Fever officials credit a new focus on kids and digital media for salvaging ticket sales this seasonNBAE/GETTY IMAGES
Despite a franchise-worst 2-21 performance so far this season, the WNBA Indiana Fever "continue to draw fans -- enough to place them at No. 7 of the 12-team league in attendance, averaging 6,077 fans a game after the first 12 home contests," according to Erica Irish of the INDIANAPOLIS BUSINESS JOURNAL. But attendance to date is the "lowest in the 18-year history of the franchise." Fever officials think the decline is "mild considering the team's record and credit a relatively new focus on kids and digital media for salvaging ticket sales." Fever COO Julie Graue said, "We shifted our strategy to focus on getting more families to games." Key initiatives include "free meals -- a hot dog, chips and soft drink -- for the first 1,000 kids on Fridays and Saturday nights, expanded free admission to select seats for kids under five, and a 'Star Wars' theme night." Also new to the younger crowd this season is the "newly minted Family Fun Zone, bearing the name of one notable sponsor -- Peyton Manning Children's Hospital at St. Vincent" (IBJ.com, 7/18).
