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Post by DunneDeal on Jun 13, 2023 8:02:49 GMT -6
Saturday is party night.
Unless you give the students a party like atmosphere why would they bother to attend on a Saturday.
Winning cures this, if the team is winning and looking good, more students will use the game as pre-game party, then head back to the eastside to the house parties.
Make it a thing, make it fun, make it an event. There should be a pep rally at the dorms Saturday afternoon, with busses (2 or 3) ready to go to the game.
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Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Jun 13, 2023 8:13:34 GMT -6
Saturday afternoon games has been bad for Panther games for student attendance. Someone said many kids are local and just go home on the weekends. I believe they are really on to something! Yes, Saturday night is party night. Many are just skipping the numbers on other schools as Saturday's are the best for attendance.
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Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Mar 2, 2024 21:43:08 GMT -6
Here we go....Don't want our fanatic win being hijacked. So, he is an old thread.
200 students tonight for a crowd of over 4,000.
Last year's biggest crowd was also a Saturday Senior Day of 3,300. Had 200~ students.
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Post by ghostofdylan on Mar 2, 2024 21:53:30 GMT -6
Drinking parties and bars would seem to be our problem.
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Post by Cactus Panther on Mar 3, 2024 7:40:55 GMT -6
Joe from the ticket department told us yesterday that 200 students attended this year's Saturday night game against GB, but many opted out of experiencing it from the student section. This resulted in the appearance of relatively small student turnout in a game that was otherwise well attended.
As I have specifically pointed out before, so much could be done to generate student interest in not only attending games, but having them take pride in doing it as a unified group. The initiative would start with moving the student section to the sideline, such as across from the visitor bench. It would take more than just that, which I have specifically detailed, but sideline placement would be an important step in the process. Two very prominent posters on this message board, PNP and DTP, have stated they do not like the idea. They admit this would require them to relocate their long held season tickets.
I respect and appreciate the self interest in maintaining seat location. However, watching every game over the last several years at the Arena (the GB game was a rare exception), I see so many empty seats down low in every sideline section. This even includes midcourt. These seats would be equivalent and maybe even a little better. Couldn't season tickets holders in what would become the new student section location simply be relocated to comparable seats in the best interest of the program? Even if these unused seats are sold, data from today's electronic ticketing technology should identify who does not regularly attend. If someone has to be somewhat downgraded, they are the ones who should. It would probably make less difference to them anyway.
I don't get the resistance from fans or lack of courage by the athletic department to upgrade the game experience. To me, shrugging it off and saying it won't make a difference is code for "I don't even want to consider creative ideas to solve a long standing problem if it requires some sacrifice and effort."
Help me understand.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 3, 2024 8:52:09 GMT -6
Ive said this before but here goes again. We need to change the attitude from "No one cares so why bother?" to "Everyone who is anyone is going so I will too." In order to do that, we need to use the most popular person approach. Identify students (especially dormies) who other students listen to. The people who influence others. Sit down with them in a group session. Explain to them how building the program helps them (identity with the school leads to networking after you graduate, which can lead to jobs, it's more fun etc. etc. etc.) Convince them to lead the charge and others will follow. I've seen this approach work wonders in several other situations. There's no need to believe it won't work here.
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Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Mar 3, 2024 9:23:21 GMT -6
Cactus-
No, to be clear, I don't dislike the idea. I didn't like the sections you gave. I'm against nearly dead center court sections of 109 and 209 for students. I'm for sections 110 & 210 for the students.
I've also made a suggestion to Adam (who now is at Parkside) for baseline floor seats of about 10 seats and move the dance team. I would actually sell those seats as student season tickets for about $25 for the whole season.
The Panther Shop were I went two weeks ago on a Friday has outstanding Panthers merchandise. Yet, no posters on men's and women's home basketball schedules. Need pocket schedule going into every customer's bag after a purchase.
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Post by mcdadenets50 on Mar 3, 2024 9:25:49 GMT -6
Create a class and call it Student Engagement or Basketball 101 or School Spirit or whatever.
Make it free. Students earn 3 credits for going to 80% of the home games. There is no class, going to games is the class.
At this point, why not try something like this?
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Post by Duct_Tape_Pounce on Mar 3, 2024 10:01:07 GMT -6
I am appreciative of ways to get students to the games, but as I mentioned on the other thread, I don’t think moving students from their current location behind the baseline to more premium seats behind the sideline is the way to go, for a few reasons:
1. It would upset season ticket holders who have already put up with a lot over the past few years. I know you mention the idea of moving those fans to other sections, but it’s not that easy. Fans select seats based on multiple factors. These factors include price, location on the aisle, proximity to the action, etc. I know you mentioned the idea of moving fans closer to center court under your plan, but what if those tickets are the next price point up? Speaking for myself, I like my seat in 206. It’s in row 2, I sit next to a tunnel so I’m not surrounded by people, and I don’t have to get up if somebody wants to get past me during the game (which is something that bugs me more than I know it should). If I’m told that my seat is being given to people who don’t provide marginal revenue by attending the game, many of whom are only there for free food and are on their phones the whole game, I’d be upset. I’d also be upset if I was told that I have to pay for the next price point to stay on the 200 level. I’m not exactly a fan of the idea of being expected to pay $100 more for a seat I may not enjoy as much. I’d probably just switch over to the Gold Pass. Outside of going to the scrimmage, I don’t really use any of the (relatively meager) benefits of being a regular season ticket holder. I’m sure at least a few others would downgrade or even stop getting season tickets altogether.
2. Part of the reason for a student section is to provide a home court advantage. There is no better place for them to do that than behind the opposing team’s basket in the 2nd half. A rowdy student section can provide distractions when the other team is trying to run an offense or shoot free throws. We give that up by emptying the seats behind that basket.
3. The student section wasn’t a problem when the Panthers were winning. They provided a home court advantage sitting (or standing) behind the basket.
Having said all that, I will agree that when a student section of a little over 200 is something that the ticket office is bragging about, there’s a problem. As mentioned above, Panther basketball is competing against parties and bars on Saturday nights. Moving seats a few sections over and displacing ticket holders who provide marginal revenue to the university by attending games won’t fix that. The following things could help:
1. WIN. People support a winner. The Arena got filled up for Bruce Pearl’s Panthers and emptied out when PBS was at the helm. That was no coincidence. Become a consistent winner and students will think of supporting the basketball program as a reason to attend UWM and not something to ignore as a student. I can say that being a senior in high school when the Panthers made the Sweet 16 supercharged my fandom.
2. Promote the program. On Twitter, I’ve read people say that there wasn’t so much as a poster in the Union promoting Panther basketball. That’s a problem. A lot of the promotional material that was given out for yesterday’s game indicated that the game was at 7 and not 5. That’s a problem. These are self-inflicted wounds that are easy to fix if the university cared a little more. Promote the heck out of the program in the Union and the dorms. Make it so non-sports fans at the university think it’s over the top. Students need to know when and where the games are, how to attend, and that they will have fun.
3. Use some bait to start to build a rowdy student fanbase. I know Jimmy has talked about attending a soccer game getting him hooked. We need something to bring in students. Free food does that. Maybe a drawing for a pair of court side seats to a future a game could do that. Or a drawing for Brewer tickets (we do have a sponsorship agreement with them, after all). Or maybe have a program where each game attended gives a student fan a ticket in a raffle for a relatively nice prize (maybe a $100 tv or something like that). Maybe have more in game contests and have students participate in all of them.
I’m not against creative ways to bring students into games. I am against doing so while ticking off season ticket holders who already have to deal with 4 Klotsche Center games this year, inconvenient time changes less than 24 hours before a game starts, the PBS experience, etc.
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Post by Cactus Panther on Mar 3, 2024 10:03:12 GMT -6
Ive said this before but here goes again. We need to change the attitude from "No one cares so why bother?" to "Everyone who is anyone is going so I will too." In order to do that, we need to use the most popular person approach. Identify students (especially dormies) who other students listen to. The people who influence others. Sit down with them in a group session. Explain to them how building the program helps them (identity with the school leads to networking after you graduate, which can lead to jobs, it's more fun etc. etc. etc.) Convince them to lead the charge and others will follow. I've seen this approach work wonders in several other situations. There's no need to believe it won't work here. Amen! It's OK to keep repeating it. Athletic department staff sees our comments and perhaps with repetition and good timing it will click for anyone there who has an interest in making a significant impact beyond their typical job duties. Group dynamics! It's more than just the basketball, milwsport. You get it.
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Post by uwmpanther on Mar 3, 2024 10:13:03 GMT -6
Create a class and call it Student Engagement or Basketball 101 or School Spirit or whatever. Make it free. Students earn 3 credits for going to 80% of the home games. There is no class, going to games is the class. At this point, why not try something like this? Not sure whether this was a serious suggestion (hard to tell on the internet sometimes ), but in case it was: This obviously would never be approved as it waters down the curriculum. But even if a class like “Student Engagement” would be offered the way you suggest, wouldn’t students just be picking the easiest way to meet the course requirements by attending on-campus sports events like volleyball or who knows what? And limiting credit to attending only men’s basketball surely is not going to fly.
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Post by FTA1982 on Mar 3, 2024 10:29:01 GMT -6
We have a roster of the most outgoing and engaging personalities we've ever had.
Work with the JAMS program to get some video commercials for the Union, the K and the residence halls. We should be leveraging our relationship with Tristan Jass for influencer videos. That is the type of stuff young adults buy into.
Have the players at new freshman orientation. I've said this in the past, I was hooked when Bruce and Nancy Zimpher taught the fight song at orientation. Bart isnt quite Bruce in sales terms but he is still a fun and enjoyable person to interact with. He's got the best personality since Bruce in terms of our head coach.
I may be so far removed from college that students just dont care anymore, which would be a shame.
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Post by Cactus Panther on Mar 3, 2024 12:02:00 GMT -6
Create a class and call it Student Engagement or Basketball 101 or School Spirit or whatever. Make it free. Students earn 3 credits for going to 80% of the home games. There is no class, going to games is the class. At this point, why not try something like this? Back in my college days, the first two years of which was at UW-Platteville, I earned credits one semester for a ski "class." All the student had to do is show up six nights. If that was possible at Platteville, your idea should be possible at Milwaukee.
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Post by Cactus Panther on Mar 3, 2024 12:09:14 GMT -6
I may be so far removed from college that students just dont care anymore, which would be a shame. It was not that many years ago when students at Panther games sat together. Certainly during the glory years they did. Now some of us are becoming more and more aware of students not wanting to be with other students during the games. This is as much of the problem as just getting them to go to the games. This doesn't happen at at least some other schools. It may say something for the type of students who do go to games at Milwaukee. Anti-social? Shy? Loners? Dislike for trash talk among those who do actually form together? Etc? I don't know, I am just throwing out theories. Anyone who is closer to the situation is welcome to pipe in on the subject.
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Post by uwmpanther on Mar 3, 2024 12:19:28 GMT -6
Create a class and call it Student Engagement or Basketball 101 or School Spirit or whatever. Make it free. Students earn 3 credits for going to 80% of the home games. There is no class, going to games is the class. At this point, why not try something like this? Back in my college days, the first two years of which was at UW-Platteville, I earned credits one semester for a ski "class." All the student had to do is show up six nights. If that was possible at Platteville, your idea should be possible at Milwaukee. Show me one accredited institution (I don't care whether DI, DII, or DIII) where you earn college credits for attending men's basketball games.
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