Tigers in need of a crowd at turnstile
Attendance sets figure paid by Griz
The average turnstile count at University of Memphis men’s basketball games has dropped to 5,889 this season with three home games remaining. The dip will reduce the $800,000 annual payment the school receives from the Grizzlies — and could result in no payment if the per-game count remains below 6,000.
The Commercial Appeal received the turnstile counts of the past five seasons Friday following an open-records request. An original request for the same information was denied based on a miscommunication of how the university refers to turnstile counts.
In the document received Friday, the turnstile count — termed “pass-through count” by the U of M — was given for each game from the 2011-12 season to the 18 games (including the exhibition against LeMoyne-Owen) this season. The turnstile count measures the number of fans who physically
attend each game as opposed to the announced attendance, which is the number of tickets purchased and includes complimentary and students’ tickets, which are covered by student fees.
In accorda nce wit h its lease at FedExForum, the Tigers could receive no payment unless they boost their turnstile average above 6,000 during the remaining three games. If the Tigers average 6,666 through the turnstiles for games against UCF, SMU and Tulsa, they’ll reach 6,000.
“We’re comfortable that we’ll make it,” U of M Deputy Athletic Director Mark Alnutt said Friday.
In a move apparently a imed at reachi ng t he 6,000 figure, the U of M athletic department’s corporate partners on Friday received an email offering up to 50 complimentary tickets for the Feb. 25 home game vs. SMU or the Feb. 28 home game vs. Tulsa.
An average turnstile count of 10,000 is required to trigger a full $800,000 payment to the university. Any figure below 10,000 results in a reduced payment in proportion to the shortfall. An average below 6,000, according to the agreement, means “the amount of the University Guaranteed Payment for said Basketball Seasons shall be zero dollars ($0.00).”
The basketball program has failed to attract an average of 10,000 per game through the turnstiles for the past two seasons. Last year’s average was 7,127 for 19 games. For the previous three seasons, the Tigers drew an average 10,000 or more, including 11, 306 for 19 games in 2011-12. Thirteen of 19 home games in the 2011-12 season attracted 10,000 or more through the turnstiles for a team that finished 26-9 and played in the NCAA tournament.
If the turnstile count were to remain below 6,000 after the final three home games this season and again in 2016-17, the Grizzlies would have the authority to terminate the agreement.
The announced attendance through 17 games (not counting the exhibition) is 11,721, a 16 percent decline from a season ago. The basketball program failed to reach the postseason a year ago for the first time since going 1516 under Johnny Jones in 1999-2000. The Tigers, in their seventh season under coach Josh Pastner, are in jeopardy of missing the postseason for a second consecutive season with a 14-10 overall record (5-6 in the American Athletic Conference). The Tigers play Tulane at 1 p.m. Saturday in New Orleans.
With the attendance f ig ures i n decline t he past two seasons, U of M athletic director Tom Bowen recently said the university is interested in renegotiating its lease at FedExForum.
“We are halfway into a 20-year agreement and it’s probably a good time to come together and talk about what’s working and what’s not,” Bowen told The Commercial Appeal.
Reached Friday, Bowen declined to comment further, referring questions to Alnutt. The Grizzlies have declined to address the payment to the U of M or the possibility of renegotiating the lease.