Where are the Fans?

[skyvue]

There were over 11k tickets sold to this game. If we play in an arena of 8k, are those 2k no-shows going to mean only 6k in actual attendance? I don't know the answer to that question, but it's something worth thinking about. The issue is not all about capacity, it's that over 2,000 people/corporations bought tickets to the Northwestern game and didn't bother to come. Some may be students on break, and that's just the reality of playing a season during breaks. But, it was certainly not all students that didn't come to the game.

It was also, as has been pointed out above, December 23, the game had an early tip and there was bad weather.

 

[coolm]

I am a fan and I am at home watching.

 

[BoulderSooner]

There were over 11k tickets sold to this game. If we play in an arena of 8k, are those 2k no-shows going to mean only 6k in actual attendance? I don't know the answer to that question, but it's something worth thinking about. The issue is not all about capacity, it's that over 2,000 people/corporations bought tickets to the Northwestern game and didn't bother to come. Some may be students on break, and that's just the reality of playing a season during breaks. But, it was certainly not all students that didn't come to the game.

100% this ... the big money donors are still going to buy tickets ... period ..

we have sold over 10k tickets for years and years and years

 

[BoulderSooner]

Please.

That was the highest butts in seats game since 2008-09 (and we’ve had a NPOY, and Final 4 team since then). Marketing promo’d the heck out of the game and there was a $5 flash sale.

OU ABSOLUTELY needs a smaller arena. 9 or 10k would be ideal. Have some luxury boxes to sell to corporate and big wigs that will make up for the difference. Make the glass tinted so no one knows when they don’t show.

I wish we had a bigger attendance base but we don’t. Lots of TV/Radio/Social media following and a decent national following, but we can make up the cuts seats in other ways.

If we had a 9K arena then:
The last game is packed
3 other games are 2/3rds full
The rest of them are half full (looks and sounds much better than in a 12k)
Every conference game likely already sold out with demand skyrocketing

9 or 10k is the way to go for OU basketball. With the continued decline in attendance in college basketball across the country and improved viewing experience at home with national TV and social media then OU would be foolish to do otherwise imo.

highest butts in seats in a NON CON game .. the donors are going to buy seats no matter the size of the arena and sometimes like friday night they won't show up

 

[stormspencer]

There were over 11k tickets sold to this game. If we play in an arena of 8k, are those 2k no-shows going to mean only 6k in actual attendance? I don't know the answer to that question, but it's something worth thinking about. The issue is not all about capacity, it's that over 2,000 people/corporations bought tickets to the Northwestern game and didn't bother to come. Some may be students on break, and that's just the reality of playing a season during breaks. But, it was certainly not all students that didn't come to the game.

I drove like a maniac up from Dallas last Friday and attempted to buy a ticket, but the only tickets being sold were "standing room only".....I was PO'ed to say the least. And then hearing that there were around 2K no shows p!ssed me off even more. I've never had an issue walking up and buying a ticket (even in the Blake and Buddy days), so this was a surprise.

If fans have tickets and aren't going to show up to the games, then there needs to be a more outlets for them to unload these tickets if they choose to. I don't have a solution per se, but would welcome any ideas from people who are in the same predicament as me (living out of town). I'm not a fan of the stubhub/ticketmasters of the world....but if that is the avenue I have to go, so be it.

 

[BoulderSooner]

lower level tickets were on stubhub for around 20 bucks a ticket

 

[sooner333]

It was also, as has been pointed out above, December 23, the game had an early tip and there was bad weather.

Also true, and I was expecting a far worse crowd because of all three factors. My point was more about the size of the arena not being the magic cure for lack of crowds. There are plenty of factors in play.

I drove like a maniac up from Dallas last Friday and attempted to buy a ticket, but the only tickets being sold were "standing room only".....I was PO'ed to say the least. And then hearing that there were around 2K no shows p!ssed me off even more. I've never had an issue walking up and buying a ticket (even in the Blake and Buddy days), so this was a surprise.

If fans have tickets and aren't going to show up to the games, then there needs to be a more outlets for them to unload these tickets if they choose to. I don't have a solution per se, but would welcome any ideas from people who are in the same predicament as me (living out of town). I'm not a fan of the stubhub/ticketmasters of the world....but if that is the avenue I have to go, so be it.

The OU ticket website, although not exactly user friendly, no longer charges processing fees for tickets. I'd look to buy before coming to the arena next time, as the lines are typically pretty slow and the security is also a bear this year.