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As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe struggling economy clearly affected attendance at this year’s Big Ten men’s basketball tournament, as ticket sales declined 15 percent from last year, according to figures released today by the Indiana Sports Corp.
Tickets sold for the four-day tournament at Conseco Fieldhouse in downtown Indianapolis totaled 68,098, down from 80,012 in 2008.
Even Purdue University’s appearance in the championship game yesterday against Ohio State University couldn’t lift attendance figures. The game drew 12,526 fans compared to 14,579 last year when Wisconsin defeated Illinois to win the title. Seating capacity at the venue is 18,345.
Sports Corp. spokesman John Dedman said the decrease was understandable considering the extent of the recession.
“The fact we were only down 10 to 15 percent is a testament to how great the event really is,” he said.
The Big Ten, however, wasn’t the only conference to register smaller attendance figures. The Atlantic Coast Conference sold tickets to the general public for the first time since 1966.
There were thousands of empty seats at the Southeastern Conference tourney in Tampa, Fla., and the Pac-10, Big 12 and Conference USA also reported drop-offs from previous years.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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