UC Has No Fans

[xubrew]

They have got to be the least supported tournament caliber team (by that I mean that they're a program that makes the NCAAs more often than not) in the country.

I know they claim they're a football school, but so is LSU. They had more fans at their basketball game against UAB than UC has in there today against what is actually a decent Nebraska team.

Florida is a football school. Florida State is a football school. Wisconsin has big time football. So does Michigan State, and Michigan, and Oregon, and Nebraska (who's entire season for hoops is sold out, and who had great attendance last year as well), and Oklahoma State, and Texas, and Baylor, and countless other teams. Christ, I think UCF, who is in UC's conference and has a better football team, had more people at their last basketball game than UC does today.

All of those teams would have had a decent crowd for a Saturday game against Nebraska. Many of them would have sold it out, or come close to it. There is NO ONE at this game.

Seriously, they are the least supported tournament caliber team in the country. Name another team that is on pace to make the tournament that would draw such a small crowd for a game like this. You can't, because there isn't one.

[BMoreX]

Doesn't UC have their bowl game today?

[Kahns Krazy]

Two words: Mick Cronin

[xubrew]

Doesn't UC have their bowl game today?

Yes, but they're not the only school that has both a football team and a basketball team, nor are they the only school that has ever had both teams scheduled to play on the same day.

A few years ago when Notre Dame was in the Sugar Bowl, they sold out a basketball game that tipped just three hours before kickoff. It's a great lead in. Hell, if UC was smart, and had fans that can actually manage to actually watch two games in one day, they could open the arena for the basketball game, and then leave it open and have a viewing party for the football game while continuing to sell overpriced beer and food.

Most fans LOVE it when there are two games in one day, but not UC fans. I still can't figure out if it's a UC thing, or a city-wide Cincinnati thing.

....and it's not like the Belk Bowl is the king of the mountain when it comes to bowl games. One could argue that the basketball game is just as important, seeing as how they're trying to make the NCAA Tournament. The bowl game is just that. The stakes are that they'll either win it, or they won't. It's not like winning it will lead to a bigger game with higher stakes.

[xubrew]

More often than not, Opening Day for baseball is the same day as the national championship game in basketball. Heaven help the UC fans if they ever make it that far. By the time they're done watching the Reds, they won't have enough energy to care about the national title game anymore.

[THRILLHOUSE]

UC even changed the tip time of this game so fans could attend the game and then be able to watch the bowl game. Sounds like that didn't make much of a difference.

[coasterville95]

dont give them any ideas - they could shut down the student section on the side that is just a blank wall (opposite the UCATS club) have mounted a big movie screen on that whole wall, then put a projector in the UCATS club and had a larger than life image. Sell overpriced food and beer, maybe have a trinket toss or something to keep people interested in staying there. Heck, even sell Belk Bowl souvenirs during the viewing party.

[xubrew]

dont give them any ideas - they could shut down the student section on the side that is just a blank wall (opposite the UCATS club) have mounted a big movie screen on that whole wall, then put a projector in the UCATS club and had a larger than life image. Sell overpriced food and beer, maybe have a trinket toss or something to keep people interested in staying there. Heck, even sell Belk Bowl souvenirs during the viewing party.

I'm just amazed. I'm not talking trash. If it sounds like I am, then it is because it genuinely is that pathetic.

Where did all their fans go?? Ten years ago, that place was rammed for every game. I don't buy the "We're a football school" argument, because fans at football schools show up to basketball games when the basketball team is winning. I live in Alabama, and for two straight seasons when Bama appeared to be a bubble team (or better) they were sold out for every game. Ole Miss sold most of their games out last year when they started winning. West Virginia rams them in when they're winning. So does....EVERYBODY. Except UC.

[Section 200]

UC has a group of hardcore fans - most of them went to Charlotte leaving few folks for the basketball game. With the Bengals doing well this year the unaffiliated folks are probably focused on them. Hope we have a good crowd today vs Wake

[Section 200]

I'm just amazed. I'm not talking trash. If it sounds like I am, then it is because it genuinely is that pathetic.

Where did all their fans go?? Ten years ago, that place was rammed for every game. I don't buy the "We're a football school" argument, because fans at football schools show up to basketball games when the basketball team is winning. I live in Alabama, and for two straight seasons when Bama appeared to be a bubble team (or better) they were sold out for every game. Ole Miss sold most of their games out last year when they started winning. West Virginia rams them in when they're winning. So does....EVERYBODY. Except UC.
Unlike Alabama, Mississippi and West Virginia (and Dayton), there are actually things to do in Cincinnati besides sports, and in general people don't stake their identity on sports success in college teams as much as folks in small towns do. The sports identity folks in Cincinnati mainly follow the Reds and Bengals, leaving alumni to support UC and XU. Just my 2 cents.

[paulxu]

I'm on the coast with friends for a few days. He's a BIG Tar Hell fan.
So, we've got the Belk bowl on (doesn't look like a lot of UC fans there, but it is in North Carolina and less than 2 hours from UNC).
So he says, "what's the story on UC." [knowing I'm a Muskie and get pumped for the Shootout]
So I say "UC Sucks."
He says "really?"
I said, "really."
I need the Heels to be about 30 points ahead at 5 PM so I don't have to watch the game on the computer.

[XUFan09]

UC has a group of hardcore fans - most of them went to Charlotte leaving few folks for the basketball game. With the Bengals doing well this year the unaffiliated folks are probably focused on them. Hope we have a good crowd today vs Wake

As has been said many times before, Cincinnati is the only city where the "one-team-only" phenomenon is used as an explanation.


Unlike Alabama, Mississippi and West Virginia (and Dayton), there are actually things to do in Cincinnati besides sports, and in general people don't stake their identity on sports success in college teams as much as folks in small towns do. The sports identity folks in Cincinnati mainly follow the Reds and Bengals, leaving alumni to support UC and XU. Just my 2 cents.

Let's not act like Cincinnati is this bustling international metropolis. At just over 2 million, Cincinnati's metro area is the 28th largest in the country. That explanation is used to justify the fair-weather fandom of sports fans in cities like Los Angeles (2nd) and Miami (8th), where there are also beaches and the opportunity to go outside in the winter because it's warm. And those fans still show up in good numbers when a team is good.

[X-band '01]

The attendance was 8,257; that was actually a season-high at 5/3 for UC. But I'm sure they'll top that for their long-awaited AAC debut against the Pony Express on New Year's DAy.

[Cheesehead]

I have nothing of real value to add to this conversation but I would just like to say that UC sucks.

[XU '11]

Seriously, they are the least supported tournament caliber team in the country. Name another team that is on pace to make the tournament that would draw such a small crowd for a game like this. You can't, because there isn't one.

Villanova.

Their home arena only seats 6,500...

[XUFan09]

Villanova.

Their home arena only seats 6,500...

Lol

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk

[Titanxman04]

I have nothing of real value to add to this conversation but I would just like to say that UC sucks.

Its December 28, 2013, 8:46 pm, and UC still sucks.

[MADXSTER]

My brother, a big UC fan, made mention that this was the first year he had hoped that Xavier would beat UC because he hates Mick Cronin soo much. He said "what the hell is that all about" referring to the Mick Cronin face when he gets upset. "Is that suppose to intimidate someone."

[Section 200]

As has been said many times before, Cincinnati is the only city where the "one-team-only" phenomenon is used as an explanation.



Let's not act like Cincinnati is this bustling international metropolis. At just over 2 million, Cincinnati's metro area is the 28th largest in the country. That explanation is used to justify the fair-weather fandom of sports fans in cities like Los Angeles (2nd) and Miami (8th), where there are also beaches and the opportunity to go outside in the winter because it's warm. And those fans still show up in good numbers when a team is good.

Yes, Cincinnati is a bustling international metropolis compared to West Virginia, Mississippi and Alabama. Just today you could have gone to the X-Wake game, Festival of Lights, nutcracker ballet, UC game, Aquarium, Christmas Carole at playhouse, watched UC football, holiday trains at Union Terminal, etc etc etc. there is a lot to do in Cincinnati compared to smaller cities. LA and Miami do not even sell out despite the success essentially proving the point that teams in larger cities have a much bigger challenge than teams in the middle of nowhere.

[XUFan09]

Yes, Cincinnati is a bustling international metropolis compared to West Virginia, Mississippi and Alabama. Just today you could have gone to the X-Wake game, Festival of Lights, nutcracker ballet, UC game, Aquarium, Christmas Carole at playhouse, watched UC football, holiday trains at Union Terminal, etc etc etc. there is a lot to do in Cincinnati compared to smaller cities. LA and Miami do not even sell out despite the success essentially proving the point that teams in larger cities have a much bigger challenge than teams in the middle of nowhere.

I don't disagree with Alabama, Mississippi, and West Virginia (though WVU gets a lot of fans coming in from Pittsburgh, a larger city than Cincinnati located an hour away). I'm talking about college basketball in general. It's too late for me to make the effort right now of pulling up stats of a number of teams that are better than UC while playing in similar or larger cities. I know Georgetown is one. Pittsburgh is another, even though that is clearly a pro sports city (I lived there for a couple of years and should know). Quite simply, it's a weak excuse to say, "But there's a lot to do!" That holds true for so many cities in the U.S. that also have universities with respectable basketball programs. And most of those programs have respectable attendances.

[XU-PA]

in support of the thread, not that I care how many people stagger into, then out of UC games

UC average, 6223
XU average 9607

[BlueGuy]

I think it's safe to say Detroit is a pro sports town (two professional winter teams), and Michigan does a pretty decent job with attendance. UC fans are fair weather. Screw em!!!

[Fireball]

I've said this in an another thread, but I think it has less to do with the "one sport only" theory are more to do with the Huggins effect. UC fans are still pissed they fired Huggins, and won't go back. The team has recovered to be a decent program again and still can't draw from crap because of it.

As much as I love Cincinnati, it's the same fanbase where some people won't go to Reds games because of the baseball strike 20 YEARS AGO.

This town is weird, but I still love it :)

[bleedXblue]

Mick is an underwhelming personality. He's also a whiny crybaby bit*!. I think Most UC fans can see that. But more importantly, I think it has a lot to do with his scheduling philosophy. Everyone knows they play a bunch of patsies in the non conference to build up their win totals. No one wants to go and watch that crap. I'm sure their in conference attendance last year was much higher than non conference. I don't know how they turn it around b/c he's taking them to the tourney pretty consistently and I don't see them getting rid of him anytime soon and I'm ok with that.

[Masterofreality]

I think it's safe to say Detroit is a pro sports town (two professional winter teams), and Michigan does a pretty decent job with attendance. UC fans are fair weather. Screw em!!!

Or in the words of a former DUI convicted Basketball Coach-

"Fuck 'em, really....Fuck 'em".

[X-band '01]

I've said this in an another thread, but I think it has less to do with the "one sport only" theory are more to do with the Huggins effect. UC fans are still pissed they fired Huggins, and won't go back. The team has recovered to be a decent program again and still can't draw from crap because of it.

As much as I love Cincinnati, it's the same fanbase where some people won't go to Reds games because of the baseball strike 20 YEARS AGO.

This town is weird, but I still love it :)

It's even more mind-boggling when you look at West Virginia's program now in decline under Huggins. As unlikable as the Gnome is in Cincinnati, I don't see their program leveling off anytime soon.

[xubrew]

Villanova.

Their home arena only seats 6,500...

True, when they're playing in the Pavilion. I don't know what they're calling what used to be called the Wachovia Center these days, but Nova will get 20k+ at those games. I think there is more electricity around Nova than around UC. But, to your point, the Pavilion is small.


Yes, Cincinnati is a bustling international metropolis compared to West Virginia, Mississippi and Alabama. Just today you could have gone to the X-Wake game, Festival of Lights, nutcracker ballet, UC game, Aquarium, Christmas Carole at playhouse, watched UC football, holiday trains at Union Terminal, etc etc etc. there is a lot to do in Cincinnati compared to smaller cities. LA and Miami do not even sell out despite the success essentially proving the point that teams in larger cities have a much bigger challenge than teams in the middle of nowhere.

So, the UC fans were at the Festival of Lights, the Nutcracker and A Christmas Carol??

I'm not going to say that there isn't anything to the thinking that there isn't much to do in Oxford, Tuscaloosa or Morgantown. But, at the same time, a good number of fans don't live in those towns. They actually have to drive there from other places to go to the games, so it's more of a commitment.

There is plenty to do in Seattle, Austin, Philly, DC, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee, Nashville, Knoxville, Memphis, Louisville, and many other places. When teams in those cities win at the level that UC is winning at, there are people at the games. X-Band posted that the official attendance was 8000. There is no way there were 8000 people at that game. There are three different ways that schools are allowed to count attendance (don't ask me how I know that), and one way is to count the tickets distributed. The actual attendance was likely nowhere near 8000. Did you see it?? There was no one there!!

Again, I'm not saying this to knock UC. I'm saying it because I am genuinely astounded. Ten years ago that place would have been packed. Had it been any other team that's having the kind of record and year UC is having, there would have been way more people there. UC has no support. It's way less than what a program of that caliber typically gets.

People were talking about how the Shootout (or Classic, or whatever the hell they're calling the Crosstown these days) has died. I don't think it's just the Shootout. I think it's interest in UC basketball in general that's gone away.

[xsteve1]

Two words: Mick Cronin

Agree. If they could bring Huggins back they'd probably get 10-12K a game.

[Cheesehead]

So, i was in New Philadelphia, Oh for son's holiday hoops tournament. I found a bar and they had Fox Sports 1 (although they didn't know it) and they put the game on for me. I was able to watch the Muskies win and UC get thumped in the Belk Bowl. Good times.

[blobfan]

in support of the thread, not that I care how many people stagger into, then out of UC games

UC average, 6223
XU average 9607

So it's not that there's so many other things to do in Cincy but UC fans have too many other things to do, like deliver pizza and pump gas.

[Masterofreality]

So it's not that there's so many other things to do in Cincy but UC fans have too many other things to do, like deliver pizza and pump gas.

There's no way that SucKS would ever average what they used to under BeelzeBob...

At least until the prison sentences are over with.

BOOM!

[LadyMuskie]

Yes, Cincinnati is a bustling international metropolis compared to West Virginia, Mississippi and Alabama. Just today you could have gone to the X-Wake game, Festival of Lights, nutcracker ballet, UC game, Aquarium, Christmas Carole at playhouse, watched UC football, holiday trains at Union Terminal, etc etc etc. there is a lot to do in Cincinnati compared to smaller cities. LA and Miami do not even sell out despite the success essentially proving the point that teams in larger cities have a much bigger challenge than teams in the middle of nowhere.

You honestly believe that the Festival of Lights, The Nutcracker or the trains at Union Terminal kept UC fans from the game? Honestly? I really don't think that's it. I don't think it even registers on the possibility meter.

[bobbiemcgee]

This Nutcracker kept UC fans away:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bruces-Woodworks-Leprechaun-Nutcracker-13-Made-In-U-S-A-Look-/251035848366

[MADXSTER]

As the Bengals have done better, UC fans have dropped off. Coincidence???

[Section 200]

You honestly believe that the Festival of Lights, The Nutcracker or the trains at Union Terminal kept UC fans from the game? Honestly? I really don't think that's it. I don't think it even registers on the possibility meter.

If you have a family, even if you have tons of money, there is only so much time. My kids like to go to the XU basketball game, but they love the Festival of Lights and the Nutcracker and would gladly skip the basketball game (and have) to go to either. My wife will put up with the XU game but would rather go to Kenwood or Rookwood or a movie or just have a nice dinner out. I was happy to see the large crowd vs. Wake as our attendance has been quite a bit down this year, at least in terms of people attending the games - the seats might be sold. We have a luxury arena with close parking and for several games this year I had to search hard for people interested in going to the games. Seats were empty for Albilene - just no interest. Imagine trying to sell UC tickets with a terrible arena, terrible parking, terrible opponent and lots of other things to do this time of year.

[Section 200]

For info, here is last year's NCAA Top 50 Home Attendance report - most of these schools are in cities smaller than Cincinnati, are the state flagship school and only the Raleigh area schools split a market as much as we do with UC:

2013 Average Home Attendance
1. Kentucky 23,099
2. Syracuse 22,439
3. Louisville 21,571
4. North Carolina 19,350
5. Indiana 17,412
6. Creighton 17,155
7. Wisconsin 16,843
8. Tennessee 16,635
9. Ohio St. 16,524
10. Kansas 16,438
11. Memphis 16,336
12. North Carolina St. 16,299
13. BYU 15,986
14. UNLV 15,196
15. Marquette 15,033
16. New Mexico 15,022
17. Illinois 15,013
18. Michigan St. 14,341
19. Arizona 14,157
20. Arkansas 13,750
21. Iowa 13,625
22. Iowa St. 13,393
23. Minnesota 12,580
24. Kansas St. 12,528
25. Maryland 12,489
26. Dayton 12,438
27. San Diego St. 12,414
28. Michigan 12,138
29. Missouri 11,996
30. Purdue 11,857
31. Alabama 11,159
32. Texas 10,945
33. Georgetown 10,911
34. Connecticut 10,728
35. Florida 10,677
36. Vanderbilt 10,637
37. Colorado 10,392
38. Nebraska 10,352
39. Wichita St. 10,312
40. Pittsburgh 10,227
41. Oklahoma 9,890
42. Oklahoma St. 9,814
43. Xavier 9,781
44. Wake Forest 9,614
45. UCLA 9,549
46. Virginia 9,403
47. Duke 9,314
48. Cincinnati 9,253
49. West Virginia 8,752
50. Utah 8,611

[wkrq59]

You honestly believe that the Festival of Lights, The Nutcracker or the trains at Union Terminal kept UC fans from the game? Honestly? I really don't think that's it. I don't think it even registers on the possibility meter.


Lady, Lady, Lady,
That's about as good a Cary Grant as is possible on line (without YouTube). When kind Lady have you ever heard sUCks devotees (are there any true?) admit to being second to Xavier in anything. It's like Dayton admitting they haven't passed XU as a program. While we're listing excuses, we haven't included "My players won't listen, can't be coached" or any other of the million post-game drivel Mick the xxxxx has offered as the reason people don't want to watch his teams. When your games against the kind of competition they bring to their home games or the Mausoleum, what else can you say? They are just no fun to watch.

:mad::shutup::blackeye:

[XU '11]

For info, here is last year's NCAA Top 50 Home Attendance report - most of these schools are in cities smaller than Cincinnati, are the state flagship school and only the Raleigh area schools split a market as much as we do with UC:

Smaller cities than Cincinnati? Here's my count of teams in bigger cities...

2013 Average Home Attendance
3. Louisville 21,571
6. Creighton 17,155
9. Ohio St. 16,524
11. Memphis 16,336
12. North Carolina St. 16,299
13. BYU 15,986
14. UNLV 15,196
15. Marquette 15,033
16. New Mexico 15,022
19. Arizona 14,157
23. Minnesota 12,580
27. San Diego St. 12,414
32. Texas 10,945
33. Georgetown 10,911
36. Vanderbilt 10,637
39. Wichita St. 10,312
40. Pittsburgh 10,227
42. Oklahoma St. 9,814
43. Xavier 9,781
45. UCLA 9,549
48. Cincinnati 9,253
49. West Virginia 8,752
50. Utah 8,611

That's nearly half of the top 50. I'm not buying the big city - too much to do excuse.

[GoMuskies]

Wichita is bigger than Cincy? Suck it hayseeds!

[bleedXblue]

Smaller cities than Cincinnati? Here's my count of teams in bigger cities...

2013 Average Home Attendance
3. Louisville 21,571
6. Creighton 17,155
9. Ohio St. 16,524
11. Memphis 16,336
12. North Carolina St. 16,299
13. BYU 15,986
14. UNLV 15,196
15. Marquette 15,033
16. New Mexico 15,022
19. Arizona 14,157
23. Minnesota 12,580
27. San Diego St. 12,414
32. Texas 10,945
33. Georgetown 10,911
36. Vanderbilt 10,637
39. Wichita St. 10,312
40. Pittsburgh 10,227
42. Oklahoma St. 9,814
43. Xavier 9,781
45. UCLA 9,549
48. Cincinnati 9,253
49. West Virginia 8,752
50. Utah 8,611

That's nearly half of the top 50. I'm not buying the big city - too much to do excuse.

In all fairness you have to look at greater metro populations. Cincy is well over 2 million strong. Columbus, Louisville and a lot of other cities on your list are much smaller and have a lot fewer people to draw from.

[Lamont Sanford]

Let's face it...Cincinnati people are in-general fair weathered fans.

But I also think the Cronin thing has some legs to it. He isn't blindly loved as tHuggins was and he schedules like he's coaching JV girls hoops for Glen Este HS. Not exactly the formula for putting butts in seats.

[Juice]

Let's face it...Cincinnati people are in-general fair weathered fans.

But I also think the Cronin thing has some legs to it. He isn't blindly loved as tHuggins was and he schedules like he's coaching JV girls hoops for Glen Este HS. Not exactly the formula for putting butts in seats.

Ken Pomeroy has Mick's non-conference SOS in the 300s. There's really no excuse for that.

[XUFan09]

Yeah the Mick-Cronin-and-not-Bob-Huggins explanation is an excuse I can buy.

What's also funny about the "big-city" BS excuse is that Xavier is in the same city yet somehow has a lot more fans coming to games.

[xubrew]

In all fairness you have to look at greater metro populations. Cincy is well over 2 million strong. Columbus, Louisville and a lot of other cities on your list are much smaller and have a lot fewer people to draw from.

That's true, but I don't think that's relevant to the "too much to do argument." Regardless of the size, DC, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Nashville, Louisville, Memphis, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix and San Diego are all cities that have lots of things for people to do.

The explanation from UC fans, who should really be furious about the lack of support rather than looking for pathetic ways to explain it, is that Cincinnati is so jam-packed with awesomeness that it sucks all the interest in UC basketball out of people. ONLY in Cincinnati would people make that argument, and actually be serious about it.

[Bmuskie]

The "Other Things to do" argument is a good one. Back in the 90's when uc basketball was the place to go and the place to be, it was simply because there was nothing else, sports-wise, in the city during this time of year. (the Bengals sucked). You may say "Who cares? they don't play at the same time (most days) and the Bengals still had a lot of people going to the games" My response is simply what others have said: Fair Weather fans. uc has one advantage to Xavier that is also proving a disadvantage: They have the name of the city across their chest. Because of that they will continually get the fair weather fan that really doesn't care about the University, they just want to root for a good team. Back in the 90's those fans were Starving for anything good to root for and so they flocked to uc (the team that has the name of their city across their chest). They really don't have any affiliation with the University except for the fact that it is in their city. Now they have the Bengals which are actually doing well. So their attention turns to the Bengals. This doesn't mean that they suddenly don't like uc. It means that they have simply forgotten about uc for now. When the Bengals are done with the playoffs those fans will realize that uc has a basketball team and some of them will come back. Others will just shift their attention to the fact that Pitchers and Catchers are reporting for the reds (which have also started doing well the past 4 seasons). If you loook at attendance at UC over the past few seasons you will see that attendance figures start to rise at UC in January and February. (probably a comobination of 2 things, start of conference play and the end of the Bengals season)
It is a blessing and a curse for uc b/c when the professional sports do poorly in the city while uc is doing well (on the field/court) "win starved" fans will flock to them. When the proffesional sports teams do well those fans suddenly forget about them.

[Bmuskie]

That's true, but I don't think that's relevant to the "too much to do argument." Regardless of the size, DC, Milwaukee, Los Angeles, Pittsburgh, Salt Lake City, Nashville, Louisville, Memphis, Albuquerque, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, Phoenix and San Diego are all cities that have lots of things for people to do.

The explanation from UC fans, who should really be furious about the lack of support rather than looking for pathetic ways to explain it, is that Cincinnati is so jam-packed with awesomeness that it sucks all the interest in UC basketball out of people. ONLY in Cincinnati would people make that argument, and actually be serious about it.

But XUBrew, it is an accurate argument. That is the main difference between XU and UC. XU fans are fans of Xavier University. They usually have some affiliation with the University and they have true passion for the University (and its basketball team) as a whole. Most bearcat fans are just casual Cincinnati sports fans that don't have any affiliation with the school other than the fact it is in their city. bearcat fans are simply that. Fans of the bearcats and just Cincinnati fans in general. They therefore get distracted and go to where the biggest sports story is (bengals and reds). For uc to change that cycle, they need to make the bearcat fan into a University of Cincinnati fan. Until that happens they will continue to see less than enthusiastic attendance numbers.
Just makes you realize how lucky we are to be Xavier fans and to have others around us that actually care about the University. It makes the Basketball games fun. :)

[XUFan09]

Again, the explanation that Cincinnati fans are unable to focus on more than one sport at a time. Just weird.

And fair-weather fandom is not unique to UC. It's all over the nation in regard to college basketball. Most schools have good attendance when they're doing well. What makes UC unique is that they still don't have good attendance when they are doing well. Apparently because they're distracted by the Bengals.

In Pittsburgh, they have the Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates...somehow they still average more fans at games than UC, despite all those "distractions."

[danaandvictory]

Ken Pomeroy has Mick's non-conference SOS in the 300s. There's really no excuse for that.

2014 - 320
2013 - 310
2012 - 339 (of 351!)
2011 - 335
2010 - 173 (played Gonzaga, Maryland, and Vandy in exempt tournament)
2009 - 218
2008 - 84
2007 - 185

[Kahns Krazy]

But XUBrew, it is an accurate argument. That is the main difference between XU and UC. XU fans are fans of Xavier University. They usually have some affiliation with the University and they have true passion for the University (and its basketball team) as a whole. Most bearcat fans are just casual Cincinnati sports fans that don't have any affiliation with the school other than the fact it is in their city.

This is a weird argument to me. I know tons of Xavier fans that didn't go there. (I'm assuming that's what you mean by affiliation?) I think we tend to project ourselves onto the whole fan base and assume they are all like us. Even with the argument, there are far more UC alums than Xavier alums in the city, so that should still favor UC.

I think the bigger difference is that when X was (re-)establishing the basketball program in the late 80's and 90's, they did so with integrity. I think they acquired a solid fan base in that time, and they continue to reflect the same values that built the program.

UC on the other hand went the Juco reoute that resulting in some quick winning seasons, but ultimately put the program on shakier ground. The fans they attracted were into winning at any cost, and loved Huggins. Cronin is no Huggins, and the fans of Huggins have by and large moved on to something else, (UC football, Reds, Bengals - all of which are performing substantially better than the majority of the Huggins years). They aren't "distracted", they just aren't UC fans anymore. They might show up to a game here and there, but they aren't in the supporter category anymore.

Any serious basketball fan can see through the snake oil salesman Cronin are realize that he's just not putting that great of a product on the floor.

[bleedXblue]

I think the defacto fan in Cincinnati definitely leans in the favor of UC. I know twice as many UC fans who never stepped foot on their campus. Which in theory is another reason why its so baffling they cant get more support. I dont know if they still require season ticket holders to be UCats supporters. I know that they used to require this.....along with having to buy season tickets for football. I do think that at the end of the day, you have lots of sports options here in town that are pretty affordable......add to that the unappealing Cronin, the schedule and the brand of basketball they play and you end up with a product that isnt very attractive. Just wait for the AAC schedule.......much worse than what they enjoyed with the Big East.

[LadyMuskie]

This is a weird argument to me. I know tons of Xavier fans that didn't go there. (I'm assuming that's what you mean by affiliation?) I think we tend to project ourselves onto the whole fan base and assume they are all like us. Even with the argument, there are far more UC alums than Xavier alums in the city, so that should still favor UC.

I think the bigger difference is that when X was (re-)establishing the basketball program in the late 80's and 90's, they did so with integrity. I think they acquired a solid fan base in that time, and they continue to reflect the same values that built the program.

UC on the other hand went the Juco reoute that resulting in some quick winning seasons, but ultimately put the program on shakier ground. The fans they attracted were into winning at any cost, and loved Huggins. Cronin is no Huggins, and the fans of Huggins have by and large moved on to something else, (UC football, Reds, Bengals - all of which are performing substantially better than the majority of the Huggins years). They aren't "distracted", they just aren't UC fans anymore. They might show up to a game here and there, but they aren't in the supporter category anymore.

Any serious basketball fan can see through the snake oil salesman Cronin are realize that he's just not putting that great of a product on the floor.


I agree. I know a lot of Mt. St. Joe grads who are X fans and have several friends from Miami and Ohio that cheer for X and actively go to X games. Heck, I have family members who didn't attend X and are rabid X fans.

I think UC fans who became fans during the Huggins era became fans because the team was winning and winning is palatable to everyone. Growing up in Catholic grade school in the late 80s and early 90s I was the sole X fan while all the boys wore UC (and Notre Dame) coats to school. Many of them wound up at Xavier. They were UC fans because UC was winning. I think UC might have retained some fans had Huggins left on his own accord or if Kennedy had been named permanent head coach, but they got pissed because he was fired and the team started losing so they left in droves. I don't think they're spending all their weekends at The Nutcracker or Festival of Lights.

[LadyMuskie]

If you have a family, even if you have tons of money, there is only so much time. My kids like to go to the XU basketball game, but they love the Festival of Lights and the Nutcracker and would gladly skip the basketball game (and have) to go to either. My wife will put up with the XU game but would rather go to Kenwood or Rookwood or a movie or just have a nice dinner out. I was happy to see the large crowd vs. Wake as our attendance has been quite a bit down this year, at least in terms of people attending the games - the seats might be sold. We have a luxury arena with close parking and for several games this year I had to search hard for people interested in going to the games. Seats were empty for Albilene - just no interest. Imagine trying to sell UC tickets with a terrible arena, terrible parking, terrible opponent and lots of other things to do this time of year.

We have a 5 year old. We went to the Festival of Lights, Nutcracker, Christmas with the Pops, Christmas event at her school, etc. and also attended X games. Why? Because they don't all fall on the same nights. We schedule outings around the X schedule. I guess if you have to choose between one or the other, then yes, you may go to dinner instead of an X game, but this doesn't explain the constant low turnout for UC games. UC games don't come close to full capacity in the middle of February when you're hard-pressed to find a decent movie at the theaters. Now arguing that their arena sucks, their coach sucks, they play sucky teams in the non-con and parking is a veritable nightmare is an argument I can get behind. I just do not buy that all these people suddenly discovered that Cincinnati has things to do at Christmastime when none of those events are new to the city. All of them have been around for years.

You might also argue that people are lazy and would rather stay home and watch a game on tv for practically nothing as opposed to spending money to watch your team play less than stellar opposition. I love Xavier Basketball with all my heart, but the idea of watching us play Abilene Christian does not excite me in any way and I'm a rabid fan. It's not that people are busy traipsing from Music Hall to the Zoo, it's that the games are boring and people are all about instant gratification in this day and age.

[muskiefan82]

I agree. I know a lot of Mt. St. Joe grads who are X fans and have several friends from Miami and Ohio that cheer for X and actively go to X games. Heck, I have family members who didn't attend X and are rabid X fans.

I think UC fans who became fans during the Huggins era became fans because the team was winning and winning is palatable to everyone. Growing up in Catholic grade school in the late 80s and early 90s I was the sole X fan while all the boys wore UC (and Notre Dame) coats to school. Many of them wound up at Xavier. They were UC fans because UC was winning. I think UC might have retained some fans had Huggins left on his own accord or if Kennedy had been named permanent head coach, but they got pissed because he was fired and the team started losing so they left in droves. I don't think they're spending all their weekends at The Nutcracker or Festival of Lights.

My undergrad is from UC and my masters from Thomas More, but I was raised as a Xavier fan by a wonderful stepfather beginning in 1982. I am now bringing up my kids with the same love of X.

[Kahns Krazy]

You might also argue that people are lazy and would rather stay home and watch a game on tv for practically nothing as opposed to spending money to watch your team play less than stellar opposition. I love Xavier Basketball with all my heart, but the idea of watching us play Abilene Christian does not excite me in any way and I'm a rabid fan. It's not that people are busy traipsing from Music Hall to the Zoo, it's that the games are boring and people are all about instant gratification in this day and age.

HD TV has certainly changed the home viewing experience. Combined with the economic downturn, it has really put a hurt on live event sales. I think there is a good chance the Bengals playoff game doesn't sell out, or that it will take some rather large sponsors stepping up and buying blocks of tickets.

[Muskie]

I have not considered one thing about UC since the Shootout buzzer sounded.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk (http://tapatalk.com/m?id=1)

[LadyMuskie]

HD TV has certainly changed the home viewing experience. Combined with the economic downturn, it has really put a hurt on live event sales. I think there is a good chance the Bengals playoff game doesn't sell out, or that it will take some rather large sponsors stepping up and buying blocks of tickets.

Completely agree with you.

[Masterofreality]

10,250. Cintas. Today.

That is all.

[paulxu]

There were some UC fans in attendance who had seen the Nutcracker and Festival of Lights and decided to take in a quality basketball experience.

[LadyMuskie]

There were some UC fans in attendance who had seen the Nutcracker and Festival of Lights and decided to take in a quality basketball experience.

Paul's firing on all cylinders today, people!

[jdm2000]

In all fairness you have to look at greater metro populations. Cincy is well over 2 million strong. Columbus, Louisville and a lot of other cities on your list are much smaller and have a lot fewer people to draw from.

Yep. Can't compare city to city because the city limits are so different for different places. Here, we have 300,000 living in the actual city and 1.8 or 1.9 million in the suburbs. Under a "city limits" approach you end up with things like San Antonio bigger than Boston or whatever.


That's not to say I agree with the idea. There are plenty of things to do other places, too. If UC was a good team, they would draw better. Simple as that. Remember that back in their 90s Huggins-era heyday, they weren't just a regular tournament team--they were a team that was a legit national championship contender. They haven't sniffed that level in years and years. That's when it was such a tough ticket. Since they transformed into just "pretty decent/tournament level" team, the support has definitely not been there.

[Masterofreality]

7,239 for SMU < 10,250 for St. Johns.

S uc KS.

[X-band '01]

That's probably going to be better than the Temple-Rutgers pillow fight.

[XUOHTX]

7,239 for SMU < 10,250 for St. Johns.

S uc KS.

Also want to point out that our game was at noon on a work day and their was evening of a day off.

[GuyFawkes38]

I think when it comes down to it, Bob Huggins was bigger than the UC program. What a contrast to our program.

[Milhouse]

UC is not a football schools.

Football Schools don't average 33,000 in attendance.

They average 50,000+, in most cases the big boys handle 80,000+ they are sold out weeks in advance. UC has ONE sellout this year.

Football Schools play actual teams.

UC football played 3 teams with winning records. Only beating 1 of them...I hate OSU but at least they played teams with winning records...

UC is not in a P5 conference.

Football schools have the chance to play for the National Championship. The likelihood of UC ever having that chance again now that they are G5 is slim to none. They could go undefeated and still would likely be left out of the playoff system.

UC had a string of young great coaches that were hungry for big wins/recruits/seasons in football.

Those days are over. Tubberville has already been the SEC/B12 and back. He's settling in for a paycheck for retirement.

[GoMuskies]

I hate OSU but at least they played teams with winning records...



A few of them at least.

[xubrew]

I wouldn't call UC a football school either. Right now, I'd call it a non-basketball school despite the fact that they appear to have a tournament caliber team.

I do have a soft spot for UC football. I used to love going to those games. I had several friends that lived down in Clifton, and whenever you can spend the day drinking, cooking out, going to a game, and drinking some more, it was just good times. The thing is, prior to 2007, the stadium was a third empty for just about every game. It was still a blast, but I wouldn't call it a rich and passionate football tradition.

They went over 50+ years without being in the rankings, so for them to go from having no tradition or enthusiasm at all to finishing in the rankings three years in a row, making two BCS bowl games, and nearly making the national championship game (albeit very undeservedly), that is no small accomplishment.

But, to say that they're a football school with a tradition and passion that is on the same scale as Ohio State, or Michigan, or Michigan State, or even Boise State, that's just crazy talk.

[Xavier]

When I hear Football school or Basketball school, I usually think it just means the school/fans care more about football or basketball over other sports. With that in mind, I think UC is a football school.

[X-band '01]

For all the Cincinnati fans who can only concentrate on one team, I think they can now devote their full attention to UC.

[Pablo's Brother]

UC needs to face it - they are a MAC school by every measuring tool.

[xubrew]

UC needs to face it - they are a MAC school by every measuring tool.

Ohio, Kent and Akron fans typically show up when the team is good.