Declining fan and student turnout puts pressure on ASU men’s basketball

TEMPE – With three home games remaining, Arizona State men’s basketball fans still have opportunities to give Desert Financial Arena a true home-court advantage. Aside from the immediate stakes, this stretch could help define the future of recruiting, the program’s trajectory and ultimately, its place in the Big 12 pecking order.

Fan turnout at ASU men’s basketball home games has declined in recent seasons. Before COVID-19, the team averaged 9,251 fans per game in the 2019-20 season. In comparison, attendance dropped to an average of 8,644 fans per game in the 2024-25 season. While several big matchups in 2023 still brought in more than 5,200 students, crowds during the 2025-26 season have been noticeably smaller, with an increasing number of empty seats in the student section.

After a recent home loss to the University of Arizona, coach Bobby Hurley voiced his frustration with the environment inside Desert Financial Arena.

“Our fans that did show up were vocal,” Hurley said in a postgame press conference. “Unfortunately, there were too many red shirts in the arena. It was not a home game. It was like a crowd, 50-50, 60-40, either way.”

That expectation of fan support extends beyond the coaching staff and into the locker room. Earlier this season, Arizona State guard Moe Odum said in a pregame interview, “I expect it to be a sold-out crowd,” reflecting how much visible fan presence factors into the team’s mindset heading into home games.

The message was clear: Home-court advantage cannot exist without a home crowd. So attention shifts to the student section and how it influences the energy in the arena.

The student section plays a central role in shaping the atmosphere at home games, often creating the energy that carries through the arena and down to the team. Helping lead that effort is Arizona State freshman Jayden Downs, a leader of the 942 Crew, the university’s official student section that organizes turnout, themes, and in-game engagement. Downs works hard to rally students and build the kind of environment that can influence the team’s performance no matter the record.

“You can never change what you did in the past, but you can show up now and give them that energy,” Downs said. “Having that support in the arena makes a difference for the players on the court.”

Downs believes that the presence and energy of students can influence not just the outcome of a game, but also how the program is perceived by players and recruits considering their future.

“When students show up and are able to fill the arena, that shows pride,” Downs said. “A recruit or player considering returning sees that and knows that when they put on the maroon and gold jersey, they’ll know that they have the entire Sun Devil fan base behind them.”

Guiding that energy from the court is Megan Finder, the basketball emcee, who keeps students engaged during breaks and emphasizes how important that support is for the team and recruits. Finder encouraged fans to show up for the remaining home games. 

“The students showing up impacts the team more than they know. The players want to know that people are cheering them on,” Finder said. “It obviously is not best-case scenario when no one is making any noise.”

Students who make the effort to come out explained what motivates them to keep supporting the team and how they feel their energy impacts the players on the court. One of those students, Sean Sullivan, an ASU junior, has attended games consistently over the past few years.

“When Desert Financial Arena is loud, it’s tough for any visiting team.” Sullivan said. “Momentum in basketball is real. A loud crowd after a defensive stop or big shot can swing a game.”

As part of their efforts to rally students, the 942 Crew is working to keep student energy high with theme nights, including a neon night planned for Tuesday’s game against Texas Tech designed to draw students into Desert Financial Arena and enhance the home-court advantage.

“We are going to be giving away neon T-shirts or rally towels,” Downs said. “This game is a great way to get students excited and show their pride about ASU basketball.” 

Two of ASU’s final three home games come against ranked opponents, No. 13 Texas Tech and No. 8 Kansas, but the end of the season will test more than the roster; it will test the support around it. Filling the stands will shape the game-day atmosphere and provide a signal to recruits and current players about the level of support within the program, which may influence recruiting and convince players to stay with ASU. 

Showing up isn’t just about cheering, it may be an investment in the future of ASU basketball.

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