How Kentucky basketball fans can boost slumping Vanderbilt attendance

Vanderbilt basketball has its lowest average home attendance in 53 years, but Kentucky’s Big Blue Nation could fix that.

The Kentucky game is often the highest-attended on Vanderbilt’s home schedule. And a big crowd — though plenty of it donning blue — is needed in Saturday’s game (3 p.m., ESPN) at Memorial Gym to boost slumping attendance figures.

Vanderbilt has averaged 8,734 per home game this season with eight home games remaining. If it stayed there, it would be Vanderbilt’s lowest attendance since averaging 8,235 in the 1964-65 season. But 53 years ago, that was near Memorial Gym's capacity.

It will get better, but how much?

The good news is that the average home attendance should rise. It almost always does late in the season.

Vanderbilt’s attendance usually spikes during SEC play, when more attractive games draw more Commodores fans and visiting fans to Memorial Gym.

More: Vanderbilt basketball must defend paint. If not now, when?

The bad news is that Vanderbilt usually has a better record. The Commodores’ 6-10 mark is tied for their worst 16-game start since the 1977-78 season. Granted, a tough non-conference schedule and other factors led to that record, but do fans care about those reasons when purchasing a ticket?

Vanderbilt’s 92-84 loss to No. 23 Tennessee drew a season-high crowd of 11,510. But with the Commodores struggling this season, that figure was down from last season’s Tennessee game, which drew 12,235 at Memorial Gym.

So if Vanderbilt doesn’t start winning, will fans still come in increasing numbers? Time will tell.

Slumping attendance not just a Vanderbilt problem

Average home attendance for Division I college basketball has steadily declined for 11 consecutive seasons from 5,327 per home game in 2006-07 to 4,633 last season, according to the NCAA database.

More: Tennessee duo scores 59 points to power past Vanderbilt 92-84

Even Kentucky has seen a drop-off this season. It has averaged 21,445 at Rupp Arena through 11 home games this season compared to an average of 23,100 through its first 11 home games last season.

Vanderbilt also has more local competition in selling tickets in its market than most SEC schools. After all, Nashville has an NFL playoff team and an NHL team coming off a Stanley Cup Final run. Tickets to a Commodores’ basketball game are not at the top of the list for many fans like they were 20 years ago.

How Kentucky fans can help

So this is where Kentucky’s Big Blue Nation comes in.

Vanderbilt will hold a Blackout for Saturday’s game, as fans are encouraged to wear the Commodores’ primary color. But Kentucky fans undoubtedly will sprinkle plenty of blue throughout Memorial Gym, and this game drew 12,707 last season.

If Saturday's game brings the same crowd as last season, Vanderbilt's average home attendance would rise to 9,095. That would still be behind last season's average through 11 home games (9,617), but at least closing the gap.

A big crowd against Kentucky, regardless of fans' affiliation, would boost Vanderbilt’s home attendance. And if the Commodores pulled off a win, it may spark a surge for the remainder of the season, as Vanderbilt tries to recapture and rebuild Memorial Magic.

Reach Adam Sparks at asparks@tennessean.com and on Twitter @AdamSparks.

VANDERBILT BASKETBALL HOME ATTENDANCE SINCE 1999

(Average per game each year)

Bryce Drew tenure (2016-present)

2017-18: 8,734*

2016-17: 9,636

Kevin Stallings tenure (1999-2016)

2015-16: 11,135

2014-15: 8,862

2013-14: 9,534

2012-13: 10,637

2011-12: 13,698

2010-11: 13,802

2009-10: 13,623

2008-09: 13,276

2007-08: 13,418

2006-07: 12,030

2005-06: 12,197

2004-05: 10,088

2003-04: 11,312

2002-03: 9,570

2001-02: 8,843

2000-01: 9,814

1999-00: 10,987

*Only includes 10 home games



NEXT GAME

NO. 20 KENTUCKY (13-3, 3-1 SEC) AT VANDERBILT (6-10, 1-3)

When: 3 p.m. Saturday

TV/Radio: ESPN/1510 AM, 98.3 FM