From what I understand - A&M gets relatively good crowds for tennis too.

It was back that way too when I attended.

It's a joke we don't have indoor tennis--- but whole different discussion...

Method Man said:

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Our fans are mid outside of football. Baseball are good but not elite like lsu or msu.

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You lost me with that baseball comment- our baseball fans and atmosphere are "famous", we have the 8th largest avg attendance, and that
is only because of our limited capacity. We had a 93% attendance last year in one of the most dissapointimg seasons in recent memory.

Divining Rod said:

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Method Man said:

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Our fans are mid outside of football. Baseball are good but not elite like lsu or msu.

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You lost me with that baseball comment- our baseball fans and atmosphere are "famous", we have the 8th largest avg attendance, and that
is only because of our limited capacity. We had a 93% attendance last year in one of the most dissapointimg seasons in recent memory.

---

If you compare our baseball fans to all 300+ Division I baseball teams, yes...we are near the top of the list.

If you compare our baseball fans to the other teams in the SEC, we're middle of the road. In 2025, we drew the 9th most total fans in college baseball. That was also 9th best in the conference.

https://lsusports.net/news/2025/07/23/lsu-leads-nation-in-2025-college-baseball-attendance/

If you prefer to look at average attendance instead of the season-long turnstile count, A&M was 7th in the nation in 2025...which was also 7th in the SEC.

https://www.si.com/college/vanderbilt/sec/final-sec-ncaa-college-baseball-attendance-sec-daily-may-20

Our baseball fans are really, really good. Very loud and we have a great atmosphere. But if you want to judge by total fan support, we are well behind the SEC elite fan bases (LSU, MSU, Arkansas, and Ole Miss.)

Granted, part of the reason is because our baseball facility has lagged way behind what other SEC schools have. By comparison, Olsen is small, outdated, very bland, doesn't have many premium seating options, and has no fun zones (party patios, BBQ areas, etc.) Again, if you compare us to the other 300 teams, we are elite. But if you compare us to our peers in the SEC...we are in the so-so category.

Luke The Drifter said:

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Divining Rod said:

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Method Man said:

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Our fans are mid outside of football. Baseball are good but not elite like lsu or msu.

---

You lost me with that baseball comment- our baseball fans and atmosphere are "famous", we have the 8th largest avg attendance, and that
is only because of our limited capacity. We had a 93% attendance last year in one of the most dissapointimg seasons in recent memory.

---

If you compare our baseball fans to all 300+ Division I baseball teams, yes...we are near the top of the list.

If you compare our baseball fans to the other teams in the SEC, we're middle of the road. In 2025, we drew the 9th most total fans in college baseball. That was also 9th best in the conference.

https://lsusports.net/news/2025/07/23/lsu-leads-nation-in-2025-college-baseball-attendance/

If you prefer to look at average attendance instead of the season-long turnstile count, A&M was 7th in the nation in 2025...which was also 7th in the SEC.

https://www.si.com/college/vanderbilt/sec/final-sec-ncaa-college-baseball-attendance-sec-daily-may-20

Our baseball fans are really, really good. Very loud and we have a great atmosphere. But if you want to judge by total fan support, we are well behind the SEC elite fan bases (LSU, MSU, Arkansas, and Ole Miss.)

Granted, part of the reason is because our baseball facility has lagged way behind what other SEC schools have. By comparison, Olsen is small, outdated, very bland, doesn't have many premium seating options, and has no fun zones (party patios, BBQ areas, etc.) Again, if you compare us to the other 300 teams, we are elite. But if you compare us to our peers in the SEC...we are in the so-so category.

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Imagine if we'd taken less than 1/10th of what we put into Kyle Field 10 years ago and redirected that to Olsen.

Didn't soccer have really great attendance (like top 5 in the nation) a while back? Seems that became the place to be and an event. And we are talking about Texans that never have cared about soccer, much less women's soccer.

Point being, it's really all these things on this thread put together. I do think you need a few requirements:

1. Facility - contrary to popular belief, if you are not one of the 'haves' you need a great facility

2. Experience - can't just be the game. Even Kyle invested heavily in the surrounding tailgating, music at games (gasp), fireworks, video production, etc. It's a professional level experience.

3. Marketing - I will say our video department is doing their part. Our brand marketing is getting better and better as well. What we need is direct marketing, targeted geo marketing and sport specific marketing. Why don't we have Hilton commercials and the like? We have a huge national presence and the brand should follow.

4. Coach - you have to have a winning formula, with a coach that can recruit to that system and get the players, and NIL funds to get those kids

5. Success - stop wetting the bed. We get it, but honestly the biggest attended A&M sports have zero skins on the wall. The women's ledger has done incredibly well, but they are not the money or attendance makers. Baseball was there, but in the most painful fashion we got relegated back to the middle class. Football has not really ever been that close. Basketball required taking some serious risk and taking some gambles. It's why I loved the Bucky hire. But I think that risk also has to be investing money in #1, 2 and 3 at the same time. Reed is the worst facility on campus now (even track got their taj mahal). The Experience at Reed is one of the worst on campus and marketing is pretty bad as well. I think that is why #4 has been a revolving door and #5 doesn't happen.

Texas_Ag11

Luke The Drifter said:

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Divining Rod said:

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Method Man said:

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Our fans are mid outside of football. Baseball are good but not elite like lsu or msu.

---

You lost me with that baseball comment- our baseball fans and atmosphere are "famous", we have the 8th largest avg attendance, and that
is only because of our limited capacity. We had a 93% attendance last year in one of the most dissapointimg seasons in recent memory.

---

If you compare our baseball fans to all 300+ Division I baseball teams, yes...we are near the top of the list.

If you compare our baseball fans to the other teams in the SEC, we're middle of the road. In 2025, we drew the 9th most total fans in college baseball. That was also 9th best in the conference.

https://lsusports.net/news/2025/07/23/lsu-leads-nation-in-2025-college-baseball-attendance/

If you prefer to look at average attendance instead of the season-long turnstile count, A&M was 7th in the nation in 2025...which was also 7th in the SEC.

https://www.si.com/college/vanderbilt/sec/final-sec-ncaa-college-baseball-attendance-sec-daily-may-20

Our baseball fans are really, really good. Very loud and we have a great atmosphere. But if you want to judge by total fan support, we are well behind the SEC elite fan bases (LSU, MSU, Arkansas, and Ole Miss.)

Granted, part of the reason is because our baseball facility has lagged way behind what other SEC schools have. By comparison, Olsen is small, outdated, very bland, doesn't have many premium seating options, and has no fun zones (party patios, BBQ areas, etc.) Again, if you compare us to the other 300 teams, we are elite. But if you compare us to our peers in the SEC...we are in the so-so category.

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Arkansas-TCU at Globe Life drew 22K, mostly Arkansas fans last week. We will see how many A&M turns out, but likely less than half that.

All kidding aside, it's a complicated situation.

I think Bob had a good idea about creating an exciting environment for Buckyball by creating chants for the team. It might not cause sellouts, but it just might bring in more bodies to the games to make it a fun environment.

Luke you could have saved yourself a loy of time if you had just addressed my comment about "limited capacity."

You DO understand that we can't put more butts in seats than we have seats, right????

We're 8th or 9th in seating and 8th or 9th in attendance avg. funny how that works out.

but back to the main point, I'd disagree with anyone who claims A&M's baseball atmosphere is "good" but not elite.

Divining Rod said:

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Luke you could have saved yourself a loy of time if you had just addressed my comment about "limited capacity."

You DO understand that we can't put more butts in seats than we have seats, right????

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I get it. But it's not like every game at Olsen is sold out. And again, nationally we have a great baseball fan base. I'm just saying that - regardless of attendance stats - we are middle of the road when compared to the other SEC schools.

Full disclosure: I did not and will not read the thread.

Having said that, the mindset of current students is WAY different than when I attended. In the late '70s when enrollment was headed from 18,000 to 30,000, G Rollie was sold out more than not from 1975 - 1980. The atmosphere in Jolly Rollie was electric. I was in the band and I made every home game - '79.

I don't pretend to understand the dynamics of social media. 2026 is not like 1975. Why?
Answer is obviously students don't view sports the same way in 2026 vs 1975.

Hopefully current students will soon see the benefits of going to basketball and baseball games. It's a great way to escape the daily pressures of school and a great way to meet new friends.

"G Rollie was sold out more than not from 1975 - 1980"

I'm dying to fact check this.

PJYoung said:

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"G Rollie was sold out more than not from 1975 - 1980"

I'm dying to fact check this.

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For that 5 year stretch, I'd say it's possible. For all other years in the history of GRW…not so much.

Luke The Drifter said:

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PJYoung said:

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"G Rollie was sold out more than not from 1975 - 1980"

I'm dying to fact check this.

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For that 5 year stretch, I'd say it's possible. For all other years in the history of GRW…not so much.

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We were 14-14 and 12-15 in back to back years in that stretch.

PJYoung said:

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Luke The Drifter said:

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PJYoung said:

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"G Rollie was sold out more than not from 1975 - 1980"

I'm dying to fact check this.

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For that 5 year stretch, I'd say it's possible. For all other years in the history of GRW…not so much.

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We were 14-14 and 12-15 in back to back years in that stretch.

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lol nevermind - i found the goods.

PJYoung said:

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Luke The Drifter said:

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PJYoung said:

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"G Rollie was sold out more than not from 1975 - 1980"

I'm dying to fact check this.

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For that 5 year stretch, I'd say it's possible. For all other years in the history of GRW…not so much.

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We were 14-14 and 12-15 in back to back years in that stretch.

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I didn't say it was a certainty…just said it was possible.

Most students have basketball at the bottom of their list of priorities. Convincing people that didn't have a Kenpom subscription to go to a midweek SEC game was like pulling teeth, everyone has some excuse not to go. I'm not sure how to change this mindset, especially when the things most people are doing (orgs/work) don't have time flexibility.

I haven't read every single post on this thread, but the Reed layout is just crappy for basketball.

An arena built specifically for basketball, with an oval of seating angles and a more "on top of you" feel, closing the average distance of spectators to the floor would be a big help.

While we are at it, a court-side, baseline to baseline section of students on one side of the court (even if it's just 5 to 10 rows) with seating for the Old Ags raised above it so they wouldn't have to stand to see would amp up the in-game energy 1000x than a DJ.

Nothing says come support basketball like a little sign in the grass.

How about you sell me on coming? That's what marketing is. Sell me something I didnt know I wanted.

Again how did the students figure out how to pack Reed for Florida without some great marking plan?

Marketing is just the convenient excuse our fans use to not come to basketball.

I would also say that the BEST "marketing" is for the team to play great when place sells out.

Laying a turd vs UF in front of that crowd was a turn off.

There is something really wrong if we can't pack Reed on Saturday against our rival down the stretch of a run to make the NCAA tourney with a brand new coach, an entirely new roster, and a really exciting brand of basketball. Same goes for our last home game on Tuesday against blue blood Kentucky.

Luke The Drifter said:

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David_Puddy said:

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There is something really wrong if we can't pack Reed on Saturday against our rival down the stretch of a run to make the NCAA tourney with a brand new coach, an entirely new roster, and a really exciting brand of basketball. Same goes for our last home game on Tuesday against blue blood Kentucky.

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It will be standing room only on Saturday. Not because it's basketball or because we're making a push for the postseason. No…it will be packed Saturday because we're playing Texas…which is ultimately all our fans care about.

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Basketball attendance facts don't agree with that statement.

Texas was the 5th most attended game last season

01/04/25 Texas 12,236
01/11/25 Alabama 12,997
01/18/25 LSU 12,812
02/22/25 Tennessee 12,989
03/04/25 Auburn 12,257

PJYoung said:

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Luke The Drifter said:

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David_Puddy said:

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There is something really wrong if we can't pack Reed on Saturday against our rival down the stretch of a run to make the NCAA tourney with a brand new coach, an entirely new roster, and a really exciting brand of basketball. Same goes for our last home game on Tuesday against blue blood Kentucky.

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It will be standing room only on Saturday. Not because it's basketball or because we're making a push for the postseason. No…it will be packed Saturday because we're playing Texas…which is ultimately all our fans care about.

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Basketball attendance facts don't agree with that statement.

Texas was the 5th most attended game last season

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That is actually quite refreshing to hear.

Adam87inSA said:

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I haven't read every single post on this thread, but the Reed layout is just crappy for basketball.

An arena built specifically for basketball, with an oval of seating angles and a more "on top of you" feel, closing the average distance of spectators to the floor would be a big help.

While we are at it, a court-side, baseline to baseline section of students on one side of the court (even if it's just 5 to 10 rows) with seating for the Old Ags raised above it so they wouldn't have to stand to see would amp up the in-game energy 1000x than a DJ.

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I think just having a new arena will get more fans to attend. Going to the new arena will be a draw all by itself

It's only because it happened over winter break.

PJYoung said:

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Luke The Drifter said:

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David_Puddy said:

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There is something really wrong if we can't pack Reed on Saturday against our rival down the stretch of a run to make the NCAA tourney with a brand new coach, an entirely new roster, and a really exciting brand of basketball. Same goes for our last home game on Tuesday against blue blood Kentucky.

---

It will be standing room only on Saturday. Not because it's basketball or because we're making a push for the postseason. No…it will be packed Saturday because we're playing Texas…which is ultimately all our fans care about.

---

Basketball attendance facts don't agree with that statement.

Texas was the 5th most attended game last season

01/04/25 Texas 12,236
01/11/25 Alabama 12,997
01/18/25 LSU 12,812
02/22/25 Tennessee 12,989
03/04/25 Auburn 12,257

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Guess why? Look at the date. Students were not back in town.

BQ_90 said:

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PJYoung said:

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Luke The Drifter said:

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David_Puddy said:

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There is something really wrong if we can't pack Reed on Saturday against our rival down the stretch of a run to make the NCAA tourney with a brand new coach, an entirely new roster, and a really exciting brand of basketball. Same goes for our last home game on Tuesday against blue blood Kentucky.

---

It will be standing room only on Saturday. Not because it's basketball or because we're making a push for the postseason. No…it will be packed Saturday because we're playing Texas…which is ultimately all our fans care about.

---

Basketball attendance facts don't agree with that statement.

Texas was the 5th most attended game last season

01/04/25 Texas 12,236
01/11/25 Alabama 12,997
01/18/25 LSU 12,812
02/22/25 Tennessee 12,989
03/04/25 Auburn 12,257

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Guess why? Look at the date. Students were not back in town.

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My point stands. FIFTH

We have 70k students. Surely marketing can bring in enough to fill out the stadium. Surely something can appeal to them. I don't disagree that some people just don't want to go. Florida game sold itself. I'm not disputing that either. But we can't find a way to fill up the stadium with all of the people in BCS? Reed arena is not that big. Surely, surely we can put in a smidge more effort and get some butts in seats.

Surely somebody can get A.I. to condense all of these threads over the years into one general attendance thread hitting all of the high points so we don't have to keep doing this every season.

What's the fun of that

Y'all need to ask Hop about this attendance issue...........

jja79 said:

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Fly fishing, hiking, beautiful lakes, scenery, four seasons, hunting. Now do BCS. As much as I love Aggieland it's pretty short of attractions. And basketball fans.

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Not something outside. Lol going outside for non-events isn't something most people do. Unless a lake in the summer or local concert.