TERRE HAUTE —
Though a group of Indiana State University students learned about statistics in class, they discovered even more at a baseball stadium.
Students in the Business 305 course taught by Ken Jones, lecturer of operations management and analysis, analyzed attendance data of the Terre Haute Rex, a summer collegiate baseball team in the Prospect League.
The students reviewed attendance figures and additional information, such as theme nights and average attendance for all the Prospect League teams, to determine what influences fan turnout. The project incorporated some of the classroom lessons to a project that can help the baseball organization.
“It just applies the concepts to real-life situations, not just numbers and stuff on a paper,” said senior Seth Bayless, a business administration major from Robinson, Ill., who worked on the project. “It’s something you can actually see, and you can grasp the big picture. It makes you think more analytically.”
The group created two different models, one predicting the Rex attendance, and a different one which incorporated league-wide attendance factors. The class found some interesting results: Rain on game day impacted attendance figures more than the day’s temperature, and a correlation existed between the number of players who eventually played for a Major League Baseball team and high turnout.
“With the Rex, we had our own information, and we did everything ourselves, so we were using what we actually learned in a real-life situation, so it actually made more sense once you look at the data,” said Halee Myers, a senior accounting major from Terre Haute.
Students also found that the average income of community residents did not influence attendance figures. A community’s size also did not significantly impact fan turnout – the Outlaws of Nashville, Tenn., attracted the fewest fans per game of any team in the league, according to figures on the Prospect League website. Nashville is much larger than most other league cities, which include Terre Haute, Danville, Ill., and Chillicothe, Ohio.
The Outlaws’ attendance may have been hindered by ownership issues, said Casey DeGroote, operations manager for the Terre Haute Rex. The Prospect League website posted a newspaper article in June that the league at the time was searching for a team owner. DeGroote thinks that the Nashville team’s attendance could increase within the coming years.
“The market down there is flooded with entertainment, so it might take a little longer than it probably did for us to get a fan base,” DeGroote said. “With us, I think the community is so yearning for baseball that we didn’t really have to do much.”
Additional factors, such as team success, also affected the attendance figures. That factor benefited the Rex, which made the postseason in just the team’s second year in the league. The team’s attendance increased by about 190 fans from its inaugural season to just over 1,000 fans per home game this year.
“Our last three games were three of our biggest nights, so that was right when the playoff hunt was going on,” said Matt Foster, finance manager for the Terre Haute Rex. “The class presented that winning percentage has a lot to do with your attendance, and that really showed towards the end of the season.”
DeGroote and Foster attended a presentation by the stats class students, who discussed their findings about the data. Foster said the information from the project will help with forecasting budgets and ticket sales next year.
“There are a lot of unknown variables in there, such as whether it will rain, so we have to be conservative when we are forecasting,” he said after the presentation. But the project “shows the affect it has on attendance, so it will help with forecasting that for next year.”
Jones conceived the idea for the project after learning about the Rex, which plays its games “literally about four or five blocks” from ISU’s Scott College of Business.
“Initially, we thought as a class that maybe we could perform some classic analysis in the classroom -- looking at win-loss records or socioeconomic demographics,” Jones said, “but very quickly, we deduced that maybe there was more we could do to help the Rex organization operationally, to help them succeed in some way.”
The project also will help the participating students become more employable, since they can reference the experience in which they used class lessons to benefit an organization, Myers said.
The Rex members hope to keep the momentum from this season going into next year, as they plan to build off increasing attendance this season.
“We need to bring them in that one time,” DeGroote said of fans. “If they enjoy it, then I think we can lure them in, which is pretty important on our end … to try to create a fun atmosphere for them.”
Business
America’s (Class) Time: ISU students analyze Rex attendance data for class project
- Business
-
-
Duke Energy gives $10K to Wabash Valley Red Cross for Vigo flood relief
Duke Energy is giving $10,000 to the Wabash Valley Red Cross chapter for flood relief from this spring’s heavy rains.
-
‘500’ gas stations being sold to Speedway LLC
After several decades in business, the area’s familiar “500” gasoline stations and convenience stores will soon be missing from the roadsides of Vigo and Sullivan counties.
-
Business Cents: Customers and companies: Sugar goes further than vinegar
Working with companies for more than decade I am still shocked to learn how not only companies react to customers but also how rude customers can be to companies.
-
SOCIAL SECURITY: Can’t work because of disability? Let us help
Disability is something most people don’t like to think about. But if you’re not able to work because you have a disabling condition that is expected to last at least one year or result in death, then it’s a subject you may not be able to avoid.
-
Naysayers should treat good news as good news
I like to complain as much as anybody else. In truth, I may do more than my share of finding fault and wagging a finger in warning. Nonetheless, I’m tired of commentators (including many economists) who find nothing good and only the darkest clouds for the past few months.
-
All mothers appreciate extra help
Think of all the times and ways that your mom has helped you over the years — when you were a child, and after you became an adult. With Mother’s Day upon us, now is a good time to pay mom back with a little Extra Help — with her Medicare prescription drug costs.
-
Upcoming meetings
The Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce is hosting a health care reform seminar for businesses from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday at Old National Insurance at 925 Wabash Ave., suite 200.
-
Indiana ranked best place to do business in Midwest
Indiana was ranked as the best place to do business in the Midwest and the fifth best nationwide in a survey of more than 500 chief executives by Chief Executive magazine.
-
First Farmers rated among top 100 community banks
First Farmers Bank & Trust of Converse was named one of the 100 top-performing community banks for 2012 by SNL Financial.
-
Newsmakers: May 12, 2013
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has recognized John Thompson, president of Thompson Thrift Construction, and Paul Thrift, president of Thompson Thrift Development, as “Patriotic Employers.”
-
On the Move: May 12, 2013
Stacey Joseph, a realtor in Terre Haute, has earned the Certified Residential Specialist designation by the Council of Residential Specialists, the largest not-for-profit affiliate of the National Association of Realtors.
-
Chamber lauds four with Business Recognition Awards
Congratulations to our Business Recognition Awards winners! Our Awards Luncheon at the Meadows Banquet and Conference Center was a great event to wrap up Business Recognition Week, sponsored by Union Hospital. At the Luncheon we recognized four local businesses as the 2012 Business Recognition Award winners:
-
ISU students provide detailed grocery analysis
As the National Cooperative Grocers Association makes business decisions in the coming years, the organization likely will take into account an analysis of some of its competitors – about 4,000 of them.
-
Construction firm holding grand opening in Marshall on Friday
Construction, H&H LLC is holding a grand opening and Marshall Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday at 812 N. Second St. in Marshall, Ill.
-
AP Source: Subaru to expand Indiana plant
Subaru plans to expand its Indiana factory and add workers to build the Impreza small car in 2016, a person briefed on the matter says.
-
Transit proposals can prove to be game changers
After baseball, my favorite TV watching is the government channel. Here I can see the local government in action or local government inaction.
-
On the Move: May 5, 2013
Melissa Schollaert, RDH, HHP, has been added as a counselor of holistic health and nutrition at The Maple Center for Integrative Health.
-
ISU set to offer financial planning program in 2014
When Indiana State University junior Jennifer Groth began scheduling classes last semester, she planned them out by thinking of an academic program the university does not yet offer. Groth will be one of the inaugural students in the financial planning program that ISU will begin to offer in spring 2014.
-
Newsmaker: May 5, 2013
Gov. Mike Pence announced the appointment of Jessica Robertson to commissioner of the Indiana Department of Administration, a role she will begin on Wednesday.
-
U.S. Postal Service opens village office in Worthington
The U.S. Postal Service officially opened the 40th Village Post Office in the Greater Indiana District on Monday in Worthington.
-
How consistent is your business?
There are six areas in which consistency is critical in the majority of companies. Too often, business owners feel as they are “chasing down” rather than “leading it along.” If you can get a high level of consistency with your standards and practices, then your company will benefit.
-
Good time to try Spanish online service
Cinco de Mayo is May 5 — a time to celebrate Mexican heritage and pride. Why not join the celebration by visiting Social Security’s Spanish website, where you’ll find a number of useful services and a wealth of information in Spanish.
-
First Financial’s net income up 3 percent
First Financial Corp. has announced results for its quarter that ended March 31. The Corp.’s net income increased 3.4 percent to $7.7 million, compared to $7.4 million for the same period of 2012.
-
Curtain goes up on new theater owner
The Indiana Theatre in downtown Terre Haute is under new ownership with a new purpose.
-
Indiana Theatre SOLD!
The Indiana Theatre at 683 Ohio St. is sold.
Rob Lundstrom, who owns the Copper Bar and Louise’s, took possession of the historic downtown theatre on April 25. -
Higher education completion rates questioned
Spring is really here. Baseball is being played, the Cubs are already tragic and Faye of the Forest reappeared on the back deck. She was parked on the railing as I sat down to write this column.
-
Vectren Corp. awards $2.3 million in grants
Vectren Corp. has announced that it awarded more than $2.3 million in 2012 through the Vectren Foundation and corporate contributions.
-
Hard work, good attitude produces success
Like clockwork, Indiana State University graduate Joe Evelo regularly provides monthly updates to the first client he signed up when he started his financial investment career more than 35 years ago.
-
On the move: April 28, 2013
Old National Bank has promoted Howard Mills to vice president, mortgage loan originator.
-
Newsmakers: April 28, 2013
Lenise Kohlway of Spencer was presented with the WorkOne Achievement Award last week for overcoming several employment barriers and pursuing a better life for herself.
- More Business Headlines
-
Duke Energy gives $10K to Wabash Valley Red Cross for Vigo flood relief
Raw: Aftermath of Deadly Attack in London
Okla. Teens Get Video of Deadly Tornado Overhead
Man Shot While Questioned in Boston Probe
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
School Storm Protection Spotty in Tornado Zones
9-year-old Tornado Victim Loved Family, Singing
Weiner Launches Bid to Become NYC Mayor
Britain Attack Believed Linked to Radical Islam
Oklahoma Survivors, Heroes Survey Damage
Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
Moore Native Toby Keith Tours Tornado Damage
Raw: New Video of Deadly Oklahoma Tornado
Today in History May 22
Raw: Costa Rica Volcano Roars to Life
Texas Students Coach Teachers on Fitness
Okla. City Mayor: Up to 13K Homes Hit by Tornado
IRS Official Pleads 5th Amendment
Tim Cook Defends Apple's Tax Accounting
Raw: Students Clash With Police in Chile
Paperless Scanner, Vision of the Future
AK-47-wielding thug may be the most bumbling crook ever
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
Kim Kardashian Flaunts Pregnant Bikini Body in Greece
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Shakira's Shocking Talent
Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air
GRAPHIC: Blood-Soaked Machete Killer Caught on Tape
Elin Nordegren Furious With Lindsey Vonn For Parading Kids in Public
Camera Captures Climber As He Loses Grip And Falls
Helen Mirren Meets with Dying Boy in Queen Elizabeth's Place
Crowd Chants '¡Si, Se Puede!' After Passage of Immigration Bill
DWTS Crowns a Winner
Police Ram House to End Hostage Standoff
Demi Moore a Rocks Bikini at Harry Morton's Family House
Anthony Weiner: I'm running for New York City mayor
Kate Middleton's Dress Flies Up
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
The Hangover Baby All Grown Up
