover slightly above zero. It's just not a good product right now.

Interesting point on fantasy. I spend an unhealthy amount of time working on my two teams. I'm honestly more invested in those.. or maybe I should say just as much.. as my ACTUAL teams. Which sounds silly, but when you get into it, it really becomes YOUR team. I stew over losses in fantasy as much as losses by UK.

So I bet there is a portion of people who are dividing their 24-hour-a-day pie even further with stuff like fantasy, fan duel, etc.

 

[65pacecar]

Some of you act like it is a mystery why fans are not showing up as they once did. There is no mystery. Are you willing to pay top dollar for bad food? Why not? You are hungry and even though the food isn't very good it is still filling. This has become UK basketball. It is filling but not very good.

Like going to Merrick Inn and order the Filet and they serve a left over White Castle slider.

 

[Oboro3]

To act like it is not happening at others places is being naive...

This is from an article about Gonzaga who was number 2 in the country last year and it also mentions Alabama football as well...


"But the game also continued another trend in The Kennel that has become more prevalent in the past few seasons. It was the 10th time this year students didn’t completely fill their allotted section — an occurrence that has become more common not only at GU, but across the nation for multiple big-time collegiate sports programs.

It was as recently as last fall that University of Alabama head football coach Nick Saban ripped UA students’ attendance at home games, even when his team was No. 2 in the country."

This link is about college football attendance declining...

Why Is College Football Attendance Tanking?

To get to the heart of the problem, we set out on a journey across the sport's landscape.

www.si.com

This article discusses why high school sports attendance has been declining...

High school sports attendance decline has NJ administrators searching for answers

Eighty years later, the games, rivalries and schools have remained largely the same. But what’s happened to the crowd? How did N.J. go from 19,000 people at a game to about 1/20th of that on …

usatodayhss.com

 

[Smashcat]

Don't worry about any empty seats. Looks like Sheppard's big family will take care of that.

 

[Ed323232]

If you can’t get on board with this team then you are just over being a UK fan. This team is fun. Works hard. Supports each other. Perfect mix of experience and youth.

 

[the nail at the foul line]

This will hit NIL in long run making it harder to recruit here. Unless fixed. How about not bashing fans coach?

 

[TheOtherGreatOne]

The protest was never about veterans or active soldiers. That was stated immediately after the game. Many of us on this board have served and do not share your thoughts.

Many more that served do not share your opinion. They disrespected this country and all veterans, whether you want to believe it or not. Trying to explain it away was Calipari's lame excuse when he saw how pissed off a lot of people were, whether you want to believe it or not. I haven't watched a game since, and will not watch as long as Calipari is the basketball coach at Kentucky, and if he goes to coach at another school , I will not watch that school either. Kneeling during the National Anthem had a lot bigger impact on the program than you can even imagine, even if you don't believe it. Plenty of empty seats weren't they ? Hasn't been that way before that kneeling crap was it ? Try all the excuses you want, kneeling had a hugh impact on Calipari and the program.

 

[Catfanlou]

There has to be some photos out there.. They usually have a giant collection of photos of the game on ESPN and usually you can see the stands.

I think this team is quickly reigniting a fan base that's essentially had no basketball for 20 months.

Just HAVE to win these cupcakes, though.. Drop one and you'll clip off a lot the momentum we gain. This team can't win every game, but they have to show that the last few seasons, especially last, are in the past.

I as at both games . Tuesday about ten thousand butts in seats . Last night maybe 14 or 15 thousand

 

[sk73]

Angry posting when you can't handle a discussion and been proven to be a liar

Many more that served do not share your opinion. They disrespected this country and all veterans, whether you want to believe it or not. Trying to explain it away was Calipari's lame excuse when he saw how pissed off a lot of people were, whether you want to believe it or not. I haven't watched a game since, and will not watch as long as Calipari is the basketball coach at Kentucky, and if he goes to coach at another school , I will not watch that school either. Kneeling during the National Anthem had a lot bigger impact on the program than you can even imagine, even if you don't believe it. Plenty of empty seats weren't they ? Hasn't been that way before that kneeling crap was it ? Try all the excuses you want, kneeling had a hugh impact on Calipari and the program.

. I am not bothered by peaceful protests of any kind.

 

[LineSkiCat14]

I as at both games . Tuesday about ten thousand butts in seats . Last night maybe 14 or 15 thousand

So assuming that's true.. a 5k increase in one game.. That tells me it's fans regaining confidence in Cal's teams, and this team proving to be worth the cost of admission to see. Unless Ohio is that bigger of a draw, but I doubt it.

Can't really be COVID related, and it's not Cal's politics. He just needs to prove to fans that he can put a product on the floor that's exciting and can win.

 

[Catfanlou]

So assuming that's true.. a 5k increase in one game.. That tells me it's fans regaining confidence in Cal's teams, and this team proving to be worth the cost of admission to see. Unless Ohio is that bigger of a draw, but I doubt it.

Can't really be COVID related, and it's not Cal's politics. He just needs to prove to fans that he can put a product on the floor that's exciting and can win.

No the second game was on Friday night when people are looking for something to do.

 

[UK-chulo]

You are a stupid man or woman.

Inclusivity makes it's way to Rupp's Rafters.