(10-02-2018 06:45 PM)EvanJ Wrote:  In 2017-2018, Villanova was 30th out of 351 in Men's Basketball attendance. In 2016-2017 they were 44th.

Sure. As I said when you put a handful of marquee games at Wells Fargo Center (20k) your attendance goes through the roof. Their actual home court seats 6000-6500 (cant remember where it landed after their recent renovations) and on normal games its not that difficult to get tickets. They are a strange school and definitely not the epitome of a school to mirror yourself after since they take their best home games and take them way off campus and call them a home game.

Also as you pointed out that is '17-'18 after they won a title, which I prefaced by saying I am sure they got a boost from winning a title.

(10-03-2018 07:09 AM)dan10 Wrote:  

(10-02-2018 06:45 PM)EvanJ Wrote:  In 2017-2018, Villanova was 30th out of 351 in Men's Basketball attendance. In 2016-2017 they were 44th.

Sure. As I said when you put a handful of marquee games at Wells Fargo Center (20k) your attendance goes through the roof. Their actual home court seats 6000-6500 (cant remember where it landed after their recent renovations) and on normal games its not that difficult to get tickets. They are a strange school and definitely not the epitome of a school to mirror yourself after since they take their best home games and take them way off campus and call them a home game.

Also as you pointed out that is '17-'18 after they won a title, which I prefaced by saying I am sure they got a boost from winning a title.

"on normal games it's not that difficult to get tickets." there's a liiiiiittle more to it than that. through the years, the only games that are somewhat easy to get tickets to are those over the holiday break. having attended nova games since the mid-90's, outside of a couple of down seasons getting a ticket to an on-campus game is consistently difficult. most non-students/season ticket holders don't even try.

the majority of fans/alumni are happy with the recent fieldhouse renovation but are furious that the capacity was not able to be raised. radnor township has made it clear they will not tolerate any expansion of the on-campus arena and have restricted activities for football games as well. it's a shame, because the football program is consistently good but viewed by the majority of students/alumni as a redheaded stepchild when it should be actively supported.

villanova could EASILY sell out a 10k+ on-campus arena on a consistent basis for basketball. hosting certain games at a 6,500 seat arena makes no sense when you can get 21k, especially when a large chunk of your revenue goes to football scholarships and you need basketball revenue to help fund the entire athletics department. now, if you are averaging 10k+ for every home game the need to move as many games to wells fargo diminishes. nova fans would KILL to be able to construct a new convo like we are building, but the ability to play at an nba arena in front of 20k fans is certainly a positive recruiting pitch.

yes, in the 2016-2017 season after the national title, villanova had the 7th largest percentage increase in attendance (average went from 8,119 to 9,772). in 2013 - 2014 season, they were the 17th largest % increase in attendance (went from 8,022 to 8,943). aka, nearly identical #'s. the 2013 team was 13-19... the demand is consistently there, one or two extra games at wells fargo accounts for all the difference.

one final thing to consider. the wells fargo center hosts early round ncaa tourney games every few years. to be eligible to play there you cannot play more than 3 regular season games at the venue, so that also dictates scheduling and affects annual attendance figures. lastly, the games aren't moved "way off campus." there's literally a septa station on campus and one that drops you right at the broad street line to the stadium. the students love these games as it gives them an opportunity to properly tailgate in the parking lots.

philly (and the northeast in general) is a pro sports town, no doubt. but it is also the best college basketball town in the country. a public university such as jmu should certainly not mirror itself after villanova, but for reasons much more complicated than simple attendance figures.

(10-04-2018 02:19 PM)JackiePapers Wrote:  lastly, the games aren't moved "way off campus." there's literally a septa station on campus and one that drops you right at the broad street line to the stadium. the students love these games as it gives them an opportunity to properly tailgate in the parking lots.

I am well aware of the public transportation around Philly and its burbs. Regardless of the septa line running there you are ignoring the fact it is still way off campus. A straight line from campus to the arena is what 18-20 miles to get from northwest of philly to south philly? It is not a short distance.

Anyhow carry on.

(10-04-2018 02:19 PM)JackiePapers Wrote:  

(10-03-2018 07:09 AM)dan10 Wrote:  

(10-02-2018 06:45 PM)EvanJ Wrote:  In 2017-2018, Villanova was 30th out of 351 in Men's Basketball attendance. In 2016-2017 they were 44th.

Sure. As I said when you put a handful of marquee games at Wells Fargo Center (20k) your attendance goes through the roof. Their actual home court seats 6000-6500 (cant remember where it landed after their recent renovations) and on normal games its not that difficult to get tickets. They are a strange school and definitely not the epitome of a school to mirror yourself after since they take their best home games and take them way off campus and call them a home game.

Also as you pointed out that is '17-'18 after they won a title, which I prefaced by saying I am sure they got a boost from winning a title.

"on normal games it's not that difficult to get tickets." there's a liiiiiittle more to it than that. through the years, the only games that are somewhat easy to get tickets to are those over the holiday break. having attended nova games since the mid-90's, outside of a couple of down seasons getting a ticket to an on-campus game is consistently difficult. most non-students/season ticket holders don't even try.

the majority of fans/alumni are happy with the recent fieldhouse renovation but are furious that the capacity was not able to be raised. radnor township has made it clear they will not tolerate any expansion of the on-campus arena and have restricted activities for football games as well. it's a shame, because the football program is consistently good but viewed by the majority of students/alumni as a redheaded stepchild when it should be actively supported.

villanova could EASILY sell out a 10k+ on-campus arena on a consistent basis for basketball. hosting certain games at a 6,500 seat arena makes no sense when you can get 21k, especially when a large chunk of your revenue goes to football scholarships and you need basketball revenue to help fund the entire athletics department. now, if you are averaging 10k+ for every home game the need to move as many games to wells fargo diminishes. nova fans would KILL to be able to construct a new convo like we are building, but the ability to play at an nba arena in front of 20k fans is certainly a positive recruiting pitch.

yes, in the 2016-2017 season after the national title, villanova had the 7th largest percentage increase in attendance (average went from 8,119 to 9,772). in 2013 - 2014 season, they were the 17th largest % increase in attendance (went from 8,022 to 8,943). aka, nearly identical #'s. the 2013 team was 13-19... the demand is consistently there, one or two extra games at wells fargo accounts for all the difference.

one final thing to consider. the wells fargo center hosts early round ncaa tourney games every few years. to be eligible to play there you cannot play more than 3 regular season games at the venue, so that also dictates scheduling and affects annual attendance figures. lastly, the games aren't moved "way off campus." there's literally a septa station on campus and one that drops you right at the broad street line to the stadium. the students love these games as it gives them an opportunity to properly tailgate in the parking lots.

philly (and the northeast in general) is a pro sports town, no doubt. but it is also the best college basketball town in the country. a public university such as jmu should certainly not mirror itself after villanova, but for reasons much more complicated than simple attendance figures.

I'm sure they love their team, but have a hard time believing it tops Duke and the Cameron Crazies. Would love to have half that atmosphere, it comes from putting students first in the arena.

The argument for Philly being the best basketball city isnt going to be just because of Villanova; it's because there's 5 D1 schools in the same city.

It's probably something cool if you're from that area, but I personally care about those schools probably about as much as people in Philly care about JMU playing Richmond in football.

(10-05-2018 02:09 PM)JMUska Wrote:  The argument for Philly being the best basketball city isnt going to be just because of Villanova; it's because there's 5 D1 schools in the same city.

It's probably something cool if you're from that area, but I personally care about those schools probably about as much as people in Philly care about JMU playing Richmond in football.

+ there’s Villanova just outside of the Philly city limits, so if you count VU, that’s 6 (VU, Temple, La Salle, St Joes, Drexel, Penn).

(10-05-2018 05:38 PM)BDKJMU Wrote:  

(10-05-2018 02:09 PM)JMUska Wrote:  The argument for Philly being the best basketball city isnt going to be just because of Villanova; it's because there's 5 D1 schools in the same city.

It's probably something cool if you're from that area, but I personally care about those schools probably about as much as people in Philly care about JMU playing Richmond in football.

+ there’s Villanova just outside of the Philly city limits, so if you count VU, that’s 6 (VU, Temple, La Salle, St Joes, Drexel, Penn).

Well, you know the Harrisonburg area is also a real hotbed of college basketball. The Burg has JMU and our main rivals EMU and Bridgewater.

Does anyone on here have any connections in Villanova Athletics where we could look into getting that S-3 lot open for tailgating like Towson had?

(10-02-2018 02:30 PM)dan10 Wrote:  

(10-01-2018 12:12 PM)Potomac Wrote:  Their fans just don’t care and you couldn’t pay them to care.

That is reasonably true of even their basketball. That may have changed since they won a title, but unless it was a marquee big east game, their fans dont care and dont show. That is why they get away with a relatively small arena for home games. Big ones go to the Wachovia Center their home games sellout, sometimes. It all is part of the Philadelphia cares mainly about pro sports.

Pretty much no one in the Philly area went to Nova, and the people who now care about Nova basketball aren't exactly the most well-educated types.

(10-07-2018 03:21 PM)Pitz Wrote:  Does anyone on here have any connections in Villanova Athletics where we could look into getting that S-3 lot open for tailgating like Towson had?

I was told by a Jim in Nova ticket office they will do same S-3 Mendel Lot for tailgating they did for Towson this year and us 2 years ago. It is close to train station but a long walk to game. We enjoyed this lot 2 years ago...............Also hear JMU Duke Club event at Gulliftys will start at 10am and 1 mile from stadium.

(10-08-2018 02:12 PM)STO1982 Wrote:  I was told by a Jim in Nova ticket office they will do same S-3 Mendel Lot for tailgating they did for Towson this year and us 2 years ago.

This sounds promising! Has anyone heard any additional confirmation of this?

(10-08-2018 02:12 PM)STO1982 Wrote:  

(10-07-2018 03:21 PM)Pitz Wrote:  Does anyone on here have any connections in Villanova Athletics where we could look into getting that S-3 lot open for tailgating like Towson had?

I was told by a Jim in Nova ticket office they will do same S-3 Mendel Lot for tailgating they did for Towson this year and us 2 years ago. It is close to train station but a long walk to game. We enjoyed this lot 2 years ago...............Also hear JMU Duke Club event at Gulliftys will start at 10am and 1 mile from stadium.

I hope someone called ahead this time and let Gulliftys know that the Duke Club is coming. It was a complete disaster two years ago. They were so understaffed that they pulled a cook out of the kitchen and had her working the bar. Someone ordered a screwdriver and she asked what was in it. We knew that was our cue to get the check and go elsewhere!