^^^

 

You're right. Some schools don't want to take that step or go through the trouble to do it

As several have suggested, perhaps there is no fix.

 

But if indeed some of the greater losses of attendance is due to the lack of interest of the younger kids/generations, then about all that can be done is to experiment with enticing them to want to be there. Not sure what that consists of though.

Perhaps more of a fan interaction experience? Have designated times for kids/adults to put up some shots on the Rupp floor? Maybe have some designated times for Pee Wee/younger teams to scrimmage? Maybe before or between sessions? These may all be bad ideas and of course there no guarantees, but it seems that what was once enough entertainment to buy a ticket, watch a ballgame with a bag of popcorn and Coke is just not enough, unfortunately.

 

Pee-wee ball players and cheerleaders! You'd have every parent, grandparents, and aunts and uncles come to see the small ones on the floor at Rupp Arena! Not a bad idea. :dancingpa

This is a very good point. The lack of cell service at Rupp is always a nightmare (at least for me, as I seem to never have service there). If you're there for a session, that's 4-5 hours. If NCAA games are going on, I'd like to keep up with the gamecast, tweets, maybe even watch it while watching the high school games. Can't do much of that in Rupp.

 

Didn't they use to show the NCAA games on the TVs in the entrance/concession areas?

I couldn't attend this year. Kids activities. It would be better if the games were played early enough that you could get young kids back at home and in bed before 10pm for school the next day.

Kentucky isn't the high school basketball crazy state it once was. Other sports and interests have taken over. One previous post was right about attendance in general. Big local games or district games that were sold out 20-30 years ago on a Tuesday or Friday night now have half full gyms. Most of those same schools though will be standing room only for Friday night football.

 

The resurrection of UK basketball in the SEC and NCAA tourney has many folks spending their money on the Cats vs the Sweet 16. I know many locals that went to the Sweet 16 every year that don't anymore but they will go to the SEC tourney.

 

My family of 5 can do about one game a week. We try to choose a boy-girl doubleheader. At $6-$7 per person, (regardless of age) is sometimes tough to come by.

I don't have a solution for the Sweet 16. However, fans may take more interest over all if weekly games weren't so pricey.

Once in a blue moon our school will offer a discount for student tickets. The gym and/or stadium (during football) see a significant increase in attendance. Young and old.

I'm well aware that budgets are tight but many families are strapped for cash and dishing out hundreds, and often times, much more for a basketball tournament is simply too much.

I will also add that high school football seems to be giving high school basketball in Kentucky a run for its money.

Maybe the KHSAA should gear it's focus toward that.

Edited April 19, 201610 yr by bernies

Let me take a brief rabbit trail. Someone mentioned earlier that you have to book the Hyatt for the whole week. True? What days specifically?

 

I am thinking about coming up next year for just Tuesday overnight and the first day's games Wednesday...and would like to stay at the Hyatt. Maybe go to the Dawahare's Hall of Fame banquet Tuesday night.

People don't follow high school sports as much as they used to, its a different generation, and I dont know if they can be brought back. There are way more competition for their entertainment dollar, more sporting events on TV. The NCAA Tournament is a much bigger event in 2016 than it was 20, 25, and 30-years ago.

Let me take a brief rabbit trail. Someone mentioned earlier that you have to book the Hyatt for the whole week. True? What days specifically?

 

I am thinking about coming up next year for just Tuesday overnight and the first day's games Wednesday...and would like to stay at the Hyatt. Maybe go to the Dawahare's Hall of Fame banquet Tuesday night.

 

Before the finals were on Sunday it was Wednesday through Saturday

I think the ticket prices is the biggest issue, and frankly I don't understand why they need to be so much the KHSAA have corporate sponsors. I personally think with all of the other factors mentioned on here people don't want to pay $18 for two HS basketball games. I personally think tickets should be dropped to no more than $15 per session for next year and I think they would see a spike in attendance. I also think go back to playing the boys tournament first instead of the girls before the first weekend of the NCAA tournament would help. The majority of people that attend the girls tournament anyway are people of teams in the tournament.

My family of 5 can do about one game a week. We try to choose a boy-girl doubleheader. At $6-$7 per person, (regardless of age) is sometimes tough to come by.

I don't have a solution for the Sweet 16. However, fans may take more interest over all if weekly games weren't so pricey.

Once in a blue moon our school will offer a discount for student tickets. The gym and/or stadium (during football) see a significant increase in attendance. Young and old.

I'm well aware that budgets are tight but many families are strapped for cash and dishing out hundreds, and often times, much more for a basketball tournament is simply too much.

I will also add that high school football seems to be giving high school basketball in Kentucky a run for its money.

Maybe the KHSAA should gear it's focus toward that.

 

Not sure of age of kids, but I've yet to be charged for my elementary aged kids

I think the ticket prices is the biggest issue, and frankly I don't understand why they need to be so much the KHSAA have corporate sponsors. I personally think with all of the other factors mentioned on here people don't want to pay $18 for two HS basketball games. I personally think tickets should be dropped to no more than $15 per session for next year and I think they would see a spike in attendance. I also think go back to playing the boys tournament first instead of the girls before the first weekend of the NCAA tournament would help. The majority of people that attend the girls tournament anyway are people of teams in the tournament.

 

Saving a few $'s per session isn't going to make enough of a difference to "spike" attendance. When factoring in food, lodging, gas etc, a couple bucks per ticket over the course of the whole tourney really isnt saving that much money....certainly not enough to influence consumer behavior.

I don't buy the argument that people/casual fan won't go to the Sunday games because of the cost of the extra day. People who do that are purposely trying to get the final back to Saturday night by using money as an excuse to strong arm the KHSAA. Why not just come down a day later and still stay for 4 days if the cost of one more day will break your bank account? If I have a choice between a day of the Sweet 16 missed then I am missing first round games and not the championship game. I don't understand why folks would invest the whole week of Sweet 16 and skip out on the climax. That doesn't make sense. Just come down on Thursday and stay through Sunday instead of staying Wednesday through Saturday.

 

As a practitioner of epic stubbornness I can say that I respect and applaud the stubbornness of sticking to the Wednesday through Saturday tradition of coming to Sweet 16 and missing out on the Finals because they are on Sunday. That is my kind of stubbornness.

 

It's not just the cost. Sunday is typically NOT a sports day. Especially for the older crowd. Sunday is church, lunch, and family time at home or with friends. So sitting in the stands is not a priority. (Note: I'm not preaching, just saying that Sunday for a lot of people is for other things).

 

And as far as missing opening round games, that's when I'd rather go. So I can see all the teams there (so I can talk about all the teams I saw play that year).

I will also add that high school football seems to be giving high school basketball in Kentucky a run for its money.

Maybe the KHSAA should gear it's focus toward that.

 

Starting to? My friend I think you are WAY behind the times. KY has been a football state (when discussing high school sports) for 20+ years. Today it's not even close. Just look at the thread post count on this site between boys basketball and football. With far fewer games to discuss AND fewer teams that play football, football blows the basketball forum out of the water. I know that's anecdotal, but all the other evidence for years has pointed to the fact that football has overtaken basketball in KY high school sports overall.

Starting to? My friend I think you are WAY behind the times. KY has been a football state (when discussing high school sports) for 20+ years. Today it's not even close. Just look at the thread post count on this site between boys basketball and football. With far fewer games to discuss AND fewer teams that play football, football blows the basketball forum out of the water. I know that's anecdotal, but all the other evidence for years has pointed to the fact that football has overtaken basketball in KY high school sports overall.

 

Should basketball play fewer games?

Should basketball play fewer games?

 

??? Not quite sure if you inferred this from my post or not, but if so, no I don't think that at all. Personally, I wish the football season would wrap up a couple of weeks sooner and basketball start a couple of weeks sooner and have the opportunity to play 2-3 more games for schools who chose to. But then again I'm a basketball guy and think it's by far the greatest sport ever invented.

 

If you are asking if fewer games would bring out bigger crowds...no I doubt that would be the case either.