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Message: [QUOTE="azfan, post: 4543669, member: 7748"] I think Duke is not alone in their attendance conundrum. I've been thinking about this as we've discussed factors that systematically have women's basketball attendance consistently and significantly below the men's game at all levels. Maryland, for example like Duke has successful teams on both the men's and women's side. Like Duke Maryland's men's team significantly outdraws the women. "Of course, this represents a systemic problem among women’s sports. South Carolina leads the nation with an announced average of 12,473 fans per game, making it one of only four women’s basketball programs averaging at least 10,000 fans per game this season, according to [URL='http://stats.ncaa.org/rankings?sport_code=WBB&division=1']the NCAA’s records[/URL]. For comparison, 36 men’s programs currently sit above that threshold." [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.testudotimes.com/2023/2/8/23579707/analyzing-maryland-womens-basketballs-attendance[/URL] But again this is not new news we all know that the men's game significantly outdraws the women's game. Other examples of schools with successful programs but lagging attendance include Notre Dame. So there are a number of questions here. The focus on Duke seems to invite a broader question that has a number of components including: 1. Is there a ceiling on fans or spectators for women's sports in general and basketball in particular. 2. Assuming a growth rate in basketball viewership and attendance is the women's rate of growth in viewership significantly less than the men's and if so why. I suspect the answers are yes and preferences but it would be intriguing were there to be further information available. 3. To what extent are celebrity coaches more important in the women's game than in the men's game for attendance. This I think is really interesting as Kara is clearly a big name a celebrity well-known outside the golden triangle. 4. Is it realistic to expect the experience in Storrs, Iowa City, or Columbia to be generalized to the woman's sport as a whole. I think we're going to have a natural experiment regarding the Huskies over the next 20 years. The post Geno era will certainly provide some information on the attendance front. 5. Regarding Duke attendance. I would be fascinated to have aggregate attendance info for the state over the last 20 years. While Duke attendance has edged down that may well be offset by attendance changes at NC or NC State or other schools in the area. That aggregate attendance data for the state would be telling. With all the competition for sports dollars it may actually be that for whatever reason Duke is losing a share of the dollars available for eyeballs in the state. The question then becomes why. There are alternative explanations beyond that of the celebrity coach. We all know that Duke has struggled over the past with significant issues I'm thinking now of the men's lacrosse fiasco. Perhaps there's some spillover from these types of fiascos? Interesting comparison men v women [URL unfurl="true"]https://www.wsn.com/ncaam-basketball/ncaa-men-vs-women-basketball/[/URL] [/QUOTE]

Verification: First name of men's bb coach

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