|
|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Jun 27, 2012 18:46:12 GMT -6
|
|
|
|
Post by Pantherholic on Jun 27, 2012 18:58:27 GMT -6
Folks Geiger's not a moron and when it comes to matters like this, you're not smarter, nor more experienced or more educated than him. You don't stay AD at a program like Ohio State for 11 years or have the success he did at Stanford because you suck at your job. This, like moving to the Cell initially, is a calculated risk. Quit acting like they thought this up overnight or over a few rounds during happy hour or anything stupid like that.
Believe me I want to know what their specific plan is from start to finish as badly as the rest of you. After 24 hours of hearing this news, I hate the move even more than I did originally but the guy who put this plan is place is very good at what he does so I'll stay quiet (sans this board) for the time being.
Also are we saving $230k over a 5 year period or $230k/yr?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jun 27, 2012 19:20:25 GMT -6
Thank you Holic for providing some much needed common sense!
|
|
|
|
Post by Pounce Needs Pals on Jun 27, 2012 19:49:08 GMT -6
$230k per year.
|
|
|
|
Post by panther9193 on Jun 28, 2012 6:51:10 GMT -6
Folks Geiger's not a moron and when it comes to matters like this, you're not smarter, nor more experienced or more educated than him. You don't stay AD at a program like Ohio State for 11 years or have the success he did at Stanford because you suck at your job. This, like moving to the Cell initially, is a calculated risk. Quit acting like they thought this up overnight or over a few rounds during happy hour or anything stupid like that. Believe me I want to know what their specific plan is from start to finish as badly as the rest of you. After 24 hours of hearing this news, I hate the move even more than I did originally but the guy who put this plan is place is very good at what he does so I'll stay quiet (sans this board) for the time being. Also are we saving $230k over a 5 year period or $230k/yr? I don't understand this blind faith in Geiger. Yes, he did good things at Ohio State and Stanford, but that doesn't mean he'll be a genius here. I hope things work out, but when his first major move is something that is upsetting many of the PAYING season ticket holders (based on comments on this board from people that barely ever complain) and most of the PAYING casual fans in an attempt to see if more NON-PAYING students will show up (which will not happen based on games played at the KC over the past few years), I think questioning this move is very valid. If this was done to determine if more students will show up, it could have been done by playing a few games (2 preseason and 2 regular season games) at the KC to gauge interest. We already know what the answer is going to be. This is a pipe dream. If this was done because the Athletic Department is in bad financial shape, then we're in big trouble because he's trying to cure the disease by killing the patient (alienating the PAYING fans). Much less money will come into the department as a result of this move, not more. The reason they haven't announced any long term plans is because they have none (other than basket stanchions and shot clocks). Until the university decides to take athletic seriously, this is going to be the result. |
|
|
|
Post by A Statement By SHAUN on Jun 28, 2012 6:56:46 GMT -6
Folks Geiger's not a moron and when it comes to matters like this, you're not smarter, nor more experienced or more educated than him. You don't stay AD at a program like Ohio State for 11 years or have the success he did at Stanford because you suck at your job. This, like moving to the Cell initially, is a calculated risk. Quit acting like they thought this up overnight or over a few rounds during happy hour or anything stupid like that. Believe me I want to know what their specific plan is from start to finish as badly as the rest of you. After 24 hours of hearing this news, I hate the move even more than I did originally but the guy who put this plan is place is very good at what he does so I'll stay quiet (sans this board) for the time being. Also are we saving $230k over a 5 year period or $230k/yr? I don't understand this blind faith in Geiger. Yes, he did good things at Ohio State and Stanford, but that doesn't mean he'll be a genius here. I hope things work out, but when his first major move is something that is upsetting many of the PAYING season ticket holders (based on comments on this board from people that barely ever complain) and most of the PAYING casual fans in an attempt to see if more NON-PAYING students will show up (which will not happen based on games played at the KC over the past few years), I think questioning this move is very valid. If this was done to determine if more students will show up, it could have been done by playing a few games (2 preseason and 2 regular season games) at the KC to gauge interest. We already know what the answer is going to be. This is a pipe dream. If this was done because the Athletic Department is in bad financial shape, then we're in big trouble because he's trying to cure the disease by killing the patient (alienating the PAYING fans). Much less money will come into the department as a result of this move, not more. The reason they haven't announced any long term plans is because they have none (other than basket stanchions and shot clocks). Until the university decides to take athletic seriously, this is going to be the result. Blind faith??? We trust a guy that has done an outstanding job at other BIG universities, and so we are blind?? You must have impossibly high standards for who qould be a qualified AD. |
|
|
|
Post by kingsteve on Jun 28, 2012 8:21:30 GMT -6
Been thinking about this after a day. More I think the less I like it. There needs to be another shoe to drop before I renew my two season ticket packages and donate further. If this is to save money in a master plan for a new arena great. We need to know that. Don't just drop this out of the blue because the KC is horrible. Not going to buy two season tickets to take my wife and/or grandson to a cramped, ugly unsafe place (pinched aisles and exit points and trip hazards) and to go to a place with no amenities, few bathrooms especially for women, long concession lines , then again what concessions? and bleachers in most of the place. This is how far our program has fallen. Without a real assuance of a master plan this smacks of a permanent half a-- renovation and waiver by the HL and we have a poor man's Gentile Center...great...lot of great places to grab a bit or beer as well...but could take that if a decent arena...this was handled really poorly... if there is a master plan say so...if not this should not have been done unless it is all about reduced expectations and money saving....we had a unique almost once in a lifetime opportunity eight years ago and let it evaporate away with a nice guy medicore fraud of a head coach who did not have either the experience or dynamic personality to keep it going. Butler did and is moving up... we are doing the other way downward in scope and interest... nice, thanks Jeter....I will see everyone at one or two games where I grab a ticket ad hoc but not going to plan my winter and weekends and budget around going to the Klotsche Center for 12 or 13 games....not only out of protest but it sucks and just is not worth it....after all this program has been through and tried to do and achieved eight years ago we are back to this?  ? If a definite plan for new arena comes I will buy back my season tickets and subscribe forever... In the meantime this is crap unless there is more to the story. |
|
|
|
Post by panther9193 on Jun 28, 2012 8:40:22 GMT -6
I don't understand this blind faith in Geiger. Yes, he did good things at Ohio State and Stanford, but that doesn't mean he'll be a genius here. I hope things work out, but when his first major move is something that is upsetting many of the PAYING season ticket holders (based on comments on this board from people that barely ever complain) and most of the PAYING casual fans in an attempt to see if more NON-PAYING students will show up (which will not happen based on games played at the KC over the past few years), I think questioning this move is very valid. If this was done to determine if more students will show up, it could have been done by playing a few games (2 preseason and 2 regular season games) at the KC to gauge interest. We already know what the answer is going to be. This is a pipe dream. If this was done because the Athletic Department is in bad financial shape, then we're in big trouble because he's trying to cure the disease by killing the patient (alienating the PAYING fans). Much less money will come into the department as a result of this move, not more. The reason they haven't announced any long term plans is because they have none (other than basket stanchions and shot clocks). Until the university decides to take athletic seriously, this is going to be the result. Blind faith??? We trust a guy that has done an outstanding job at other BIG universities, and so we are blind?? You must have impossibly high standards for who qould be a qualified AD. When his first move at THIS university is to alienate many of the season ticket holders and casual fans, I question his motives and decision making. With that being said, I think it is possible that the decision was not Geiger's but rather imposed on him by the university. Either way, it is bad news for UWM athletics! |
|
|
|
Post by PANTHERfan on Jun 28, 2012 9:01:40 GMT -6
When his first move at THIS university is to alienate many of the season ticket holders and casual fans, I question his motives and decision making. With that being said, I think it is possible that the decision was not Geiger's but rather imposed on him by the university.
Either way, it is bad news for UWM athletics![/quote]
Have to agree with this statement. It's hard to know with any certainty where the decision came from. When you look at Geiger's short-term contract and couple that with this poorly explained move, you really have to wonder what's in the works.
Anyone that's been associated with the program for more than ten years understands already what the student's level of interest is. We don't need to gauge that through a painful season-long experiment. This has already been done, many times. Want to stimulate interest? Win basketball games. Period.
The last thing I want to get into is doomsday-scenario thinking, but when the discussed KC improvements are shots clocks and stanchions... does that sound like prepping for a growing, competitive D1 program, or D3 apathy?
|
|
|
|
Post by ghostofdylan on Jun 28, 2012 9:24:08 GMT -6
"I would feel much better if the announcement was connected with something a bit more hopeful and specifically (encouraging) about a new arena on campus."
This says it all for me.
Two days later and I'm still torn.
As Hack said, there had better be some announcement about a capital campaign for a new arena forthcoming before the end of the 2012-13 season.
Failing that and a packed house for every single regular-season home game (we averaged 3,900 per game last year, 400 fewer than the national average; Klotsche seats about 3,400), this is a not a sign of progress for the program, but a cost-cutting venture.
Indeed, this is a referendum on the students and the marketing arm of the athletics department.
|
|
|
|
Post by skrapheap on Jun 28, 2012 9:34:10 GMT -6
Indeed, this is a referendum on the students and the marketing arm of the athletics department.
Better (and more) promotion won't by itself create a successful athletics program, but it should help a good deal.
|
|
|
|
Post by ghostofdylan on Jun 28, 2012 9:44:05 GMT -6
Can they get an audience at freshmen orientation or at least move-in day?
There, I would imagine that you have a captive audience of at least 4,000.
Put Rob, Chad, Sharif, James, Kyle and Jordan front and center and sell the incoming class on the fun aspects of going to games.
And please don't tell me that this was tried in 1997 or 2002 and didn't work. I don't want to hear it. It's 2012 and this program's been to the tournament three times, to the NIT twice and won or shared four regular-season conference titles.
I'l continue to be prickly about this after the fiasco that was Western Michigan.
By the way, there are "nearly 1,200" seats in the present facility with chairbacks. Last year, the season-ticket base was 1,600. This problem must be addressed. I'm not sitting on bleachers.
|
|
|
|
Post by PantherLou on Jun 28, 2012 10:03:21 GMT -6
I understand and share a lot of the concerns that people have with this decision. But I am willing to give the benefit of the doubt to Mike Lovell and Andy Geiger that this is not a knee-jerk reaction intended solely to save money.
If it is - we'll know soon enough. For now, I'll decide to look on the bright side and assume that it is part of a calculated strategy.
That's not to say that it's not without risk - it is VERY risky. But in my experience, there are very few growth plans out there for business that don't involve risk.
|
|
|
|
Post by kingsteve on Jun 28, 2012 10:10:41 GMT -6
I was part of a committee last year for UWM Athletics dealing with ticket sales particularly season tickets. I am not saying UWM Athletics marketing is state of the art but some really good things seemed to be getting some traction. I have to throw out some complements to some really dedicated UWM Athletic Dept people who put in superior effort with limited resources particularly Brian Morgan and Charlie Gross. Anyway, it did seem like toward the end of the year there was a discernible improvement in game atmosphere at U S Cellular. There were more families and the Kids day were a success. There were more groups both corporate and school/civic. The top student program was starting to take off. In short, just seemed like there were more bodies in the arena and atmosphere more lively. Not sure what all the reasons were but probably a combindation of all of the above as well as season tickets growing something oke 50 -80% over the prioer year. Some better parking deals for season ticket holders...a number of really good things. Video board was better, just overall experieince and it seemed like a great atmosphere at the end of the year. This pulls the plug on all of this. Good luck in trying to renew 50% of last year's season ticket holders and the ones that do renew likely to attend less games without all these fun things and access to entertainment in the area. Good luck getting half as many corporate or civic groups when faced with the wonderful prospect of a game in a high school gym with minimal if any amenities. Again, what is the master plan here other than assessing over the next how many years if there is enough student interest? If you build it they will come but if you put it on the backs of the students to attend games in a garbage can with a mediocre coach and program you are possibly setting up for failure. Stay downtown or announce a campaign and definite plans for a new arena ,. This is lousy
|
|
|
|
Post by JG Panthers on Jun 28, 2012 10:25:26 GMT -6
It has been 2 days since the announcement. I think it's insanely unreasonable to expect them to reveal their "master plan" to everyone, especially when that master plan is very clearly not finished. To leak unfinished details to the public would be very amateur for someone who has decades of experience in this arena. You can either trust that the right decision and plan is being formulated by two qualified individuals (Geiger and Lovell), or you can give up. I choose the former despite the fact that the latter is all this bandwagon, front running, faithless town has ever known.
|
|
? If a definite plan for new arena comes I will buy back my season tickets and subscribe forever... In the meantime this is crap unless there is more to the story.
