The Univ. of Michigan ticket office "has reached out to students regarding a downward trend in basketball ticket requests," according to Tony Paul of the DETROIT NEWS. The department, in an email sent to students who had not yet renewed for next season, wrote, "So far, men's basketball student ticket renewals are significantly lower than they have been in recent years. ... We would like to find out why so we can better serve future student ticket-holders." Paul notes Michigan basketball "had a tough time with attendance this season, and not just with the students." There were "large pockets of empty seats for almost all games, even the marquee games like Maryland and Michigan State." UM Associate AD/External Communications & PR Kurt Svoboda said that it is "too early to tell how many Michigan students will hold tickets" for '16-17, as the "deadline for tickets isn't until the summer." For most games this past season, Crisler Center "allocated about 25 percent of the capacity, or 2,530 seats, to students." There were "no games" where all the student tickets were claimed. The home schedule "could be one reason for the lack of enthusiasm." Outside of Xavier and the Big Ten slate, Michigan "didn't have an appealing opponent at Crisler Center" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/13).
