WNBA attendance question

[EricLA]

I happened to catch the game last night of LA vs. NY. The box score said over 9,000 people attended. From the looks of the camera angles, I'm not sure there were much over 1,000 people there. It looked just awful on TV, from an attendance perspective.

Are my eyes off? Were there really 9,000+ fans there? I caught the Seattle game the other day and they posted similar attendance I think, but on TV it looked like almost the entire lower bowl was filled, while the Sparks game looked like what you would see for a SMU home game vs. Memphis...

 

[KnightBridgeAZ]

I think it is anyone's guess. Years ago when we were doing the season thing, we noticed that the Liberty were reporting almost as high an attendance with the lower bowl "mostly" full, as they were when the lower bowl was full and the next level almost full.

We have always used the age-old line, fans disguised as empty seats.

 

[pinotbear]

Eric, when ursusminor and I went to the PHX-Washington game back in June, I had the same sense - that the actual attendance was much smaller than the "announced" crowd. Of course, I had the same opinion when we went to the MD-UConn game in November - that the actual crowd was several thousand smaller than their official tally.

 

[Striper69]

Every Sparks game I've watched on tv has looked like there were hardly any fans there.

 

[EricLA]

Every Sparks game I've watched on tv has looked like there were hardly any fans there.

That was my observation too after seeing the game yesterday. Anyway thanks for the other replies - it all makes sense to me now!

 

[Harry Mangurian]

It's different at Mohegan Sun. Many attendees are gamblers who get free seats.
A good number leave early because they can't resist getting back to the slots.
They do get many youngsters who stick around.

 

[Striper69]

It's different at Mohegan Sun. Many attendees are gamblers who get free seats.
A good number leave early because they can't resist getting back to the slots.
They do get many youngsters who stick around.

I worked in a casino for a year as a Slot Tech.

There's no way I'd waste my money playing slots. I'd watch normal people night after night go broke trying to win on the slots.

Very sad...

 

[Striper69]

The box score for last night says 10,047.

Lot of empty seats...

 

[Seattle4UT]

5546 last night in Seattle vs LA Sparks. Coach Toler got her first win. I think the Storm is out of luck this season. :-( 0-4 vs LA this season, too.

 

[Striper69]

The Sparks may be having a tough time this season but remember that next year Jen Hamson will join the team...

someone who will challenge Griner as the dominant defensive player in the WNBA.