Gymnastics Once Again among Collegiate Women's Attendance Leaders
6/23/2015 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -The 2015 Southeastern Conference and NCAA Auburn Regional Champion Alabama gymnastics team once again stood among the very best in terms of collegiate women's attendance during the 2014-15 academic year.
Under first-year head coach Dana Duckworth, the Crimson Tide drew more than 10,000 fans for every home meet in 2015 with a final home average of 12,086. That figure puts Alabama in rare company as the Tide, 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.
"I have said all along that our fans are our biggest and baddest competitive advantage," Duckworth said. "From my days as a gymnast right up through the end of this season, our fans have continually helped lift us to ever greater heights. Alabama fans are amazing and we can't wait to get back out there and hear them roar and see them cheer on the Tide."
In addition to being the only three to average over 12,000 fans, Alabama, Utah and South Carolina along with Tennessee basketball were the only collegiate women's programs to average more than 10,000 fans per contest at home in 2015.
Alabama has now drawn more than 10,000 fans over its last 17 consecutive regular-season home meets, dating back to March 2012. The Tide's 2015 six-meet average of 12,086 marked the eighth time Alabama has averaged over 12,000 fans per meet.
In 2015, the Tide once again led all Southeastern Conference gymnastics teams in attendance and was second among all women's programs just behind South Carolina basketball. Alabama averaged 1,700 fans per contest better than Tennessee basketball and 2,700 per meet better than Georgia gymnastics.
Alabama has drawn crowds of 10,000-plus 63 times since first breaking the 10,000 barrier on March 4, 1995, when 12,021 fans flooded Coleman Coliseum for a meet against Georgia.
Only two schools in collegiate history - Alabama and Utah - have produced gymnastics crowds of 15,000-plus and over the past decade, Alabama has led the way with 10 of the 18 crowds over 15,000. The Tide also holds the 25 largest single-meet attendance marks in SEC history.
| Rank | Team | Sport | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | Gymnastics | 14,858 |
| 2 | South Carolina | Basketball | 12,293 |
| 3 | Alabama | Gymnastics | 12,086 |
| 4 | Tennessee | Basketball | 10,375 |
| 5 | Louisville | Basketball | 9,515 |
| 6 | Georgia | Gymnastics | 9,381 |
| 7 | Iowa State | Basketball | 9,289 |
| 8 | LSU | Gymnastics | 9,208 |
| 9 | Notre Dame | Basketball | 8,549 |
| 10 | UConn | Basketball | 8,216 |
| 11 | Nebraska | Volleyball | 8,083 |
| 12 | Kentucky | Basketball | 6,379 |
| Rank | Team | Sport | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | South Carolina | Basketball | 12,293 |
| 2 | Alabama | Gymnastics | 12,086 |
| 3 | Tennessee | Basketball | 10,375 |
| 4 | Georgia | Gymnastics | 9,381 |
| 5 | LSU | Gymnastics | 9,208 |
| 6 | Kentucky | Basketball | 6,379 |
| 7 | Auburn | Gymnastics | 6,188 |
| 8 | Florida | Gymnastics | 5,850 |
| 9 | Texas A&M | Basketball | 5,034 |
| 10 | Mississippi St. | Basketball | 3,755 |
| 11 | Vanderbilt | Basketball | 3,552 |
| 12 | Georgia | Basketball | 3,237 |
| Rank | Team | Attendance |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Utah | 14,858 |
| 2 | Alabama | 12,086 |
| 3 | Georgia | 9,381 |
| 4 | LSU | 9,208 |
| 5 | Auburn | 6,188 |
| 6 | Florida | 5,850 |
| 7 | UCLA | 5,417 |
| 8 | Oregon State | 3,548 |
| 9 | Michigan | 3,032 |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 2,973 |
| 11 | Arkansas | 2,930 |
| 12 | Kentucky | 2,553 |
