Lady Vols Basketball—NCAA Single Game Attendance Record

On January 3, 1998, the Lady Vols vs. Connecticut game set the single game NCAA attendance record for women’s basketball when 24,597 fans (62 more fans than Thompson-Boling Arena held) watched the game. John Ward, Voice of the Vols broadcaster of men’s football and basketball games, stirred a debate over the attendance record in February by suggesting on air that the Lady Vols inflated their attendance by counting fans with reduced-price tickets. Women’s Athletic Director Joan Cronan responded that it was an interpretive difference, in which Ward considered “paid” attendance only those tickets for which full price was paid, and the Lady Vols considered a “paid” ticket a ticket with value. The men’s basketball team counts as “paid attendance” every ticket they sell, regardless of whether the ticket is used at the game; the Lady Vols count all who attend the game.