RPBobcat very interesting post. I will say this as having some 40 years of experience of playing, teaching, coaching, administrative and parental experience here in Ohio. It certainly doesn't have the same amount of interest, hype or exposure as it did when I was a kid. I can tell you as a kid in the 1970s the State Basketball Final was held in Columbus and there were over a hundred live broadcasts from local radio stations (often in rural areas who didn't even have a team in the finals or semi finals.) Seeing all those radio station banners in the lower rung of St. John Arena was something that made an impression on me as a kid hoping my small Catholic school would get there some day. We never made it there, but it would something for which to strive.

That being said, I was at the recent central district finals held at Ohio Dominican University in Columbus (Divisions II,III and IV.) The place was packed for the games, and last night there wasn't a seat to be found for both games. There has been a downward trend simply because of so many more options when I was a kid. However, in the central district finals you had representative schools from the all parts; public and Catholic, rural, suburban, and inner city and all those games had great attendance. Now the Ohio Dominican facility is smaller than the old Fairgrounds Coliseum, but the crowd was still great.

I think schools that have always had great traditions continue to draw well, while those schools who don't have that kind of history and tradition have been the ones that have seen the biggest tailspin in participation and attendance.

I think you’ve hit on some of the reasons attendance is down in sports at the high school level .

FYI - Ohio Dominican’s gym seats 2,000 - smaller than most high school facilities in central Ohio. Just a decade ago, Division 1 single game ( not doubleheader) district finals at the Fairgrounds Coliseum would draw sellouts or close to it at 5,000 seats.

Lack of parental identification with the local high school is also a contributing factor. For example, none of the curent parents of students at the three newest Olentangy schools attendended those schools. As people continue to move all over the country, fewer and fewer local residents will be alumni of the local school. Combine that with smaller families, and the "natural" fans in the stands are becoming fewer and fewer each day.

Alan makes a great point. I believe there are four Olentangy high schools now, Olentangy Berlin opened last fall. There are 3 Dublin High schools. Take Olentangy for example; in 2025 there is estimated to about 7,500 in those four high schools. In 1975, there was less than 750 in the one high school they had at the time simply named Olentangy, a 10 fold increase in 50 years.

Many budding athletes will never be good enough to make a varsity sport, which is why some schools (I am not sure if Olentangy does this) makes a rule than no one can be cut from the cross country team.

All of those rapidly growing districts are well regarded academically, but they don't have the generational alumni base one would see at a rural high school or even a Catholic high school. My understanding from talking to coaches is there aren't a whole of old time alums from Olentangy or Dublin that go to any of the games associated with the schools now, because when the old timers went there, they were rural districts not the suburban districts they are now. Go to any small town or Catholic high school and you will probably find a group of older alums whose kids and grand kids have moved away, but still go to the games to cheer on a friends kids or grand kids. Besides winning, tradition is a big factor in keeping sports and fan participation high.

Anecdotal, but I was impressed with the support both Olentangy Liberty and Olentangy Orange had Saturday at the Columbus Convention Center for the district finals. Newark has a tradition of supporting its basketball teams and the fan bases for the Olentangy schools were equally impressive.

At work, I often say to my staff, "Don't admire the problem, offer solutions." So, what are the solutions to this decline? We aren't going to eliminate social media anytime soon, so there have to be other ways to reach the fans.

How many of these schools are using social media to reach out to their fanbase? **Full disclaimer, I don't use social media, so I'm the worst one to answer this.

Have special nights...an 80's night...no tech night...make the games social events rather than sporting events. Maybe, just maybe, they'll start getting into the games.

Alive and well here in the country. My last 2 weekends have been in packed gyms.Those fans are there to see some pretty good talent and are not made up of alums or old fans Alan is talking about. I talked to folks who drove over 3 hours to see Luke Brown, Jalen Blackmon or the only undefeated team left in IN. Hoopheads just looking to see the next great star. Talked to them about my Gramps hauling me 3 hours down to see some kid from French Lick in 1973. Thanked them for coming.
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Schools in the cities of 3500 to 5000 students can't sell their 1200 alloted tickets. Smaller cities and towns pack them in. Even the vaunted Crispus Attucks, a legendary HS that produced Oscar Robertson and have won recent 3a titles can't muster over a couple of hundred fans. Strange disconnect in the cities. Basketball is not dying or going away quietly in the state but the Indy fans won't come out beyond I 465. Not sure if that is the case in Columbus and around 270 and the surrounding areas. I know Athens, St Henry, Tipp City, Moeller think nothing of heading to the center of the state but still wonder if Cols folk travel well. Discussion about Olentangy mirrors Carmel, Fishers, Avon IN but they do not split the schools keeping them getting bigger instead of adding multiple schools in a district.

Seems like the bigger the schools whether Ft Wayne, Indy, Gary or Evansville or even Penn up in the country around South Bend with 4K students are worse with their support. Do you see that over there with Larger Cleveland, Cincy or other schools or do the ones that have 3-5ooo kids exist?