LOUDONVILLE, NY – Siena Basketball continues to be the most highly attended Northeast mid-major. The Saints achieved the highest average home attendance among all 57 Northeast mid-major programs for the third straight time, according to the 2022-23 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Attendance Report. Moreover, Siena ranked in the top-100 nationally in average home attendance for a milestone 25^th straight season, with the program's standing of 75^th reflecting its highest mark in 13 years.
 
"Continuously ranking in the top-100 nationally in average men's basketball home attendance is something which we always strive for," said Siena College Vice President and Director of Athletics John D'Argenio. "However, to have achieved that feat now annually for the past quarter century, and to pace all Northeast mid-majors in attendance for three years running, is an accomplishment which carries great weight. We are grateful for our loyal fans who, by their unequaled support, continue to make Siena Basketball the Capital Region's team." 
 
Siena ranked 75^th nationally out of 363 Division I programs in average home attendance during the 2022-23 season, marking the program's second-highest ever ranking after checking in at 66 in both 2002-03 and 2009-10. The Saints average home attendance of 6,415 over 13 total home dates at MVP Arena last season also reflected the program's highest mark in 11 years, dating back to 6,509 in 2011-12. Siena achieved a record 16.2% increase in its average home attendance from the prior 2021-22 season (5,519), marking the program's highest-ever annual increase since making the full-time move downtown in 1997-98.
 
"Our fans are a big reason why Siena Basketball is so special," said head coach Carmen Maciariello. "It's always great to have the support of our passionate fan base, which means a great deal to our team. We're excited for another great year ahead at MVP Arena."
 
The Saints average home attendance last winter was 24% greater and 16 spots higher in the national rankings than its nearest Northeast mid-major competitor, Rhode Island, which checked in 91^st with an average of 5,158. The Northeast comprises nine states according to the United States Census Bureau: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont. Mid-major teams are defined as programs from the 25 conferences which do not comprise "high majors," which are the Power 5 (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12, and SEC), AAC, and Big East.
 
Siena impressively out-drew, on average, 22 high-major programs nationally including 14 Power Fives last season: Boston College (ACC), California (Pac-12), Colorado (Pac-12), Georgia Tech (ACC), Miami (ACC), Northwestern (Big Ten), Notre Dame (ACC), Ole Miss (SEC), Oregon (Pac-12), Oregon State (Pac-12), Stanford (Pac-12), TCU (Big 12), USC (Pac-12), and Washington State (Pac-12).
 
The Saints average home attendance also once again out-ranked the national NCAA Division I average home attendance of 4,354 by a whopping 47% - a 19% increase from the season prior.
 
Additionally, Siena ranked 10^th nationally out of 276 mid-major programs in average home attendance last season. The Saints were also 10^th among all Northeast programs overall – trailing only high-major schools – and third out of 22 Division I programs in the State of New York behind only Syracuse and St. John's.
 
Siena's 25-season streak of ranking in the top-100 nationally in average home attendance has coincided with the program's full-time move downtown to what is now known as MVP Arena beginning in 1997-98. The 25-season run does not include the 2020-21 COVID impacted season in which fans were not permitted to attend most if not all games nationwide due to the pandemic. 
 
The Saints have now drawn more than 2.7 million fans over 420 all-time games at MVP Arena, dating back to the program's first home contest in the facility during the 1990-91 season. Siena welcomed their two-millionth fan on Dec. 23, 2014 vs. Cornell, and have drawn crowds in excess of 10,000 on 33 occasions. The Saints hold a 278-142 (.662) all-time record at MVP Arena, including a stellar 263-120 (.687) mark since permanently making the facility its home beginning with the 1997-98 season.
 
Siena begins its quest to make it 26 straight seasons ranking in the top-100 nationally in attendance – and looks to increase its Northeast mid-major run at the top to four in a row – when the Saints tip off their 2023-24 season vs. Holy Cross Monday night at 7 p.m. at MVP Arena. Season tickets starting at just $126 for all 14 home games – an average of only $9 per game – can be secured online through Ticketmaster or by contacting the Siena Fan Relations Management Center by e-mail at sienatickets2@siena.edu or by phone at (518) 487-2202. For more information on season tickets including a seating chart featuring pricing by section, log onto sienasaints.com/tickets. Individual game tickets starting as low as $15  can be purchased through Ticketmaster online at sienasaints.com/mbbtickets or by phone at (800) 745-3000. Fans can also secure their seats by visiting the MVP Arena Box Office, or by contacting the Siena Fan Relations Management Center.