The Miami (Ohio) University RedHawks enjoyed a stellar basketball season, concluding with a 31-0 record. This achievement places them among the elite, as only the eighth undefeated regular season team in men’s Division I basketball since 1978-79.
Attendance Soars as RedHawks Dominate
The team’s success translated to a surge in fan attendance. More than 10,000 fans attended each of the final four home games, a significant increase from the average of 1,860 in the first 10 games.
The game on Jan. 27, following the winter break, drew a crowd of 5,920 students, approximately 30% of the student body. The athletic department had to use dump trucks to remove snow from the parking lot to accommodate the unexpectedly large crowd.
Concessions were also ramped up, with additional staffing and pop-up stands selling specific items like water and pretzels around the concourse. Millett Hall, with a seating capacity of about 9,400, accommodated around 1,000 spectators per game in standing-room-only sections towards the end of the season.
Continuity Fuels RedHawks’ Success
The RedHawks built upon their success from the previous 2024-25 season, where they won 25 games. The team’s top five players in minutes this year were all returning players. This continuity is unusual, as successful mid-major teams often lose their best players to the transfer portal and bigger, richer schools.
Since New Year’s, the team has won three overtime games and five other one-score games in regulation.
Revenue Growth Lags Despite Fan Support
Despite the heightened buzz around the men’s basketball team, the athletic department has not seen a direct increase in revenue. The basketball team is projected to generate less ticketing revenue this season than the Miami’s men’s ice hockey squad, which finished 18-16-2 and plays in a venue with a capacity of less than 3,700.
Millett Hall lacks the premium seating options found in the hockey arena, such as suites and a club level. It only has three small reserved sections that aren’t first-come, first-served.
Students receive free entry to basketball games, meaning increased attendance doesn’t translate to ticket revenue. General admission tickets are priced at $18, and the department chose not to raise prices despite the increased demand.
“We just want people to fill the building and enjoy the ride for right now,” athletic director David Sayler said. “This isn’t about trying to capture a single moment and get a little bump here. This is about getting the program exposed, having fun with it … but looking to the future as to how we can better monetize and pour funds back into the program.”
The hockey team has built up season-ticket demand over the years. Sayler hopes the basketball team will develop a similar season-ticket base from the emerging fanbase.
Millett Hall, built in 1968, also houses the women’s basketball and women’s volleyball teams. It is outdated in terms of fan experience and space for three varsity programs.