OU vs. Creighton

[skyvue]

Mind you, I'm not trying to talk anyone out of enjoying the NBA -- to each his own. I just have to scratch my head when posters insist it's a better product than the college game. One rarely hears the same "world's greatest players" argument from college football fans about the NFL, and I'm not sure why. But I'd trade a pair of season tickets for any NFL team for a single ticket to an OU game, and I feel much the same about the NBA. Give me college ball every time.

 

[inoref]

I'll still say the thunder has hurt both men and women basketball attendance to some point.
OU football is another subject..NBA can't touch it

 

[WichitaSooner]

I dont know why we are griping about the crowds. No one gets good attendance in the middle of December. The crowd isnt any different than it was 15-20 years ago. Its only better if we have a Blake Griffin or Trae Young to bring in the casual fan.

That's an overstatement to say no one gets good crowds. KU played its only crappy opponent of the season last night, during semester break...think they didn't have 16,000+? I realize they are an outlier, but there are plenty of schools with programs that don't match ours that draw more than 4,000 for a quality opponent. I know it's been that way for years, but that doesn't mean it isn't disappointing. Especially given all the things Lon has the program do to try to attract fans. They all but give tickets away.

 

[SoonerTraveler]

Creighton @ OU replay on TV now.

6pm - 8pm ... Fox Sports Oklahoma (OKC COX-37)

 

[bob the nailer]

I was there, crowd was small but for its size pretty energetic. College basketball has sold its sold to TV- the 8pm start hurts attendance- long drive back to OKC or Edmond or someplace else besides Norman when game not over til 1015.. Every conference weekday home game this year is either at 6 or 8.
I think Thunder does hurt OU, some season ticket holders have given up OU tickets. Also OU is emulating the Thunder in that they can't allow a moment where the fans aren't entertained by some inane activity during timeout.
Also didn't help that students are out for Christmas break.
Don't know how to fix it or if its even fixable, the now dead plan to get a new arena in north Norman would have helped.

 

[sperry]

Like most things, watching in your home is a better experience than watching at the arena. Every sport is struggling with this.

Big game atmospheres are great, and we have a couple a year in both football and basketball, but for the most part the seat on your couch is better. Selling beer is a step in the right direction, but probably won't be executed well and doesn't move the needle in a huge way anyway.

 

[OULad]

That's an overstatement to say no one gets good crowds. KU played its only crappy opponent of the season last night, during semester break...think they didn't have 16,000+? I realize they are an outlier, but there are plenty of schools with programs that don't match ours that draw more than 4,000 for a quality opponent. I know it's been that way for years, but that doesn't mean it isn't disappointing. Especially given all the things Lon has the program do to try to attract fans. They all but give tickets away.

Ya, KU gets crowds, Kentucky & Duke. Basically no one else does. This isnt just an OU problem. Really they should start the season a month later if they want better turnouts. Football + Holiday Season is conducive to big crowds at college basketball games.

 

[j2d2]

"Professional Sports" is an oxymoron. "Professional" means that it is a business and NOT a sport.

 

[AdaSooner]

Ya, KU gets crowds, Kentucky & Duke. Basically no one else does. This isnt just an OU problem. Really they should start the season a month later if they want better turnouts. Football + Holiday Season is conducive to big crowds at college basketball games.

You’re right, it’s not just an OU problem. But, even schools like Duke are experiencing attendance issues. Keep in mind that Duke’s arena, Cameron Indoor, has a seating capacity of 9,314, so it should be easier to fill every seat.

Check out this article and you’ll see what I mean. This is not a new problem. I posted a similar article two to three years ago about Duke’s declining attendance. It’s a problem everywhere, except for the top conference or national high profile games.

https://www.foxsports.com/college-b...opping-for-duke-men-s-basketball-games-011917

Declining attendance is a problem everywhere:

https://www.bluestarmedia.org/college-basketballs-untold-story-many-empty-seats/

 

[oudna]

There was a thread in the past where I graphed all the data. My conclusion was that in the years that we were a good team with a star player, attendence was up. When we were bad, attendance was down. I know novel concept.

It showed very little to do with thunder basketball

Shows your graphs to my old college friends that don’t go to our games anymore because their kids just want to watch Russ.

 

[hoopsaustin]

Shows your graphs to my old college friends that don’t go to our games anymore because their kids just want to watch Russ.

Thats sad, but you're right..

Its just a bigger prestige deal to go to a pro nba game in downtown okc. Than a college game in norman. Sad..

 

[Ghost of Gar Heard]

Maybe the fact that I've only watched on TV is the problem.

Maybe but I'm not thrilled with the NBA experience. Don't get me wrong, the game is a lot better than what it was 10-15 years ago. But since the arenas are bigger you sit further away and are less connected to the action. Each game is less important than a college game because they play so many. And if you think there are a lot of commercial breaks in the college game, whoa! As someone else noted, there is a lot of piped in noise to try to wake people up. And you probably paid 3 times the price to get in. I'd much rather watch an NBA game at home just because you can tune in when you want and tune out when you want. Maybe playoffs are different.

I'm just not going to pay $75+ per ticket to go to an NBA game (plus parking), especially when I don't even care about the Rockets (I live in the Houston area). I may try and find a way to get to a UH game this season, however.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

"Professional Sports" is an oxymoron. "Professional" means that it is a business and NOT a sport.

:facepalm

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Thats sad, but you're right..

Its just a bigger prestige deal to go to a pro nba game in downtown okc. Than a college game in norman. Sad..

but those people now going to thunder games probably weren't going to norman for ou games

 

[coolm]

going to the games is for people with better eyesight than I. on MY tv I can actually see the action. at the game I can't see a darn thing.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Maybe but I'm not thrilled with the NBA experience. Don't get me wrong, the game is a lot better than what it was 10-15 years ago. But since the arenas are bigger you sit further away and are less connected to the action. Each game is less important than a college game because they play so many. And if you think there are a lot of commercial breaks in the college game, whoa! As someone else noted, there is a lot of piped in noise to try to wake people up. And you probably paid 3 times the price to get in. I'd much rather watch an NBA game at home just because you can tune in when you want and tune out when you want. Maybe playoffs are different.

I'm just not going to pay $75+ per ticket to go to an NBA game (plus parking), especially when I don't even care about the Rockets (I live in the Houston area). I may try and find a way to get to a UH game this season, however.

You are closer to the action in the CEA than in the LNC.

It feels like more breaks in the college game than the NBA to me. more media timeouts

Maybe the rockets tix prices are higher but that is way high for a thunder ticket unless you are sitting on the lower level

 

[sperry]

Yeah, just like college football vs. the NFL, there are WAY more commercials in the college game than the pros.

The NBA experience is just a better one on so many levels. Significantly nicer arena; real food options instead of concession food; sell drinks; located within walking distance of tons of bars and restaurants; much more convenient location than LNC for affluent fans.

The other thing is that the NBA team has been significantly better than the college team. Thunder have been a legitimate title contender since like the 3rd year the team got here.


NBA has a bunch of intelligent marketing professionals figuring out how to optimize the experience. They share best practices between 30 teams. It's just night and day difference.

 

[BCSooners]

Finally watched the game. 1.Really balanced effort 2. Odomes was amazing 3. Brady shot well 4. Doolittle was aggressive. Really good performance all the way around.

McNeace better learn quickly on how to pass out of the post.