NCAA Popularity Increases To An All-Time High

The massive increase in spectator attendance shows an growth in popularity for NCAA men's college basketball and the need for redesigned arenas to accommodate the fans.nnIt is estimated that there will be a record breaking number of NCAA basketball fans at the Division I basketball regionals this season. Possibly more than there has been in the history of March Madness. Even more so than the last record attendance in 1999 by about 50,000 people. 250,000 fans were expected to attend the games. Tickets are selling out in a record-breaking fashion by the tens of thousands.nnHouston's Reliant Stadium and Ford Field in Detroit both have new courts and seating arrangements with the court in the middle instead of at the end zone, bringing fans closer to the action. The Final Fours will be played at these venues in the future. It is expected that these arenas will break records again at that point.nnThey are predicting a turnout of over 100,000 fans in Detroit over the next 2 years, dwarfing the last record of less than 85,000 in St. Louis in 1999. There will be more than 60,000 spectators in Houston putting it in the top 5 regional venues. In the past 2 decades, George Mason University has had an average of more than 176,000 fans at the four regional venues. This season, that will be surpassed by about 75,000 people. These figures are unbelievable and indicative of the increase in popularity of the championship. Charlotte and Phoenix have been sold out for several weeks. nnOver 3.5 million fans have attended regional competition in the past 2 decades, mostly consisting of the students at each participating college. Students will be much closer to the action at the arenas in Houston and Detroit at the next Final Fours. They will also have the opportunity to see the Final Four for a more reasonable ticket price. It’s only fair to the students who are the most loyal supporters of the teams, bringing a collegiate atmosphere back to the Final Four.nn