Fan day brings 1,701 fans to game

Written by Kate Ferraro
(kferraro@mscd.edu)
Photos by Jeremy Papasso, Drew Jaynes, Ryan Martin
(jpapasso@mscd.edu, martiry@mscd.edu, ajaynes1@mscd.edu)

On Fan Appreciation Day, 1701 fans packed the house for the Metro men’s basketball game against Colorado Christian University Feb. 14 at the Auraria Events Center.

Not only were the games aired live on CBS CollegeSports, a tailgate party and giveaways were also part of the experience.

The average number of people at a men’s basketball game at home is 443, while for women it’s 161. The number of fans increased by over 1300 people for the men’s game on Fan Appreciation Day.

So, where have these people been all season? The men are on a 12-game winning streak and are one of the best teams in the division, yet live television and a tailgate party is when the fans come out to support their team.

Athletic Director Joan McDermott believes not only was the game being on T.V. and promotions a part of the big crowd, but also the Metro pep band.

“People are having so much fun with the band being here,” McDermott said. “Since they’ve started, our crowds, every game, are getting a little better.”

McDermott thought the game had a great atmosphere and hopes to see more people at the games from now on.

“I wish we could get more of this,” McDermott said. “Hopefully everybody had fun and they come back.”

Metro men’s senior guard Marquise Carrington said Metro is a commuter school, and doesn’t get angry when people can’t make it out to every single game.

“We give people a break,” Carrington said. “I hope for the next years to come, people see what they’re missing. They’re missing good basketball.”

Cheerleader Andrea Allen has a different prospective on the situation, saying that it’s typical of people to only come to sporting events when there is live television and giveaways, but it was fan day after all.

“It’s going to happen,” Allen said. “That’s how people are. It was a good turnout, but hopefully they will come out more often.”

Looking around in the stands, there were people who painted themselves for the game, while others made their own shirts. Student Ryan Baker and six of his friends each painted a letter from the word, RUNNERS on their chests. Baker claims he and his friends are at the games all the time, but decided to be creative with the game against CCU.

“We did this because it was a big rivalry,” Baker said. “We came out to support the team.”
The women’s game was played right after the men’s game, but with no live coverage from CBS CollegeSports. The number of people in the stands was 475, dropping 1300 fans from the men’s game. The men, who now rank No. 2 in the division, and No. 18 in the nation, could possibly be hosting regional’s in a couple weeks.