LSU's crowd size dwindling at Angel Reese's homecoming game leaves spectators astonished
LSU's open-air spectacle falls short as Angel Reese, the standout LSU women's basketball player, returned home for a preseason exhibition game with the Chicago Sky against the Brazilian national team. Held at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, the venue could accommodate a staggering 13,215 fans, yet the packed crowd only mustered a meager 6,373 on the night, according to ESPN reports.
This disappointing turnout left fans and spectators both taken aback and disappointed. "LSU, I'm calling you out! Angel Reese is back at home, and that should've been a sold-out arena. No excuses," one user exclaimed on social media, echoing the sentiments of many.
On the court, the Sky stormed to an impressive 89-62 victory, with Reese taking the lead for Chicago with 15 points and 10 rebounds. The game also saw the return of Hailey Van Lith, who had played a season at LSU. Despite the excitement surrounding these players' returns, the arena was far from bursting at the seams, leaving more than half of its seats empty.
This scarcely-filled arena sparked wide-spread astonishment. "Angel Reese deserved a sold-out homecoming," one fan commented, while another questioned, "Where all the LSU fans at? Why isn't Angel Reese's homecoming game at LSU sold out??"
The reasons behind this subpar attendance are unclear, but several factors may have played a role, such as the exhibition nature of the match, the speed of ticket sales, and perhaps even the enthusiasm of the fanbase itself. In contrast, Caitlin Clark's recent homecoming game in Iowa sold out within 45 minutes and had resale prices averaging $440, suggesting a stronger turnout could have been possible.
As the Sky prepares for their next preseason game against the Minnesota Lynx on Tuesday, fans and analysts alike are left questioning the support for LSU women's basketball and its star players.
- The attending crowd at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, despite having a capacity of 13,215, was surprised to only number 6,373 for LSU's preseason WNBA exhibition game with the Chicago Sky.
- Despite a sold-out arena being expected for Angel Reese's homecoming game, many fans were disappointed that over half of the seats remained empty.
- LSU's poor attendance at the exhibition game prompted questionings about the fanbase's enthusiasm and support for the women's basketball team and its standout player Angel Reese.
- While tickets for Caitlin Clark's recent homecoming game in Iowa sold out in 45 minutes, averaging resale prices of $440, it is unclear what factors led to a much lower turnout for Angel Reese's homecoming game.
