In recent years, college gymnastics, much like many women’s sports, has experienced a notable uptick in viewership. In 2023, ABC set a new record with 1.02 million viewers for the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championship, making it the most-watched event since 2007. Although there was a slight decrease in 2024, the national championship still drew 856,000 viewers on ABC.
Throughout this season, viewership has remained relatively stable. Two weeks ago, a quad meet featuring LSU, Cal, Oklahoma, and Utah averaged 618,000 viewers on ABC, down just 3% from last year’s comparable match, as reported by Sports Media Watch. Despite these stable ratings, prominent collegiate gymnast Livvy Dunne has voiced concerns about the sport’s entertainment value and its potential effects on viewership.
I am sitting here watching NCAA gymnastics and the empty seats are concerning. I care deeply about the growth in women’s sports especially in the NCAA. If you want fans to enjoy the sport and increase viewership, you have to look at what makes the crowds go crazy! People…
— Olivia Dunne (@livvydunne) January 27, 2025
Dunne expressed, “I am sitting here watching NCAA gymnastics and the empty seats are concerning. I care deeply about the growth in women’s sports, especially in the NCAA. If you want fans to enjoy the sport and increase viewership, you have to consider what excites the crowd! People recognize what a perfect 10 is and expect that those who perform exceptionally should be rewarded. Excessive deductions by judges undermine the experience, similar to watching a basketball game plagued with penalties or a football game interrupted by constant flags. At some point, it becomes frustrating and detracts from the entertainment factor that draws fans in. The questions I receive about the scoring indicate a significant concern. I love the art of gymnastics, but we need to attract more viewers to the sport!”
This is not about LSU this is about the sport. I’m in my 5th year and I have an audience of casual fans so maybe I’m in a unique position to see what is happening with fans differently than people just looking at attendance numbers. Fans are confused. I also spend time raising…
— Olivia Dunne (@livvydunne) January 27, 2025
Continuing her thoughts, Dunne stated, “This isn’t just about LSU; it’s about the sport itself. In my fifth year, I have a diverse audience of casual fans, giving me a unique perspective on their sentiments compared to those analyzing attendance stats alone. Fans are confused, and my efforts to raise funds for female athletes underscore my commitment to advocacy in sports. Enhancing the entertainment value will have significant financial implications for the athletes as well. Women’s sports in the NCAA need to prioritize crowd engagement to secure the revenue support that athletes deserve.”
It’s perhaps unsurprising that Dunne, who boasts a massive social media following, is acutely aware of fan preferences. Empty seats can severely hinder television viewership, as evidenced by viewership trends during the COVID pandemic, when arenas were void of audiences. Moreover, it’s counterproductive for viewers to witness seemingly punitive officiating in gymnastics, especially when fans can distinguish between a flawless routine and one with errors. If judges penalize for mistakes that are not obvious to the average spectator, it poses a significant problem.
Considering Livvy Dunne’s credibility in critiquing the sport’s entertainment value, it would be wise for gymnastics’ governing body to heed her insights. She has established herself as a prominent figure in the entertainment domain and arguably surpasses the sport of college gymnastics in popularity. As all sports, both collegiate and professional, make strides towards becoming more viewer-friendly, gymnastics should follow suit.
