You know in my previous address I was a season tix holder ! That’s first I lived an hour away and made most. Also went to half the basketball games in a season. I live too far to pull that off now. With student enrollment and the size of Gainesville are you saying we shouldn’t put 10,000 for basketball and 6000 for every baseball game ? Pete are you telling that shouldn’t be attainable? If you think not your expectations are really low . Concerning Baseball , Florida is not in the same breath with baseball attendance and atmosphere! Starkville . Fayetville, Oxford , LSU , Columbia and now Knoxville. Are you trying to tell me that those programs deserve a better baseball community that UF ?? Basketball climate In Gainesville is not aligned with the success they achieved. Behind Lexington,Knox , Fayetteville , NCState I can go on. If you think you live in a Mecca of sports fanatics.. you are not.
Pete , also I hear the excuse “there are other things to do in Gainesville “ Really? What , Festivals , Art Shows, Vape 101 classes for over 65 hippies ?
That's not at all my point nor do I think that. I'm one of the first to agree with AKA that we don't have a large basketball following; my point is about "expectations:support" when it comes to what we expect from our fanbase. Also, you forgot SWAC, they've got a great home environment for baseball. So does that mean we're top 10 in the nation for baseball support? Maybe top 15? (#offtopic) Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
Much of this post sounds like reasonings and rationale as to why fan support lagged at mentioned events. And I could mention many more…. which could also be met with explanation. I’m not arguing there isn’t reason we don’t have strong fan following. I’m simply stating we don’t have strong fan following. And I AM making that statement comparatively….. as in, compared to all of the other fans that have outnumbered ours at the countless games and tournaments I have attended. The KU game was hardly a “one off”, and the Fort Myers showing has been replicated numerous times. Yes- there was period in which we were able to create a formidable home venue, but typically for marquee games. But it wasn’t consistent nor sustained, even in strong seasons that followed. Finally - your feelings on Lon’s departure are immaterial to the discussion. And I never sited lacking fan support as the reason Billy left. What I did say is that both recognized and were frustrated by it. And I suspect they had the needed knowledge and perspective for comparison.
That's just it, though. What's the point of venting without addressing the explanations? Isn't that your point with respect to Mike White? Why doesn't the same concept apply to addressing fan support? The winning has to come first, bubbling your way to the NCAA Tournament on a regular basis isn't going to get it done. Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
ok… I didn’t properly explain my “expectations:support” comment. The expectations does not refer to what I (or we) expect from our fan base. I am referring to what that fan base expects from its program. Our fans consistently place Florida as a top tier job, top tier program and expect top tier results. The bottom portion of that ration…. fan support…. is, and has been, something less than top tier.
So I’m going to Segway into why the mean spirited comments towards Coach White when most of them really have no passion for basketball ! A lot of those just want to be part of the calves culture that goes on around college sports. It’s like a hobby ! Ok guys who is the next coach we can fire . ?
That's how I took it. My point is it applies to criticism of the fan base as well! The AD places FLORIDA as a top tier job expecting top tier results as well (why I mention salary). The fans therefore feel justified in their expectations. Mike White doesn't need to be successful to appease the fans (that's the AD's concern). Mike White needs to be successful to appease the AD; the AD needs Mike White to be successful to appease the fans (more particularly, the boosters). Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
I’d be shocked if this is news to you…. but for years …. decades…. I have railed about those things that I believe contribute to our lagging fan support. Or things undone that would seek to improve it. Heck, I’d can send you a two page email sent to Mike Hill when I returned to my Las Vegas hotel room after that loss to Kansas. I can send you another email that went to Scott Stricklin as I entered the Fort Myers arena. I called Lynda Tealer last week and expressed how idiotic I think it is for the UAA to opt not to service the SECt ticket needs of its fans…. regardless of how few. Scott has received multiple picture messages from me…. showing the absurdly boring backdrop of televised games. Not address the reasons/explanations? Me? Are you nuts?! Lol!
For what it's worth, I don't like the mean-spirited comments in public display either. Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
We don't really have an issue selling basketball tickets. Avg Paid Attendance by % of capacity in renovated arena: 2019 - 95% 2018 - 96% 2017 - 105% 2016 - 97% I get people want the actual attendance to match ticket sales, I want the same thing. But if people don't want to use, give up or sell their tickets, then there's not a whole lot that can be done.
You're making my point (my fault for not being clear). There are problems with growing the fan base that currently exist, it's not merely a matter of *not having a very good fan base* (which so often is presented on here as a shortcoming of GATOR fans). There are reasons for it. Given that there are reasons for it, the expectations of fan support should be reasonable given the limitations. But let's not overlook the biggest factor for growing a fan base, and that's winning and providing a fun experience when attending the games. Would love to see the email you sent to Mike, if you care to send it to me. Go GATORS! ,WESGATORS
FWIW, Arkansas obviously has a larger arena and higher attendance counts, but from 2016-2019 they only broke 80% once in paid capacity.
i don’t have “expectations” for our fan base, but I have frustrations. I get frustrated we do not do enough to improve our fan support, and that it lags even when winning. I get frustrated that fan base expectations for the program are rarely matched by enthusiasm/support for the program. I recognize, and have discussed and confronted some of the reasons. And, yes…. winning is important, but it hasn’t proven to be the remedy.
While there were certainly folks criticizing Billy for some early tournament exits, memories of his "mistreatment" are overblown. The program was clearly on the way up, consistently highly ranked and at the top of the conference. The early tourney exit criticism was similar to the Spurrier 'only won one natty' criticism....it was out there but c'mon .... First 7 years Billy D: 1996-97 Florida 13-17 (.433) 5-11 (.313) 1997-98 Florida 14-15 (.483) 6-10 (.375) NIT; 0-1 1998-99 Florida 22-9 (.710) 10-6 (.625) NCAA Sweet 16; 2-1 1999-00 Florida 29-8 (.783) 12-4 (.750) NCAA Runner-Up; 5-1 2000-01 Florida 24-7 (.744) 12-4 (.750) NCAA Second Round; 1-1 2001-02 Florida 22-9 (.710) 10-6 (.625) NCAA First Round; 0-1 2002-03 Florida 25-8 (.758) 12-4 (.750) NCAA Second Round; 1-1 First 7 years Mike White: 2015–16 Florida 21–15 9–9 NIT Quarterfinals 2016–17 Florida 27–9 14–4 NCAA Division I Elite Eight 2017–18 Florida 21–13 11–7 NCAA Division I Round of 32 2018–19 Florida 20–16 9–9 NCAA Division I Round of 32 2019–20 Florida 19–12 11–7 NCAA Division I Canceled* 2020–21 Florida 15–10 9–7 NCAA Division I Round of 32 2021–22 Florida 16–10 6–7 The trend lines are opposite. Reasons for optimism are not borne out under any objective criteria.
If we had the size of the Walton center it would be a ghost town . Bottom line even when we do show up for a big game the atmosphere and the climate is somewhat sterile. I want to know why is it more fun at these other SEC ballparks than at UF. It seems the students don’t show up and when/ if they do they have no idea what the hell is going on . Go to an Ole Miss game and see what happens on a dinger!!
