The Bobcat Nation

This was mentioned at Cat Chat last night but I thought it deserved its own thread. MSU was #1 in the Big Sky in both men's and women's basketball attendance this year, which is pretty awesome. I know we lament the overall decline of basketball attendance and debate the reasons for it quite regularly on this board, but MSU seems to be doing better than others at still drawing in support from the community. I suppose wins and championships help and Coach Sprinkle in particular did a lot to bring the fans back to the Brick. It is always rather striking to watch road games on ESPN+ and see mostly empty arenas that would be great for a few hours of quiet studying if you weren't interested in watching basketball.

Attendance also contributes to good home records which helps overall seeding. Men's and Women's combined seeds is best in conference.

Women numbers were actually pretty close too, 9 people per game difference.

Games Total Att. Home Att. Home avg/g)
1 Montana State 30 49581 32888 2,349.0
2 Montana 29 53950 32762 2,340.0
3 Idaho 29 30404 17135 1,223.0
4 Idaho State 29 31571 11753 904.0
5 Northern Colorado 28 25179 11800 842.0
6 Eastern Washington 30 35808 11382 758.0
7 Sacramento State 31 25732 7132 475.0
8 Northern Arizona 31 28049 6167 474.0
9 Portland State 27 18516 5956 425.0
10 Weber State 28 29246 4738 394.0

Is there a reason the Brick doesn't put the curtains down on the north side of the arena as well for normal home games? Would make the arena feel a little more intimate if we're not going to sell out non Cat/Griz games, since we already do it on the south side

damnyoutuesday wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:10 pm

Is there a reason the Brick doesn't put the curtains down on the north side of the arena as well for normal home games? Would make the arena feel a little more intimate if we're not going to sell out non Cat/Griz games, since we already do it on the south side

Just a guess but it may dampen sound and make it not as loud possibly?

damnyoutuesday wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:10 pm

Is there a reason the Brick doesn't put the curtains down on the north side of the arena as well for normal home games? Would make the arena feel a little more intimate if we're not going to sell out non Cat/Griz games, since we already do it on the south side

Perhaps they use the mini-press box thing at the top of the north side to shoot game film from. I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen the curtains lowered on both sides but don't recall it happening recently.

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:17 pm

damnyoutuesday wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:10 pm

Is there a reason the Brick doesn't put the curtains down on the north side of the arena as well for normal home games? Would make the arena feel a little more intimate if we're not going to sell out non Cat/Griz games, since we already do it on the south side

Perhaps they use the mini-press box thing at the top of the north side to shoot game film from. I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen the curtains lowered on both sides but don't recall it happening recently.

I think they control the video board from up there.

4KornerKat wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:21 pm

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:17 pm

damnyoutuesday wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:10 pm

Is there a reason the Brick doesn't put the curtains down on the north side of the arena as well for normal home games? Would make the arena feel a little more intimate if we're not going to sell out non Cat/Griz games, since we already do it on the south side

Perhaps they use the mini-press box thing at the top of the north side to shoot game film from. I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen the curtains lowered on both sides but don't recall it happening recently.

I think they control the video board from up there.

Well there you go, that would explain it! Hard to control the video board if it's on the other side of a big black curtain.

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:24 pm

4KornerKat wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:21 pm

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:17 pm

damnyoutuesday wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 12:10 pm

Is there a reason the Brick doesn't put the curtains down on the north side of the arena as well for normal home games? Would make the arena feel a little more intimate if we're not going to sell out non Cat/Griz games, since we already do it on the south side

Perhaps they use the mini-press box thing at the top of the north side to shoot game film from. I'm trying to remember if I've ever seen the curtains lowered on both sides but don't recall it happening recently.

I think they control the video board from up there.

Well there you go, that would explain it! Hard to control the video board if it's on the other side of a big black curtain.

Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain..... lol

4KornerKat wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 9:57 am

Women numbers were actually pretty close too, 9 people per game difference.

Games Total Att. Home Att. Home avg/g)
1 Montana State 30 49581 32888 2,349.0
2 Montana 29 53950 32762 2,340.0
3 Idaho 29 30404 17135 1,223.0
4 Idaho State 29 31571 11753 904.0
5 Northern Colorado 28 25179 11800 842.0
6 Eastern Washington 30 35808 11382 758.0
7 Sacramento State 31 25732 7132 475.0
8 Northern Arizona 31 28049 6167 474.0
9 Portland State 27 18516 5956 425.0
10 Weber State 28 29246 4738 394.0

I can't believe NAU, with that great team they have, draws 474 per game.
I think it's significant that we're number 1 in both. Weber's men had a very bad season. Usually they're at the top. Beating the griz when they won a league title is pretty amazing. The women out performing the griz in the stands is something I never thought I 'd live to see.

Team Games Total Att. Conf Att. Avg/Game
1. Montana State 31 95786 42303 3,021.0
2. Montana. 31 104242 46644 2,915.0

Not quite sure who was doing the mathing on this one but I’ll take it

oedipuss wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 7:39 pm

Team Games Total Att. Conf Att. Avg/Game
1. Montana State 31 95786 42303 3,021.0
2. Montana. 31 104242 46644 2,915.0

Not quite sure who was doing the mathing on this one but I’ll take it

Gris had 16 home games, Cats had 14

oedipuss wrote: ↑

Wed Mar 05, 2025 7:39 pm

Team Games Total Att. Conf Att. Avg/Game
1. Montana State 31 95786 42303 3,021.0
2. Montana. 31 104242 46644 2,915.0

Not quite sure who was doing the mathing on this one but I’ll take it

The Griz average is based on 16 home games and the Cats average is based on 14. Higher total attendance but a lower average for the Griz. It probably helped the Cats in terms of the average attendance to play fewer non-conference home games but damnit we'll take the #1 ranking however we can get it!

While I wish we had more student support for both teams, it is great to see MSU leading in attendance for both the men and women. As others mentioned, I have a hard time understanding NAU as well. Flagstaff is a neat town. Why they don't support their basketball teams is a mystery.

The worst though without question is Weber State. They have that beautiful arena and a very decent women's team and it is practically empty for home games. I really don't see how they can recruit any good players to come there.

Was curious how we would rank in basketball attendance in the Mountain West. Not good. We would be one of the lowest in that conference by a large margin.

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... since-2016

Cataholic wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 06, 2025 12:01 pm

Was curious how we would rank in basketball attendance in the Mountain West. Not good. We would be one of the lowest in that conference by a large margin.

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... since-2016

I bet it would be a much different story if we were to look at women's basketball attendance!

MSU01 wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 06, 2025 12:22 pm

Cataholic wrote: ↑

Thu Mar 06, 2025 12:01 pm

Was curious how we would rank in basketball attendance in the Mountain West. Not good. We would be one of the lowest in that conference by a large margin.

https://nevadasportsnet.com/news/report ... since-2016

I bet it would be a much different story if we were to look at women's basketball attendance!

MSU women would be a comfortable 3rd behind WY and UNM.