My guess is about 50% will be Purdue.
20% Vols.
10% Gonzaga
10% Creighton
10% Unaffiliated
I have had a ticket, lodging and air transportation for the Final 4 for a few months now. Brother lives in Goodyear and has tickets. Was there in 2017 and watched 3 officials make the UNC - Gonzaga game almost unwatchable. Tough trip for the wife as she is all in on UK.Some will wait and go all in for the Final Four.
I wouldn't count on a home atmosphere. My guess they view us a more of a threat especially having played once this year already.More importantly who will the Purdue fans cheer for? Will it seem like a home or away game to Tennessee? Or will they all just leave after their game leaving an almost empty arena?
It's going to be interesting to see what their fans do if, as I expect, they come out cold against Gonzaga and end up dropping that game. Given their expectations, I could see a lot of them bailing on the second session Friday night and it being a lackluster atmosphere for a Sweet 16 game. But if that happens, I would expect a surge of UT fans because of the number of tickets that would come available for the Sunday game, even though it is Easter. I could see 8-10k UT fans there Sunday in that scenario.Purdue travels very well....remembering their substantial numbers in Thompson-Boling vs Duke in the '92 (?) Elite Eight.
The Purdue fans will root for Creighton. I’ve seen a lot of them say out of all the teams to face in the tournament, TN is the last team they want to see.More importantly who will the Purdue fans cheer for? Will it seem like a home or away game to Tennessee? Or will they all just leave after their game leaving an almost empty arena?
Creighton plays in an 18,300 seat arena that’s regularly filled and Mackey Arena at Purdue holds over 14K. Gonzaga plays a handful of games each year vs power programs at neutral sites and also won in Rupp Arena this year.I like the fact the region finals are in a 20,000 seat arena. We're more accustomed to playing in front of that sized crowd than anyone else in this bracket.
Wow on Creighton's capacity. Otherwise, it can be significant for a shooter used to knocking them down in a band boxCreighton plays in an 18,300 seat arena that’s regularly filled and Mackey Arena at Purdue holds over 14K. Gonzaga plays a handful of games each year vs power programs at neutral sites and also won in Rupp Arena this year.
I don’t think this is a factor at all.