Everything in our society is getting structured so that "only number one" counts. To quote Ricky Bobby's dad, "If you ain't first, your last."
That's the mentality. And the more it goes that way, the more people will choose to stay home and watch some 1 v 2 match up on TV rather than to go out to see a game in person that is not a number 1 v 2 matchup or similar.
That's the structure the NCAA has now fostered. Welcome to the new normal.
We were going to have bad attendance this year regardless. You could tell after the first game or two. Combine that with all the weeknight games and..well...there you have it.
(12-15-2014 05:56 PM)chihuskie Wrote: Everything in our society is getting structured so that "only number one" counts. To quote Ricky Bobby's dad, "If you ain't first, your last."
That's the mentality. And the more it goes that way, the more people will choose to stay home and watch some 1 v 2 match up on TV rather than to go out to see a game in person that is not a number 1 v 2 matchup or similar.
That's the structure the NCAA has now fostered. Welcome to the new normal.
You make some excellent points chihuskie. As you point out, remember the days when "any game" could be a great game to watch based on the play of the game NOT who was playing.
Thank you to the NCAA and also to ESPN who really has a great effect and pull with the "kids". Teens and twentysomethings. ESPN just pounds the promotions of the "big name" teams. Whether it's the SEC or Yankees & Red Sox ( I swear they play each other half the season.)
The solution? I dunno...but some of it is improving the "Game Day Experience" which SF is trying to do.
(12-15-2014 06:00 PM)niuguy Wrote: We were going to have bad attendance this year regardless. You could tell after the first game or two. Combine that with all the weeknight games and..well...there you have it.
Home games vs Ball St, Ohio (likely) and WMU...that should give us at least 1 "good" (all things relative) Saturday MAC game right?
I bet we host WMU the Tuesday before Thanksgiving again.
Yeah, it was cold out for the Toledo game. Didn't stop us from tailgating and having a great time. Tired of hearing that it was cold out. Suck it up. I've gone to Bears games in colder weather than that. Lame ass excuse if you ask me.
It shouldnt be a matter of 'which fan group is to blame' for attendance woes, but rather, what can be done to address the root cause of why people arent going to games
TV experience is too good. Convenient, multiple screens, $.
Our sched and luck was brutal. Presby on a thur in the rain. Than we get crappy weather and a lackluster perf against a horrible KSU. Most people waited for homecoming and then some luster lost after a close win vs KSU and a Arky beat down on the resume. Still 20k is a good number. Than Miami, after the disappointment vs CMU and freezing weather, nobody shows up. Toledo was disappointing but it was freaking way too cold for the casual fan. Just bad luck all around with weather, scheduling, team performance.
Also not mentioned yet...price. Presby, KSU, MOh and Toledo all were over priced based on value. I know this is Frazier's long term pricing strategy but it back fired big time in year 1.
$100+ to drag a family out on a weeknight and/or crappy weather...tough.
(12-15-2014 06:33 PM)Who You Crappin? Wrote: Yeah, it was cold out for the Toledo game. Didn't stop us from tailgating and having a great time. Tired of hearing that it was cold out. Suck it up. I've gone to Bears games in colder weather than that. Lame ass excuse if you ask me.
While I respect what you are saying, I'm pretty sure my kidneys and pancreas froze during last year's WMU game. I've been a diehard most of my adult life, but I will never endure that kind of misery again...
(12-15-2014 07:09 PM)huskiealum03 Wrote: It shouldnt be a matter of 'which fan group is to blame' for attendance woes, but rather, what can be done to address the root cause of why people arent going to games
Indoor, outdoor heated or Chairback seats with access to a club where you can watc the game will help.
Having a prime home game will help.
Having a family season ticket package should help
Having a young alum season ticket could help in the long term.
Not running out of food would help for people coming for the first time.
(12-15-2014 07:18 PM)scottiep12 Wrote: TV experience is too good. Convenient, multiple screens, $.
Our sched and luck was brutal. Presby on a thur in the rain. Than we get crappy weather and a lackluster perf against a horrible KSU. Most people waited for homecoming and then some luster lost after a close win vs KSU and a Arky beat down on the resume. Still 20k is a good number. Than Miami, after the disappointment vs CMU and freezing weather, nobody shows up. Toledo was disappointing but it was freaking way too cold for the casual fan. Just bad luck all around with weather, scheduling, team performance.
Also not mentioned yet...price. Presby, KSU, MOh and Toledo all were over priced based on value. I know this is Frazier's long term pricing strategy but it back fired big time in year 1.
$100+ to drag a family out on a weeknight and/or crappy weather...tough.
But only fans with tickets get to see epic features like, "What's a Golden Flash?" during timeouts.
A nice home schedule from the MAC would be great next year. Space out the home games for the league's premier team. We should get some good turn outs for the early games against Murray state and unlv.
(12-15-2014 09:39 PM)KMR_NIU_13 Wrote: A nice home schedule from the MAC would be great next year. Space out the home games for the league's premier team. We should get some good turn outs for the early games against Murray state and unlv.
I don't think the MAC is going to do us any favors. We're the red headed step child out west that has dominated the conference and has pretty clear aspirations of leaving the MAC in the dust