Road Warriors

[shocktheheart]

What I thought was a little strange is ISUR not selling out for the WSU game. Has to be the biggest game in years with first place on the line. Only 89% capacity with 9078 fans.

[BirdsEyeView]

But you're missing the point. It's all relative.

Where does that 4019 rank in other games played this year? I'm guessing it's toward the top.

Ranks 4th out of seven games

Hence my comment yesterday on the Game 7 thread. Not provoking anyone, just stating an observation.

[BirdsEyeView]

What I thought was a little strange is ISUR not selling out for the WSU game. Has to be the biggest game in years with first place on the line. Only 89% capacity with 9078 fans.

Everyone was freaking out about ice, which never really happened.

Also, our town sucks for a fan base.

[shocktheheart]

What I thought was a little strange is ISUR not selling out for the WSU game. Has to be the biggest game in years with first place on the line. Only 89% capacity with 9078 fans.

Everyone was freaking out about ice, which never really happened.

Also, our town sucks for a fan base.

Good honest answer. Wichita was freaking out about the ice, but it seems no matter the weather Koch Arena will be filled.

[LanceShock]

What I thought was a little strange is ISUR not selling out for the WSU game. Has to be the biggest game in years with first place on the line. Only 89% capacity with 9078 fans.

Everyone was freaking out about ice, which never really happened.

Also, our town sucks for a fan base.

Actually considering the weather, that isn't that bad. Attendance was 8284 when #21 (what the IlSU website says) WSU came to town last year.

[Redbirdgrad]

But there IS a truth to it being the "Super Bowl" when WSU comes to town. Attendance is much higher, for the most part, when WSU is in town and playing in the home team's gym. That helps with school pride, concessions, etc. It's the best financial night of the season for many, if not all, Valley teams. WSU has been a financial boon to schools over the past few years..and not just because of their shared post season success. Check the average home attendance of each Valley team and then check what the attendance is for each team, at home, against WSU.

I don't think it's the "Super Bowl" statement that sets people off... it's the connotation that comes with it.

I think it's natural for fans, coaches, players, etc. to "get up" more when a better team comes into their house. I'd rather go see the Blackhawks play the Blues in Chicago and I "get up" more for that game than other hockey games during the year. It's the same when ISU hosts any ranked team, or conference leader. You naturally want to win those games and put more effort along the way. And when the Valley is down... playing the #1 team usually draws more of a crowd.

But when you get on another team's message board and see that message being floated around like we don't care about any other game on our schedule.. just winning this one... it's crazy talk. Some people float the term like they're the only game on the schedule that matters at all. I think that's where the rub is. A Super Bowl is a culmination of the year's games... a Wichita home game for us is hardly that.

Wichita is planning this fun yellow out for the return game against ISU and already hyping it up. Several on your board have already circled their calendars. Is our return game your "Super Bowl"? Doubt it... because you have aspirations of more important games which would come afterwards... as do we.

[purple&orange]

Why wasn't it Evansville's Super Bowl this year vs last year........look at the team on the floor/standings.

Last year's game was a weekend early afternoon tip, after going to Wichita and playing pretty well, only a three point loss off the top of my head. There wasn't nearly the amount of Wichita State fans that were there from last year as I was out in the lobby for the hour prior to tip off, along with the optimism that the Aces might take down Wichita State. Last night it was a later than normal start, 8:00 PM and the way Evansville has trended over the last few games, let's just say that confidence wasn't real high going in and it didn't matter if it was Wichita State or Illinois State on the schedule.

To the Wichita State and Illinois State fans, enjoy the run you guys are having this season. The run/final last season, despite the bounce that ended the season, was a lot of fun, having that hope that it just might be the year. I can recall both programs being there, when UE-ISUr was a Valley game of the Week by contract only and Marshall's first season. Both your squads have a bigger challenge getting the invite, not winning a game or two if you're lucky enough to get there. It would be great to see both get that chance and if my Purple Aces cannot get there (highly unlikely but got to throw the disclaimer in there) I'm hoping to see you guys in the final on Sunday at Arch Madness. Would be a great finale to see in person, a showcase for the league.

[BirdsEyeView]

What I thought was a little strange is ISUR not selling out for the WSU game. Has to be the biggest game in years with first place on the line. Only 89% capacity with 9078 fans.

Everyone was freaking out about ice, which never really happened.

Also, our town sucks for a fan base.

Good honest answer. Wichita was freaking out about the ice, but it seems no matter the weather Koch Arena will be filled.

Helps when you have been really good for many years consecutively

We haven't been to the NCAA's since 98. Even then, we didn't sell out....State Farm is very transient and thus no loyalty to the local division 1 college basketball program.

Also, great post RedbirdGrad.

[specialsauce]

I think it's cute that we're making Illinois State and Wichita State program comparisons. Some of these people are just getting sucked into the storm. Given Illinois State's history, it's safe to say it was the biggest game of the season. Not really close. And to think a WSU fan's mindset, with NCAA Tournament relevance, MVC dominance, commonplace Top 25 rankings, Final Fours, and undefeated seasons, is even remotely similar to a mindset of a fan of a program who hasn't been to an NCAA Tournament in 20 years, hasn't won a Valley regular or tournament title in nearly 20 years, and has been, at best, mediocre for the better part of 2 decades, is absolutely laughable.

This is all reminding me of the Sycamore fans who crashed these boards and started ranting on and on and then disappeared a year later. Except that Indiana State at least made an NCAA Tournament.

[Redbirdgrad]

Helps when you have been really good for many years consecutively

We haven't been to the NCAA's since 98. Even then, we didn't sell out....State Farm is very transient and thus no loyalty to the local division 1 college basketball program.

Also, great post RedbirdGrad.

Thanks.

I think you hit the nail on the head in regards to our fan base. There's just too many transient people between State Farm and Country, and no real loyalty to the program. The population of Bloomington/Normal is skewed due to those people, and the fan base is drawing from actual numbers than those show. Because of this transient nature, I believe the average B/N citizen is more fickle than others... and our attendance will fluctuate more than the average team's. Why drive to Redbird and walk 10 minutes in the cold from the parking lot when I have 5 college basketball games on at home among various networks on a Saturday night? When you aren't a true B/N resident... ISU means very little to you.

The outreach to Chicago, Peoria, Springfield alums will do more to boost attendance than trying to hit these executives with sweet ticket deals, etc.