Mason County's fan support is still very strong but probably was less than normal this year at the tournament do to several factors. The main reason is that the week of the tournament was our school system's spring break this year so many people had planned other trips. Many of our fans attend the entire state tounament, so we are spread out throughout lower arena. I think it was a factor that our teams style of play is not as fun to watch as in past years. I think the economy also played a factor and I definitely think that we are spoiled with our own recent success. UKs success this year, with Darius playing, has also detracted from our support. I don't like any of these but its just the way it is.

 

Spring break should never be during the state tournament,especially when because of it you have to go to school until June 5th. Hope the only two schools systems in the area that took a spring break learned their lesson, but doubt it when the one wants to be like the other so much.:irked:

Maybe the $10 parking kept folks away.

 

This could have easily been avioded. I attended every session but 2 and never had to pay for parking. I may have had to walk a few extra blocks, but the weather was great, so I enjoyed the sunshine. The funny thing is that I actually parked for free on W Second Street, right next to a church lot that was charging 15 dollars to park. The parking attendant didn't look real happy about that, lol. I easily saved 60 dollars for the weekend, allowing more ice cream and soda, lol.

I wasn't able to make it to Rupp this year, but I still listened to every Mason County game on the radio.

 

I do agree that when any team has a great deal of success you will get your fair share of bandwagon fans.

 

After Mason County won the 10th Region, from 92-94, they didn't win another one until 2002. While I can't see them having another 8 year drought, the time is coming for them to have a few "off" years by their standards.

 

We will then see who the true fans are.

Would only happen,(maybe) if Scott County and Clark County switch regions, because the CC Cards have proven they can't do it.:walk:

 

Why you continue picking fights with Clark County is amazing to me! Get over the Mason county arrogance and move on, this year is over, you lost just like us only by more and a few games later!:sssh::ohbrother:

I was there for every Mason game as always and even came back (a little down) for the title game..But your right there is a lot of fair weather Mason fans I will agree...

 

All schools have fair weather fans. Including other 10th region schools. Also, maybe Scott County's crowd was low, due to many in Georgetown feeling the crunch from the recent Toyota struggles. Alas, maybe some Mason fans are tired of Fred Hester swiping up all the good seats and handpicking who gets the tickets. I'll never understand, after all these years, why the students don't get first choice on seating. The kids are the backbone of the pep section.

Why you are allowed to continue picking fights with Clark County is amazing to me! Get over the Mason county arrogance and move on, this year is over, you lost just like us only by more and a few games later!:sssh::ohbrother:

 

Yea, but Mason took home a nice State Semifinal trophy, that I am sure they did not accidentally leave in the locker room. Also, they didn't lose like GRC, they defeated GRC then continued to play until the final day of the basketball post season. I am sure the GRC players would have much rather lost by 20 to Shelby Valley in the state semis, than watched the game 10 rows up in the stands.

Yes, but they were in the FINAL FOUR against one of the best mountain teams to come around in a decade, with a standout throwback player, shouldn't this have brought out even the most fair weather of Mason County fans after their exciting victory over Clark County. I still think they miss those 5,000 or so fans from other 10th region schools that used to follow them to the state tournament, surely there has been no one there from Winchester over the past two years?

 

Hopefully next year will be the same.

There are some valid points in this thread. I probably will miss a couple, but here are some thoughts from a casual fan:

 

1. Lack of a Lofton-Miller. That would not keep thousands of Mason County fans from attending, but could cut down on general fan interest.

 

2. 10th Region fan backlash. I saw a couple of my Bracken County friends there; painful as it was for them, they were there and sitting in the Mason County fan section. LIke I said earlier, there's only one way to keep Mason County from qualifying for the state tournament year after year.

 

My guess is that as is often the case when an underdog makes it to the Sweet 16, there are going to be some folks that thought they would be cheering for "their team" and not "the 10th Region representative" and decided to make other plans, but I hardly qualify that as a backlash.

 

3. Economics. I can't help but agree that the cost of gas, tickets, parking, ice cream, meals, shopping, etc. impacts attendance. However, that would be a global issue and not just a Mason County issue, unless there is evidence to suggest that Mason County has been much harder-hit economically than other areas of the Commonwealth.

 

4. Reduced fan support for high-school basketball. I believe this to be directly related to economics to a large degree. However, I will allow that this season, attendance at Mason County's home games was not spectacular and there hasn't been a large and active student cheering section at the Fieldhouse for at least a couple of years. Whether that's due to lack of a superstar, economics, I don't know. I really am not all that close to the program - just a very few individuals - so I can't speculate with any great authority.

 

5. Fair weather fans. I will allow that Mason County has its share of fair-weather fans. I saw many of them at Rupp. However, I believe that this is not a phenomenon solely associated with Mason County.

 

Have some Mason County fans been somewhat spoined by the success of the past decade? How could they not be? 7 of 9 10th Region titles, two state championships, a runnerup and a semifinal appearance; along with 2 Mr. Basketballs. Speaking only for myself, however, this may have been the most satisfying season of them all; purely from the standpoint of expectations vs. achievements.

 

6. Spring Break. Spring break during the week of the Sweet 16 is sacrosanct at Mason County. That would not explain a (real or perceived) reduction in fan support at Rupp this year, because that's been the schedule for the past several years.

 

7. Distribution of seats. Again, this has been the way things are for several years. Are there people "getting tired of it"? Again, I'm not that close to the program, so I don't know.

 

Several valid talking points.

This could have easily been avioded. I attended every session but 2 and never had to pay for parking. I may have had to walk a few extra blocks, but the weather was great, so I enjoyed the sunshine. The funny thing is that I actually parked for free on W Second Street, right next to a church lot that was charging 15 dollars to park. The parking attendant didn't look real happy about that, lol. I easily saved 60 dollars for the weekend, allowing more ice cream and soda, lol.

 

You defeated the purpose by eating ice cream and drinking soda, don't you watch The Doctors during the week?

I'm fairly sure from what I read of last year's estimates that attendance was up for last year's tourney over the ten year period before it, I would think that had alot to do with Elliott County and all the preceeding pub they received. For whatever reason Shelby Valley never had the popularity or intrigue the Lions had and with no team everybody can rally around and the economy it hurts attendance! Mason County has graduated from a feel good story to a state powerhouse and no longer receive the backing from all others in the state going back to the early 80's. If say Elliott County went on a 30 year tear like Mason nobody would feel the buzz anymore either, the little teams with that small window of opportunity is what get big crowds to the state tournament.

Could be they are just now realizing that Clyde Stafford (?) is dead and that the lavish parties at the Continental have come to an end.

(I'll pretty much talk to anyone, anywhere).

 

Yeah, you've even talked with me!!

 

I found free parking three blocks away but the trip gets expensive real quick. $22 for tickets for my son and I, meals in between games, cost of gas, had to buy my daughter a shirt ($23 plus), etc. I only went on Saturday but my kids went during the week, my son can drive and my daughter went with her mom. I probably forked out $200-$300 or more overall. Cost is a factor.

 

I'll say the unspoken, I believe a lot of fans, myself included, were surprised by Mason County's performance. With no dominating player and barely beating Clark in the regionals, getting to the semi-finals was a surprise. I sat in the upper deck because I like the extra leg room and space.

 

It was good to watch these kids play. I've watched many of them plays since kindergarten days at the Boys and Girls Club. Great job, guys.

Could be they are just now realizing that Clyde Stafford (?) is dead and that the lavish parties at the Continental have come to an end.

 

Clyde Barbour, and yes, he did know how to throw a party.:thumb:

The yellow coats made them move to the other side of the arena and they all got mad and went home. :lol:

 

Mason fans don't think Rupp is a good enough place for the tournament and think it should be moved to the fieldhouse.

 

Seriously, when you go 7 out of 10 years or whatever it is, I'd guess the luster isn't the same. It's a shame because I'd say this year's Mason Co. team overachieved as much as any I can remember. They deserved a bit more support in my opinion.

 

 

:laugh::laugh:

 

I said this before, that this years Mason Co team deserved better from its fans.

Mason County's crowd used to take up the end zone section and what seemed like half the upper arena. I guess they're spoiled from all their trips to the state tournament.

 

Same thing with Scott County. It's hard to believe a school that large and only 12 miles from Lexington didn't have more fans at their games.

 

And Butler didn't have many fans at all considering they have 1600 enrollment and hadn't been to the state in a long time. Their fan total for their second round game took up about half the seats in their section of the inzone. Their kids deserve more support than that.

 

I think Muhlenberg County probably had the most fans for a game at the tournament. They had a great turnout.