Michael Jordan Is Putting Them in the Seats : Chicago Statium Was the Quietest Place in Town Until Gifted Rookie Appeared

Orlando Woolridge can recall times last season when--figuratively speaking--the drop of a pin could be heard in the “lonely” Chicago Statdium.

The cavernous home of the Chicago Bulls was silent except for the extremely die-hard faithful who probably were more anxious to watch players come in from opposing teams than view the Bulls.

“It was lonely. You can’t imagine how hard it was to get yourself up for a game when there are only a couple of thousand people out there in the stands, just sitting there,” Woolridge says.

Things have done a turnabout in one year. Attendance is not at capacity at the Stadium but the size of the crowds has improved. What’s more, the Bulls have become one of the premier road attractions in the NBA.

There is one major reason: Michael Jordan.

The Olympic hero and college basketball player of the year has more than lived up to his billing on the court as a magician who has helped turn the Bulls into a competitive force. More important, he is drawing fans to the Stadium.

“Do I mind that he’s getting the attention. No way. He’s an excellent player and if he can help us bring some fans in, that’s fine by me,” Woolridge says.

The Bulls averaged only about 5,000 per game last year and that estimate was considered inflated by the media who regularly covered the NBA team at the end of the season. By some actual counts, there were fewer than 1,000 people watching the Bulls at the end of the season.

“And those who were there were hardly yelling their heads off,” said guard Quintin Dailey. “Michael has changed all that.”

Attendance has nearly doubled through the first three months of the NBA season. Not only are the crowds larger, they are more vocal.

Bulls’ coach Kevin Loughery said the importance of the home crowd in the NBA cannot be underestimated.

“It has a tremendous, and I mean tremendous, value to a club, especially a young one like ours,” Loughery said. “There is a simple reason. Basketball is the most emotional of the pro sports. So much rides on emotion in pro basketball. If the crowd is there and behind you, it does make a difference.”

The lack of crowd support in the 1983-84 season can be partly traced to the fact Chicago won only 10 games at home last year, the worst homecourt record in the NBA.

“I think the Bulls can have a great homecourt advantage if this keeps up,” Loughery said. “Nothing takes the place of winning. Winning is exciting basketball. There is little doubt that people were coming out at first to watch Michael Jordan play.”

Jordan is used to loud crowds from his college days at North Carolina. He isn’t used to playing in arenas where the empty seats outnumber the fans.

“I think I play with a lot of emotion. If there is emotion out in the crowd, it does spur you on,” Jordan said. “The players hear the crowd. You don’t block it out. When you are at home and you hear the crowd, it gets you going.”

Woolridge likened the crowds this season to the ones he used to play before at Notre Dame.

“I used to think there was no louder place to play anywhere than at Notre Dame,” said the Bulls’ forward. “But at times when this place gets packed and everyone is yelling, the noise can be deafening. And what a difference that makes to our team.”

The Bulls may need the extra attendance to help pay Jordan’s multi-million dollar salary. But the effects of the bigger crowds have not been lost on General Manager Rod Thorn, who helped negotiate Jordan’s multi-year contract.

“The fans want a winner very badly in Chicago. They have been very patient with the Bulls. Some have grown disenchanted waiting,” Thorn said. “But it is evident we have a strong base of support here and the people are willing to come out and watch a winner.”

Thorn said Jordan has been the catalyst the fans have been waiting for in Chicago.

“There’s no doubt he is one of the most exciting players ever to come into the NBA. He can excite the crowd with just one play,” Thorn said. “I think our home record is going to be a lot better and, of course, the crowds will continue to grow, because of what Michael can do and what it is doing to the rest of the club.”

Season ticket sales were up slightly after the Bulls drafted Jordan. Thorn said the effects of having a winning team will do more to increase those sales than just by adding a player.

“This place is capable of coming alive, not just for the 76ers or the Celtics, but every night if we keep it up,” Thorn said.