Why can’t local professional sports teams attract more fans? Some think the spotty attendance at Wichita Wranglers and Thunder games confirms fears that Wichita isn’t big enough to support pro sports. But it’s not as if Wichita doesn’t have sports fans — even fanatics. Wichita State University Shocker baseball and basketball pull in large crowds and inspire intense loyalty. Shocker fans identify with the players and the tradition, and feel an active part of the program. I think local pro teams need to work harder at cultivating that sense of fan ownership. It can happen: Wichita Wings soccer attracted a rabid following in the 1980s (before it lost its major-league affiliation), drawing almost 10,000 fans a game. What do you think of the prospects for pro sports in Wichita? Why aren’t more people coming out to the games?
Posted by Randy Scholfield
Follow us
