2011 Final Four

[augie_superfan]

I'll be making my first trip to Salem this year...so I got on question for all the experienced ones out there.   I would like to think the Final Four gets packed and sold out but I assume that is not the case.  Is there any reason I should be buying a ticket early or can I just show up an get a ticket?

[Mr. Ypsi]

After Quandt was PACKED last year for the Sectional, I can't imagine what it would have been like if IWU had gotten past Hanover....  ut... if IWU had made the trip, there would have been the potential for unhappy fans.  I think that game could easily been played in front of 4000 (if only there was room!)

You mean you think only a couple of hundred of YOUR fans would have come?!

[Titan Q]

augie_superfan,

It is always a good idea to get your tickets ahead of time for purposes of getting a better seat, but I'm pretty sure anyone who wants a ticket the day of the game can get in.  I have been to Salem 6 times for the D3 Final Four and I've yet to see a sellout. 

Here is the attendance for the last 5 national championship games, with the Final Four participants listed in order of their finish...

2005: 2877 (Stevens Point/Rochester/Calvin/York)
2004: 2374 (Stevens Point/Williams/John Carroll/Amherst)
2003: 3867 (Williams/Gustavus Adolphus/Wooster/Hampden-Sydney)
2002: 2853 (Otterbein/Elizabethtown/Carthage/Rochester)
2001: 3317 (Catholic/William Paterson/Illinois Wesleyan/Ohio Northern)

(I think the Salem Civic Center seats around 4500 for basketball?  Anyone know for sure?)

That is a 5-year average of 3058...about 300 less than the Hope/Calvin attendance last week and the Wittenberg vs Wooster attendance on 12/10.   And just about the number that will be at Illinois Wesleyan tomorrow for the Augustana game. 

It definitely depends on how well the participating schools travel.  Illinois Wesleyan and Hope probably travel as well as anyone in the country.  I think Gustavus Adolphus and Wooster both had a ton of fans in Salem in 2003.

[John Gleich]

You were there, so you'd obviously know better than I (last two years were the only years I've been) but I thought I overheard one of the people working there that said 2003 had higher attendance because of Hampden-Sydney... Whenever ODAC teams have made it, there were more fans, due to proximity... the ODAC hosts the Final Four and, I believe they play their conference tournament in Salem as well.

2000 Calvin beat UW Eau Claire 3,261
1999 UW-Platteville beat Hampden-Sydney  4,461  <--- largest crowd
1998 UW-Platteville beat Hope  3,915


I saw pictures of the 1998 game, and while it wasn't completely full, there were not very many empty seats...  I'd say capacity would probably be around 5,000 based on the picture.

[Titan Q]

You are correct, Point.  I completely forgot about H-S...they had an enormous following there.

[sac]

Not to nit pick but you have your years wrong.  Hope was in Salem in 98.  In that particular final four which had UWP/Hope/Wilkes and Williams.

Williams had few fans there at all, mostly parents I'd say.

Wilkes had a nice following maybe filling a section and a half.

UWP also took about a section.

Hope filled the joint.  Sold out their allotment about 3 times. Took 3 full sections and a smaller one in an endzone for students.  Then on Saturday, car loads drove all night to see Hope in the Championship game.  A lot of tired but happy faces standing in line that day.


There also seemed to be a pretty decent local following of impartials in attendance.

[John Gleich]

I thought the years might have been wrong...  I was trying to do it from things I was reading off of Salem's site, but there was a disparity between the dates for some reason...  I'll check on Pat's archives and change them to be correct!

[Greek Tragedy]

but... if IWU had made the trip, there would have been the potential for unhappy fans.  I think that game could easily been played in front of 4000 (if only there was room!)

There were a lot of unhappy fans regardless...fans from Hanover, Trinity and Puget Sound!    If IWU travels that well and there were a lot of Point fans that didn't make it into Quandt, we would've filled Kolf (5000, I think).

I think Salem holds about 4500. 

You shouldn't have any problem buying a ticket at the gate, but like it was mentioned before, if you want a good seat, order them in advance.  Point's following the first year they won it was pretty small, since the women were in the final four and the women's hockey team was in the final four all in the same weekend.  Last year, Point had a pretty nice following, the largest by far compared to the other three teams.

[Pat Coleman]

The Salem Civic Center capacity is in the 5200 range.

[Coach C]

And how many does the Corned Beef hold Pat?

C

[Pat Coleman]

Hmm, I do not have Roanoke fire marshall contacts but I would guess 400.

[Dave 'd-mac' McHugh]

400... sure... as long as Jared isn't there trying to woo the ladies. If he is, that place losses business.

Hey... as an Irishman... I am torn about the semis being on St. Patrick's Day. With planned festivies later on, how am I going to celebrate in style? Might have to "hit" the town afterward (late).

Anyone want to plan on enjoying Roanoke for some good times that night?

Don't forget... Hoopsville will be on the road in Salem for the Final Four. As we did last year, you can expect a special pre-Final Four show on Thursday night (from the team hotel or should we try for a place in Roanoke where people can listen and drink to the good times?).

Then pre-game, intermission, and post-game reports. Make yourself known. We love the support and love to hear from those of you who made the trip and are fans of the show!!!

[Coach C]

I am hopeful to make an appearance.  Working on child care issues.

C

[David Collinge]

I've got my reservations as well.

Reminds me of a very old, very lame joke:
Customer: May I have a table for two please?
Maitre d': Certainly sir.  Do you have reservations?
Customer: Yes, we do, but when you're as hungry as we are, you throw caution to the wind!

[woosterbooster]

Nick Charles: May we have a table in your meadow for two please?
Maitre d': Certainly sir, but be cautious, it's windy out there.  Madame, will you be having our carrots and beets?
Nora Charles: No sir, I'm thirsty.
Maitre d' (to bartender): I have reservations about those two.