Alabama Gymnastics Among Women's Attendance Leaders, Again
5/6/2016 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - The 2016 NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional Champion Alabama gymnastics team once again stood among the very best in terms of collegiate women's attendance during the 2015-16 academic year, including producing the largest gymnastics regional crowd in the nation in 2016.
The Crimson Tide drew 10,116 fans to Coleman Coliseum for the April 2 regional championship, more than 2,000 fans better than the next closest regional.
During the regular season, Alabama drew more than 10,000 fans for every home meet in 2016 with a final home average of 12,647.
The Tide's 2016 average puts them in rare company. Alabama, Utah gymnastics and South Carolina women's basketball were the only collegiate women's programs to average more than 12,000 fans per home contest in 2015-16.
"Our fans are amazing," UA head coach Dana Duckworth said. "I have said time and time again, they are our biggest and baddest competitive advantage and their passion is contagious. They are the reason that a Friday night in Coleman Coliseum is such an awesome experience."
In addition to being the only three to average over 12,000 fans, Alabama, Utah and South Carolina along with Georgia gymnastics and Tennessee basketball were the only collegiate women's programs to average more than 10,000 fans per contest at home in 2016.
Heading into the 2017 season, Alabama has drawn more than 10,000 fans over its last 23 consecutive regular-season home meets, dating back to March 2012. The Tide's five-meet average in 2016 marked the ninth time Alabama has averaged over 12,000 fans per meet.
The Tide once again led all Southeastern Conference gymnastics teams in attendance and was second among all conference women's programs just behind South Carolina basketball. Alabama averaged 2,200 fans per contest better than third-place Tennessee basketball and 2,600 per meet better than fourth-place Georgia gymnastics.
Alabama has drawn crowds of 10,000-plus 68 times since first breaking the 10,000 barrier on March 4, 1995, when 12,021 fans flooded Coleman Coliseum for a meet against Georgia.
| Rank | Team | Sport | Average Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | Gymnastics | 14,928 |
| 2 | South Carolina | Basketball | 14,364 |
| 3 | Alabama | Gymnastics | 12,647 |
| 4 | Georgia | Gymnastics | 10,055 |
| 5 | Tennessee | Basketball | 10,412 |
| 6 | LSU | Gymnastics | 9,906 |
| 7 | Louisville | Basketball | 9,503 |
| 8 | Iowa St. | Basketball | 9,833 |
| 9 | Notre Dame | Basketball | 8,437 |
| 10 | UConn | Basketball | 8,920 |
| 11 | Nebraska | Volleyball | 8,206 |
| 12 | Florida | Gymnastics | 7,433 |
| Rank | Team | Sport | Average Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | Basketball | 14,364 |
| 2 | Alabama | Gymnastics | 12,647 |
| 3 | Tennessee | Basketball | 10,412 |
| 4 | Georgia | Gymnastics | 10,055 |
| 5 | LSU | Gymnastics | 9,906 |
| 6 | Florida | Gymnastics | 7,433 |
| 7 | Kentucky | Basketball | 6,454 |
| 8 | Mississippi St. | Basketball | 5,162 |
| 9 | Texas A&M | Basketball | 4,867 |
| 10 | Missouri | Basketball | 3,990 |
| 11 | Alabama | Softball | 3,018 |
| 12 | Georgia | Basketball | 2,932 |
| Rank | Team | Average |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | 14,928 |
| 2 | Alabama | 12,647 |
| 3 | Georgia | 10,055 |
| 4 | LSU | 9,906 |
| 5 | Florida | 7,433 |
| 6 | Auburn | 6,234 |
| 7 | UCLA | 5,778 |
| 8 | Kentucky | 5,335 |
| 9 | Arkansas | 3,427 |
| 10 | Southern Utah | 3,270 |
| 11 | Michigan | 2,862 |
| 12 | Oregon State | 2,913 |
