Warriors would like to see attendance increase
The University of Hawai’i is putting up some impressive numbers in numerous categories so far this season. There is one category the Warriors would desperately like to see increase, starting this Saturday – home attendance.
The Warriors will host UC Santa Barbara on Saturday in a Big West Conference game at 7 p.m. at the Stan Sheriff Center. Head coach Eran Ganot said he has faith that the Warriors’ style of play – and winning ways – will start paying off with larger crowds.
“The people here are the best,” Ganot said. “I have my Hawai’i moms and dads and uncles and aunties; these guys will rally behind this group. I expect that to be the same, even more so, on Saturday night.”
Hawai’i is off to a 12-2 start this season, including 1-0 in the Big West Conference. Sadly, not one of the 13 home games so far has drawn more than 7,000 fans (via turnstile count) into the Stan Sheriff Center, which has a capacity of 10,300. Even when using the “tickets issued” count, only three of the 13 home games so far this season have drawn more than 7,000, topped by 8,436 for the Northern Iowa game on December 22.
The last UH team to have a more successful start was the 2001-02 team that started 15-2. That was the last UH team to advance to the NCAA Tournament, and that was also the last regular season that featured a home sellout (vs. Tulsa in 2002; there was a subsequent sellout for a NIT post-season game in 2004).
Junior forward/center Stefan Jankovic said the team is doing its part to send the fans home happy after each game.
“That’s one of the biggest differences with this team, especially the returning guys, we kind of all jelled together this season and we’re focusing on having a great year,” he said. “We’re making sure that the maturity level is there and we’re focused. Realistically, if we focus every single game and we don’t let these distractions and adversity faze us, I don’t see us losing … you can quote me.”
For what it’s worth, the Warriors have already played 13 home games. There are only seven more remaining this season.
HAWAI’I VS. UC SANTA BARBARA
When: Saturday, January 9, 7:00 p.m.
Where: Stan Sheriff Center
Tickets: Lower Level – $26 for all available seats; Upper Level – $18 for adults, $16 for senior citizens (65-older), $5 for students (ages 4-18). Parking is $6.
TV: Live on OCSports (channels 16 and 1016)
Internet video: Live on bigwest.tv
Radio: Live on ESPN1420 AM
Internet audio: Live on espn1420am.com
Live stats: hawaiiathletics.com
Autographs: The team will be signing autographs on the arena concourse, approximately 15 minutes after the end of the game.
Thursday’s Big West Scores
UC Irvine 76, UC Davis 55
Cal State Fullerton 79, UC Riverside 73
Saturday’s Games
UC Davis at Long Beach State
CSUN at Cal State Fullerton
UC Riverside at UC Irvine
UC Santa Barbara at Hawai’i, 7:00 p.m.
If Hawaii continues to play like they’ve been playing the last couple of weeks I don’t see any Big West team beating them. Some of the players are just now starting to come around like Thomas, and even Flemming has his best days ahead of him. We have all been worried about the bigs crashing the boards. With Thomas and Jankovic each getting 13 boards, that’s big time rebounding for a team. Keep doing that and ain’t no way anyone’s going to beat us. In the past we usually fade during BW play and fans have come to expect that and stay away from the arena. But once they see that Hawaii is here to stay they will come out in full force. Maybe starting Saturday.
Big stat on Mike Thomas; with the 13 rebounds he had just 1 personal foul.
Marked improvements shown.
This win indicates we’re for real!
I apologize because I only been to 3 games this year and that is less than before. I will have to say this for UH to think about and that is the TV coverage makes it easy for people like me to go home from work, relax with dinner in front the TV and watch the games. They do a pregame show and after game show and show all the replays. No need worry about rushing after work to get to the game and drive in traffic and then pay for the tickets that is kind of expensive if you ask me.
If they change this to pay per view, I would think about going to more games but it depends how much they charge to watch on TV. Either that or they really have to drop some of the ticket prices if they truly want more fans.
Maxwell Kupchak, 6-7 freshman forward, son of Mitch (LA Lakers) plays for UCSB.
UCSB should put up a good fight. Michael Bryson can score the rock and I predict a high scoring affair.
I been to only 1 game this year vs Nevada. I usually stay home and watch it’s more better for me. I’ve been to games in the past where I get irritated and want to crack the uncle sitting next to me because of his potagee mouth he couldn’t stop talking reminds me of a certain person on this blog haha
Made Every Game…
They DO NOT Disappoint…
RARE for UHMBB…
Last Teams that Didn’t Disappoint — AC & Alika, and The Back-To-Back NCAA Teams
The GREAT Rebounding Efforts were
AGAINST ONE OF THE BEST BWC REBOUNDING TEAMS…
I Consider Janks Buying Into “Playing the Five” a Great Sacrifice (Mindwise) on his Part
BUT Should Reap HUGE Dividends for Ganot & The Bows
AND Janks’ PRO Career
IF They CAN Repeat or Emulate that Rebounding Performance On the Road;
Versus The Crowd, “Versus” The Refs(?), Versus Getting into Foul Trouble
They Could be a TWO-Year Force to be Reckoned with…
Jack Purchase Looks similarly Very Active…
Go ‘Bows!
SWEEP the First BWC Week
AND Reverse Fortunes on TWO Teams that WON @ SSC Last Year
Chuckcheese, I agree with you that UH should lower it’s prices if they want to attract more fans. It would also help if they didn’t play the games live on tv. Maybe a delayed tv broadcast the next day or PPV would be a good idea.
I’ve been to 6 games so far and would’ve gone to more if the tickets were cheaper. You figure, if I go with my wife and 3 kids that’s $51 for tickets and $6 for parking and that’s not including paying for snacks. Your looking at paying upwards of about $75 total for a family of 5. I’m sorry, but my wife and I are state workers and we don’t get paid a lot so we really can’t afford to go to even half of the games.
Another suggestion would be if the marketing and promotions department at UH would have more deals and promos for discounted tickets. I know they already have the mini packs but those are still expensive.
The upper level seats should have two prices: $18 directly across the court and $10 at the sides. Those upper side seats hardly sell and almost always empty. What a waste.
Want to boost attendance? Blackout the live tv broadcast unless it’s over 9000 tickets sold.