UK attendance down 15% from last year
- Thread starter JFCats22
- Start date
My group went to Chicago to watch Cats and couples spent $450 each for excellent sideline seats . I wasn’t sure what reaction would be since we normally don’t spend anything near that much. One guy said it best . “ you know I would rather do this once a year than go to ten games and sit in the second or third tier “
What is the argument that our players exhibit "poor character"? We have been very fortunate to have a bunch of very high caliber young men that have been awesome in the community.
What the hell are you complaining about? The biggest issue that comes to mind is Willis being plastered last year.
That point is serious, serious bunk and speaks more to your character (or rather the lack thereof) not these well above average young men that Cal has consistently brought in.
Yep, charging our student fan base at all for these games is bs...not when Tuition, Room and Board is up to $11500 per semester before scholarships and grants.
Make it free again and get the busses going to get them there like when I was there (+$20 parking makes it a $30 decision for a student, if they even have a car) ...and students will pack ever game again. Charge these kids $10 and you can't be surprised or complain they bail on these nobody games.
Beer, Diner $...or UK vs a nobody that's on TV anyways...easy decision for a college kid on a tight budget.
..Now the season ticket holders are starting to make the same business decision...not worth the trip, time, $ to go to Lexington on weeknight for a sloppy game early against a bad team with players we don't even know much about yet. No Seniors, juniors also means no connections to the fans.
That said i'm going tomorrow.
Yeah we would packing the house if Sheray Thomas, Bobby Perry, Shagari and company were here.
If you believe this then you know nothing about Kentucky fans,Boston Cat proved years ago he /she knows nothing about UK fans and is here only dabble in subtle ridicule of UK fans
Forest/Trees -
The waning interest in sports in general has more to it than HD TV's and ticket prices. I believe it to be more about the general public becoming tired of and more aware of the rampant hypocrisy running amok in our society. And it goes way beyond sports as we are seeing in the headlines.
I've been saying for years that NCAA sports, at the major level, have evolved over many years into a complete sham. A complete hypocrisy. And as of late there is the undefendable ruling on UNC, the tournament seeding, the officiating, U of L, and it goes on and on.
I believe the populace is rapidly tiring of being led by the nose by marketer's, politicians, other various leaders, who have gone too far to the point they are insulting those they count on for their success. The NFL, for example, is being taken down by fools that have no basis or footing in reality.
I also believe this growing awareness and frustration with over marketed jocks, as well as other prominent figures, is a good thing.
All Calipari does is willfuly and forcefully expose college basketball hypocrisy to his and our benefit and, in the end, it will lead to changes that are, eventually, inevitable.
The public, in general, is aware of and tiring of the hypocrisy in our society and that in the end will be a good thing.
The waning interest in sports in general has more to it than HD TV's and ticket prices. I believe it to be more about the general public becoming tired of and more aware of the rampant hypocrisy running amok in our society. And it goes way beyond sports as we are seeing in the headlines.
I've been saying for years that NCAA sports, at the major level, have evolved over many years into a complete sham. A complete hypocrisy. And as of late there is the undefendable ruling on UNC, the tournament seeding, the officiating, U of L, and it goes on and on.
I believe the populace is rapidly tiring of being led by the nose by marketer's, politicians, other various leaders, who have gone too far to the point they are insulting those they count on for their success. The NFL, for example, is being taken down by fools that have no basis or footing in reality.
I also believe this growing awareness and frustration with over marketed jocks, as well as other prominent figures, is a good thing.
All Calipari does is willfuly and forcefully expose college basketball hypocrisy to his and our benefit and, in the end, it will lead to changes that are, eventually, inevitable.
The public, in general, is aware of and tiring of the hypocrisy in our society and that in the end will be a good thing.
True, I didn't even think about parking. When I went during undergrad we always had to leave early to find a free spot within a 20 minute walk. I like the busses idea. Keep it up
![[thumb2]](https://ct.yimg.com/mr/uploads/891/1684387.png "Thumbs Up 2 [thumb2]")
It's all cost for me. I live in Jessamine Co and would love to go to games, but the money is just too tight. Those ticket prices are out of range for me.
Cost and game experience are driving the attendance drop. Average Joe can’t afford much less get nice lowers. He can get a big TV and a cable package that lets him see all the games from the comfort of his home. Nobody wants to in a crappy seat at the top of the arena anymore. Young people don’t need to be at the same place anymore to have a group experience as long as they have their phone.
This, many fans have their HS football teams in the playoffs. Our local radio station is following our HS team until they get beat out, not carrying UK basketball on Fridays.
People now seem to have a shorter attention span and attending sporting events in person conflict with that.
Let's see.. Drive 2 hours to get to Rupp.. Buy decent tickets,, pay for parking,, pay for hotel.. Run somewhere around the $400-$500 range,, counting all expenses.. Or sit at home,, on my ass,, in my lazy boy,, 64" flat screen with surround sound,, bathroom 30' away.. Spend maybe $15 on beer.. Hard choice to make there..
Exactly. Going to a game I feel like I’m attending a damn practice. Just a coach yelling.
It's really this simple:
* Cost of tickets - $60-$100+ for 2 depending on location and opponent.
* Maybe sitting with someone's knees in your back, or just jammed in altogether.
* Cost to park - $15-$20
* Traffic in and out.
* Cost of concessions
* Time invested in getting there and back. For me, it's 9-10 hours, but will obviously vary.
* Cost of hotel (for me)
* Getting out in the cold, and maybe later on in the year running into bad weather.
versus:
* 55+" HDTV and all games televised.
* Watching the game in HD from my recliner with my feet up and my shoes off.
* My concession stand has my favorite food and drinks, and is just steps away with no line.
* My bathroom is steps away with no line.
* Can flip over to other games during timeouts and halftime.
* When the game is over I can watch whatever or simply go to bed instead of walking out into the cold and navigating traffic.
As people get older (like me), this is a great alternative. I used to go to several games a year, but haven't been since every game started being televised, even though the product on the floor is as good as it's ever been.
* Cost of tickets - $60-$100+ for 2 depending on location and opponent.
* Maybe sitting with someone's knees in your back, or just jammed in altogether.
* Cost to park - $15-$20
* Traffic in and out.
* Cost of concessions
* Time invested in getting there and back. For me, it's 9-10 hours, but will obviously vary.
* Cost of hotel (for me)
* Getting out in the cold, and maybe later on in the year running into bad weather.
versus:
* 55+" HDTV and all games televised.
* Watching the game in HD from my recliner with my feet up and my shoes off.
* My concession stand has my favorite food and drinks, and is just steps away with no line.
* My bathroom is steps away with no line.
* Can flip over to other games during timeouts and halftime.
* When the game is over I can watch whatever or simply go to bed instead of walking out into the cold and navigating traffic.
As people get older (like me), this is a great alternative. I used to go to several games a year, but haven't been since every game started being televised, even though the product on the floor is as good as it's ever been.
Have better opponents and people might care more. They're pricing themselves out with cost of tickets and parking.
Roster has been turning over for awhile so no that’s not it. 40% if ticket prices (if true) is the culprit. Just think about some of the luxuries you would Cut back on if the price went up 40%. Especially when you can watch for free on TV.
Went to the game last night and although I didn't have anyone sitting beside us, we had them in front and behind so you're constantly being touched or trying to avoid bumping someone. Squeezing past people in the row is annoying too.
It's actually a burden to even go anymore. My father in-law season ticket holder thinks of it the same way. He put up all of his tickets before VaTech. The crap schedule plays a factor too.
THANK YOU. Some will try to convince you it’s due to OAD because it’s how they think in their mind even though none of that has mattered in the last 8 seasons. Quickest way for a die hard fan to stop going to games is having to pay more when they can easily watch on HD which can be better than being at the game
This is exactly it. That’s why we’re seeing movie theaters not only selling alcohol now but also installing electric reclining seating where you can watch the thing with your feet in the air and a beer at your side. (Expanding the food choices as well.)
I went all the time when I lived in Lexington and I had a 19-inch SD TV, but now that I live more than an hour away, I only get to maybe 1 a year. (That excludes UL games every other year because my dad and I go together with his season tickets because of family tradition and mutual hatred for the Cards. Those are free.)
Like many others, choosing between:
Spending money on a tank of gas to get there and home (because a hotel is out of the question on my budget), tickets, dinner, parking, concessions, having to walk in the cold, navigating traffic near Rupp Arena and enduring Lexington drivers in general ...
Or...
Sitting at home,with games in HD on two screens, private bathroom and dining facilities with cook to order service, no cut offs on alcohol, free parking, no traffic, no gas being burned.
The crappy schedule doesn't help either. The UL game is the only "marquee" OOC game this year. The rest are cupcakes and Va. Tech.
Like many others, choosing between:
Spending money on a tank of gas to get there and home (because a hotel is out of the question on my budget), tickets, dinner, parking, concessions, having to walk in the cold, navigating traffic near Rupp Arena and enduring Lexington drivers in general ...
Or...
Sitting at home,with games in HD on two screens, private bathroom and dining facilities with cook to order service, no cut offs on alcohol, free parking, no traffic, no gas being burned.
The crappy schedule doesn't help either. The UL game is the only "marquee" OOC game this year. The rest are cupcakes and Va. Tech.
Well, they sure aren’t dedicated fans and they sure as hell aren’t 15%. Maybe .15%
Believe what you want and don’t be that asshole that pulls the “they aren’t real fans”. It’s pretty lame dude.
Combo of cupcakes, ticket prices, and having a team that's fairly uninspiring at the moment.
It'll be back over 22,000 every night for SEC games.
It'll be back over 22,000 every night for SEC games.
The ticket prices almost have to increase at least every other year to help pay for the rising expenses associated with basketball. The coach and staff's salary ( I assume they get raises every year), cost of equipment and supplies, travel, etc. all increase. This is not just at UK, but most schools have to deal with this. I don't like it but there's not much I can do about it except not attend because I can't afford it, especially since I live 3-4 hrs away.
But ticket prices are just one part of the big picture. I agree with the other posters about the reasons given. I do think that player turnover is a small part of it. And people who feel that way are not necessarily fair weather fans. I am sure some of them have been supporting UK basketball longer than I have been around. With all that being said, everyone has their own reasons for feeling the way they do and no one is right or wrong, however I do think cost is the main reason. Sorry if I rambled...just had a lot to say.
But ticket prices are just one part of the big picture. I agree with the other posters about the reasons given. I do think that player turnover is a small part of it. And people who feel that way are not necessarily fair weather fans. I am sure some of them have been supporting UK basketball longer than I have been around. With all that being said, everyone has their own reasons for feeling the way they do and no one is right or wrong, however I do think cost is the main reason. Sorry if I rambled...just had a lot to say.
Agree with the lower level part. I wouldn't accept a free ticket to sit in the upper deck no matter who we're playing. It sucks up there, football too at least in the upper corners.
I was with you until the Eagles and Zac Brown. The Eagles debuted during the Rupp era. While we're at it, let's throw in some Beethoven.
As most have stated, not exactly a schedule that is going to pack them in, and I hate to say it, but at this point this team is hard to watch at times, I guess some fans would rather wait and watch them after they get the kinks worked out and play some decent teams.
I couldn't agree more, we are just letting what many fought, died and suffered for just be thrown out the window like it was nothing.
It's a cumulative effect, man.
Great when new, great when winning... shit in every other aspect from the perspective of the paying customer.
Plus, UK has had a pretty good following in football. The athletic dept thinks that if they schedule a basketball game on Friday, instead of Saturday, it doesn't interfere with the basketball attendance. Apparently, it does.
It's always been that way though.
We've had crap schedules many years, so I don't think it's that either.
I will admit this, if I didn't have lower level seats, I would never go to a game in Rupp again. And that used to not be the case.
I just think it's a number of things.
People are different than they used to be. Sports just aren't as popular as it once was.
Ticket prices are just stupid expensive.
The quality of televisions now is another factor.
All of the games are on tv. That didn't used to be the case. Especially for football.
Obviously the kneeling nonsense has hurt also.
