[CROWD COUNT] Once again, Portland, Texas A&M, BYU and North Carolina lead the NCAA Division I women’s ranks in attendance. BYU joined the other three teamsin averaging 2,000 or fans a game during the regular season.
Portland is averaging 3,633 fans a game and should break its overall attendance record of 47,082 set in 2008 this weekend,assuming it wins its first-round match against UTSA.
The NCAA women’s record of 3,983 fans a game set by North Carolina in 2001 is beyond reach.
Portland is the only teamaveraging more than 3,000 fans a game. Texas A&M averaged 3,211 in 2009.
Four teams average 2,000 or more fans a game in 2010, up from three in 2009, and 20 teams average 1,000-plusfans in 2010, the same as in 2009.
Of the 20 teams, 15 have increased their average attendance over last year’s final figure.
The most notable drop has taken place atStanford, where the Cardinal’s average attendance is down 37 percent over last season’s final average despite its second straight unbeaten regular season.
New to the Top 20 in 2010 areUSC, Army, Texas Tech, Texas, Duke and Michigan.
Dropping below 1,000 fans a game and out of the Top 20 are Fresno State, Colorado, Florida State, Connecticut, UCLA and Tennessee.
2010 NCAA Division I Women Attendance
AVG. TEAM
3,633 Portland
2,524 Texas A&M
2,193BYU
2,122 North Carolina
1,819 New Mexico
1,718 South Carolina
1,686 Georgia
1,468 TCU
1,393 USC
1,304 Washington
1,294 Army
1,237 Florida
1,214 Virginia
1,192 Texas Tech
1,189 Penn State
1,138 Texas
1,111 Notre Dame
1,081 Duke
1,072 Michigan
1,008 Stanford