Hilton

[IndySooner]

Ames is half the size of Norman.
Des Moines is half the size of OKC, and further from Ames than Norman is from OKC.
Hilton is ROCKING and mostly full.
ISU has been worse than us even in our down years.

We really need to step it up.

 

[Hecubus]

Oklahomans supporting OU tend only to show up for "big games" and then only when we have had some kind of excitement (Coach Tubbs, Coach Sampson's better teams, Blake). Probably has to do with bandwagon fans that are attracted to the football success but (a) get spoiled by that, and (b) really only care about football anyway. KU certainly has the same problem in reverse (and Duke, NC, Kentucky, etc).

It'll be intersting to see if OSU's bball attendance keeps going down as their football team continues to get better/stay at a high level (they remind me of Oregon now to our USC).

 

[IndySooner]

Oklahomans supporting OU tend only to show up for "big games" and then only when we have had some kind of excitement (Coach Tubbs, Coach Sampson's better teams, Blake). Probably has to do with bandwagon fans that are attracted to the football success but (a) get spoiled by that, and (b) really only care about football anyway. KU certainly has the same problem in reverse (and Duke, NC, Kentucky, etc).

It'll be intersting to see if OSU's bball attendance keeps going down as their football team continues to get better/stay at a high level (they remind me of Oregon now to our USC).

Honestly, the football excuse is crap. We have a top-25 basketball program that gets supported like a mid-major.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Ames is half the size of Norman.
Des Moines is half the size of OKC, and further from Ames than Norman is from OKC.
Hilton is ROCKING and mostly full.
ISU has been worse than us even in our down years.

We really need to step it up.

I agree.

Living in KC, I've come to know just how rabid the ISU fanbase can be. They are great friendly fans for one, and they support their team thru thick and thin. One of the reasons I cheer for ISU when they aren't playing OU.

The problem for ISU is they have a small fanbase because it's a fairly small school (12K enrollment I think).

 

[SoMuchDramaInTheLNC]

Honestly, the football excuse is crap. We have a top-25 basketball program that gets supported like a mid-major.

...that played at a mid-major level the last 2 seasons, and has mostly improved in ways not measured by W's and L's this year, which will continue to curb support from the non-diehards. You have to remember, 09-10 and 10-11 were probably the most unlikeable teams in OU basketball history, with the toxic mixture of bad coaching, NCAA violations, defections, suspensions, and lack of talent. With coaching this year, we've seen some nice things from Fitz, Pledge, and Blair (namely with his active hands on defense), and I've been quite happy with Grooms and Osby. But the rest of the team isn't where they need to be to compete. The fans will come back once the program is back to a consistently competitive level.

 

[KCRuf/Nek]

I agree.

Living in KC, I've come to know just how rabid the ISU fanbase can be. They are great friendly fans for one, and they support their team thru thick and thin. One of the reasons I cheer for ISU when they aren't playing OU.

The problem for ISU is they have a small fanbase because it's a fairly small school (12K enrollment I think).

They always make the tourney games exciting with the way they travel. I love going to the womens games when the ISU fans are here.

 

[Big Old Booger]

They always make the tourney games exciting with the way they travel. I love going to the womens games when the ISU fans are here.

Yep, me too. I take my daughter to the womens tourney games and every year we meet an ISU fan or 2 who is very friendly. They are good people.

 

[ksSooner13]

I agree.

Living in KC, I've come to know just how rabid the ISU fanbase can be. They are great friendly fans for one, and they support their team thru thick and thin. One of the reasons I cheer for ISU when they aren't playing OU.

The problem for ISU is they have a small fanbase because it's a fairly small school (12K enrollment I think).

I grew up in KC with my best friends being ISU fans, I love their fan base, in fact so much I almost went there just for this reason. If the rest of the NCAA had fans like ISU, there would be no attendance problems.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Agreed on the ISU fanbase, great folks.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

Honestly, the football excuse is crap. We have a top-25 basketball program that gets supported like a mid-major.

Do you live here? How many games do you go to? Just a little worn on people that are out of state ripping on fan support at games, particularly when it is ripping on students. You know what, I live in Edmond, and I'll probably make it to about three games this year.If/when the product is better, I'll probably go more like I did when we were "actually" in the Top 25.

Here is the reality: #1 Other than about 10 schools, no school is filling up their arena for every game unless it is less than 6,000 seats. #2 Football doesn't help the situation, particularly for students, who generally have limited money for entertainment. #3 The Thunder has greatly impacted both OU and oSu support, you can disagree, but watching the Thunder right now is way more fun than watching either OU or oSu.

 

[Big Old Booger]

Do you live here? How many games do you go to? Just a little worn on people that are out of state ripping on fan support at games, particularly when it is ripping on students. You know what, I live in Edmond, and I'll probably make it to about three games this year.If/when the product is better, I'll probably go more like I did when we were "actually" in the Top 25.

Here is the reality: #1 Other than about 10 schools, no school is filling up their arena for every game unless it is less than 6,000 seats. #2 Football doesn't help the situation, particularly for students, who generally have limited money for entertainment. #3 The Thunder has greatly impacted both OU and oSu support, you can disagree, but watching the Thunder right now is way more fun than watching either OU or oSu.

Great points made here.

Also, I'll add the ISU fanbase is hungry for a winner and they have really never had one. Sure, they had Johnny Orr, but his clones were 3rd best behind OU and KU every year (Mizzou and KSU were right with them). They have never been to a final 4, but awful close with Fizer.

Whereas OU has had success in basketball and good success. 2 final fours in the past 25 years with 6 or 7 big 8/12 tourney championships and 4-6 regular season championships since 78. That's not a lot but a lot more than ISU.

 

[IndySooner]

Do you live here? YesHow many games do you go to? five or six this year, getting harder with the kidsJust a little worn on people that are out of state ripping on fan support at games, particularly when it is ripping on students. You know what, I live in EdmondSo do I, and I'll probably make it to about three games this year.If/when the product is better, I'll probably go more like I did when we were "actually" in the Top 25.Understand a bit, but when Kansas, Baylor, etc. is in town, I don't.

Here is the reality: #1 Other than about 10 schools, no school is filling up their arena for every game unless it is less than 6,000 seats. #2 Football doesn't help the situation, particularly for students, who generally have limited money for entertainment.Student tickets are DIRT cheap and go on your bursur account. I don't buy that. Schools like ISU don't have that issue. #3 The Thunder has greatly impacted both OU and oSu support100% agree with this, which is crap because the NBA is boring., you can disagree, but watching the Thunder right now is way more fun than watching either OU or oSu.100% disagree with that.

Answers in bold. I also don't do my part like I used to. When I said WE need to step it up, I was including myself.

 

[MI Sooner]

Do you live here? How many games do you go to? Just a little worn on people that are out of state ripping on fan support at games, particularly when it is ripping on students. You know what, I live in Edmond, and I'll probably make it to about three games this year.If/when the product is better, I'll probably go more like I did when we were "actually" in the Top 25.

Here is the reality: #1 Other than about 10 schools, no school is filling up their arena for every game unless it is less than 6,000 seats. #2 Football doesn't help the situation, particularly for students, who generally have limited money for entertainment. #3 The Thunder has greatly impacted both OU and oSu support, you can disagree, but watching the Thunder right now is way more fun than watching either OU or oSu.

This isn't really responsive since our attendance, especially butts in seats (as opposed to paid) is bad compared to many programs with less to offer. Also, the fan support for Ou, especially student support, used to be much better.

 

[BigTime]

Best fans in the Big 12 - period. They SUCK at everything and still show up and cheer loud.

 

[MI Sooner]

Do you live here? How many games do you go to? Just a little worn on people that are out of state ripping on fan support at games, particularly when it is ripping on students. You know what, I live in Edmond, and I'll probably make it to about three games this year.If/when the product is better, I'll probably go more like I did when we were "actually" in the Top 25.

Here is the reality: #1 Other than about 10 schools, no school is filling up their arena for every game unless it is less than 6,000 seats. #2 Football doesn't help the situation, particularly for students, who generally have limited money for entertainment. #3 The Thunder has greatly impacted both OU and oSu support, you can disagree, but watching the Thunder right now is way more fun than watching either OU or oSu.

This isn't really responsive since our attendance, especially butts in seats (as opposed to paid) is bad compared to many programs with less to offer. Also, the fan support for Ou, especially student support, used to be much better.

Edit: I should have said with the exception of the point about the Thunder, it really didn't address RELATIVELY weak attendance compared to the past/others.

 

[Sooner_In_MI]

Iowa State is one of the best fan bases in the country, considering that their teams usually suck and they still show up consistently en masse to support them.

 

[209sooner]

Do you live here? How many games do you go to? Just a little worn on people that are out of state ripping on fan support at games, particularly when it is ripping on students. You know what, I live in Edmond, and I'll probably make it to about three games this year.If/when the product is better, I'll probably go more like I did when we were "actually" in the Top 25.

Here is the reality: #1 Other than about 10 schools, no school is filling up their arena for every game unless it is less than 6,000 seats. #2 Football doesn't help the situation, particularly for students, who generally have limited money for entertainment. #3 The Thunder has greatly impacted both OU and oSu support, you can disagree, but watching the Thunder right now is way more fun than watching either OU or oSu.

I agree on some points, but not all. Student season tickets are $40. That's roughly $2 per game. Ticket prices are not an excuse. I remember during the 90s and most of the 2000s, the student support was great. They used to all hold up newspapers during the other team's starting lineup and yell "WHO CARES!"...good times. I remember the student section being larger too.

The Thunder is great, and obviously a much higher quality of basketball, but if you go to Thunder games instead of OU games (especially if you live in Norman), then you were probably never much of an OU basketball fan to begin with. Personally, I haven't followed the NBA closely since Michael Jordan retired from the Bulls, but I have always loved the Sooners. To say the Thunder games are "more fun" is fine, but it just means you are likely no more than a casual OU fan.

 

[Haverhill]

Just for clarification, Iowa State has 28k students.

 

[quick release]

Do you live here? How many games do you go to? Just a little worn on people that are out of state ripping on fan support at games, particularly when it is ripping on students. You know what, I live in Edmond, and I'll probably make it to about three games this year.If/when the product is better, I'll probably go more like I did when we were "actually" in the Top 25.

Here is the reality: #1 Other than about 10 schools, no school is filling up their arena for every game unless it is less than 6,000 seats. #2 Football doesn't help the situation, particularly for students, who generally have limited money for entertainment. #3 The Thunder has greatly impacted both OU and oSu support, you can disagree, but watching the Thunder right now is way more fun than watching either OU or oSu.

I'll bite on this.

I happen to live in Edmond as well. I attend every home conference game and all but a handful of non conference. I also attend a lot of thunder games. so in my eyes every almost every excuse i see about not attending when you live in the metro area is bull ****. I understand a few of them like financial restraints (even though $5 upper level tickets can be obtained easily) and if you have small children.

OU fans are generally lame, its that plain and simple...

Also FYI Mr. B not necessarily calling you out here cuz you at least attend some games which is better than a lot of folks can say, but your mindset if far too typical amongst our fan base.

 

[Mr.B!!!]

My "mindset" is that I have a limited number of hours in the day and therefore make decisions based on priorities, which is typical of 100% of the human race, not just "our" fan base. To me, threads calling out students or whomever for making the same personal decisions strike me as counter-productive. This is particularly true since similar threads have been appearing on various mb's for about the last decade to no avail. General responses [not that I agreed with all of them]: (a) didn't like Kelvin's style because it was boring [I personally liked winning]; (b) corporate ticket-holders not showing up [very true]; and (c) LNC is a crummy venue [minor modifications could change this]. There are probably more, but those struck me as the most consistent over the years.

Based on my personal experience, attendance is always going to be an issue in the OOC season UNLESS you can sync up with Football games [Gardner-Webb was a great example of this in Blake's final season] or you play better teams. I love Fang, but I'm not taking four hours out of my day to roll down to Norman for our annual Coppin State game anymore. Just not...and nobody else seems to be doing it either. Arkansas, UConn, Cincy, Arizona and sprinkle in a Creighton or two and I'm there. I'm seeing a trend, and that is that "basketball schools" play other "basketball schools" in their OOC pretty regularly. If we are going to be a "basketball school" maybe its time we started scheduling like one.

Now, I'm in the solution business, not the problem business, so here are some simple solutions to start with: (1) put a product on the floor that wins game and is fun to watch [I think Kruger is working towards this and succeeding]; (2) schedule more "name" mid-majors for 2 for 1's and sprinkle in a few more home and homes with BCS conference teams [even if it means skipping some of these tournaments that nobody goes to or care about anyway]; and (3) when you "know" that attendance is going to be about 5,000 or so [like on a Wednesday OOC against Maryland Eastern Shore in late January] make the arena open seating.

Finally, I'd say that on some level there is the reality that this is not just an "OU" problem. As I stated above, basketball attendance is a problem at many similarly situated schools across the country. There is the additional reality that this team is just not winning games right now, so the "average" fan isn't fired up. And then there is the final reality that both OU and oSu are competing for attention with an NBA team that is favored to win their conference about 40 minutes away from each campus competing for both time and monetary resources. I just don't know too many working professionals that can both afford and make it to two or three sporting events a week, especially if they have kids.

Sorry for the rant, FWIW, I didn't take anything personally...worst case I add "ratings" to the Sooner Sports Network to keep it a viable option