Miami Sports Fans : It’s not just the Canes…

American Airlines Arena is hosting the first round of this year’s NCAA men’s basketball tournament and anyone watching the action has noticed a half full venue for each and every game.

Greg Shaheen, NCAA Senior Vice President of Basketball and Business Strategies has reported ticket sales dropping from 95 percent to about 85-90 percent at all locations, due to a slumping economy, though he went on to say, “we are normally at or near sellout in all of our sites.”

While Villanova helped ticket sales at the Philadelphia region, Gonzaga also helped fill seats one state south in Portland. North Carolina stayed home and Oklahoma is in nearby Kansas City. Safe to say many were hoping the Canes, Gators or Noles wound up in the Miami regional, but that wasn’t in the cards.

South Florida has a strong New York contingent, but even Syracuse traveling south wasn’t enough to pique their interest. Shaheen reported that the attendance at the Miami regional is “close to 50 percent.” The Miami Herald listed the number at 9,577 and local sports writer Greg Cote pointed out that, “A crowd of 10,000 for college basketball is unheard of here. The University of Miami can’t fill up a tiny arena.”

The anti-Canes contingent is always quick to play the attendance card, ripping Miami fans for not supporting The U. They’re quick to ignore the fact UM is a private university with under 10K undergrads, an off campus stadium and a fan base made up up South Florida transplants that aren’t UM alum. Not to mention all else there is to do in Miami on any given weekend.

Regarding the lack of ticket sales for the Miami regional, many have pointed out that timing-wise this was poor scheduling. The entertainment dollar only goes so far and with the World Golf Championship at Doral and World Baseball Classic last week, as well as the Ericsson Open (considered the “fifth major” of the pro tennis circuit) next week, people simply aren’t in the March Madness mood.

The Miami Heat and Florida Panthers are prepping for the playoffs, Hurricanes football is gearing up for their spring game and the Florida Derby takes place next month. As for the weather, it’s generally mid-70s/low-80s this time of year in South Florida, making Coconut Grove and South Beach much more desirable destinations, than an air conditioned basketball arena.

Most other cities hosting regional are dealing with winter weather (low 40s in Portland, OR today…) and folks are glad to be indoors rather an out.

The haters will continue to rip Miami fans for their lack of support at Dolphin Stadium in fall, but those with a clue realize that fan support in South Florida is as temperamental as the weather itself. Miami is a pro sports city of transplants, few of which put collegiate athletics on the same pedestal folks in Gainesville of Tallahassee do, as they simply have nothing else to do outside of sports. 

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