The unofficial online home for fans of the UAB Blazers. Part of Collegiate Sports Nation (CSN).

I agree on the crowd factor. Drawing 7,190 for a 15-13 CUSA opponent is pretty respectable IMO given that we aren't ranked and aren't in the race for an at large bid. This UAB team is great and fun to watch and that's the reason all 7k+ people were there last night. We haven't been able to say that about a big home crowd in a long time. I love that our expectations have been adjusted to be somewhat disappointed with a 7k crowd. Just shows the improvements being made in the program.

Playing mid-day games in the CUSA tournament will hurt attendance, but if we can make to the championship Saturday, I expect 8-9k.

Because of the early afternoon times, I can't make the Thursday game, and if we win, I can't make the Friday game.

The other thing to keep in mind is the investment that we've made in basketball over the last 3-4 years has been pretty good IMO. On the operational side we've:

Increased Haase's base pay to $1M
Increased assisstant coaches salaries (don't know a $ figure though)
Started chartering flights to most away games
Doubled the recruiting budget
Secured a donation from Buffalo Rock to let Haase use their corporate jet up to 10 times a year for recruiting
Increased apparel (ie jersey combinations, gear for coaches and players)

On the facility side we've:

Upgraded the lights in Bartow
Renovated the basketball locker rooms and team lounge (which is pretty nice BTW)
Renovated the coaches' offices
Created a basketball specific weight room in Bartow

Wish list:

Renovation of Wallace Gym for a basketball practice facility
Renovations of the concourse at Bartow
Adding suites to Bartow

I think it is great he is putting pressure on the fans and not settling for something we think is "pretty good, considering...". He came from Kansas and North Carolina and has high expectations. He is trying to get the fanbase to have those expectations too.

Works for me. I didn't spot an attendance clause in that article. I wonder if he has one.

(02-26-2016 05:42 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  I think it is great he is putting pressure on the fans and not settling for something we think is "pretty good, considering...". He came from Kansas and North Carolina and has high expectations. He is trying to get the fanbase to have those expectations too.

I love it too, but we aren't going to get there instantly. Drawing 7k for a 15-13 Marshall team is a great step along that journey.

To draw those crowds at this point we still need bigger names than C-USA provides. It does not have to be a North Carolina, but a Cincinnati or similar. A team with history against UAB or a ranked team would help attendance a lot. Over time UAB games will become more of an event if we stay on this trajectory.

(02-26-2016 06:07 PM)UAB Band Dad Wrote:  To draw those crowds at this point we still need bigger names than C-USA provides. It does not have to be a North Carolina, but a Cincinnati or similar. A team with history against UAB or a ranked team would help attendance a lot. Over time UAB games will become more of an event if we stay on this trajectory.

I wonder what our home attendance averages were in the CUSA 2.0 years. Under Davis we were in the hunt for an at large bid almost eery year and we were playing slightly better conference opponents. I don't remember packing out Bartow against any conference opponent not named Memphis unless we were ranked. Obviously there's still gains to be made but attendance is definitely trending up along with the program.

(02-26-2016 05:17 PM)ICB Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 02:53 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 12:26 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 12:23 PM)ICB Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 12:17 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  If UAB wants to keep him they will have to be willing to spend. A lot of schools will offer him more than a million.

But can we? Will we?

That's my main concern. We need to after the season he's had, but will we is the question.

I'm also in favor of promoting Ehsan should Haase leave.

I've been an avid Haase supporter from day 1, but really, what has he done this season that's worth a lot. The win streaks are nice. The conference title will be real nice assuming we win one of the next 3. Hosting the tournament gives us a great chance to make the big dance. But, at the end of the day he has beaten the team's he was supposed to, and lost to some he shouldn't have. We can only play the games on our schedule, but how many teams and coaches would have similar results with the same schedule?

That being said, I hope he stays at least one more year. His name is already being mentioned nationally, so the offers are going to come. It's obvious he is frustrated with our fan base though, so my guess is our days of having him here are numbered.

I often wonder why is he frustrated with the fans. He keep harping on being sold out... it takes time to get to that point. 1) We aren't ranked 2) We are 1 loss away from not making the big dance.

UAB fans are showing up more than they have in a long time against much lesser opponents. Most past sellouts of Bartow consisted of UAB fans and 1) Fans from opposing schools and/or 2) General basketball fans that were showing up to see opponent. That crowd last night was 95-99% UAB fans. I'd speculate we had more UAB fans there last night than we did against UNC or previous sellouts against Memphis. The crowd is continuing to grow with people coming to see UAB, what more can one expect?

if he leaves and we are allowed to pay up to $1 Million for the next coach... I'd bet we wouldnt have to beg a good up and comer to take the job.

because he's not comparing us to the rest of CUSA. hes comparing us to a lot of other midmajor programs, that have weaker traditions that make our fan support look pathetic

(02-26-2016 05:28 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  I agree on the crowd factor. Drawing 7,190 for a 15-13 CUSA opponent is pretty respectable IMO given that we aren't ranked and aren't in the race for an at large bid.

We had 5,500 against a 6-13 C-USA opponent and 6,800 against a 7-13 C-USA opponent a month ago.

(02-26-2016 06:32 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  ...
I wonder what our home attendance averages were in the CUSA 2.0 years.
...

Here are the attendance averages dating back to the start of UAB basketball:

2016 4,946
2015 3,258
2014 4,304
2013 4,118
2012 4,564
2011 5,167
2010 5,970
2009 4,953
2008 5,011
2007 4,752
2006 5,464
2005 6,037
2004 4,909
2003 4,423
2002 3,624
2001 4,216
2000 5,569
1999 4,896
1998 6,361
1997 4,672
1996 5,193
1995 5,190
1994 6,538
1993 6,465
1992 6,025
1991 6,406
1990 7,168
1989 6,743
1988 6,105
1987 8,179
1986 8,425
1985 8,508
1984 7,649
1983 7,035
1982 7,805
1981 6,737
1980 7,307
1979 6,118

The highest attended year in the Davis era was 2010 with a 5,970 average. The lowest was his last year in 2012 with 4,564.

Sources:
1979 - 2004 http://csnbbs.com/thread-34572.html
2005 - 2015 fs.ncaa.org

i miss the Anderson years, when Bartow Arena was packed out every game

If my math is correct, the current season average attendance is 4775 and would go up to at least 4926 if we match Thursday's crowd tomorrow. We definitely have work to do, but this season's attendance should be the best in quite some time.

(02-26-2016 06:54 PM)JeffUAB Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 06:32 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  ...
I wonder what our home attendance averages were in the CUSA 2.0 years.
...

Here are the attendance averages dating back to the start of UAB basketball:

2015 3,258
2014 4,304
2013 4,118
2012 4,564
2011 5,167
2010 5,970
2009 4,953
2008 5,011
2007 4,752
2006 5,464
2005 6,037
2004 4,909
2003 4,423
2002 3,624
2001 4,216
2000 5,569
1999 4,896
1998 6,361
1997 4,672
1996 5,193
1995 5,190
1994 6,538
1993 6,465
1992 6,025
1991 6,406
1990 7,168
1989 6,743
1988 6,105
1987 8,179
1986 8,425
1985 8,508
1984 7,649
1983 7,035
1982 7,805
1981 6,737
1980 7,307
1979 6,118

The highest attended year in the Davis era was 2010 with a 5,970 average. The lowest was his last year in 2012 with 4,564.

Sources:
1979 - 2004 http://csnbbs.com/thread-34572.html
2005 - 2015 fs.ncaa.org

Where are we at this year?

(02-26-2016 07:12 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  Where are we at this year?

4775 I believe.

It's OKAY to say since the Davis era. Hasse is the coach and I believe he is on a mission to build a program not himself as much.
But build a program and AD and fans pay attention.

(02-26-2016 07:17 PM)JeffUAB Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 07:12 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  Where are we at this year?

4775 I believe.

Sorry I didn't see your earlier comment on the post above. So you already favored in Thurs attendance for the 4775? Be nice if we can finish with an average of 5k.

I know I've said this before but it'd be nice to reduce the capacity of Bartow to about 6500. The Kennel at Gonzaga holds about 6k and they have one of the best home court advantages in basketball.

(02-26-2016 07:24 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 07:17 PM)JeffUAB Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 07:12 PM)BlazintheATL Wrote:  Where are we at this year?

4775 I believe.

Sorry I didn't see your earlier comment on the post above. So you already favored in Thurs attendance for the 4775? Be nice if we can finish with an average of 5k.

I know I've said this before but it'd be nice to reduce the capacity of Bartow to about 6500. The Kennel at Gonzaga holds about 6k and they have one of the best home court advantages in basketball.

Yeah. That was including Thursday. I wouldn't want to shrink Bartow too much. I think we have the potential to really increase attendance. The new commitment to the Football program may have many positive effects on athletics overall.

(02-26-2016 02:53 PM)blazers9911 Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 12:26 PM)hooverblazer Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 12:23 PM)ICB Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 12:17 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  

(02-26-2016 12:14 PM)BeliefBlazer Wrote:  Here are the details: http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2015/..._haas.html

Doubt he could be given a raise. His salary was meant to quiet football protestors and be more competitve in our theoretical new basketball league.

If UAB wants to keep him they will have to be willing to spend. A lot of schools will offer him more than a million.

But can we? Will we?

That's my main concern. We need to after the season he's had, but will we is the question.

I'm also in favor of promoting Ehsan should Haase leave.

I've been an avid Haase supporter from day 1, but really, what has he done this season that's worth a lot. The win streaks are nice. The conference title will be real nice assuming we win one of the next 3. Hosting the tournament gives us a great chance to make the big dance. But, at the end of the day he has beaten the team's he was supposed to, and lost to some he shouldn't have. We can only play the games on our schedule, but how many teams and coaches would have similar results with the same schedule?

That being said, I hope he stays at least one more year. His name is already being mentioned nationally, so the offers are going to come. It's obvious he is frustrated with our fan base though, so my guess is our days of having him here are numbered.

I tend to agree with most of what you've said except that last part. I don't know if he is frustrated with our fan base or not. Not sure why you would be. The reason Haase will leave UAB has nothing to do with attendance. It's when will lose in the finals of the conference tournament and he realizes he can win 25 plus games a year at UAB and still not go dancing.

(02-26-2016 05:42 PM)Memphis Blazer Wrote:  I think it is great he is putting pressure on the fans and not settling for something we think is "pretty good, considering...". He came from Kansas and North Carolina and has high expectations. He is trying to get the fanbase to have those expectations too.

A few of us have always had higher expectations for this program. We've even expressed them here only to be told we are not Duke. And that thinking we should be going to the NCAA tournament on a regular basis is unrealistic. Do you remember the idiot that said that MB?