So the UK game did not conflict with the Saturday night H.S. semi-finals. Thanks Mack.

 

But with UK going after 40-0, had some factor, and it's one of the reason's I did not go to the semi's, plus being able to watch live on my laptop. If UK is in the NIT, which I don't care about, then there would be a better chance that I would go to Rupp.

It was very pretty outside this weekend.

Was it?

Attendance is down for multiple reason, but the biggest reason is cost! THis is what it cost me the last week:

 

Tickets: $500

Hotel Room: $500

Parking: $40

Food & Concession: $300

Gas: $50

 

Total Cost: $1390 for me and my kids for 5 days of basketball. TOO MUCH!

 

The event has gotten too expensive to attend for average Kentuckians, plus the fact that you've now got every NCAA tournament game on television. I think high schools in general have seen a dip in attendance in regular season games due to the fact there are so many college and pro games on TV during the season. I have noticed that the cost of attending the Sweet 16 seems to have increased significantly in recent years. Not good when there are more reasons than ever not to attend.

Was it?

 

You did leave Rupp to go to and from your car correct?

The event has gotten too expensive to attend for average Kentuckians, plus the fact that you've now got every NCAA tournament game on television. I think high schools in general have seen a dip in attendance in regular season games due to the fact there are so many college and pro games on TV during the season. I have noticed that the cost of attending the Sweet 16 seems to have increased significantly in recent years. Not good when there are more reasons than ever not to attend.

 

Cost is certainly a factor. However, aside from ticket prices, which honestly there isn't a bunch of wiggle room or chance for significant savings, what can be done about the cost?? The KHSAA doesn't control gas, food, parking or hotel rooms. And really, I would think those other things have risen steadily, and relative to the time period, those other costs were just as "expensive" 10 years ago. In other words, prices for everything have gone up...I don't think prices to attend the Sweet 16 have gone up faster, or at a higher rate than other forms of entertainment. I'm sure you could go back 10 or 15 years and find complaints about how expensive it was to attend the Sweet 16.

 

If something is important to people, people will find a way to do it/pay for it. Disneyland just raised the price of their ticket to over $100...people are still flocking there. You used to be able to get lawn tickets at Riverbend for $15, and now they are double the cost (or more)...but yet people still attend concerts in big numbers. I don't have the answer, but I don't think the explanation is as simple as saying it's too expensive.

Maybe if you can get cell phone coverage in Rupp and could check NCAA scores you wouldnt have to leave.

Maybe if you can get cell phone coverage in Rupp and could check NCAA scores you wouldnt have to leave.

 

This is something my son and I spoke about. I took my iPad so we could watch NCAA during halftime, breaks, etc. No public WiFi available, and was not able to connect via 3G. Having WiFi availability would make it more palatable when the NCAA and the Sweet 16 share the same week. Heck - I would even pay for WiFi to get access if it were available!!!

This is something my son and I spoke about. I took my iPad so we could watch NCAA during halftime, breaks, etc. No public WiFi available, and was not able to connect via 3G. Having WiFi availability would make it more palatable when the NCAA and the Sweet 16 share the same week. Heck - I would even pay for WiFi to get access if it were available!!!

 

I would pay also. I brought my son up for Sat/Sun games and he was ready to leave because he couldnt use his phone. I realize your not there to play on your phone but times have changed. I just wanted to get tournament updates and even follow State tournament tweets.

I would pay also. I brought my son up for Sat/Sun games and he was ready to leave because he couldnt use his phone. I realize your not there to play on your phone but times have changed. I just wanted to get tournament updates and even follow State tournament tweets.

 

My son was having NCAA withdrawals. My 3G worked well enough to get scores etc, but not well enough for live feeds. I agree that we were there to watch the High School games, but also agree it is a different time. Even I would like to multi-task as see the NCAA feeds from my iPad when convenient. I think it is silly the KHSAA or Rupp does not provide WiFi service for the tournament.

My phone would not work in the past with AT&T. Switched to Verizon in October and everything was good last week. Any NCAA game that was close in the last 3 minutes I watched live.

My phone would not work in the past with AT&T. Switched to Verizon in October and everything was good last week. Any NCAA game that was close in the last 3 minutes I watched live.

 

I'm Verizon also. I couldn't get a live feed on my phone or Ipad. I'll need to sit in your section next year!!

If you go back and look at the biggest sessions in state tournament history there is a common theme: Star power and/or basketball-first county schools:

 

http://khsaa.org/records/basketball/bbk-recordbook_sweet16records.pdf

 

1. 21,283 - 1987: Larue County vs. Clay County; Madison Central vs. Oldham County (basketball schools, mountain school, Richie Farmer)

2. 20,252 - 2004: Mason County vs. Warren Central (basketball schools, Chris Lofton, state championship game)

3. 19,776 - 1981: Mason County vs. Simon Kenton (basketball schools, Simon Kenton explosion story, state championship game)

4. 19,417 - 1982: Virgie vs. Mason County; Laurel County vs. Owensboro (basketball schools, mountain school, star power [Todd May, Virgie]

5. 19,348 - 1982: Virgie vs. M.C. Napier; Mason County vs. Middlesboro (basketball schools, mountain schools, star power [again, Todd May]

6. 19,214 - 1993: Marion County vs. Dunbar (state championship; future UK star power [Epps/Mills]; local)

7. 18,385 - 1999: Scott County vs. Madison Central; Paducah Tilghman vs. PRP (basketball schools, local, star power [Jones/Hundley/Estill]

 

Notice that only once in the last sixteen years has a session made this list. The '80s were a golden age for high school basketball in Kentucky, with future stars for Kentucky and Louisville regularly appearing. The '80s were also the last decade that regularly saw legitimate title contenders from the mountains. If the players were better and the mountains were better, then the attendance would be better.

 

Looking at that list the answer is pretty simple to the attendance problem ... make sure Mason County is in the Sweet 16 and they make a deep run in the tournament

Why is it an issue if attendance is low?

Why is it an issue if attendance is low?

 

I'm not sure it is. The perception is that with Rupp Arena only half full the crowds aren't good. I would be curious to know how many other states have tournaments that draw 10,000-13,000 for each session.

 

If there were curtains in the upper deck of Rupp Arena that limited the number of seats available and covered all that weren't be used, would it look so empty?

If the locals can't fill it up then it never will change..u cannot expect the students most of which are below 1200 in attendance to try an fill a 24000 seat arena...for any session..I think that 11500 to see two high school teams play is absolutely great..the list in pic is average attendance in far right column ..also this list includes 28 national champions

 

The locals must support it or lose it. Imo