Project Type
Poster
Publication Date
Spring 4-25-2025
College
College of Business
Faculty Mentor #1
Dr. Kashef Majid
Abstract
Athletics play a significant role in college communities, providing entertainment, camaraderie, and purpose for students and fans alike. This study examines attendance trends at University of Mary Washington (UMW) home softball games, analyzing factors that may influence spectator turnout. Using a dataset spanning from 2015 to 2024, this research explores attendance numbers in relation to variables such as temperature, time of game, day of the week, opponent type, and UMW’s win percentage. A linear regression analysis conducted in IBM SPSS identified temperature and day of the week as the only statistically significant factors impacting attendance, with p-values of 0.007 and 0.001, respectively. Results indicate that colder temperatures correlate with lower attendance, while weekday games tend to attract more spectators. The study suggests that UMW softball can increase attendance through strategic scheduling and enhanced promotional efforts, particularly for weekend and cold-weather games. However, limitations such as missing attendance data and the exclusion of travel considerations may impact the findings. This research provides insights that could help optimize attendance strategies for collegiate softball and similar athletic events.