Does Television Impact Attendance at Eastern Illinois University Sporting Events

This study tested the relationship between Eastern Illinois University home football and basketball games on television and attendance at these events. Attendance during a ten-year period for both EIU football and basketball games was recorded and dates of these contests were researched to determine if the games were telecast. After categorizing the figures into eight groups, the four pairs were compared using a T-test. The study found televising EIU home football games had no significant impact on attendance at these contests. However, a significant difference was noted between EIU home basketball games televised and those not aired. Attendance actually increased when EIU home basketball games were televised. These mixed findings are quite comparable to other studies and popular wisdom, yet the basketball results yield a much more common philosophy within EIU\u27s sports administration department