But that is to be expected. Teams doing well will always attract more crowds, but what is important is the average size has increased.

So has the number of seats available, so it doesn't tell you much. Only really useful to compare with last season, but even then takes Vector/Hisense/PA combo to do it.

With only 8 teams it doesn't take much to increase the averages especially with Perth hosting 10000+ per game but on a positive note it's still an increase.
Now if only the NBL had a decent website or decent TV coverage

Regardless of why, the fact is last round was the highest in 5 years and that info well be welcomed with open arms to any sponsors/future sponsors.

Hawks numbers have been going up over the past 3 games. Last week was a shade under 3,100 but there was more people there than last week. Could have been closer to 3,200-3,250

Tigers should play most of their games at Hisense, also Breakers should play all their games at Vector if possible, they get minimum 6000 there. NBL need to work on getting better crowds in Sydney, Woolongong and Townsville

Yeah whatever way you cut it the number is up and if you want to pick that apart i don't think you really care. I would rather an increase, however it happens than a decrease in attendance.

@wildcats80: Melbourne will be playing all home games at Margaret Court Arena (capacity 8k) next season.

Possible exception of games that are on during the tennis, if they can't get a road trip the entire time.

i received an email this afternoon regarding semi final dates for 1st vs 4th - the games are scheduled for the 27th (thurs) in Perth, the 29th (Saturday) and then the 31st (Monday) if needed.

If Perth play Sydney in Sydney on the 29th there could be a problem because the Swans also play that night. Do you think this will effect crowd numbes during the SF?!

3 games in 6 days + travel. What's the rush to get the post season out ove the way?

Perth Arena is booked for the 3rd through to the 6th, which might have something to do with it.

The Tigers signed a deal to play at Margaret Court Arena (capacity 7,500) in mid-2013. They start playing there in 2015. When the tennis is on they will play their home games at the SN&HC.

Like the Rod Laver Arena before it, the Tigers (and netball's Vixens who will also play at the new MCA) have found the price of renting Hisense just a bit too high for their budget.

The 36ers aren't doing too badly in their attendance figures so far this season.

Highest: 6,676 vs Breakers - Rd.12, 4 January
Lowest: 4,080 vs Hawks - Rd.8, 29 November

Total Attendance: 66,344
Average: 5,529 (technically 5,828.66666)

I'd expect the highest and average to rise this Friday night.

"They start playing there in 2015."
The season, or the calendar year?

Have we established why they can't go on a road trip during the Open? I can't imagine it being that much worse than the Hopman Cup, which Perth manage with, and there's no overlap between the two so it shouldn't hamstring anything too much.

There is a brief update on Tigers' negotiations for a move to Margaret Court here:

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/basketball/melbourne-tigers-coach-chris-anstey-calls-on-fans-to-throw-support-behind-hisense-arena-move/story-fni2u9cl-1226815553686

The 4 biggest markets have the 4 best teams ... stands to reason

"The 4 biggest markets have the 4 best teams ... stands to reason"

That would appear to make sense, but we've only had four capital city teams in the SFs twice in the past 15 years.

Perth crowd helps, but it was very good to see great crowds in Melbourne, New Zealand and Adelaide, as well as a good crowd in the Gong. No weak links this week, everyone turned up in the numbers they ought.

I dont think that there is any reason why teams should be averaging some terrible numbers, i think on licences they should have to maintain a certain crowd number.

Say the number is a percentage of the population eg. 3.5% of the areas population or 5000 people, which ever is smaller.

This means smaller markets of around 100000 people only have to maintain 3500 people per game, while bigger cities have to maintain at least 5000 average.

Imagine there was a team in Jakarta, it'd get 20,000 a game.

"Hopman Cup is small in comparison to Aus Open which has weeks of setup and qualifying and courts open to training from the end of December so it would have to be one mega long road trip for the Tigers."

Qualifying events aren't in Melbourne though - or at least not at Melbourne Park IIRC.

Given the year after there will supposedly be 22 home games, there's probably a good chance the Tigers will keep a presence at The Cage.

^what anon said