|
|
Post by uwmfutbol on Nov 13, 2006 23:54:48 GMT -6
I don't think busing students is the problem. It's the fact that UWM is still a small time program, and basically students are going to be fair weather fans. When most students come to UWM, the first thing they're thinking about is not how much they want to go see the basketball team. It's not like at Marquette where students know through MANY sources exactly how and when they can get to the BC--not to mention people who attend Marquette know it's a big time program that has been to three final fours.
Personally, I wish UWM had a 6000 person capacity arena on campus. I think it would be much better for games, and it would fill up relatively easily. The Cell is a great resource, but unfortunately for a program like UWM, there's just not enough hype to fill it.
Don't expect consistent changes in attendance for AT LEAST another 10 years. We need an older generation of UWM fans who have followed the program steadily. If the success of the team continues, the attendance will get better over time. It's just not going to happen overnight.
|
|
|
|
Post by milwsport on Nov 14, 2006 0:06:03 GMT -6
Don't expect consistent changes in attendance for AT LEAST another 10 years. . I don't believe that for a minute. If we expect failure that's exactly what we'll get. We can increase attendance significantly with some effort. It won't happen by itself and it won't happen if we don't try to make it happen. If we expect failure that's exactly what we'll get. |
|
|
|
Post by uwmfutbol on Nov 14, 2006 0:08:41 GMT -6
I'm not expecting failure. I just won't be disappointed when all the fair weather fans hop off the bandwagon if we have a losing season.
|
|
|
|
Post by milwsport on Nov 14, 2006 0:18:05 GMT -6
That is expecting failure. That's saying that we can't. Well we can and if enough people care to put some time in, we will.
There are lots of reasons why people go to games, winning is part of it but only part of it. There's the cheap date aspect, being with your friends, having a good time, supporting your school, etc. etc. etc.
Yes some are fair weather fans but again I point out how the Brewers have done. They haven't had a winning season in what now? Yet they draw well even though for a bunch of those seasons they were painful to watch.
We can draw well too. But we have to get the word out not just about how the good team is but about how much fun the games are, how inexpensive it is to take a family of four or a few buds to them, how accessible the coaching staff is after the game etc. etc. etc.
Sure lightening can strike and we can have lines out the door waiting to get in. But realistically that won't happen. It's obvious the AD staff can't do it by themselves. We have to help and the first step is to believe we can do it.
|
|
|
|
Post by gman2 on Nov 14, 2006 7:05:24 GMT -6
I remember last year one of the big promotions was test drive a Chevy and get two free tickets to the game. I found out about it at the game, didn't know there was a promotion!
There is a reason a crappy team like the Brewers is drawing 2+ million a year. Over the past few years they have made it fun to be at games. The Bucket Head Brigade, the Friday games in which right field bleachers get a ticket and a T-Shirt with the old logo. When Overbay was here, the O's. Plus they have things for kids to do at the games.
Yes, a smaller venue on campus would be nice. I know people that don't go to games at the Arena who went to games at the Klotche just to get back to the East Side. But in reality that won't happen unless someone like Herb Kohl steps up and donates (like he did for the Kohl Center). But, I'm guessing that since the Arena is still around, no one will promote another venue because the Arena is "good enough" for this program. But then again, if there is a better use for the Arena site, knock down the old thing and build something on or very near to campus.
Things is, even when the Panthers had the run the past few years attendance wasn't great. For a team returning practically everyone from the sweet sixteen roster, I would have expected attendance to jump last year, but it didn't. For this year I expect on average around 2500-3000 per game. On some games we could hit the 1000 mark.
Another thing that got me on Saturday was the directed ticket sales. By the time I got to the ticket window at the WSU game, they were selling the seats behind the hoop when there clearly was seats on the sides.
|
|
