Yeah, nobody knows for sure. I believe this coronavirus epidemic will subside before next season comes around, and things will get back to normal. Hope I am not being overly optimistic. If if does, I'd like to see a rise in attendance, but there has not been much increase the last couple years despite a return to winning and success, and 20+ win seasons. Here are the attendance numbers over the last decade or so:
.........Nat.
Year/rank/Gms..total.....avg....change
2020........17..96,059..5,651 up 222
2019........16..86,871..5,429 down 270
2018 .......15..85,489..5,699 up 212
2017 #96 15 82,318 5,487 down 466
2016 #91 15 89,299 5,953 up 227
2015 #94 16 91,614 5,726 down 882
2014 #74 17 112,335 6,608 up 51
2013 #79 18 118,024 6,557 down 1,083
2012 #68 16 122,245 7,640 down 807
2011 #56 16 135,148 8,447 down 892
2010 #52 15 140,079 9,339 up 229
As can be seen, even after winning the 2019 MVC Tournament for the first time since 1988, and playing in the NCAA for the first time since 2006, the 2020 average attendance only rose 222 fans per game, and it is still below where it was 2 years ago! And Bradley's attendance is down nearly 40% from where it was in 2010 (9,339 per game). We know most of the reasons for the drop, but I think a lot of people thought the attendance would rebound a bit better than it has, considering the recent successes. All we can hope for is to keep the winning going, and more people will come.
I'm thankful this coronavirus epidemic happened when it did, and not a month or two earlier when it would have had a devastating effect on the 2019-20 season. Or if it happened a few months later when it would have impacted the 2020-21 season.