Attendance for RU at UCLA was 5,307 & 5,322 for RU @ USC

LeapinLou said:

These are not good numbers. For comparison, when Indiana visited the arenas, the attendance was 10,086 and 6,353 respectively.

Attendance for the Indiana-UCLA game was boosted by it being on a Saturday, but overall, even that is a pretty weak turnout considering both UCLA and USC are on the bubble and have very good records. While UCLA is one of the most storied programs in college basketball history, it seems that in this "what have you done for me lately" world, the Big 10s expansion to the pacific was much more about football than basketball.

Side comment - I won't be shocked if at some point, all the sports except men's basketball and football return to more regional scheduling. I know remote learning has changed things, but it's still silly to make these students in non-revenue sports travel like this. And as we've seen with the recent budget numbers, it sure isn't cost effective.

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LeapinLou said:

Obviously, winning is more fun. But consider:
- The coverage we have from the Big 10 network. Remember in your youth, having to listen to away games on the radio? Now we get full TV coverage, analysis, post game interviews, etc. The coverage is night and day.
- Yes we are losing money. But we are growing into a big budget operation that allows Rutgers to have things like the Boardwalk on game day. While I always loved tailgating, having a live band, the boardwalk, the Miller Lite zone, etc, really elevates things to a cool level.

I guess we didn't have a ton of leverage, but the Big 10 hosed us but not giving a deal similar to what they gave the west coast schools. We were getting less revenue than the other schools for over a decade.

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knightfan7 said:

24-25 Average Att Per NCAA

UCLA - 6,990
USC - 5.074

Not exactly huge draws.

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LeapinLou said:

These are not good numbers. For comparison, when Indiana visited the arenas, the attendance was 10,086 and 6,353 respectively.

Attendance for the Indiana-UCLA game was boosted by it being on a Saturday, but overall, even that is a pretty weak turnout considering both UCLA and USC are on the bubble and have very good records. While UCLA is one of the most storied programs in college basketball history, it seems that in this "what have you done for me lately" world, the Big 10s expansion to the pacific was much more about football than basketball.

Side comment - I won't be shocked if at some point, all the sports except men's basketball and football return to more regional scheduling. I know remote learning has changed things, but it's still silly to make these students in non-revenue sports travel like this. And as we've seen with the recent budget numbers, it sure isn't cost effective.

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bac2therac said:

Well Rutgers is putting some phony 90 straight sellout bs 8k every game. While attendence has been decent. There have been plenty of empties

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LeapinLou said:

These are not good numbers. For comparison, when Indiana visited the arenas, the attendance was 10,086 and 6,353 respectively.

Attendance for the Indiana-UCLA game was boosted by it being on a Saturday, but overall, even that is a pretty weak turnout considering both UCLA and USC are on the bubble and have very good records. While UCLA is one of the most storied programs in college basketball history, it seems that in this "what have you done for me lately" world, the Big 10s expansion to the pacific was much more about football than basketball.

Side comment - I won't be shocked if at some point, all the sports except men's basketball and football return to more regional scheduling. I know remote learning has changed things, but it's still silly to make these students in non-revenue sports travel like this. And as we've seen with the recent budget numbers, it sure isn't cost effective.

Click to expand...

Fat Koko said:

People don't care about college sports in LA like people in most other B1G markets care about college sports. USC and UCLA are competing against the Lakers, Clippers, Rams, Chargers, Angels, Dodgers, Kings, Ducks and two MLS soccer teams.

The problem with Rutgers' skyrocketing team travel expenses is football.

Most of the increase in Rutgers team travel cost between 2022 and 2025 is one sport, football.

During that time period, football team travel expenses rose 74%. This is not driven by adding West Coast teams - Rutgers football played only one game on West Coast in fiscal 2025.

Rutgers is in the top third of the B1G on team travel. Ohio State and Michigan spend the most, probably because they have more sports.

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LeapinLou said:

Obviously, winning is more fun. But consider:
- The coverage we have from the Big 10 network. Remember in your youth, having to listen to away games on the radio? Now we get full TV coverage, analysis, post game interviews, etc. The coverage is night and day.
- Yes we are losing money. But we are growing into a big budget operation that allows Rutgers to have things like the Boardwalk on game day. While I always loved tailgating, having a live band, the boardwalk, the Miller Lite zone, etc, really elevates things to a cool level.

I guess we didn't have a ton of leverage, but the Big 10 hosed us but not giving a deal similar to what they gave the west coast schools. We were getting less revenue than the other schools for over a decade.

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Kbe4 said:

Anyone watching the UCLA game on tv couldn't help but notice the areas with completely empty seats, particularly behind the Rutgers bench.
It's been a long time since the Walton-Alcindor years.
This for a school that won 10 of 12 NCAA championships between 1964 and 1975...7 in a row....with 88 consecutive wins between 1971 and 1974.
Talk about "what have you done for me lately".

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Fat Koko said:

Rutgers is in the top third of the B1G on team travel.

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goru7 said:

Having been to. Both games this weekend , neither Pauley or Galen offer much of a home edge or environment. Hardly ever gets loud even with Rutgers comeback against USC. If it wasn’t for annoying DJ trying to get the Trojan fans to cheer and yell defense , there was otherwise nothing. Not close to the RAC in terms of home field advantage. But the venues were very nice and Pauley was phenomenal as was UCLA campus in general . Fabulous set up.
The weather was 80 degrees for 5 straight days so yes people have other options. Do not think Pauley will be packed or a factor until they get back to the final four. Galen will never be a factor for USC which is also in a tougher neighborhood.

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bigmatt718 said:

USC/UCLA suffer from the same dilemma as Rutgers in that if either team sucks or is even just average, they're not gonna draw because there are a million other things to do in Los Angeles with the added caveat that it is perpetual summer in SoCal. When I was out there last year for the RU-USC football game, there was Game 1 of the WS, there was a Lakers game at Staples Center downtown, a big LA HS football game being played at Sofi, I believe concerts at the Hollywood Bowl and another venue, in addition to whatever nightlife LA and surrounding areas like Beverly Hills/Santa Monica/Venice Beach have to offer. Unless either team is seriously good, they aren't gonna draw fans.

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goru7 said:

So true. I was there for Rutgers / USC football and I also went to the Yankee / Dodger World Series game. My son lives in Beverly Hills / West Hollywood area and it is filled with options and gorgeous. Comedy Store is also packed as well. Essentially a pro town with great weather making it doubly tough for the college teams. Although I must say UsC football has a following and the Coloseum was awesome and loud.

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LeapinLou said:

Obviously, winning is more fun. But consider:
- The coverage we have from the Big 10 network. Remember in your youth, having to listen to away games on the radio? Now we get full TV coverage, analysis, post game interviews, etc. The coverage is night and day.
- Yes we are losing money. But we are growing into a big budget operation that allows Rutgers to have things like the Boardwalk on game day. While I always loved tailgating, having a live band, the boardwalk, the Miller Lite zone, etc, really elevates things to a cool level.

I guess we didn't have a ton of leverage, but the Big 10 hosed us but not giving a deal similar to what they gave the west coast schools. We were getting less revenue than the other schools for over a decade.

Click to expand...

bigmatt718 said:

I will say this...LA hot dogs are the real deal. The Danger Dogs outside the Coliseum hit hard after the game. Bacon wrapped hot dogs with onions, peppers and jalapenos. I wasn't familiar with their game in that regard lol.

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Fat Koko said:

If Rutgers did not join the Big Ten, Rutgers likely would have landed in the ACC alongside regional rivals Syracuse and Boston College. Rutgers fans would have access to games through the ACC Network.

Rutgers athletics will not grow into the department's existing cost structure. Doing so would require a 425% increase in ticket sales revenue and donations, using 2025 financial results. Jersey patches and Keli's revenue raising efforts will not be enough to shrink the annual operating deficit.

The Big Ten entry deal with Rutgers was similar to Oregon, Washington, Maryland, and Nebraska. The reason why Rutgers received less money from the B1G for more than the decade does not stem from the entry deal, it is a result of Pat Hobbs and Michael Szul repeatedly crawling on their knees to the conference begging for advances to be paid back by reducing future B1G payouts to Rutgers.

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RUChet said:

Certainly hasn’t helped RU sports being in the B1G.

We don’t win consistently in any sport an we lose a ton of money so why are so many so happy we are in the B1G?

I hate the current state of affairs. Please bring back the old Big East. Was more fun.

Yes to regional rivalries
No to coast to coast conferences

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RUDivision said:

Yes to Big East! I loved the original Big East !

We don’t lose a ton of money ! In comparison to other Big Power 5 schools.

Our bad coaches and hiring leading to underperforming teams is the problem.

FSU lost 437 million last year! Thats a ton of money

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bigmatt718 said:

I will say this...LA hot dogs are the real deal. The Danger Dogs outside the Coliseum hit hard after the game. Bacon wrapped hot dogs with onions, peppers and jalapenos. I wasn't familiar with their game in that regard lol.

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bigmatt718 said:

Unfortunately blame the ACC and ESPN for killing the Big East. They're the villains of the sport if you long for the old days. That's why I won't feel bad if the B1G/SEC decide to stick the dagger in them at some point.

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knightfan7 said:

24-25 Average Att Per NCAA

UCLA - 6,990
USC - 5.074

Not exactly huge draws.

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bac2therac said:

Well Rutgers is putting some phony 90 straight sellout bs 8k every game. While attendence has been decent. There have been plenty of empties

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RU-ROCS said:

I've not followed USC, but UCLA has had attendance problems long before they joined the Big 10. They are in a major city with lots of pro teams and other entertainment options. If they are not consistently ranked, people stay away in droves.

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goru7 said:

Having been to. Both games this weekend , neither Pauley or Galen offer much of a home edge or environment. Hardly ever gets loud even with Rutgers comeback against USC. If it wasn’t for annoying DJ trying to get the Trojan fans to cheer and yell defense , there was otherwise nothing. Not close to the RAC in terms of home field advantage. But the venues were very nice and Pauley was phenomenal as was UCLA campus in general . Fabulous set up.
The weather was 80 degrees for 5 straight days so yes people have other options. Do not think Pauley will be packed or a factor until they get back to the final four. Galen will never be a factor for USC which is also in a tougher neighborhood.

Click to expand...