Wichita, we can do this.

(Flag by Johnny Freedom)

In 2015, there were times when I felt overwhelmed by what seemed a Sisyphean task: completing a book about the Wichita Wings. After much metaphorical gnashing of teeth, I would usually suck it up and plod on. One thing that always helped was a word with former Wings general manager Bill Kentling. He had a way of reminding me why I was doing all this.

This afternoon I was thinking, "Tim, what the heck are you going to write about in your next blog post?" And wouldn't you know it, an email from Bill Kentling appeared in my Inbox. Bill had sent me an article about WSU basketball's impressive attendance figures last season. Specifically, the article stated that the 2016-17 team had achieved its highest NCAA attendance ranking since the 1983-84 season. Bill pointed out that the 1983-84 season also happened to be one of the Wichita Wings' best attended campaigns: "That was the season we sold out 19 of 24 regular season home games. Happy memories for Shocker and Wings fans," said Bill.

But Bill wrote something else that struck me: "It's not the location or the building. It's the show." In 1983-84, Xavier McDaniel, Aubrey Sherrod, and company were puttin' on a show at Henry Levitt Arena. Up the road, in (what seemed at the time) the faraway Kansas Coliseum, Roy Turner and Bill Kentling were puttin' on a show as well. And it paid off for both squads. Here's a statistic that will likely astound Wichita sports fans: the Shockers averaged 9,989 souls at their 15 home games that year. Meanwhile, the Wings averaged 9,034 at their 24 home games. Furthermore, both teams were playing at the same time of the year. In fact, on Thursday evening, January 26th, the Wings and Shockers played simultaneously at their respective arenas. That same year, 137,018 baseball fans attended (Cincinnati Red's AAA-affiliate) Wichita Aeros games. 

If 1983 Wichita, with only about 72% of 2017 Wichita's population, could support these teams, there's no reason why we can't today. Yes, people have more options for their entertainment dollar. But I refuse to believe that Wichita is incapable of supporting both Shocker basketball and professional sports. This past season, the Wichita Thunder hockey team managed to draw over 12,000 people to their home opener. With the right leadership, professional sports in our town can build on this success. Imagine an NBDL franchise, affiliated baseball, or even the return of indoor soccer. All we have to do is "put on a show." 

Wichita, we can do this.