This team deserves more....

[ISUFan22]

The couple to the right of us at Hilton drives from Dubuque. They've made 8 of the home games so far - pretty could for someone that far away.

They managed to make the game Saturday with the subpar weather too...

 

[soulman]

Wow - this brings back some great memories of the JO era. Growing up, I used to listen to all the games on radio (didn't have enough money for a TV, let alone to go to a game), but LOVED listening to them... "HERE's JOHNY!"

Back to the subject - we'll get back there, as long as there is a consitently good, exciting product on the floor (same with football). There have been too many up and down years lately, which tends to dampen the spirits a bit. I think GMac will get us there in b-ball.

YEAR RECORD % TOTAL AVG.
1983-84 12-4 .750 202,801 12,675
1984-85 14-3 .824 225,404 13,259
1985-86 13-0 1.000 182,308 14,024
1986-87 12-3 .800 201,730 13,449
1987-88 12-3 .800 213,572 14,238 ** Hilton capacity listed as 14,092
1988-89 11-2 .846 175,868 13,528
1989-90 7-6 .539 178,076 13,698
1990-91 7-5 .583 162,463 13,539
1991-92 14-2 .875 198,514 12,407
1992-93 16-0 1.000 217,549 13,597
1993-94 10-5 .667 189,669 12,645
1994-95 13-3 .813 202,450 12,653
1995-96 13-3 .813 192,174 12,011
1996-97 14-3 .824 207,896 12,229
1997-98 10-6 .625 171,475 10,717
1998-99 12-3 .800 152,134 10,142
1999-00 18-0 1.000 189,767 10,543
2000-01 16-0 1.000 197,760 12,360
2001-02 11-6 .647 205,869 12,110
2002-03 14-5 .737 223,122 11,743
2003-04 17-1 .944 203,574 11,310
2004-05 13-3 .812 179,343 11,209
2005-06 10-6 .625 190,331 11,896

 

[cycloneworld]

I didn't think the weather was a factor. We had no trouble getting to Hilton from Des Moines. Parking...now that was a different story. You couldn't see the lines in the parking lot so it was pretty much one big mess.

The announced attendance was 13,226...or about 800 shy of a sellout. If some people purchased tickets but decided not to show up that's their choice to waste their money. It would be different if it was a sellout and those people were taking tickets away from people who actually wanted to see the game. But there were 800 tickets left so anyone that wanted to go to the game could have.

I think we will average over 12,000 during conference play and that will put us near the top of the Big 12 in attendance. Not bad for a team many picked to end up last in the conference.

 

[pulse]

Hilton Magic peaked during the Orr era, because everyone was always excited with players like Hornacek, Grayer, Hoiberg, Meyer, Tompkins, and even the infamous BAM, Baugh, Mack, and Alexander. There was never a serious dropoff to make attendance go down. People looked forward to Hilton games. The Championship season came out of nowhere and took everyone by surprise, and then the cupboard was bare again and then enter Wayne Sleepy Morgan.

As I've said before, the students had rotating seats that allowed them to sit courtside. They really had good seats, even when they rotated to the balcony. Sticking them behind the basket I'm sure hasn't helped. The Blue Hairs have been leaving games early since the beginning of time. Apparently the terrible traffic gridlock that occurs in the metropolis of Ames is so bad that leaving their seats before the game ends allows them to get home a whole 3 or 4 minutes earlier...

 

[cycloneworld]

As I've said before, the students had rotating seats that allowed them to sit courtside. They really had good seats, even when they rotated to the balcony. Sticking them behind the basket I'm sure hasn't helped. The Blue Hairs have been leaving games early since the beginning of time. Apparently the terrible traffic gridlock that occurs in the metropolis of Ames is so bad that leaving their seats before the game ends allows them to get home a whole 3 or 4 minutes earlier...

Someone needs to tell all of those people that leave early or leave their seats and stand around in the area between the parque and the balcony that they aren't the only ones with that idea. You didn't outsmart anyone by leaning over to your wife and saying "Honey, I have this great idea...let's leave a little early so we can get out of the parking lot 5 mintues faster. And don't tell ANYONE about this secret plan."

Just look around...half the crowd is doing that.

 

[CyinCo]

Taking Prone2Clones numbers shows the following attendance pattern

JO 13,363
TF 11,920
LE 11,380
WM 11,472

I think some of the decrease was due to higher ticket prices that started in the TF-LE era. That has me a little concerned about the new FB ticket pricing.

This might be a stretch, and I'm not sure how much it affects the attendance at games, but over the last 20 years, the population of Iowa has been decreasing. It is one of the few states in the nation that the population is going down. The people that leaving aren't the old farmers either. They people leaving are the new college grads that find better paying, high tech jobs elsewhere. Therefore, I would expect that there are fewer young alums available to attend games. That leaves you with the old donors and the students.

Again, maybe a stretch but there might be something to it.

 

[tube1]

Re: Some fan's need to stay home !

I think this makes a good case for a standing encouraged section. I might want to sit too if I was 70 years old or something. We can have senior sections for those people. Thankfully no one asked me to sit down in the student section of the balcony.

If you are 70 years old, just stay home and watch the game on TV. This way you won't risk hurting anybody by driving 50 mph on the interstate. Also easier to get your nap in.

If you want to attend a game while over 70, go to Carver Pukeye. At least you will be able to sit during the game and you will be surrounded by folks your own age.

 

[Hasbeen]

Hey Tube....many of those 70+ people you speak of donate $2500-10,000/year to sit in Arena Circle and the Parquet. Unless you are able to pick up that tab, let them enjoy the game the way they want to.

 

[cycloneworld]

Hey Tube....many of those 70+ people you speak of donate $2500-10,000/year to sit in Arena Circle and the Parquet. Unless you are able to pick up that tab, let them enjoy the game the way they want to.

Good point. Just think of how much money they have donated over the course of their life. That's more important to the program than standing at a basketball game.

I wish we could have both though.

 

[BryceC]

I agree, it must be no-shows and probably the weather. Although down here in DSM it wasn't that bad. Don't know what Ames or north had to deal with.

Uhh... Iowa sold out against lowly Minnesota on Saturday and the weather wasn't any better over there. My wife left early from Des Moines and it took us just about the same amount of time to get there, infact, we were almost 40 minutes early.

The weather excuse is weak and tired. It was a poor showing by the fans, bottom line.

 

[tube1]

Hey Tube....many of those 70+ people you speak of donate $2500-10,000/year to sit in Arena Circle and the Parquet. Unless you are able to pick up that tab, let them enjoy the game the way they want to.

OK. You guys laugh at the Pukeyes and their 70-year-old fans yet our 70-year-old fans are saints. I was joking with my post. Hypocritical posts really make me question our dedicated fan base. Whatever.

 

[cygoat]

Basketball attendance isn't just off at ISU; it's down everywhere. Personally, I think it's a combination of people having less money to spend for leisure and having a lot more choices of how to spend that money on leisure activities. I think it also doesn't help how D1 sports have become dominated by big money. I know some people who are very put off by it and won't even attend men's games anymore.

I think it's a fact of life for the foreseeable future.

 

[DaddyMac]

No kidding. I'm from DBQ originally and wouldn't want to make that roundtripper 16 times in 3 mos. Especially in winter.

 

[DaddyMac]

Exactly right.

My wife get tickeds at me because - not only do I not leave early - I stick around an extra 20-30 minutes.

Hey, unless we're getting absolutely pounded - why leave early. This cost a fair penny. And it's wait in here for 20+ minutes, or sit in the car slothing through the parking lot for 20+ minutes. In January? Easy choice.

 

[Wesley]

Uhh... Iowa sold out against lowly Minnesota on Saturday and the weather wasn't any better over there. My wife left early from Des Moines and it took us just about the same amount of time to get there, infact, we were almost 40 minutes early.

The weather excuse is weak and tired. It was a poor showing by the fans, bottom line.

Yeah, a lot of people from Carroll are paying to see the "One Man Adam" Haluska Show in Iowa City. The 25 year old is certainly putting up the numbers this year. If Alex Thompson, was there, he would be doing a double double.

 

[AussieCy]

Agreed - I'd take ISU fans any day. 'Fairweather' is a bunch of bunk - IMHO.

 

[CloneFan65]

Hey Tube....many of those 70+ people you speak of donate $2500-10,000/year to sit in Arena Circle and the Parquet. Unless you are able to pick up that tab, let them enjoy the game the way they want to.

I agree. These fans have been supporting ISU through the ages. They've supported the basketball team through the Ken Trickey era. How can people complain about the "fair-weathered" fans and then turn around and complain about the "blue-hairs" coming to the games when they've been the most loyal of any fans. I hope when I'm in my 70's I'll still have the energy to support ISU athletics and be healthy enough to enjoy the games in person.

 

[mustangcy]

I just don't see the logic in complaining about the size of the crowd. Hilton looked amazing on tv, maybe the best I've seen it in years. Don't get me wrong I'd love to see a sellout every game but c'mon, the place was on fire from what I saw on tv. Why be negative?

 

[ISUCY11]

I really think the only problem is those who only stand up at the peak of excitement, then sit down and shut up as soon as we need them. I'm not asking seniors to stand the entire game, but the arena circle could at least show some enthusiasm when the fight song isn't playing...

 

[coachdags]

I would like to tell the Students in Cyclone Alley, WOW GREAT JOB!
I was at the game on Saturday, with my two Sons from Grand Forks, North Dakota to see my Friend "Coach Mac"

We sat in the first row with the new recruits, by the Clone bench in front Cyclone Alley..The enthusiasm, spirit and cleverness is unmatched anywhere I have seen in major college sports, and I have been around...

I know that Mac, really appreciates the sixth man that the students bring to the Hilton, That game against Kansas is not even close without the ENERGY you gave to the Players...

Keep up the good work, Mac will make you guys very proud of ISU Basketball , He will do things the right way, just like the Students I experienced behind me in Cyclone Alley....

By the way nice touch with the Dominque Buckley Chat....

GO CYCLONES!!!