Lack of fan enthusiasm at the UC part of the problem?

[HoopsterJones]

Just a small theory that maybe the lack of enthusiasm or engagement of the home crowd at the United Center contributing to the unimpressive home record?

I do realize that injuries, quality of the opponent, and players needing to execute are the biggest reasons...however players do feed off the energy of their home crowd to some effect.

I've noticed that the crowd isn't into it as much for the past few months at the UC, at least not to the level they have been the past couple of seasons.

[kulaz3000]

Blaming the crowd is a massive cope out. Bulls fans like most fans of their home teams respond to effort and watching their players play hard, so if anything the players have only themselves to blame for having a deflated home crowd.

For many decades of Bulls team, their hallmark has been gritty, hard working teams, and Chicago Bulls fans respond to that type of effort, this season they simply haven't seen that effort on a consistent basis so you can't really blame them. They do their part by showing up and maxing up the building practically every game, when are the players going to do theirs?

[GimmeDat]

It is a massive cop-out, for sure, but it'd be nice to see the crowd show some more support.

Good play can encourage more fan engagement, but the vice-versa also applies.

[[e]]

From my personal experience, the UC has been the same as always this season. The Dallas game was honestly probably the best UC environment I've been in the last few years.

Really don't think the fan support has that big of an impact. I'd say the players aren't inspiring the fans, more than the fans aren't inspiring the players. The poor home play is on the players, not the fans...

[Vbulls213]

This team just isnt working hard right now for the fans to cheer for them.
Our bench doesnt even help.
Only Jo and Niko really cheer their teammates.
Snell, Cam, MDJ, Hinrich, Brooks and Rose will just clap and stand even if their teammate hits a buzzer beater.
Lifeless bench we have.

[barcodekiller]

We need some Nate Robinson to bring life to that bench

[ATRAIN53]

After watching the Seahawks and the whole 12th man and how that IS an advantage for them-
How could a lifeless UC not be a factor?

I've heard so many players say after big games how the crowd was a factor. Players love this. they hear it. They hear the MVP chants. They hear the boos. They feed off it, no question.

It could def improve, but this is not going to change . The 100/200 level is full of corporates that come to multiple games, they know each other and chat and are texting on their phones. You can't stand up or other fans will yell SIT DOWN. if I'm gonna scream for a good play - and you have to be standing to really yell, yelling while sitting on your butt is not effective. You have to be polite or they will usher you out. It feels more like a movie than a sporting event.

The real fans sit up in the 300 crowd, folks that come to one game a year and cheer for anything.
Strangers having fun at games up there.

It's the same way at Hawks games, the crowd is dead after the anthem.

Fortunately it seems to get louder in the playoffs when game mean more and folks pay more attention.

[dice]

minor issue. but it's one that's been present for years

[SteveDobbs]

I don't think it's part of the problem at all, but I do wonder why it is a problem unto itself.

Shouldn't most other arenas have the same problems? Most expensive tickets / season tickets in general are often bought up by companies who give them to clients or employees who don't care as much, thus the crowd response seems bad because some of the people aren't as invested.
Why doesn't this happen everywhere?

[reppin_the_847]

I don't think it's part of the problem at all, but I do wonder why it is a problem unto itself.

Shouldn't most other arenas have the same problems? Most expensive tickets / season tickets in general are often bought up by companies who give them to clients or employees who don't care as much, thus the crowd response seems bad because some of the people aren't as invested.
Why doesn't this happen everywhere?

I think this happens more in Chicago cuz it's a more corporate, white collar city these days (unlike Chicago's olden days decades ago when it was more blue collar & working class). Much more so than say Oklahoma City or something.

You want to see worse attendance situations, check out the Palace of Auburn Hills where the Detroit Pistons play. They've been struggling with attendance. That's one stadium that is actually about 30 miles from downtown Detroit. They play deep in the suburbs. Milwaukee has also struggled with attendance for the Bucks although I'm not sure about this year.

I'm sure a lot of the NY Knicks crowd is corporate, but New Yorkers are more brash in general compared to the average well-to-do white collar Chicagoan. Plus more of them aren't gonna be driving home compared to Chicago fans. Either taking a cab or train home, so they can afford to drink a bit more at the game. It's just too bad for them that the Knicks SUCK. Folks have been rolling up to their games with brown paper bags over their heads. Knicks tickets are also absurdly overpriced. Most expensive NBA tickets in the country.

[Keller61]

Yeah, our crowd is pretty lame compared to others that cheer on their team through every possession. If we have a 15 point lead that gets cut to 8, our crowd goes silent as if we just choked away the championship.

[Fl_Flash]

It's on the players to play. As dead as the UC crowd is I've heard a smattering of boo's the last few home games. Perhaps the crowd is paying attention and is just acknowledging what we all see. No effort and no pride. What's to cheer for? Play hard, win the game, score 100 or more for free Big Macs. What could be simpler?

[Stratmaster]

The corporate thing is the same everywhere. My son got me tickets to the Bulls/Grizz game here in Memphis in a corporate box through his corporate channels . Current ticket prices mean that you have to have some cash to go to a game anywhere. I think the corporate aspect is an excuse for the crowd, and I think the crowd is an excuse for the players.

The Bulls just need to step up and play. The rest will follow.

[CousinOfDeath]

It's more of an issue then you'd think. I went to 3 games at the beginning of Jan. and felt like the complete lack of interest until the last 6 minutes created negative energy in the arena. It's kinda weird that nobody cheers, and since nobody cheers it deters more people from cheering. Really weird.

[Stratmaster]

I'm going to my first game ever at the UC (saw many at the old stadium; moved to Memphis right when the UC was built) 2/12 against the Cavs. I will likely scream loud enough to make up for several other attendees

[SpinninHouse]

Our crowd sucks because a lot of the people in attendance are exec's in suits or 5-year old kids. We're not the worst though. At least we sell out.

On a side note, does any one remember when the UC crowd was chanting "Fire Lovie" a few years back? That was hilarious.

[Mech Engineer]

When the Bulls are making a comeback, making plays there will be noise. Every arena goes silent if your home team is trailing by 15 points at the end of 1st quarter. If they make good plays on defense or offense, there will be noise.

Although, they might be missing Boozer's screams compared to maybe Pau admiring Thibs's chalk board art during timeouts

[kypitreal]

for the record, the bulls game operations (entertainment) department got a new director at the beginning of the 2013-14 season. A different person from the previous 30 years does in-game music now, and the djs are also recent additions. Both don't have much previous NBA-crowd experience, so there is a lack of something at games. You see OKC, Toronto, Cleveland etc crowds fully invested, but at the UC its pretty much dead unless something happens on the court. No "lets go bulls" chants, in-game crowd prompts, music for traveling and player scores etc. that you see at other arenas. And theres way too many boring generic rap instrumentals that dont get the crowd involved. Bulls fans at milwaukee games are even better then UC crowds.

[jacoby1us]

These guys need to freaking play, that is the end of story.

[Payt10]

It's a small part of the problem. It's more of an annoyance than anything.