UWM Panthers Basketball Attendance Down Early in Season

Through the first three games of the college basketball season, the average attendance at home games for UWM Panthers men’s basketball games is down 31 percent compared to last year’s numbers, a change coming against the backdrop of a newly named arena downtown but also controversy that saw the team banned from the playoffs.

On average, 1,943 fans have been in attendance for the first three games for UWM Panthers basketball. The numbers are down, which opens up the question of why are fewer people attending games this year compared to previous seasons?

It may be too early to tell if UWM should expect the attendance numbers to stay down throughout the season, especially because they haven’t played any big games yet. According to UWM’s Senior Associate Athletic Director Bill Behrns, last year’s average attendance was around 2,847 fans per game. The numbers this year are much lower, but Behrns pointed to the schedule for the low numbers.

“Two of the first three games this year have been against non-NCAA Division 1 opponents,” he said. “Also keep in mind one of the games was played on a holiday weekend when most students weren’t around.”

But that might not be the only reason why people aren’t showing up to the games. The other reason could be due the NCAA Tournament ban the team has received this past summer due to low academic scores from previous seasons.

That’s despite the fact the team receive some good news as well. During the spring, UWM gained the naming rights to the arena they play in downtown. The arena was formally known as the U.S. Cellular Arena but is now known as UWM-Panther Arena. Milwaukee began playing downtown at the newly named UWM-Panther Arena during the 1992-93 season (but it had a different name). With the home games being played off campus, UWM does everything it can to get students to the games by offering them free transportation from the dorms to the Arena.

After a season in which the Panthers made the NCAA Tournament and attracted so many new fans, the ban came as a huge blow for the team and the school. Fans across campus reacted to the ban in different ways and are interested in what the student section will look during the rest of the season.

“It’s just really unfortunate,” Jordan Brenner, a fan of the UWM basketball team, said. “After such a successful and exciting year to now where we can’t even make the tourney is disappointing. I just hope students continue to come out and support the team.”

“The ban won’t affect me going to the games this year,” Brenner said. “Like I said, it’s unfortunate, but it’s not going to stop me from going to the games.”

The Panthers host a few very good teams this year, which will increase the attendance numbers significantly; officials hope it’s just a matter of how many fans show up to the games against weaker opponents.

“I’m a big basketball fan so the ban doesn’t affect my decision on whether or not I’ll attend games or not,” Justin Seflow, another student at UWM, said. “Games are free as well, and you aren’t going to get that at many other schools.”

Along with the free transportation, they also offer free admission to games. Students are also given free pizza and other merchandise at certain games.

C.J. Green, a sophomore at UWM, has been attending basketball games since he’s entered college and views the free giveaways as a smart idea by UWM.

“I like the idea of the free shirts and food,” he said. “Students aren’t always motivated to go to games, especially with them being off campus, so anything they can do to get students to games is beneficial.”

In the three home games that have been played so far, about half of the lower deck of the student section has been filled up with students.

“It appears our students’ crowds have been larger for our first three games than they were for most games last year,” Behrns said. “It seems like the students have been very enthusiastic.”

As the season carries on and the Panthers continue to play more games, the team and school can only hope that the big games on the schedule will entice fans to support their team. Time will be the deciding factor when it comes to people having a reason to believe that the ban may be a reason for low attendance. But if the big games don’t entice fans, there’s always free pizza.