The basketball season is going to be without one of its most highly anticipated home game this season and possibly for good.
Whiteout Wednesday has been cancelled for this season due to lack of expected participation, according to Athletic Director Jack Giambrone.
The games served as a way to increase school spirit and build an enthusiastic atmosphere at one home game in the middle of the basketball season for both the men’s and women’s teams.
The game resembles events held by Division ı colleges. Penn State University is one example of a school that regularly hosts Whiteout games. The University of Dayton Flyers hold a similar game called the “Red Scare.”
The concept of the game is for all the home students to wear white T-shirts (provided by Sinclair for free) to create a sea of white in the stands. But the cost of making the T-shirts for the event and having extra staff on hand for the games proved to be too expensive.
“The game has been cancelled because in the end, it was just too costly,” said Giambrone. “We have decided to focus our efforts on other things.”
The past two Whiteout Wednesday games had to be rescheduled due to inclement weather, something we haven’t seen much of this year.
The move has been expected by men’s head basketball coach and Assistant Athletic Director Jeff Price, because only a small number of students come to each home game, even for previous Whiteout Wednesdays.
For last season’s Whiteout Wednesday, beer was offered to try to bring in more students, but that too was unsuccessful.
For Communication student Taurin Hickman, the cancellation of the game is a little unsettling.
“Many students see this [Sinclair] as a stepping stone,” Hickman said. “They don’t really view Sinclair or appreciate Sinclair for what it’s worth. I’m more or less upset because it’s a really fun event. It would really help the school grow if more students came.”
Most students can’t come to home games because the students at Sinclair commute from their homes, have full-time jobs or have children to take care of.
“We’re still going to have our fans come out and support us no matter what,” Price said. “So we’re still going to come out like it’s a regular home game.”
The state of the economy may be another reason why support at basketball games may be dwindling. Price acknowledged the fact that even four-year colleges such as Wright State University and Miami University have had low attendance rates in recent years.
Price said he hopes that more students will come to the games but understands how difficult it is for students to make it out after their classes are done.
“I would love for the students to come because our guys work hard and they put in a lot of hours that I don’t think a lot of people see,” Price said. “But it’s very hard for me to be upset at our students because I understand what they are trying to accomplish.