dutchpthr
Junior
ain't much if it ain't dutch
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Post by dutchpthr on Nov 11, 2004 12:24:03 GMT -6
true it is just an pre-season game, but from what i have heard from others on this board it hasn't looked or sounded, for that matter, too good yet. Freak is right, though we need to have a bunch of people there from teh beginning jsut ripping on people the way that we used to in the past few seasons. Now granted we don't have many "quailty" home games in some people opinion but we still need to stick it to them. Getting people in from the dorms is a big key, and it looks like their are actually a lot more freshman and other underclassmen interested early rather then waiting til the last weeks of the season as before. If we can get these kids in early then i think it stands a better test for us to get the student section kicking ass and taking names.
But yes the overall reality of it is that we just need people in general to come to the game. In my opinion this product sells itself once you go for the first time, but the trick is getting those people in the door, looks like another grass roots way for us to bring in the bodies. I really don't understand why there isn't more on campus advertising for us. But that is a story for another day.
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Post by uwmfan04 on Nov 11, 2004 12:37:07 GMT -6
I thought that the attendance was very good last night considering a week night exhibition game against DIII school. The attendance was only 700 less than the regular season game against Southern Illinois last year. SIU is a very dominant mid-major team that should have drawn a much larger crowd. To see that we already drew nearly 2600 for an exhibition game is a good sign in my point of view.
In regards to the student section cheering...the game really doesn't matter and the students know that. If that would have been a regular season game, I would imagine that the students would have been MUCH louder.
I think UWM will see a vast improvement over last year's attendance. We will see once Prarie View and Air Force come to the Cell. Air Force should be a great game and hopefully a lot students will be able to make it--with the game being at the end of Thanksgiving weekend.
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Post by PANTHERfan on Nov 11, 2004 13:13:29 GMT -6
i think dutchpthr brings up a good point about on-campus advertising. i'm an alum and haven't been on campus this year so i wondered about that. seems that the student black and gold club, or the soon-to-be alumni club should address this problem. it's an easy way to attract the students. i'm sure many aren't even aware of the basketball renaissance that's happening. time to educate them. after they go once they'll likely return... and spread the word. it's a little trickier to get the alumni but we'll address that.
as for the SIU game last year, i believe that occured while the students were on break... i remember a poor student turn-out for that one. we'll see what things look like for the season opener, but i'd rather get the word out as best we can rather than simply wait and see. we need to be pro-active when possible.
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Post by pnthr97 on Nov 11, 2004 13:53:18 GMT -6
I disagree with a lot of you regarding last night's attendance. I, personally, was VERY SURPRISED at how MANY people were at the game. Having 2,500 fans at an EXHIBITION game is a success for UWM - regardless of how many of those fans were from LU. Also, I thought the student attendance last night was outstanding.
Keep in mind this was an exhibition game. Also keep in mind that there were over 17,000 fans across the street watching the Bucks.
Having been going to UWM games for over 15 years now, last night's game was a testament to how far the program has come. Even just five years ago, when Bo was coaching, UWM would be lucky to get 1,000 people for an exhibition game (and many times, for a regular season game). Keep that in mind and have REASONABLE expectations for the future. If we can average 6,000 fans for each regular season, it would be a true success. I'd be happy with over 5,000.
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Post by Hack on Nov 11, 2004 14:06:10 GMT -6
Amen.
Anyone who witnessed games at the Arena in 1996 in front of 250 people (Hi pnthr30! ;D ) can attest to that.
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Post by pnthr97 on Nov 11, 2004 14:09:13 GMT -6
250? That was on a GOOD night. I remember games where you could hear someone sneeze, from the completely opposite side of the arena, loud enough that if you didn't realize where the person was, you'd spontaneously say "bless you".
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Post by PANTHERfan on Nov 11, 2004 14:30:54 GMT -6
i remember those days all too well i think it's time to dream big though. it's easy to get excited when you're very much into the team and expect too much too quickly. there's no doubt it will take time for this program's attendance to grow. however, there's much that can be done right now to give it a boost. the university should be doing all it can to maximise their exposure. something as simple as putting posters up with game dates, large banners, or other attention grabbing items in or near the dorms and around campus could go a long way to making the students more aware. i agree with pnthr97, if we got 6,000/game that'd be a huge success.
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Post by Hack on Nov 11, 2004 14:35:45 GMT -6
250? That was on a GOOD night. I remember games where you could hear someone sneeze, from the completely opposite side of the arena, loud enough that if you didn't realize where the person was, you'd spontaneously say "bless you". Actually, I said "gesundheit."
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Post by admin on Nov 11, 2004 14:41:55 GMT -6
I agree...6,000 would be a solid target for attendance. I think we can accomplish that or at least get really close.
-UWMfreak
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dutchpthr
Junior
ain't much if it ain't dutch
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Post by dutchpthr on Nov 11, 2004 14:42:34 GMT -6
you know i really wasn't aware that things were that bad back a few years ago as far as attendence goes. Sorry to hear that from you alumni guys. But i too agree that it is time to dream big, and i hope that we are able to do that.
Yes the SIU game (just like a lot of other key game that year) was during break otherwise i'm pretty sure that would have a lot more poeple at it. I know for me i went to the game but then had to leave from it right away to make it back home for family christams goings-on, I actually alomst didn't go at all because of that but i thought it was a great game(expect for us losing) and i would actually really like us to continue trying to get those guys to play us agian, and vice versa.
I guess the point that i was trying to make wasn't that the Lawerence game should be a measuring point for the season but just that it is something that us fans should maybe kind of keep in the back of our minds. I'm sure that things will be fine for the regular season, but I'm not too sure about that Air Force game being that it IS on the tail end of Thanksgiving break but being that there isn't a Packer game that day maybe that will help us out (they play the Rams on Monday night). But then i again i might just be blowing around some hot air and everything will be fine.
but overall i'm not worried about attendence at all yet.
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Post by fan22 on Nov 11, 2004 17:59:20 GMT -6
I agree that the poor attendance is nothing to worry about. I believe that once the regular season hits, much more people will come. It was just an exhibition, no need to worry.
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Post by uwfenske aka hardhat on Nov 11, 2004 22:30:40 GMT -6
I was at a game in '98, when the attendance was 27. Everyone in Klotche was counted, including the few people working out in the weight room and the towel guy.
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Post by dunzz on Nov 13, 2004 1:15:43 GMT -6
Wow you guys are old.... No worries.
So you want to get more people. Here some things you can do!
First things first. Freshman, Freshman, Freshman. THis year we have a record number of freshman at 10,000, about. Obviously your first source you want to draw from. They have the most dispensable cash, which doesnt matter (games are free). However, they also are the most impressionable. I think it would be a good time to figure out who is on campus on a regular basis and who is not.
I go to class every day. if you have any suggestions or lines that i can use to get people to come i will use them.
Also, we gotta take advantage of those huge stacks of posters always sitting around. I picked up 8 from the lawrence game. It wouldnt be a bad idea to go hang those up in the dorms wherever you can.
Remeber when ever any gets a free poster. Take 20! Hang them up. That will help get the word out.
If anyone is making posters, consider this. The one spot you can gurantee you will find people who want to go the game is at the gasthuas. Most people who go there are there for the sports like atmosphere. I suggest you make those little 4-5 posters and leave them by the register where they order. People will see the stack and pick it up. Instant Advertising.
Additionally, I work for STS (the computer lab helpers) i see a bunch of guys each day on the espn.com looking up stats and what not. We should put little posters on each computer in all those labs. Its not illegal. Instant Advertising.
Simple note to those who are still going to the school. At the end of any class, just yell, UWM PANTHER MENS GAME. US CELLULAR. Works every time for me.
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Post by uwmfan on Nov 13, 2004 23:31:21 GMT -6
Dunzz, Good ideas one and all. One minor correction on your numbers (not that it matters, but since I work in the area of which you speak, might as well "enlighten" others... ) New freshmen numbers aren't as high as you said...While we did have the largest freshmen class again, breaking last year's record totals, it was just a bit more than 3,700. You might be thinking of freshmen applications, which was over 11,000, also a new high. One other thought; I agree with you that Sandburg needs to continue to be a point of focus. However, even with our huge increases in NF enrollments, Sandburg capacity is always going to limit how much we increase our numbers. Certainly NF are the ones to focus upon because of the chance to build lifelong fans, # growth may need a multifacted approach (ie., alumni, neighborhood students, general public marketing, etc.) If the program continues to be successful, fun to watch and entertaining, people will work their way to the games. More focused efforts like those posted here many times will continue pushing things in the right direction. Everyone keep pushing to those around you that have never attended a game. Tell 'em how much fun it is to be in the stands as well as seeing excellent ball on the floor. One CANNOT find a better sports entertainment venue in Milwaukee for the price.
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Post by uwfenske aka hardhat on Nov 13, 2004 23:49:08 GMT -6
You bring up a great point about Sandburg. I had worked there for 4 years. The rough capacity of Sandburg is 2600. If UWM admitted 3700 NF last year, that is 1100 NF that don't even see the very very limited athletics promotions in the dorms.
And about putting up posters/flyers/anouncements in Sandburg, they had put a, I guess you would say rule into effect a couple of years ago that no outside organizations could post such things in Sandburg. It has to be dorm originated. I will go talk with some people about the rules this week. Now, the cafeteria is separate from Sandburg, and have seemed to allow outside org. posting/advertising.
If the SBGC and/or the forthcoming alumni org. can put a schedule/poster advertising games together and have the athletic department behind it, Sandburg may put it up in places besides the lobby hallway (where they do generally put up one big schedule for b ball). Also a hallway where only half of the residents would usually pass by.
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