Dec. 23, 2001
Dec. 23, 2001
EASTON, Pa. (www.lafayette.edu) - Fans of Lafayette basketball, who have helped the Leopards lead the Patriot League in attendance the past four seasons, will be treated to a "Fan Appreciation Day" at the Dec. 30 game vs. Howard. Prizes from Lafayette's many corporate partners will be distributed throughout the 3:15 p.m. contest at Kirby Sports Center.
In addition, a signed copy of best-selling author John Feinstein's The Last Amateurs, a book which chronicles the 1999-2000 Patriot League season through the eyes of the student-athletes, will be given to one lucky fan in attendance.
Tickets are still available for the Leopards' game vs. Howard and can be purchased right here at GoLeopards.com or by calling the Lafayette athletic ticket office at (610) 330-5471.
Having led the Patriot League in attendance the past four seasons, Lafayette is once again leading the conference with an average of more than 2,000 fans per game this season. Holy Cross and Navy trail by nearly 300 fans per game.
In 2000-01, Lafayette averaged more than 2,500 fans per game, as over 30,000 came through the Kirby Sport Center gates to watch 12 home games. The Leopards had four home games with over 3,000 people in attendance in 2000-01: Princeton (3,154 on Dec. 6, 2000), Lehigh (3,128 on Jan. 10, 2001), Army (3,026 on Jan. 27, 2001) and Colgate (3,192 on Feb. 24, 2001). The Leopards' last regular-season game, vs. Colgate, proved to be the largest home crowd of the season.
In 1999-00, Lafayette averaged 2,474 fans per home contest with the highwater mark coming against Navy in the Patriot League Finals. Over 4,000 people packed into Kirby Sports Center to witness an 87-61 victory on March 10, 2000. Lafayette had six home dates in which 3,000 or more fans watched Lafayette go 14-1 at home. The Leopards also drew 16,131 fans for the Patriot League Tournament, the second highest attended tournament in Patriot League history (Navy drew 18,873 in 1998).
In 1998-99, six Lafayette games garnered 3,000 or more fans, as the Leopards drew an average of 2,864 fans per home meeting. The Patriot League Tournament Final vs. Bucknell (March 5, 1999) brought in the biggest crowd of the season with 3,700 fans. Lafayette went 10-2 at Kirby Sports Center that season.
The 1997-98 season brought in an average of 2,045 people per home game, the first season ever that Lafayette led the Patriot League in attendance. Bucknell drew the biggest crowd of the season (Feb. 7, 1998) with 3,174 fans.
