Where are softball fans? Olympic folks right?

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Two teams both ranked in the top 10 in the Division I national poll collided today in the annual battle to decide the Big Ten regular-season title Evanston, Ill.
No. 8 Northwestern beat No. 10 Michigan 4-3 in a down-to-the-wire thriller.
The attendance was 487.
Heck, the Hoover-Lake game Friday night had nearly double that total at Price Park.
Except for a few exceptions like Fresno State, why is college softball, even at the top level, such a poor draw?
The Akron Aeros, even with the world's greatest hitter (Bustos), can't draw more than a couple hundred per game.
Will there ever be interest to see top-level softball?

 

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For the most part the lack of offense in fastpitch is the biggest reason The general public loves offense

 

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The Greenville vs. Lebanon game yesterday drew over 500 people.

Thats a shame that a college game of that level cannot draw more attendance then that.

 

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You have a good point. The other factor in this is that while the pros are playing so are their fans. The kids who would want to come watch them play. If they are serious players then they are playing the same weekends that the pro's do. Then there is practice and all of the other factors that go into softball that keep them away from watching game. Plus the parents have to take the time to get them to the game. Sometimes that doesnt work with families that have several children. Too many directions to go at one time.

Best thing to do is take them to the game as a team. Turn in into a social event as well as a learning experience. I dont see many younger select/rec teams attending HS games let alone a pro game. That too is pretty sad IMO. That might generate more interest.

Elliott.

 

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But the points that were made about the people that may attend these games holds true for any collegiate sport with good attendance (as basketball and football). Personal experience is my dd LOVES to PLAY / HATES to WATCH (it's like trying to get her to watch the occasional instructional video--out comes the eyeroll/yawn) :

 

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Bigtrain, we are looking forward to seeing you and Paul (Ohio Heat) over at our place this afternoon. The fields are in fine condition and in the event that any rain hits us between now and then we will still be able to go and play indoors. Either way we will be able to get some good games in.

Yesterday we held 16 HS games here even with some on and off rain. See you guys this afternoon.

 

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"The Akron Aeros, even with the world's greatest hitter (Bustos), can't draw more than a couple hundred per game.
Will there ever be interest to see top-level softball?"




bigtrain

you mean the Akron Racers (not the Aeros)

thats what ESPN is for i guess...not many people can get off work to go to a 1 or 3 pm game during the week...but weekends? everyone must be to busy?

 

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Sometimes I think Racers Mgmt wants the team to fail. You rarely see or hear anything on them. No advertising, no community involvement, nothing. You see more press in the Beacon on High School Lacrosse than you do the Racers. It's a shame.

 

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I have to agree that the scheduled times of games is difficult for working parents and younger students (players). This happens at all levels from HS, college to pros. I've had to miss alot of games due to work.
I also agree making a weekend "team" trip together is great. Have done that in the past. One of the colleges in our area for a couple years was doing promotions for younger players and teams. Was a good thing, don't think they do it anymore as I have not heard from them in the last two years.
Kids did enjoy it though.

 

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Streaks, thanks for the correction!!!
I think a big part of the Racers' lack of promoting isn't intent, but funding.
It appears to a shoe-string budget and it becomes a vicious cycle -- no fans, no money, no promoting leads to no fans, no money, no promoting