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July 7, 2015
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - The Penn State men's basketball program finished the 2014-15 season with the fifth-highest increase in attendance among all Division I teams as illustrated in the official basketball attendance figures released this week by the NCAA.
The figures compare average attendances from the 2013-14 and 2014-15 seasons with the Nittany Lions welcoming an increase of 1,787 fans per game. The only teams with a greater increase were N.C. State (2,795), Auburn (2,002), Virginia (1,972) and Utah (1,790).
On average, Penn State fans filled the Bryce Jordan Center to the tune of 8,044 fans per contest with a season-high showing of 11,702 for a Feb. 7 game against Nebraska. The Nittany Lions posted 10 wins in front of home crowds in the BJC last season for its highest win total since 2010-11 (13).
As a conference, the Big Ten led the nation in men's basketball attendance for the 39th-consecutive season. The league recorded an average attendance of 12,781 patrons per game, including regular-season home games and all seven sessions of the Big Ten Men's Basketball Tournament. In addition, the Big Ten led all conferences with a home and conference tournament total of 3,195,137 fans, the second-highest total of any conference in NCAA history.
The Big Ten set conference records for total attendance (3,076,641) and attendance in conference games only (1,677,589) at its home arenas this season. It marks the first time in history that the Big Ten has eclipsed the three-million mark in total attendance.
At a record pace, over 90 percent of Penn State season ticket holders from a year ago have renewed their tickets for the Nittany Lions' upcoming campaign with well over a hundred new accounts waiting for seat selection. For the first time, fans are able to select their season ticket location using Virtual VenueTM. The simulated Bryce Jordan Center provides real-time display of available seating; including details regarding price, nearby amenities and conveniences and a virtual view from the seat