Interesting take from the wife.
Discussing our trip to CLE
She stated that she never remembered in all the years she has gone up for the MAC tourney that it was so dead around the Q. No fans milling around, no folks deep in the bars.....
I told her I saw Ohio fans at Lizard and Tilted Kilt amongst others but did not see a large contingent of Kent and Akron fans out and about ...even in Flannery's where the K banners hung there was a small crowd but not a lot out despite the warmer temps and no snow.
She asked if I thought that Ohio not having a usual contingent there was a factor and regaled me with her memories of nights in the past 20 years where Ohio fans were everywhere.She then asked if I though most of the folks following each going home each night was a factor. It looked like a big crowd Saturday and Arkley tweeted a number for all the attendance wonks to discuss. I have only been here for a decade so any input is appreciated.
Something I mused about on Saturday at lunch was how all the Zippies come out of the woodwork for Friday/Saturday, but they struggle to fill a 5,000 seat gym on a consistent basis. With the tradition of winning that they have, I've never understood why they don't have a big waiting list for season tickets.
Actually saw something close to this phenomena at a high school game this weekend.
Akron St Vincent St Mary was playing Akron Kenmore in a Division 2 district championship game on Saturday afternoon at the Canton Fieldhouse. In a place that probably seats 4-5000 people, only about 500 were there.
Contrast that to my alma mater which played in a Division 4 district championship the night prior. Played in smaller gym, maybe 1500-2500 seats and sold the place out. They play in Canton on Tuesday and will bring 10X the fans that LeBrons school brought.
People just care more at certain times. If St V makes it to state, they'll take a lot, but they don't care until then. Small schools come out in droves for every round.