I would just add - I don't think anyone on this list is a typical  
fan. I think we have much more invested in the game than a typical  
fans. And I don't think it's the typical fan that puts "fannies" in  
the seats on a regular basis. I don't believe any AD depends on a  
certain number of typical fans to fill the house night in and night out.

On Jun 30, 2009, at 12:04 PM, John Edwards wrote:

> On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 8:41 AM, Rowe, Thomas<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
>> You know, David, I question your assumption about the typical  
>> fan.  I'm at a Div III school and seldom get to see the Div I games,
>> but I follow them anyway.  Obviously, as a reader of this list and  
>> long-time member,  I am an avid fan so maybe not so typical. >  
>> Nevertheless, I think the home team turnout would be big for any  
>> school you think is a "big name" but also pretty good if you think
>> you are playing a "patsy" because we all like to see our favorites  
>> win big.  So Wisconsin hosts Lowell?  I'd go and I bet most of
>> the fans would like to see those games.
>
> I think it's true in any sport that games against "big names" will
> attract more attention than those against more obscure teams. In
> football, a team is going to have an easier time selling tickets to a
> game against Notre Dame than one against North Dakota.
>
> In hockey, a Wisconsin-Lowell game would likely take more effort to
> sell than Wisconsin-BC or Wisconsin-BU - all other things being equal.
> The schools that are in BCS conferences are generally going to be
> better draws than those that aren't, because they'll have greater name
> recognition in the public at large. That being said, there remains an
> opening for schools to be well-known within the hockey community -
> North Dakota was the prime example before they became full-time D-I
> last year.
>
> John
>
> -- 
> John Edwards
> I used to put quotes here.
>