After the sixth meet of the 2013 season, the two-time defending NCAA Champion Alabama gymnastics team leads the nation in both average attendance and single meet attendance.
“We have the best fans in the world,” head coach Sarah Patterson said. “They are so loyal and bring such enthusiasm and excitement to Coleman Coliseum. Our ladies love to compete for them.”
After home meets against LSU, Kentucky and Auburn so far this season, Alabama has averaged a NCAA-best 14,519 fans per home event. The Crimson Tide’s crowd of 15,075 fans for the annual Power of Pink meet v. Kentucky on Jan. 25 was the largest in the nation this season and was the 10th sellout in school history.
While the Pac 12’s Utah is ranked second in average attendance (14,485), the rest of the top five comes out of the SEC with Georgia averaging 8,477 fans per meet in third place. Florida is averaging 6,439 and Auburn 5,064 for fourth and fifth, respectively.
Alabama has also been the nation’s top draw on the road this season, where it is averaging 7,916 fans per trip. Overall, through all six meets (three home and three away) Alabama is averaging 11,218 fans per meet. Utah is second in overall (home and away) attendance, with 8,788, giving the Tide a lead of more than 2,400 per meet.
The Tide returns to action this Friday in Fayetteville, Ark., when it will take on the Razorbacks starting at 7 p.m. CT. Alabama’s next home meet will be against the UCLA Bruins on Friday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Leading in today’s Crimson White:
Alabama gymnastics team earns 106th consecutive victory over Auburn
