friendofrunningwriter Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 The attendance for Saturday's final session at Conseco was just under 9,000. The opening round Friday drew just over 8,000 paying fans. According to the IHSAA, the "total" attendance for all three sessions was 25,811. (That's all 3 sessions added together, even though it's mostly the same people.) That's sounds fine, until you consider that just a few years ago, the state meet was annually drawing a "total" around 31,000. And the final session typically attracted 10,000 to 11,000 spectators. This is something I've been watching rather closely, and I'm not sure the reason. Attendance at the state finals has been dropping steadily for several years. I remember when it slipped from 31,000 to 29,000 to upper 27,000, and now to 25,811. Is this because of the economy? Are the wrestlers not as interesting as they used to be? Are the tickets too expensive? Do the concessions taste bad? I notice that Mater Dei doesn't bring the huge crowd that it used to ... is it Mater Dei's fault? Can't really blame the weather this past weekend. Why do you think the attendance is dropping? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pin2win1 Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Well i wasn't there.... but 2 schools (belmont and MD) that usually draw huge numbers did not have that many wrestlers at state this year. I wonder if that brought down attendance this year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Y2CJ41 Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Even if those schools brought 500 fans each to every session it would still only add 3,000 to the total. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJ Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 The live all day Saturday web cast allows people to stay home and yet still enjoy the wrestling. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimtown 138 Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Times are freakin' tough man. You know anybody unemployed or losing their house? Not everbody can afford a hotel room and expenses for the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aoberlin Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 What Jimtown said. It's not cheap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jon H Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 $28/per night to park at the hotel is crazy - but the lot was FULL. Concert, Cheerleading, Dancing, Mottocross and Wrestling, etc -> downtown was busting at the seams Saturday night, so I don't think the economy is the root cause for the drop in attendance? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aoberlin Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 I blame Mishawaka if they would not of taken up 10 spots that is a possible 10 other schools that would of had fans there. Seriously though, there are allot of areas in the state that are being hit really hard and the state tournament has people coming from all over the place, not just a few areas. I'm sure it is not the only reason but I would say it is a major factor. I know a few people that didn't go because of money. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jimtown 138 Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Will if it's not Mater Dei's fault, then it's got to be the singing of the National Anthem... ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smooth34 Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 It's definitely the economy. It can be a pretty expensive weekend. I live in Indianapolis and only went to the morning session (2 rounds) and it cost me $20 for the ticket and parking. Hotel, food, parking, gas, etc. It can be a very expensive weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickswife Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 Anyone notice how the roof parking in the garage jumped from $2 to $6 this year? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julio Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 I know that some of my team and I watched the live broadcasting at our school wrestling room on a projection TV instead of driving to Indy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
beachbum21 Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 I think the state finals attendance is partially due to the economy but the sport as a whole has been loosing fans and fan interest. Attendance for dual meets have steadily been declining for several years now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tireman Posted February 22, 2010 Share Posted February 22, 2010 I have never had the pleasure of making it to the state finals meet. 1. It's almost a 2 hour drive. 2. It is expensive. 3. Being from a very small town makes Indianapolis seem like (and it is) a very large town. 4. I usually have to work. 5. The radio or the internet keeps me pretty well informed. ........maybe next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fearless fly Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 I have never had the pleasure of making it to the state finals meet. 1. It's almost a 2 hour drive. 2. It is expensive. 3. Being from a very small town makes Indianapolis seem like (and it is) a very large town. 4. I usually have to work. 5. The radio or the internet keeps me pretty well informed. ........maybe next year. 6. and the curling matches going on at the olympics. Is there anything better than watching the Indiana high school wrestling finals on the puter and curling on the tube? THINK NOT!!! ff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
XCard Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Hmmm.....something tells me that y2 has a solution to this problem but is keeping tongue in cheek right now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fearless fly Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Hmmm.....something tells me that y2 has a solution to this problem but is keeping tongue in cheek right now. Don't even go there. ff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IMAWRESTLER Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 My family went both days and stayed in a hotel downtown, we easily spent $400. Very costly weekend, but we enjoyed every penny of it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesternCat Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 Did anyone else notice a drop in numbers at tourneys also? It seemed like this year we had less people at most of the tournaments we were at than in years past. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grandpa Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 It cost my family of 3--close to $ 500 for weekend of state finals--was worth every penny--we have not missed a state final in last 10 years--as long as i am alive--don't intend to miss any in future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Drooke Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 I have never had the pleasure of making it to the state finals meet. 1. It's almost a 2 hour drive. 2. It is expensive. 3. Being from a very small town makes Indianapolis seem like (and it is) a very large town. 4. I usually have to work. 5. The radio or the internet keeps me pretty well informed. ........maybe next year. What part of the state are you from tireman? If you are close to me, I will give you a ride next year. I have done the same thing before and stayed home hitting the refresh button until my finger bleeds (it never really bled) but , nothing beats being at Conseco in person. It is such a great atmosphere! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
awood1 Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 I got a very powerful MOJO! I went to MSA for a dozen years...then it moved to Conseco and IT happened. The regualtion nazi's started to take hold. No more seat saving, no signs, no alcohol (unless you are in a suite, then anything goes). I bitched and moaned about the fact that I had to drag my newborn son, dripping in sweat from the heat, in to sub-zero temperatures and re-enter again. At that moment, the seed of hatefor the IHSAA was planted and the curse began. I listened to the crap about fire marshall and head count then....all TOTAL bs. The folks in the suites sipping cocktaisl at a HS sporting event were poetic symbolism for the elitest attitude of the IHSAA. They do what they want and answer to no one. So the economy heads southand the internet comes to fruition and viola!! Die hard fans that used to bust both legs and sell blood to get there are staying home DESPITE the product on the mat getting better every year. Well at some point jumping through hoops and being treated like $hit gets old...or it could be thatI have the power equivalent to the goat at Wrigley field and the IHSAA State Tournament is doomed to fail until I receive an apology and fans start getting treated like guests (WOW what a novel idea!!) ;D ;D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infolady Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 I totally agree with awood1. I have attended IHSAA State since 1984 and when it was at Market Square the atmosphere was great. Although I still wouldn't miss it, I would have to agree that it is just not the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fire77 Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 i stayed in plainfield, 67 for the hotel, 0 for the parking. but 24 at the venue, total 2 days. 15 minute drive. made it more cost effective. downtown is just too expensive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
washedupneverwas Posted February 23, 2010 Share Posted February 23, 2010 What was the final attendance at Market Square arena in 1999 anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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