Building a base: Michigan women's coach Kim Barnes Arico committed to growing program's fan support

Michigan’s first NCAA Tournament season in 11 years didn’t exactly net large crowds in the Crisler Center last winter.

In 14 home games, Michigan brought in just 24,920 people. That's an average of 1,780 per game in an arena that seats more than 12,000 fans.

The Wolverines’ home attendance was third-worst in the Big Ten and a considerable margin behind league-leading Michigan State, which had an average attendance of 7,505 at the Breslin Center last season.

The task of building a larger fan base isn’t something that’ll happen overnight, Barnes Arico admits.

And, of course, consistent winning seasons will help the matter. But there are other areas the first-year coach says she’ll focus on to keep the turnstiles moving next season and beyond.

“I want to get people to know my face, to make a connection,” she said. "If you have a relationship, maybe they’ll come out and be in the stands and join our program. I think that’s really something that I would like to do and I want to get out there as much as possible.”

Barnes Arico has already made her way through the banquet circuit throughout Michigan circles, stopping by the Ufer Club golf outing in May, as well as Michigan’s softball camp.

She’s taken the time to learn as much about the Ann Arbor area as possible (and adopted Angelo’s as one of her favorite breakfast spots). And so far, she’s impressed.

“Whether you come as a student, or a little kid or to work here, people stay here,” she said. “And that says a lot about the university and the community. And that really shows me that this is a place I want to work and a place where I want to raise my family.”

As far as immediate action goes, Michigan will attempt to improve the atmosphere for women’s basketball games next season by installing a $500,000 curtain that covers the upper bowl of the Crisler Center.

Michigan hopes the curtain, an idea Barnes Arico said she’s excited about, will create a more intimate setting for fans in the lower half of the arena -- and perhaps bring a bit more noise, as well.

Creating a consistent buzz around a program that’s never really had one is tough.

Barnes Arico knows that, but she also looks forward to the challenge.

“I think it’s really important for myself, my staff and my players to open our doors and be involved with the community,” she says. “High school coaches, young kids, the senior community -- we want to try a little bit of everything to make a connection with people.

“People want to be a part of something special, and that includes winning. If we continue to win and move forward, people will want to be on board with that.”

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