Is Miami’s attendance issue really about where the arena is?

Miami University announced intentions to build a proposed arena on Cook Field for men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball. The project would replace Millett Hall as the venue for all three sports.

One reason for the new arena is said to be a search to increase attendance at Miami athletic events. Millett Hall sits nestled in the northeast corner of the campus away from the university’s academic buildings. The site survey committee that recommended Cook as the location of the proposed arena cited a centralized location as a way to “promote greater student access and participation at campus events held at the location.”

The attendance at a Millett athletic event peaked in 1976, when 10,634 fans attended a men’s basketball game against the University of Cincinnati Bearcats. Since opening in 1968, there have been three games with more than 10,000 in attendance.

Fans used to pack Millett, but in the 21st century, attendance at basketball games has steadily decreased. Since 2014-15, the men’s basketball team has ranked in the bottom half of the Mid-American Conference (MAC) in average home attendance, except for this season.

A growing number of fans have attended men’s basketball games each year. The RedHawks averaged 1,112 fans in 2014-15, the second-lowest in the MAC. So far in the 2024-25 season, that average has been 2,306, the fourth-highest in the conference.

The Miami faithful have shown out several times this season. The men’s basketball matchup against the Ohio University Bobcats on One Miami Day was attended by 7,889 fans. Three weeks later, 6,339 fans showed up for an overtime thriller against the Kent State University Golden Flashes on Love.Honor.Care Day.

Despite this increase in attendance, Miami fans fail to meet the capacity at Millett. The men’s basketball team currently sits at its best record since 1998-99, but the RedHawks average about a third of the capacity at home games.

Men’s basketball isn’t the only team that fails to meet attendance expectations. The women’s basketball team, even with its best record since 2018-19, averages 647 fans at home games, the second-lowest in the MAC.

Eight teams in the conference average more than 1,000 teams at women’s basketball games. Even though the RedHawks sit at fifth place in the standings, they only draw in more fans to home games than the University of Akron Zips.

Attendance at women’s basketball home games has increased since 2014-15, when the RedHawks averaged 356 fans. However, their inability to break the 1,000-fan average might show that performance isn’t the only factor.

A centrally-located arena could make Miami fans more willing to attend basketball games, especially considering the attendance at Goggin Ice Center.

The Miami hockey team hasn’t had a winning record since 2014-15. Despite that, attendance at hockey games has held steady for the last 10 years. The RedHawks averaged around 2,500 fans at Goggin Ice Center each year until 2020.

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Attendance dropped after the COVID-19 pandemic, but Miami continued to average around 2,000 fans at hockey games. So far in the 2024-25 season, 1,956 fans fill Goggin on average. With a capacity of 3,642, Miami fans can give the impression of a mostly-full crowd even with declining attendance.

Goggin is located significantly closer to the center of campus. Unless Miami students prefer watching hockey over any other sport, a primary reason for the steady attendance at hockey games may be because of the proximity to dorms and student housing.

There is no clear answer to the attendance problem at men’s and women’s basketball games. However, with the steady increase in attendance each year and a potential arena located closer to campus, Miami may be able to boast a strong and proud fanbase once again.

@thekethan04

babukc2@miamioh.edu