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This is the real issue imo. Zips Nation shows out for meaningful games (ie Kent and MAC tourney). Beating EMU by 20 just isn't that interesting anymore. That said, we should still be able to get more than 2K.

No.

And what you just pointed out is the other HUGE problem that plagues the MAC is nobody cares about the Directional Michigans, NIUs, and Balls. Not to mention there is a residual effect from rarely allowing your local HS boys basketball demographic to attend games. How are we to expect kids/families to root for Zips basketball when they can't attend the games in their own backyard because of scheduling conflicts? I'm not saying these two pieces are the entire pie, but they're the two largest chunks. The networks control the flexing schedule. Not sure why the MAC wouldn't be able to get similar revenue deals, though, with a Monday/Thursday schedule (flex Thursday games to Fridays still, but at least you're not playing games on Tuesdays) or Wednesday/Sunday.

I'm in agreement with you. It shouldn't be a challenge to get 3,500-4,000 people to an Akron game given their success. It's not like the JAR is some oversized Wolstein Center that we need to get 9k to in order to make it an exciting atmosphere. IMO the larger problem is apathy and small STH base. Need a larger, more dedicated fanbase. Not just people who show up for just Kent and the MAC tournament. It's more a matter of how can that be achieved. I also kind of enjoy the Friday games, particularly when the Zips are on the road, as it's nice not being on ESPN+. The production quality is better.

Maybe?

How does revenue from broadcasting fit into this picture? Do decisions based on tv viewing negatively impact attendance? Maybe games get flexed to Fridays for TV purposes.

Did something get finalized?

Friday home games EMU 1,843 (winter break) Kent 4,847 Umass 2,125 NIU 2,768 Saturday WMU 2,396 Small sample size obviously. I don't see it

Hopefully, with the switch to a new coach we won't see the drop-off in fans we saw when KD left.

Why?

Not to derail the convo even further, but a huge part of the problem is the MAC schedules their conference games on Tuesdays with the top Saturday games typically flexed to Friday nights. HS boys basketball players would likely be the demographic most likely to attend a quality DI hoops game right? Ohio HS boys basketball is played on Tuesdays and Fridays. A conference schedule change would be the most cost effective first logical step in attempting to boost attendance. Wouldn't cost the University a dime. The MAC and Steinbrecher are that stupid, though.

I guess this is the end of the line.

So what's the problem then?

It's not much of a surprise if you attended a non-Kent home game this season. Pretty much all the games the JAR was only 1/3-1/2 full.

I love discussions about attendance. It lets me watch fan misjudge all of the variables that go into attendance. Moreover, it allows fans to believe the fiction (lies) athletic departments publish about their attendance. Compounding all of that, it allows fans to apply those misjudgements and lies into motivations for a coach's decision making.

That's it? Gawd. I don't want to turn this thread into yet another intractable discussion about how to draw more fans, but after what we saw in Cleveland, there's got to be a way. I don't know what it is, but someone's got to be able to crack the code.

And the attendance. We average 2200 fans while Charleston averages 4900 fans.

Providence offering Hodgson $1M more in NIL is why he took that job over Syracuse. Syracuse historically is a much better program than Providence but none of that matters because Providence is willing to pay players more now in the present, which is what is driving coaching decisions in this new age of college athletics. If CoC is willing to 2x-2.5x Akron's NIL spend it is a step up. It's unfortunate it has come to this, but that's the price we're paying by trying to field both an FBS team (albeit also poorly funded) and a D1 basketball program. Our resources are going to be spread much thinner compared to a school the focuses primarily on basketball.

And the food.

It's a step up in salary and donors to feed the NIL pot.

The only things that make Charleston sound like a step up are a lack of football team, and the weather. If those are actually true I don't know how Akron would prevent this from happening again with another successful coach

Losing our best two coaches ever to Duquesne and Charleston is about as painful as it gets. Nobody can convince me that the CCA and Charleston is a step up. If it is, we have big problems.

Here's hoping he's good enough to get Dustin and then smart enough to stay the hell out of the way of Dustin and Bud.

Well its been 24 hours. Is this a Monday 9am type of thing?

Someone once told me that a manager must be able to manage two things: safety and turnover. If this all goes down, we'll find out how good the ad really is.