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2018 Abstracts

Does Game Attendance Effect Winning Percentage?

Taylor Leavitt, Southern Utah University College

sporting events are a huge ordeal at most universities across the nation. Students, faculty and community members begin tailgating hours before a football game every Saturday during the season. As soon as football has ended, basketball becomes a main focus and then spring sports take over. This study examines the effects attendance at sporting events has on winning percentages at home games while also considering the opposite, the effect winning percentages have on attendance. The model examines football, men’s and women’s basketball, and gymnastics events at Southern Utah University. The different variables being measured/controlled for on winning percentage include attendance at games, pre-season versus regular season games, special event games such as rivalry or homecoming games, and day of the week. The results of the study indicate higher attendance at Southern Utah University games result in a higher winning percentage. The results also show for men’s and women’s basketball that having a week day game increases attendance at games compared to a weekend game. If a team already has a high winning percentage, games are likely to have higher attendance and therefore help the team to continue to win games. ** The result indicated in the above abstract are only hypothesized results and not actual at this point. **