Total WNBA Regular Season Attendance Dips Slightly In 2005

(From Sports Business Daily/The Los Angeles Times)

The WNBA, whose PLAYOFFS begin tonight, DREW 1,806,362 IN TOTAL ATTENDANCE for the 2005 REGULAR SEASON, DOWN from 1,899,106 in 2004, according to MIKE TERRY of THE LOS ANGELES TIMES L.A.

WNBA attendance figures represent a combination of tickets sold and complimentary tickets used.

WNBA ATTENDANCE PEAKED AT 2,391,972 IN 2002. In 2003, when the league went from 16 to 14 teams but increased the number of games from 32 to 34, the total FELL to 2,100,630. The league eliminated one more team prior to the 2004 season, reaching its current alignment of 13.

Terry noted THE SPARKS' average attendance this season FELL to 8,838 per game from 10,428 last year.

SPARKS President JOHNNY BUSS said, "Our attendance has leveled off. It would be one thing if it leveled off with the same interest. But it is diminished interest, and that concerns me."

Buss added, "I see a lot less interest in the WNBA. There's the upside that people believe the league is here to stay and will catch a game at some point, but not so like they did when they first supported the league. Before they supported it in greater numbers for its existence."

WNBA President DONNA ORENDER said after the playoffs, "we will sit down and strategically map out what we want to do regarding attendance. We want filled arenas. How we map out that process will take a little time."