What would be the best possible final four for Cleveland in terms of attendance? Ohio would have to be the top draw, no? At least a top 4.

Not in terms of this season, but over the long haul.

Akron, Kent, Ohio and Toledo.

Remember, it hasnt been that long ago that the semis regularly drew 9000-11000 while the finals drew over 10000.

Certainly not wholly scientific but it gives a general idea and the results pass the smell test based on past attendance experiences.

First criteria would be the number of basketball fans that support the team, so I looked at 2018 home attendance figures (2019 not available from the site yet).

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2019/Attend...

Based on that, the average attendance figures:
1) Ohio - 5597
2) Toledo - 4239
3) Ball St - 3720
4) Buffalo - 3569
5) Akron - 2824
6) Kent St - 2799
7) Western Michigan - 2225
8) Central Michigan - 2131
9) Bowling Green - 1917
10) Miami - 1670
11) Eastern Michigan - 1524
12) Northern Illinois - 998

Second criteria is how far the school is from Cleveland. Just based on Google Maps from the University to the Q in Cleveland. Obviously the closer, the better so I just made a ratio from 0 to 1 where the closest school in miles gets a score of "1" and the furthest school in miles gets a "0" - and then used a linear scale to give a number to all the schools in between.

School - Distance - "Score"

1) Kent St - 38 miles - 1.000
2) Akron - 40 miles - 0.995
3) Bowling Green - 113 miles - 0.797
4) Toledo - 119 miles - 0.780
5) Eastern Michigan - 167 miles - 0.650
6) Buffalo - 198 miles - 0.566
7) Ohio - 217 miles - 0.515
8) Miami - 260 miles - 0.398
9) Western Michigan - 263 miles - 0.390
10) Ball St - 281 miles - 0.341
11) Central Michigan - 300 miles - 0.290
12) Northern Illinois - 407 miles - 0.000

A third criteria would be number of alumni in the Cleveland area, but I couldn't readily find those #s - so I simply multiplied the average attendance numbers with the "score" value for how close the schools are and got the following results where higher is "better" for attendance in Cleveland.

1) Toledo - 3309
2) Ohio - 2882
3) Akron - 2809
4) Kent St - 2799
5) Buffalo - 2022
6) Bowling Green - 1527
7) Ball St - 1270
8) Eastern Michigan - 991
9) Western Michigan - 868
10) Miami - 665
11) Central Michigan - 618
12) Northern Illinois - 0

Looks reasonable to me for a total "guestimate".

Best 4 options for attendance would be: Toledo, Ohio, Akron and Kent. Total those 4 and you'd get an attendance of 11,799. 12K sounds about right for the semis/finals at the top end. Also based on their recent success and past attendance that Buffalo would be a solid #5 on this list.

Flip side would be a bottom 4 of WMU, Miami, CMU and Northern Illinois with a total of 2,151. Obviously NIU wouldn't bring 0 so that's a little low - but probably 3-4K might be sadly realistic with those four. Any of the directional Michigans with NIU and Miami would be a disaster.

Toledo, Kent State and Buffalo all will send quite a few fans if their teams are there. Attendance should be pretty good.

I think a ranked Buffalo team is a squad that a casual Cleveland basketball fan who doesn't have any rooting interest in a MAC program might buy a ticket to go watch. I have no proof of that, but just being ranked makes a team compelling to a fan who might otherwise turn up their nose at MAC basketball.

Agree, that little number out in front of their name will help draw in randoms.

Plus as Buckeye to Bobcat mentioned, they're in that second tier that draws OK most times (like Toledo), and being good a few years in a row now will only help them. They usually draw like crap until the weekend, then they send a solid contingent down 90 to Cleveland.

Its determined by seeding, not location

+1

Toledo (assuming they win tonight) and Buffalo will bring plenty this weekend. Not huge crowds, but decent.

My guess is 7500-8000 total in the Q - which is what, about 1/3 filled?

MAC Tournament capacity is significantly reduced - remember, they curtain off the upper deck. I think capacity is in the 13-14,000 range.

Wasn't that long ago that we drew 8 to 9,000 actual butts in seats.

Cross Toledo off the list.

Parity brackets. Two from the east and two from the west and neither playing each other till the finals.

Watch out for BGSU. Scoring 99 in their first game at the big house portends well to not being stymied on the offensive end in the games ahead--they are feelin it! Can their defense slow their remaining opponent(s)?