A Sea Of Red

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sorry-I'm back in New Jersey! As for the students-it's a mystery.

Attendance is down from last season.

Even action on this board is down.

To your first point, softball isn't a very popular sport, especially at the low end of D1.

To your second, message boards are dying - especially the small ones without a large, loyal following.

Not sure when girls' last game was, but LU had a major concert last night. Plus it was CFAW. And I confess that I've never been to an LU softball game in the new stadium, but I plan on showing up for the doubleheader against MARSHALL.

I rather watch LU softball than any other sport.

a few random thoughts on this rainy Saturday with no LU softball to watch...

1. 2016 Liberty Softball Classic, home opener series, had a higher attendance than the 2015 Liberty Softball Classic, home opener series (LU stadium opening)
2. Winthrop attendance was down, however, it was spring break. Also, LU had just had trips to FL, TX, LA, LA, and the Liberty Softball Classic. Parents wallets and bodies needed some rest.
3. softball popularity... womens softball has outpaced mens baseball on ESPN and other outlets the past few years. Last year the WCWS had a several percentage points advantage over the MCWS on ESPN.
4. Low end of D1… LU softball and its popularity in Lynchburg and campus… LU softball was an afterthought, stuck in the back of the campus on a field not worthy of a local 10U rec ball game. There were no concessions, no fan experience, a porta-potty (singular) for a restroom, and It barely had enough seating for the parents (and siblings that were forced to attend). The school spent little to nothing on the program, even things like the player’s uniforms weren’t as nice as most high school practice uniforms.

New stadium, money invested in the program, uniforms that look sharp (very important to players and recruits) marketing programs, fireworks, etc = New dawn.. new day… opening day attendance 2012 – 38; 2013 – 67; 2014 – 77; 2015 – 261; 2016 – 529

Baseball didn’t get to the numbers they are at overnight, nor will softball. But, based on the 100’s of stadiums that are being expanded across the country at schools of all sizes, from NAIA to Oregon, softball’s popularity continues to grow. There is NO comparison to the game experience the players and fans are having today compared to 3 years ago at LU. The loudness of the fans, the music, the scoreboard, announcer, etc. That experience will get recruits and make spectators come back and tell their friends.

Excellent post.

But I wish LU would tone down the music. Too loud.

We led BSC conference in attendance last season.

A conference championship and a subsequent successful NCAA run would go a long way to generate interest. Let's face it-there are a few of us who are "junkies" and many more who are front runners.

The only spring sport I truly care about is tennis

The novelty of the new stadium is wearing off. Winning will bring a new group of curious fans into the ballpark. A conference championship is a big step in the right direction. Every sport on the mountain outside of football has seen attendance rise and fall based on winning.

There are only a dozen or so programs that average over 1,000 fans per game. Softball is just not a big spectator sport in most places. The biggest programs average around 3,000 fans. Compare that with baseball where the biggest average around 10,000.

I took my daughter to a few games last year. I found the experience to be very good. The ballpark is beautiful and the concessions (I thought) were very good and reasonably priced.

Weather so far this season hasn't been the best for attendance. I expect once warmer weather returns, we will see a spike in attendance. I know I'll go once again.

Humble_Opinion wrote: The ballpark is beautiful and the concessions (I thought) were very good and reasonably priced.

Any word on the nachos? Was the cheese piping hot or did it just come out of the fridge? I'm asking for a friend.

Cider Jim wrote:

Humble_Opinion wrote: The ballpark is beautiful and the concessions (I thought) were very good and reasonably priced.

Any word on the nachos? Was the cheese piping hot or did it just come out of the fridge? I'm asking for a friend.

I don't go for nachos. We did peanuts, popcorn and chicken tenders and corndogs. All were hot though and the line moved quickly. I believe admission was free too. Not sure if it's that way this year, but I'd pay $5 a ticket no problem.