Fall sports attract 8.8% more fans since 2010
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 at 7:25PM 
A 20-8 overall record gave volleyball a total attendance of 5,042 people, an increase of 44 more fans per game than in 2010 • By David Thackham thackhamd@mytjnow.comBy David Thackham
thackhamd@mytjnow.com
Over 10,000 fans provided support for Winthrop’s fall sports in 2011, an increase of 836 people (8.8%) from 2010, statistics from the Winthrop Athletics website show. All three major fall sports, women’s soccer, men’s soccer and volleyball, showed increases in attendance during home and neutral games.
Men’s soccer
Men’s soccer attendance made the largest comparative jump as 2,848 fans came out to Eagle Field to see Coach Rich Posipanko and his squad this year, 33% more than in 2010. “There is no question that fans can have a factor on the out come of games in all sports,” Posipanko said. “I can tell you all players appreciate, recognize and understand the importance of a fan base and turnout.”
The increase comes during a 7th place(7-12-1, 4-5-0 BSC) season in the Big South before losing in the first round of the 2011 conference championship. Last year saw 2,136 people come out to support men’s soccer who finished sixth (5-12-0, 3-5-0 BSC). Posipanko admitted that the increase was not due to winning games in the disappointing year.
“However,” he said, “I do feel there is a growing fan base at Winthrop and within the community that we have tried to cultivate by being involved in the community and youth clubs. If you win, and play good teams, they will come.”
Eighty-nine more people per game came out this season as compared to 2010, meaning an average attendance throughout eight home games of 356 fans per game.
Women’s soccer
A 2nd place finish in the conference regular season garnered 2,483 fans throughout the course of nine home games in 2011, making an average of 276 fans per visit to Eagle Field. This was an increase of total fans to watch women’s soccer from 2010, but a statistical decrease in fans per game, as 304 Eagle supporters on average watched the Lady Eagles each contest. Although Winthrop was less successful in the standings and championship last year, 2011 saw the Lady Eagles take five more wins than 2010, including an 8-2 record in the Big South. Winthrop’s ability to score was a pull for many soccer and non-soccer fans alike. Winthrop women’s soccer tallied 45 goals throughout the 2011 season, an average of 2.29 goals a game, far exceeding their opponents (29 goals, 1.45/ game). Winthrop fans also travelled in number. The three neutral site games gained an average of 141 WU fans a game.
Volleyball
Volleyball took more fans than either soccer program in 2011 after attracting over 5,000 fans to the Coliseum. Home games saw an average of 458 Winthrop fans cheer on the team, 44 more than last year, despite 2010 having an extra home match. The 5,042 total supporters witnessed a 20-8, 12-2 BSC season with only one home loss to the team’s credit. The shift from 2010 to this year amounts to a 1.4% increase (4,971 in 2010). The statistics show that fewer people travelled to matches away from the Coliseum, with only 84 people coming out to neutral matches, compared to 164/ game in 2010.
