Basketball attendance in general

[jaymOU]

I am an '84 graduate of Edmond High School and an OU season ticket holder from about '82-'91. All of my high school games were packed and we were loud. Most of the OU games then were pretty full too - especially the conference games, not a seat to be had. Still remember slipping in the LNC at the 1983 OU - MU game through a side door that was supposed to be locked.

Me and my three buddies started to sell our tickets, but, back then there would have not been a place to sit. So we just kept the unused tickets and sat in our regular seats.

It's a little sad when I go to Broken Arrow games now - as the arena is about 1/2 full and seeing OU in person and on TV and filling up half the arena is about the norm. And it's not just OU and Broken Arrow. All of the high schools are like that and even the "basketball mecca" in Oklahoma (Stillwater) has trouble selling out game.

Just wonder what teams can do on a HS and college level to get butts in chairs. And, I wonder what changed.

 

[tycat947]

I am an '84 graduate of Edmond High School and an OU season ticket holder from about '82-'91. All of my high school games were packed and we were loud. Most of the OU games then were pretty full too - especially the conference games, not a seat to be had. Still remember slipping in the LNC at the 1983 OU - MU game through a side door that was supposed to be locked.

Me and my three buddies started to sell our tickets, but, back then there would have not been a place to sit. So we just kept the unused tickets and sat in our regular seats.

It's a little sad when I go to Broken Arrow games now - as the arena is about 1/2 full and seeing OU in person and on TV and filling up half the arena is about the norm. And it's not just OU and Broken Arrow. All of the high schools are like that and even the "basketball mecca" in Oklahoma (Stillwater) has trouble selling out game.

Just wonder what teams can do on a HS and college level to get butts in chairs. And, I wonder what changed.

It's not just OU, OSU, Broken Arrow, etc. It's all over the country and all sports. What's changed? Collegiate sports are saturated on TV, smart phones, tablets, etc and the young people just don't have a strong interest like many older generations that was predicated by watching the games on TV sporadically and generating a real interest and not distracted by smart phones, Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, etc, etc, etc.

 

[skyvue]

even the "basketball mecca" in Oklahoma (Stillwater) has trouble selling out game.

The only time in the modern era they have regularly sold out their arena was during the Eddie Sutton years.