Will Gallagher-Iba be filled tonight?
I expect Gallagher-Iba Arena to be a virtual sellout tonight, which means only scattered empty seats, if any.
But make no mistake. The hunger for Bedlam basketball has decreased. I wrote today in The Oklahoman about the availability of tickets, and it’s not a case of isolated one or two seats going unsold.
I went on to OSU’s ticket website and asked for 12 tickets together. They popped up immediately in Section 324. If you can buy a dozen together, then there a bunch of seats unsold.
What gives? The economy, no doubt. OSU’s lack of recent success, too; the Cowboys haven’t played in an NCAA Tournament game since that 2005 epic in Rosemont, Ill., when Arizona beat the Cowboys by a point in that Sweet 16 game.
Another factor: OSU football. The Cowboys have increased football season tickets. Some of those customers no doubt were basketball buyers who had to make a choice in finances or time.
The truth is, college basketball can be a tough sell for a place outside the metro area. It’s a major commitment to go to Stillwater 9-10 times a winter for a mid-week basketball game. You’ve got work and school and weather, and that was true when Eddie Sutton was riding high. Take away the success and the virtual guarantee of victory, and a lot of fans have decided to stay home.
OU, which has been examined for years because of mediocre basketball crowds, has been filling Lloyd Noble Center much better recently. Blake Griffin and that No. 5 national ranking are the major reasons why. Good for the Sooners. It won’t be easy to maintain when Griffin is in the NBA and OU isn’t a contender for a No. 1-seed in the NCAA Tournament.
College basketball can be a tough sell. Look no further than Stillwater.
Berry Tramel can be heard Monday through Friday from 4:40-5:20 p.m. on The Sports Animal radio network, including AM-640 and FM-98.1. You can e-mail him here and follow him on Twitter @BerryTramel.
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Berry,
You forgot one factor today regarding OSU’s lack of attendance this year. The firing of Sean Sutton. As a ‘81 alumn and avid basketball fan every since, I can say without exception that my disinterest in OSU Basketball this season is directly the result of firing Sean. There was never given any reason beyond wins and losses for Sean’s dismissal. According to Holder’s press conference Sean became a victim of his Dad’s success. That did it for me, I haven’t even watched a full half of OSU basketball this season. I assure you that’s never happend in the last 20 years. Maybe I’ll change my attitude in the future, but Holder’s move convinced me college sports are all about money and nothing to do with integrity and sports.
Mark