24/25 MBB Attendance Tracker

[NorthTexasWeLove]

5 hours ago, untjim1995 said:

I know you didn’t. It’s been stated by many others on this board. Admitting to what you and I know to be true about the apathy here is too much for certain posters to admit and accept. I’ve been here since 1990. It’s the same problem over and over. 
 

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. 

This isn't happening, at all. Wren was almost sort of on the right path of kinda trying to lead, but then his eyes got green and started throwing apps all around the country. 

No one is leading anyone anywhere. The root of the problem. 

Edited February 13 by NorthTexasWeLove

[UNTLifer]

11 hours ago, NorthTexasSportsNetwork said:

They do orientation events inside the Super Pit and promote basketball and the Maniacs, but once again, there is an extreme lack of interest. 

The AD's job is to make it interesting.  Show highlights of the program beating Purdue, winning the CBI, winning the NIT, winning conference titles inside the SP, etc.  Introduce team members and coaches.  Create excitement.  Engage the students, keep them engaged constantly, etc.  Trust me, there are a mountain of great ideas that have never been tried.

[UNTLifer]

7 hours ago, untjim1995 said:

I know you didn’t. It’s been stated by many others on this board. Admitting to what you and I know to be true about the apathy here is too much for certain posters to admit and accept. I’ve been here since 1990. It’s the same problem over and over. 
 

You can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make it drink. 

I've been going to games since the late 60's.  We filled up the old Pit and did so again, or had great crowds, during the Blakeley years when the SP first opened.  Students showed up, the community was involved, etc. and the local population and enrollment was much less then.  It takes effort over an extended period.  This isn't a one and done tailgate, all out effort for one game on the schedule.  This is about promoting the program, the players, the season over the long haul.  Engagement is the issue.

[BigChiefGMG]

Does anyone know where all the basketball trophies are located? One would think we could spruce up the pit and display a bunch of history in there around the concourse and such 

[greenminer]

IDEA for Mosely and Co, because desperate times call for desperate measures:

Get one of your big dogs - hell, Jared should do it because it would be 🔥 - put together a promotion for a specific 1 or 2 groups at a time, then personally go to their door, knock on it and introduce yourself.  Extend the invite to the game.  Bring them promo cards that, when redeemed at the event, are good for something at NY Sub Hub (or, similar).

These groups and the people that are leading them are probably just glossing over the typical ads you are blasting out to campus.  Get in their face, shake their hand, and introduce yourself.  Tell them about the home winning percentage.

Just another idea.  Carry on.
 

[UNTLifer]

1 hour ago, BigChiefGMG said:

Does anyone know where all the basketball trophies are located? One would think we could spruce up the pit and display a bunch of history in there around the concourse and such 

Agreed.  Also dedicate a wall that shows our greats, where they are now, if they are still playing, etc...

[greenminer]

GREEK IDEA: Put together an in-game promotions, pitting one Greek group against another in a friendly, safe (halftime?) competition that guarantees the winner some local food.

A shooting competition.  A 3vs3.  something

[keith]

19 hours ago, LittleGreen_Birdie1 said:

It’s hard for students to get excited about a team that struggles to score more than the football team. They play ugly basketball. Not to mention the Pit is one of the worst arena’s in college basketball. No real history to sell there. It’s ugly, old and outdated. It’s only a brand to the old UNT fans who have lost touch on the new college basketball landscape. Nothing that will bring students in but maybe a more exciting brand of basketball or a new arena. The maniacs have tried but they probably don’t have enough money or resources to get the job done. 

I'm guessing you didn't see it when it had orange seats.

[wardly]

3 hours ago, keith said:

I'm guessing you didn't see it when it had orange seats.

 

5 hours ago, UNTLifer said:

I've been going to games since the late 60's.  We filled up the old Pit and did so again, or had great crowds, during the Blakeley years when the SP first opened.  Students showed up, the community was involved, etc. and the local population and enrollment was much less then.  It takes effort over an extended period.  This isn't a one and done tailgate, all out effort for one game on the schedule.  This is about promoting the program, the players, the season over the long haul.  Engagement is the issue.

I have been going since the early 60's but then there wasn't much competition for students free time. Evidently winning teams in basketball is no longer a draw. And for those who complain about the Super Pit being outdated and ugly have obviously not seen much older arenas in the Midwest.

[NorthTexasWeLove]

17 minutes ago, wardly said:

 

I have been going since the early 60's but then there wasn't much competition for students free time. Evidently winning teams in basketball is no longer a draw. And for those who complain about the Super Pit being outdated and ugly have obviously not seen much older arenas in the Midwest.

There still isn't much competing for the attention of students outside of their phones. They bury themselves into their phones. It's very common to have young people/high schoolers to have 10-15 hours of screen time per day, every day. It's amazing. 

[LittleGreen_Birdie1]

19 hours ago, UNTLifer said:

Interesting. Joined the board six months ago and this is your fourth post. 

And what your point? This place is wasteland for horrible takes on UNT basketball. Why can’t I share mine to join in with y’all?

[NorthTexasWeLove]

41 minutes ago, LittleGreen_Birdie1 said:

And what your point? This place is wasteland for horrible takes on UNT basketball. Why can’t I share mine to join in with y’all?

Def a department plant. Basically post less and comes to this thread to point out the "poor takes." Jared? 

[NT80]

9 hours ago, UNTLifer said:

I've been going to games since the late 60's.  We filled up the old Pit 

Much of the crowds back then were students.   They should be today too.  But it appears there is no buy-in or support from most current students towards their school's competition in Athletics.  The AD seems aloof to the issue and/or can't get a pulse from the students.   

Edited February 14 by NT80
info

[LittleGreen_Birdie1]

9 hours ago, UNTLifer said:

The AD's job is to make it interesting.  Show highlights of the program beating Purdue, winning the CBI, winning the NIT, winning conference titles inside the SP, etc.  Introduce team members and coaches.  Create excitement.  Engage the students, keep them engaged constantly, etc.  Trust me, there are a mountain of great ideas that have never been tried.

Come out to the game Saturday to watch the amazing video highlight package of teams past. That is sure to create some excitement. Not one student is going to be engaged by some highlights. They don’t care about the past and neither does the majority of the community. Someone like yourself cares but you already go to games. 

Yes the AD could do a better job marketing games. Not sure it’s going to do much. The Pit is still a dumpster and it’s not going to draw in anyone other than diehard UNT fans. 

 

[wardly]

9 hours ago, UNTLifer said:

Agreed.  Also dedicate a wall that shows our greats, where they are now, if they are still playing, etc...

Basketball trophies are in the entrance way in the Athletic Department Building.

[wardly]

Well we could have UTA's beautiful basketball arena. Of course we could have their horse shit [ pun intended] basketball team and still no one would come.

[NT80]

1 hour ago, LittleGreen_Birdie1 said:

Yes the AD could do a better job marketing games. Not sure it’s going to do much. The Pit is still a dumpster and it’s not going to draw in anyone other than diehard UNT fans. 

 

You obviously haven't seen many arenas.  

You'd rather us have the UTSA, Rice, or FAU high school gyms?  

[NT80]

53 minutes ago, wardly said:

Well we could have UTA's beautiful basketball arena. Of course we could have their horse shit [ pun intended] basketball team and still no one would come.

Yes, their arena was built the same time and for the same price as Apogee Stadium.   

We got the better deal.  They got to move their 1200 fans off the stage and across Cooper Street.

[Matt from A700]

Smaller arena than the Pit and they still have to curtain off their upper level. Wish we got to take over their arena again this season.

[LittleGreen_Birdie1]

9 hours ago, NT80 said:

You obviously haven't seen many arenas.  

You'd rather us have the UTSA, Rice, or FAU high school gyms?  

Not their facilities. I’ve been to plenty. Being a slightly better arena than those listed doesn’t make the Pit any less of a dumpster. 
 

You also can’t deny that FAU has created a much better environment than UNT has. I’d take that over the 60 year old people of the Pit sitting on their hands and complaining that people stand too much or yell too much or cuss too much. 
 

If the Pit actually had a decent CBB history and a much better environment you could look past the ugliness of the venue itself. 

[keith]

1 hour ago, LittleGreen_Birdie1 said:

Not their facilities. I’ve been to plenty. Being a slightly better arena than those listed doesn’t make the Pit any less of a dumpster. 
 

You also can’t deny that FAU has created a much better environment than UNT has. I’d take that over the 60 year old people of the Pit sitting on their hands and complaining that people stand too much or yell too much or cuss too much. 
 

If the Pit actually had a decent CBB history and a much better environment you could look past the ugliness of the venue itself. 

 

12 hours ago, LittleGreen_Birdie1 said:

Come out to the game Saturday to watch the amazing video highlight package of teams past. That is sure to create some excitement. Not one student is going to be engaged by some highlights. They don’t care about the past and neither does the majority of the community. Someone like yourself cares but you already go to games. 

Yes the AD could do a better job marketing games. Not sure it’s going to do much. The Pit is still a dumpster and it’s not going to draw in anyone other than diehard UNT fans. 

 

I'm a bit confused.  On the one hand you say that students (and majority of the community) don't care about the past (I assume you mean of the program, teams, players).  On the other hand you suggest that if the building they play in had a "history" (presumably a good history), then that is something they do care about?  Seems odd that more emphasis is placed on the aesthetics and history of the facility than on the team itself.  However, you may have your finger on the pulse of the student population, so who knows?

Were you around when the football team played at Fouts Field?  That was definitely well past it's use by date and one of the arguments at the time was that if we wanted better student turnout, we needed a new stadium.  So, now we have DATCU, arguably a nice college football facility and certainly not ugly.  Ultimately, I guess that's in the eye of the beholder.  However, I don't know if the new, pretty stadium has had a material influence on increased student attendance.   

 

Edited February 14 by keith

[wardly]

1 hour ago, keith said:

 

I'm a bit confused.  On the one hand you say that students (and majority of the community) don't care about the past (I assume you mean of the program, teams, players).  On the other hand you suggest that if the building they play in had a "history" (presumably a good history), then that is something they do care about?  Seems odd that more emphasis is placed on the aesthetics and history of the facility than on the team itself.  However, you may have your finger on the pulse of the student population, so who knows?

Were you around when the football team played at Fouts Field?  That was definitely well past it's use by date and one of the arguments at the time was that if we wanted better student turnout, we needed a new stadium.  So, now we have DATCU, arguably a nice college football facility and certainly not ugly.  Ultimately, I guess that's in the eye of the beholder.  However, I don't know if the new, pretty stadium has had a material influence on increased student attendance.   

 

 

2 hours ago, LittleGreen_Birdie1 said:

Not their facilities. I’ve been to plenty. Being a slightly better arena than those listed doesn’t make the Pit any less of a dumpster. 
 

You also can’t deny that FAU has created a much better environment than UNT has. I’d take that over the 60 year old people of the Pit sitting on their hands and complaining that people stand too much or yell too much or cuss too much. 
 

If the Pit actually had a decent CBB history and a much better environment you could look past the ugliness of the venue itself.

I am visiting my son in Ft. Lauderdale the last of the month and we are going to the UNT/FAU game the 27th. From pictures I have seen it looks like a gym but I will let you know. Its called "The Burrow " because their mascot is a "Burrowing Owl " as opposed to a generic barn owl, but who gives a hoot?

[NT80]

2 hours ago, LittleGreen_Birdie1 said:

Not their facilities. I’ve been to plenty. Being a slightly better arena than those listed doesn’t make the Pit any less of a dumpster. 
 

You also can’t deny that FAU has created a much better environment than UNT has. I’d take that over the 60 year old people of the Pit sitting on their hands and complaining that people stand too much or yell too much or cuss too much. 
 

If the Pit actually had a decent CBB history and a much better environment you could look past the ugliness of the venue itself. 

If you cram 2400 people into a small gym, it doesn't make it a better environment simply because they all sit on top of each other.

You're obviously not 60 either given your distain for them.   But if you took them away, there may only be 500 people at our games.   Majority of Wichita State fans are easily over 60.  We need more of all-age fans!

[TIgreen01]

Maybe good for some to do some research before firing off hot takes:

https://247sports.com/college/west-virginia/board/105475/contents/college-basketball-attendance-report-2024-25-239681802/

Interesting to look at all those power conference school's attendance averages early in the year before they get the in-conference Blue Bloods on the home calendar to bring their averages up.  If you dropped UNT into any of the power 5 leagues, we would pull the same numbers.  As it is, check the 'Others' for the Top 10 outside the power 5.  All familiar bball mid-major powers that have either deep history of winning titles or recent runs of huge success.  UNT attendance falls about where you'd expect it to based on our history, conference affiliation and recent success, IMPO.

Having said that, we have dropped off since Wren and Mac's early years.  The AD needs to do a better job marketing this team.  We're getting better TV coverage the last 2 years due to the AAC deal with ESPN and our success meaning we're landing our "better" games on national broadcast channels.  That probably has something to do with the drop.  However, I'd expect the students to turn out to be on camera, and they are definitely not.  Student turnout is on the AD.  No question they are not doing enough at the present time.

Also a hot sports take is that our Greeks are the most disconnected from the school out of any of the schools we'd like to be compared with.  I think a lot of that has to do with the UNT administration.  Generally a roller coaster ride over the past 20-30 years of whether we're Greek friendly or not.  It's the group you HAVE to go after for help supporting sports.  But then we will make an effort to pull them in and they get hassled and made to jump through hoops (pun intended).  This is the low-hanging fruit at UNT, but will require the AD to work with several departments to make UNT more Greek friendly.  I say this as someone who was not involved in Greek life and generally the tech-bro/frat-bro/sorority dingus turns me off...but you HAVE to court these people for sports attendance.  Period.

Edited February 14 by TIgreen01

[UNTLifer]

2 hours ago, LittleGreen_Birdie1 said:

Not their facilities. I’ve been to plenty. Being a slightly better arena than those listed doesn’t make the Pit any less of a dumpster. 
 

You also can’t deny that FAU has created a much better environment than UNT has. I’d take that over the 60 year old people of the Pit sitting on their hands and complaining that people stand too much or yell too much or cuss too much. 
 

If the Pit actually had a decent CBB history and a much better environment you could look past the ugliness of the venue itself. 

How old are you?