Environment

[gAmkok]

Two things:
As is the general consensus, winning (or a greater potential) will draw bigger crowds. People stopped going to games when they lost hope of having a decent chance (beyond luck) of being competitive - when losing was more or less a foregone conclusion. For a corollary, consider going to your favorite restaurant and the new manager punches you in the gut and pushes you out the door after your meal. If this happens enough (or more than once probably), you'll stop going to that restaurant because you can do something else that doesn't include a punch to the gut. People have to know they won't get punched in the gut any more before they come back.

After watching the women's team in the Coliseum, I'm reminded of how much better a basketball arena it is (and also that I really miss watching games in there).

Referencing the dismal attendance at the CLA for the Vandy game (and football recognition), consider that the announced figure (11k+) would have been a near capacity crowd at the FMA. And with the seats being so much closer to the floor than at CLA the atmosphere would surely have been reminiscent of some of the Fogler games of similar attendance. I don't see how it couldn't have been. When comparing current atmosphere of games to those of pre_CLA days, it's apples to oranges - you can't make a logical direct comparison. The CLA experience, compared to FMA) is and always will be more distant and a little less about the actual game and a little more about the timeout and halftime distractions, simply because of the expanse of view from every seat in the house.

The environment/atmosphere of a Gamecock basketball game will never again be "what it used to be" for these reasons. The CLA can be filled and the crowd can be noisy, but it won't ever be like Duke, or Butler, or any other place with a more intimate gym. Those places will forever continue to be the iconic arenas for college basketball. The CLA will be just a "beautiful, modern, behemoth" where the Gamecocks play basketball and big country music acts perform.

[scfastpitch]

Originally Posted by gAmkok

Two things:
As is the general consensus, winning (or a greater potential) will draw bigger crowds. People stopped going to games when they lost hope of having a decent chance (beyond luck) of being competitive - when losing was more or less a foregone conclusion. For a corollary, consider going to your favorite restaurant and the new manager punches you in the gut and pushes you out the door after your meal. If this happens enough (or more than once probably), you'll stop going to that restaurant because you can do something else that doesn't include a punch to the gut. People have to know they won't get punched in the gut any more before they come back.

After watching the women's team in the Coliseum, I'm reminded of how much better a basketball arena it is (and also that I really miss watching games in there).

Referencing the dismal attendance at the CLA for the Vandy game (and football recognition), consider that the announced figure (11k+) would have been a near capacity crowd at the FMA. And with the seats being so much closer to the floor than at CLA the atmosphere would surely have been reminiscent of some of the Fogler games of similar attendance. I don't see how it couldn't have been. When comparing current atmosphere of games to those of pre_CLA days, it's apples to oranges - you can't make a logical direct comparison. The CLA experience, compared to FMA) is and always will be more distant and a little less about the actual game and a little more about the timeout and halftime distractions, simply because of the expanse of view from every seat in the house.

The environment/atmosphere of a Gamecock basketball game will never again be "what it used to be" for these reasons. The CLA can be filled and the crowd can be noisy, but it won't ever be like Duke, or Butler, or any other place with a more intimate gym. Those places will forever continue to be the iconic arenas for college basketball. The CLA will be just a "beautiful, modern, behemoth" where the Gamecocks play basketball and big country music acts perform.

Who said attendance was "dismal" for the Vandy game ? That was the best crowd we've had all year . I speculated that some came to see the football team honored . But I thought the atmosphere was fine when we were attempting to make a comeback . For most of the game there just wasn't much to cheer about .

[jared]

We had a couple good years a few years back and we packed out the CLA multiple times. It's not the arena. All we have to do is win and the crowds will come.

[gAmkok]

Originally Posted by scfastpitch

Who said attendance was "dismal" for the Vandy game ? That was the best crowd we've had all year . I speculated that some came to see the football team honored . But I thought the atmosphere was fine when we were attempting to make a comeback . For most of the game there just wasn't much to cheer about .

Maybe "dismal" wasn't the right word. However, the place was at < 65% capacity, meaning that essentially the upper deck was (or could have been) empty. I was there so I know there were people in the upper deck seats, but they didn't have to be. Most of them could have easily fit in the scattered empties in the lower bowl. So while "dismal" might be too strong, the attendance certainly wasn't good. And just because it's the best we've had so far this season doesn't make it better than it was.

The team is actually getting better at basketball and I expect they'll start winning these close games more often than not very soon. When that happens, more people will come. And if the team continues to make progress, the CLA has the potential to get a sellout before the end of the season. I hope it happens. It's more fun with fans in the seats.

[Travelin]

And if the team continues to make progress, the CLA has the potential to get a sellout before the end of the season.

I doubt it will happen this year. We don't play UK or UF at home this year. Ole Miss and Mizzou will be the best teams we play at home down the stretch. I hope I'm wrong, but the only way it happens this season, is if we win nearly every game the rest of the year. It would help if we can sneak up on Mizzou tonight on the road. Frank knew how to handle Mizzou when he was at KSU, but he had better players, of course.

Next year should be a different story. We should be able to fill the CLA to roughly 80% capacity on a regular basis with a few sell-outs for the big games against ranked opponents(the sec's best).

[uscdoit]

My seats are in the upper part, haven't sat up there in 4 years. Walk in and sit 12 to 15 rows from the floor. I'm like most people here though, you win and people will come.

[FilchCock]

I'm afraid our stadium is just a little big. I mean, the lower decks might be rockin, but we can't fill up the upper deck consistently. I would love to dream but fans just aren't made of money.

[Cockhornleghorn]

Originally Posted by FilchCock

I'm afraid our stadium is just a little big. I mean, the lower decks might be rockin, but we can't fill up the upper deck consistently. I would love to dream but fans just aren't made of money.

It isn't too big, we just haven't had any very good teams since the CLAW was built. In 2009 when we won the East we had several near capacity crowds. We can fill the arena with an NCAA bubble team or better, which really isn't expecting to much. Just wait and see what Frank will do.

[I Bleed Garnet]

Originally Posted by Cockhornleghorn

In 2009 when we won the East we had several near capacity crowds.

I remember the game after UF (Zam's Buzzer beater layup) we played Georgia and the place was packed. Even the upper levels were filled.

That year we played a thursday night game of the week for the outright east championship against Tennessee. Another game were the place was packed.
That was a great atmosphere.

Even that next year when we beat Kentucky the place was filled and at the time we were 11-8 (2-3) going into that game

[ccured]

Can someone please explain when the CLA became the CLAW? Roosters dont have claws. I do get it guess im old

[dirtycock]

Originally Posted by ccured

Can someone please explain when the CLA became the CLAW? Roosters dont have claws. I do get it guess im old

Roosters do in fact have claws. Sorry.