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It’s only November and the alternative is FLO Sports. My god man. Get some sense.
If the team sucks then it doesn’t matter when or where.
.-.
UMass > MAC for all sports in 2025-2026
- Thread starter huskymedic
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It’s only November and the alternative is FLO Sports. My god man. Get some sense.
If the team sucks then it doesn’t matter when or where.
UMass was already dying in the A10...
Mullins Center attendance has already been down hosting just 2300 for A10 stalwarts like Dayton; 2000 for Northeastern. They did draw 5000 against URI for a season high (and about the highest attendance in the last few season); but generally, UMass has drawn 2500-3500 fans a game in conference play. The opponents the fans "cared" about weren't drawing; the team wasn't winning and ultimately the with the way the league splits money (the teams that earn tournament units keep the majority of what is made) ultimately the move to the MAC will likely increase their revenues, be a league they can be more competitive in, in both Hoops and Football. While the A-10 is a better basketball league than the MAC, ultimately the move will likely be the best move they can make for the athletic department, with higher revenues and a path to being more competitive again.
I already posted the numbers once before but looking at the first four games from last year to this year:
2024
New Hampshire (3147)
Hofstra (3155)
NJIT (2157)
CCSU (2163)
Average: 2655.5
2025
Marshall (2256)
Albany (3025)
LeMoyne (2003)
CCSU (2743)
Average: 2506.75
The 2024 schedule was probably more attractive with Hofstra and New Hampshire vs Marshall & Albany and yet the attendance is only down 100 fans a game. Do I suspect the MAC opponent attendance will be down compared to the A-10 probably, but I don't think the numbers will be quite as far off as people think... St. Joe's was a long-time A-10 rival, but were they attracting "casual" fans to build the attendance beyond the 2500-3500 "hard cores"
Mullins Center attendance has already been down hosting just 2300 for A10 stalwarts like Dayton; 2000 for Northeastern. They did draw 5000 against URI for a season high (and about the highest attendance in the last few season); but generally, UMass has drawn 2500-3500 fans a game in conference play. The opponents the fans "cared" about weren't drawing; the team wasn't winning and ultimately the with the way the league splits money (the teams that earn tournament units keep the majority of what is made) ultimately the move to the MAC will likely increase their revenues, be a league they can be more competitive in, in both Hoops and Football. While the A-10 is a better basketball league than the MAC, ultimately the move will likely be the best move they can make for the athletic department, with higher revenues and a path to being more competitive again.
I already posted the numbers once before but looking at the first four games from last year to this year:
2024
New Hampshire (3147)
Hofstra (3155)
NJIT (2157)
CCSU (2163)
Average: 2655.5
2025
Marshall (2256)
Albany (3025)
LeMoyne (2003)
CCSU (2743)
Average: 2506.75
The 2024 schedule was probably more attractive with Hofstra and New Hampshire vs Marshall & Albany and yet the attendance is only down 100 fans a game. Do I suspect the MAC opponent attendance will be down compared to the A-10 probably, but I don't think the numbers will be quite as far off as people think... St. Joe's was a long-time A-10 rival, but were they attracting "casual" fans to build the attendance beyond the 2500-3500 "hard cores"
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no one in western MA cares about the MAC whether they are good or not. This move won't move the needle one bit and will result in less fan support/donors
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I’m not aware of any rivalries since Temple. I’m sure they’d love to beat UConn.
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It doesn’t matter because they would be bad anywhere.
And there is no way to know whether or not Mass fans would enjoy the MAC because they have been so awful for well over a decade. And they have like less than 10 wins this decade.
If their AD hadn’t fired Don Brown they would have at least won 3-4 games. It’s not hard to do that in the MAC where you are playing Kent States and Akrons.
Akron has literally only been to three bowl games ever.
I keep coming back to this thread but in the end, UMass has sucked and has been losing fans, that much seems clear. Move to the MAC or not, UMass is tanking. You seem to want to blame it on the MAC but that is not the scapegoat here. It's all a UMass problem.
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UMass averaged just over 3500 in conference play last year (and they were not good). Their attendance in conference will be down 30% to 50% this year and they will have a better record in the woeful MAC. It would be hard to NOT be more competitive in the MAC since it is legit one of the worst hoops conferences in the country. It'll be like BCU, a little bigger check, less fans that care
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No, I'm not saying UMass was any good. I'm saying they leveled out in terms of attendance and fan interest. It will drop noticeably with this move (and that will be hard to do based on where they were) - I know someone in the AD and they told me season ticket sales to the extent they had any the last two years, "cratered" in line with their last year in the A10 to this season - his words not mine. Most of their season ticket base were fans from the 90's through mid 2010's. Many of those are done and they won't be getting new fan interest. It'll be like when UConn was in 1-AA football - something do on a Saturday when you are on campus but as soon as you graduate, you dont even know the program exists
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You’ll see how much fans enjoy the MAC in Amherst. Donors are not lining up to support that move. And there were less than 1000 people in Mullins last night. You could easily hear everything Frank Martin was yelling and a couple times the ball went out of bounds, hit an empty chair and just stayed there for a few seconds because there were no people around. Wait til the kids are on winter break. Staring at a couple hundred fans there for a conference game. Woo hoo!!!!!
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That’s because they suck.
This is not a chicken and egg situation. They suck so they will not draw flies.
shizzle787
King Shizzle DCCLXXXVII of the Cesspool
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I don't have any dog in the fight but UMass should reorganize their athletic program. They have too many programs, and there is no interest for FBS football in western Massachusetts.
If I were them, I would cut the sport completely and beg the Atlantic 10 to let them back in. I would get their boosters together and commit to being a top-end A-10 program at a clip of $6 million per year in revenue sharing (similar to VCU) for men's basketball.
Keep in mind, the NCAA tournament is expanding to 76 schools so there is a decent chance the A-10 will see a second bid frequently.
I believe this is a much better strategy than slumming it in the MAC and hoping the American implodes enough to invite them, and then hoping the program completely turns around and wins the American and miraculously gets into an expanded playoff.
If I were them, I would cut the sport completely and beg the Atlantic 10 to let them back in. I would get their boosters together and commit to being a top-end A-10 program at a clip of $6 million per year in revenue sharing (similar to VCU) for men's basketball.
Keep in mind, the NCAA tournament is expanding to 76 schools so there is a decent chance the A-10 will see a second bid frequently.
I believe this is a much better strategy than slumming it in the MAC and hoping the American implodes enough to invite them, and then hoping the program completely turns around and wins the American and miraculously gets into an expanded playoff.
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And they think moving to the MAC will help them not suck? That may be true because it doesnt get much worse than the MAC. It also wont make any difference in more fans or donor support.
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I find it fascinating that there is so much interest in UMass sports programs from another school. Look you can turn away. No one is forcing you to watch UMass sports.
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Blaming a conference for someone’s self inflicted ineptitude is very on brand for UConn fans unfortunately.
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Pining for a meaningful local rivalry that existed years ago. May exist in Hockey?
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Not once did I blame the MAC for their ineptitude but keep creating those straw men
Waquoit
Mr. Positive
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I'm thinking you know your own backyard better than a guy from the midwest but that's just me.
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Whether it moves the needle or not doesn’t matter if they aren’t competitive. And you can’t determine that until they actually are.
It’s not a strawman. They are bad at sports and you keep blaming the MAC for not moving the needle as if they are related.
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No, I’m stating a fact that no one in western MA cares about any program in the MAC and the move will result in less fans interest and less donor support. The move will be a net negative for them
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Thought their administration committed to a certain level of increased AD financial support with the move. Was donor support part of it?
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UMass joins the MAC. We recruit a coach from the MAC.
We’re not so different after all?
We’re not so different after all?
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I look at your posts as a prediction rather than a blame.
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You would be correct. It’s what I see happening based on going to UMass games my whole life (I live up here and my dad is an alum). I know a ton of UMass grads too and you get a sense of things based on those discussions. The only way this move works for them is if they legit dominate the MAC and play real good non conference games and win some of those. Like Boise State was years ago and Gonzaga in hoops. If they are Akron, Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan, etc. this will be a disaster for them and it will be worse than it is now. There were a couple hundred people at the last basketball game and that’s what it’ll be for MAC conference games. The Mullins Center is obsolete for basketball - they should play their games at Amherst High School instead.
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