Growing Apathy of our program?

[Spider17]

I’ve seen the term apathy being thrown around a lot and decided to do some research and present some information as objectively as I can. It’s hard to quantify exactly how to define apathy and I know that sometimes this forum can feel like an echo chamber so I wanted to see from a larger picture of what that may mean to our program. I figured attendance and season ticket sales might be the best measure of that. So I looked at the average home attendance of our men’s basketball games the past few years. I obtained this data from the A10 website.

2025-2026 (so far): 4,483
2024-2025: 5,489
2023-2024: 5,833
2022-2023: 6,285

Attendance doesn’t break down further regarding student attendance, but I can feel pretty confident in saying the student attendance has also declined during this time to the point that each games now have fewer than 20-30 students attending.

Unfortunately I don’t know how to get the data of ticket sales and I imagine that information is private, but I would be curious to see that.

 

[97spiderfan]

Student attendance has been abysmal every single game. It has been poor for the past couple of years but this year is a whole new level of complete disinterest. Even when we bring other teams to be recognized at halftime, they don't even stay for the rest of the game.

I almost feel like the students are sending a very strong message about our program. It's like a silent protest.

 

[Arachnid]

Recall a few years ago with fb and bb tickets were so popular the Ath Dept starting assigning values to number of years as season ticket holder and ath dept contribution$ to be able to request seating locations and possibly even tickets.

 

[SpiderWill]

i know several season ticketholders who didn't renew this year because the season tickets had gone up because there were so many games. The price per game wasn't too much higher but since we had a record # of home games coupled with the week schedule they didn't renew.

 

[SpiderPrime]

Raising season tickets prices for another dumpster dwelling, sorry, half-a**ed product is almost more of a joke than calling Mooney the most winningest coach.

 

[Spiderguy]

I’ve seen the term apathy being thrown around a lot and decided to do some research and present some information as objectively as I can. It’s hard to quantify exactly how to define apathy and I know that sometimes this forum can feel like an echo chamber so I wanted to see from a larger picture of what that may mean to our program. I figured attendance and season ticket sales might be the best measure of that. So I looked at the average home attendance of our men’s basketball games the past few years. I obtained this data from the A10 website.

2025-2026 (so far): 4,483
2024-2025: 5,489
2023-2024: 5,833
2022-2023: 6,285

Attendance doesn’t break down further regarding student attendance, but I can feel pretty confident in saying the student attendance has also declined during this time to the point that each games now have fewer than 20-30 students attending.

Unfortunately I don’t know how to get the data of ticket sales and I imagine that information is private, but I would be curious to see that.

Not a problem. Add several substandard OOC games into season & expect season ticket holders to pay more for these trash games. Paying for D-3 Southern Va full price was a joke. I waited & renewed season tics, but if the OOC schedule doesn't improve next year, then I'm out.

If the attendance stats you showed are correct, there should be light bulbs going off in somebody's head at the RC.

 

[ur2K]

The "vibes" in the arena this year are definitely off. Smaller crowds, lack of effort (compared to prior years) in the game day experience, and lack of students are definitely apparent if you've been going to the RC as long as many of us have.

Only positive was them adding Falcon Smash to the beer menu.

 

[RichmondNative]

I looked at the average home attendance of our men’s basketball games the past few years. I obtained this data from the A10 website.

2025-2026 (so far): 4,483
2024-2025: 5,489
2023-2024: 5,833
2022-2023: 6,285

I have been tracking the individual games myself this year and my figures match the 4483 average you found. I have been getting the attendance figures from the box scores.

I asked Gemini to look at the NCAA reporting for the attendance numbers and they have some slightly different numbers interestingly.

2024-2025 5850 (says tentative until midyear)
2023-2024 6144
2022-2023 6285 (matches)

These 3 years put UR in 92nd, 80th, and 79th in average attendance according to NCAA data. So they are sliding nationally too.

Regardless, attendance is trending down and of course this is “sales” data and not actual in person attendance numbers. Anyone who has been to games this year knows the numbers cited don’t always pass the eye test. For example, yesterday’s attendance was given as 4571 and it looked closer to half that on TV.

 

[Spider17]

Regardless, attendance is trending down and of course this is “sales” data and not actual in person attendance numbers. Anyone who has been to games this year knows the numbers cited don’t always pass the eye test. For example, yesterday’s attendance was given as 4571 and it looked closer to half that on TV.

Oh the numbers are definitely inflated. I have no problem with it as long as all the schools inflate the same way and we’re consistent with it each year to have apples to apples comparison of everyone. Both numbers and eye test show there’s been a clear decline in attendance to UR games as a whole and a very clear decline from students.

Yet on the women’s side, Roussell has energized a fan base to break a record that has stood place for 25 years and the environment of that game was electric. Our women’s attendance is currently #1 in A10 right above Dayton.

The directions these two programs are heading right now are night and day.

 

[72Spider]

Not a problem. Add several substandard OOC games into season & expect season ticket holders to pay more for these trash games. Paying for D-3 Southern Va full price was a joke. I waited & renewed season tics, but if the OOC schedule doesn't improve next year, then I'm out.

If the attendance stats you showed are correct, there should be light bulbs going off in somebody's head at the RC.

They are working on it. Matt Smith is in charge of getting new fans.

 

[Ferrum Spider]

Didnt get season tickets for the first time since I was a freshman in high school 25+ years ago. Do not regret it one bit. Shame on our athletic department raising prices after last season and this years schedule. To think we used to regularly have P5 schools in the Robins center and now were regularlry hosting D3 teams, we should be embarrased.

Havent watched more than 10 total minutes this year, rarely even know when or who we are playing and frankly its nice to not have to invest so much time supporting a school that doesnt give a rats ass about winning. We have a mega billionaire and for some reason cant collaborate with the administration and use that money to go get the smartest athletes money can buy because our ship of fools is stuck in the past and thinking of ways for us to join the patriot league in all sports. Nothing but excuses and I am tired of spending my evaporating free time on this mediocre product.

 

[PalmTreeSpidUR]

100% agree with the lack of awareness in raising prices when coming off a bad year and having a worse schedule. Sometimes I think UR as a whole, and not just the athletic department, forgets that all of its alumni and fans don't pull in six figures and actually have to make financial choices.

 

[Eight Legger]

They are working on it. Matt Smith is in charge of getting new fans.

Matt has been pretty biting in his criticism the last few games on radio, I will say. Last night he said the production from the guards other than AA was inexcusable. He seems to be getting to the end of his rope, too.

 

[*23*]

Matt has been pretty biting in his criticism three last few games on radio, I will say. Last night he said the production from the guards other than AA was inexcusable. He seems to be getting to the end of his rope, too.

Sounds like it is all directed at the players? Not the guy who recruited, bought, coaches the players, and directs the offense that leads to that production. I have not listened to a word Matt Smith has said in ten years. But it sounds like Mooney is still without blame.

 

[Eight Legger]

Haven't heard enough to know but what I have heard doesn't directly criticize Mooney but sort of does indirectly. Bob also was somewhat critical on his radio show today, agreeing with Josephs that AA should start and saying that Mooney's "robotic" substitutions after the first two minutes of every game probably need to end

 

[Spiderguy]

Haven't heard enough to know but what I have heard doesn't directly criticize Mooney but sort of does indirectly. Bob also was somewhat critical on his radio show today, agreeing with Josephs that AA should start and saying that Mooney's "robotic" substitutions after the first two minutes of every game probably need to end

The “robotic” substitutions will definitively end. But it won’t be until the season is over.

 

[MrTbone]

While the attendance data certainly tells you something, it’s not telling you the whole story. I’ve been a season ticket holder for 20+ years and still consistently go to almost every game. But I am totally uninvested in the program, I barely care when we win and only care slightly more when we lose.

I doubt that I’m alone.

 

[SpiderLaw]

I promise you are not alone.

 

[97spiderfan]

While the attendance data certainly tells you something, it’s not telling you the whole story. I’ve been a season ticket holder for 20+ years and still consistently go to almost every game. But I am totally uninvested in the program, I barely care when we win and only care slightly more when we lose.

I doubt that I’m alone.

Ditto. Still a season ticket holder. Attend most home games. I have a couple friends who go as well, so it more a social thing for me at this point. I was pretty diehard a few years ago, wouldn't miss a game, would try to hit a couple road games. Now, I'm completely (using Tbones word) uninvested. If we win great, if we lose, it is almost karmic justice in my opinion if we lose, because our program simply does not do what it needs to do on so many levels to be a winning program.

The atmosphere of our fanbase at home games really dovetails how our program operates as well. People showing up going through the motions of being a fan but no real heart in the outcome.