HOLLAND -- The final season of play at the Holland Civic Center by the Hope College men's basketball team in 2004-05 proved memorable for thousands of fans who contributed to the Flying Dutchmen once again topping all NCAA Division III men's basketball teams in home attendance, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

HOLLAND -- The final season of play at the Holland Civic Center by the Hope College men's basketball team in 2004-05 proved memorable for thousands of fans who contributed to the Flying Dutchmen once again topping all NCAA Division III men's basketball teams in home attendance, according to the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

After 52 seasons at the Civic Center, Hope will move to the new Richard and Helen DeVos Fieldhouse for the 2005-06 season. The new fieldhouse will have a seating capacity of 3,300 compared to the 2,550 of the Civic Center.

2004-05 marked the third consecutive year that Hope led the nation's Division
III schools in home attendance and the seventh time in school history. Other
years were 1984, 1991, 1996, 1999, 2003 and 2004.

The Flying Dutchmen averaged 2,462 fans over 13 home games played at the Holland Civic Center. League rival Calvin ranked third in the national attendance figures, averaging 2261 fans over 13 home games.

Hope and Calvin helped the Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association
(MIAA) to top all Division III conferences in home attendance for the 14th
consecutive year with an average of 1,115 fans a game.

The Flying Dutchmen played at the storied Holland Civic Center for the 52nd
and final year. With only two losing home seasons since 1954-55, the Flying
Dutchmen have an impressive (448-118) record at the Civic Center. Hope was 9-4
at the Civic in 2004-05.

2004-2005 Attendance Leaders (Top 10 by average): 1. Hope 13-2,462, 2.
Illinois Wesleyan 13-2,376, 3. Calvin 10-2,261, 4. Wisc.-Stevens Point
18-1,928, 5. Otterbein, Ohio 13-1,619 6. Wooster, Ohio 16-1,563, 7. Gustavus
Adolphus, Minn. 15-1,447, 8. Wisc.-Stout 10-1,441, 9. Capital, Ohio 12-1,315,
10. Maryville, Tenn. 15-1,240.

NCAA III Men's Basketball Attendance Champions 1977, Scranton; 1978, Calvin;
1979, Savannah State; 1980, Savannah State; 1981, Potsdam State; 1982,
Wisconsin-Stevens Point; 1983, Augustana (IL); 1984, Hope; 1985,
Wisconsin-Stevens Point; 1986, Calvin; 1987, Concordia-Moorhead; 1988, Calvin;
1989, Calvin; 1990, Calvin; 1991, Hope; 1992, Calvin; 1993, Calvin; 1994,
Calvin; 1995, Calvin; 1996, Hope; 1997, Calvin; 1998, Illinois Wesleyan; 1999,
Hope; 2000, Calvin; 2001, Calvin; 2002, Calvin; 2003, Hope; 2004, Hope; 2005,
Hope.

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