RBA Seating Enhancement
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ChiRedbirdfan
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https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10155297479881359&id=18356341358&refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&_rdr
Grand Canyon student section supposedly one of the best in the country and a big part of it is the fact that it primarily located on the side of the team benches just like State Farm center , Crisler arena, Cameron.....etc etc etc. if the big programs are doing it where seating is a premium then it should be a no brainer at RBA. I have been old that Wisconsin is considering the same at the Kohl center. It will be a colossal mistake if ISU only puts students behind the baskets. That is so old school it is sad to think that may happen at ISU. ISU should take the first 8 or so rows court side on the team bench side and convert that to general admission with basic seating (glorified bench seating) for students only. Take out the 9th row of seats as a space between student section and place a bar/divider that separates the student section from the individual/reserved seating that will be behind the student section. Someone suggested taking out a couple of isles especially down low and I could not agree more. I chose to go to the badger vs Illini game at the stat farm center last Wednesday night (vs ISU v Bradley)and sat behind the badger bench with family and friends of badger players and the only isles to enter/exit for the lower section was on the ends. ( that was for the entire student section as well as others sitting opposite side of the students.). Though we were in 5 th row we had to go down to the bottom and then walk to an end to go upstairs to exit. It seems ISU may be able to do something similar and possible eliminate a stair exit or two along the sidelines (at least for a few rows where students should be packed in for general admission.). Have the students seating be first come first serve so that it is always filled along the sides. Do same for the student section seating behind the baskets, meaning general admission.
I would hope that ISU got students involved and did a lot of research about the best way to seat fans to maximize game experience/excitement and ultimately home court advantage. Now is the time do it right since changes are being made. If ISU shared the plans with fans/donors ahead of time maybe some would financially support it? If they are doing it right I would contribute towards it up to 10k. If they are only putting students behind the basket then no way would I contribute. I took an iPhone video of the student section at the State Farm center last Wednesday but I am having trouble loading it... if anyone knows what I am doing wrong to load it to this website plz let me know. The Wisconsin bench and their families and friends were surrounded by the Illini students and it was a distraction for the Wisconsin bench.
RBA IS A VERY GOOD ARENA BUT IT NEEDS SOME CHANGES TO GET FANS CLOSER ( again first 8 or so rows and especially along the court) AND INTO THE ACTION. THE STUDENTS MUST BE SEATED COURTSIDE ON THE SIDE WHERE THE TEAMS ARE SEATED.
Grand Canyon student section supposedly one of the best in the country and a big part of it is the fact that it primarily located on the side of the team benches just like State Farm center , Crisler arena, Cameron.....etc etc etc. if the big programs are doing it where seating is a premium then it should be a no brainer at RBA. I have been old that Wisconsin is considering the same at the Kohl center. It will be a colossal mistake if ISU only puts students behind the baskets. That is so old school it is sad to think that may happen at ISU. ISU should take the first 8 or so rows court side on the team bench side and convert that to general admission with basic seating (glorified bench seating) for students only. Take out the 9th row of seats as a space between student section and place a bar/divider that separates the student section from the individual/reserved seating that will be behind the student section. Someone suggested taking out a couple of isles especially down low and I could not agree more. I chose to go to the badger vs Illini game at the stat farm center last Wednesday night (vs ISU v Bradley)and sat behind the badger bench with family and friends of badger players and the only isles to enter/exit for the lower section was on the ends. ( that was for the entire student section as well as others sitting opposite side of the students.). Though we were in 5 th row we had to go down to the bottom and then walk to an end to go upstairs to exit. It seems ISU may be able to do something similar and possible eliminate a stair exit or two along the sidelines (at least for a few rows where students should be packed in for general admission.). Have the students seating be first come first serve so that it is always filled along the sides. Do same for the student section seating behind the baskets, meaning general admission.
I would hope that ISU got students involved and did a lot of research about the best way to seat fans to maximize game experience/excitement and ultimately home court advantage. Now is the time do it right since changes are being made. If ISU shared the plans with fans/donors ahead of time maybe some would financially support it? If they are doing it right I would contribute towards it up to 10k. If they are only putting students behind the basket then no way would I contribute. I took an iPhone video of the student section at the State Farm center last Wednesday but I am having trouble loading it... if anyone knows what I am doing wrong to load it to this website plz let me know. The Wisconsin bench and their families and friends were surrounded by the Illini students and it was a distraction for the Wisconsin bench.
RBA IS A VERY GOOD ARENA BUT IT NEEDS SOME CHANGES TO GET FANS CLOSER ( again first 8 or so rows and especially along the court) AND INTO THE ACTION. THE STUDENTS MUST BE SEATED COURTSIDE ON THE SIDE WHERE THE TEAMS ARE SEATED.
i like the idea of having students behind each basket, especially for free throws. my only concern is, that will stretch the already thin student section. at one time this season (it was during the break a while back) there were probably 50 students or less.
this is probably the argument, for us, against having the students seated along the side, behind the benches. because there will be times that it looks like no one is there.
this is probably the argument, for us, against having the students seated along the side, behind the benches. because there will be times that it looks like no one is there.
ChiRedbirdfan
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birdlife said:
Every university has the student break attendance issue. When ISU played Loyola this year their student section was sparse too. The attendance is what it is and people know when students are on break. If ISU is worried about appearance of attendance during student break vs actually growing attendance and fan base then the waning fan interest will continue. For programs like ISUthey need to play as many road games/neutral site games as possible while students are on break.
Yes still have some students on the ends for free throws but why only get students involved just on free throws?... what about student impact for the other 80 to 90 percent of the game? Sorry but the old “put the students on the end for free throws” is old school and universities have figured out that they key to a good environment starts with prioritizing student seating. For universities like ISU that are heavily subsidized by student fees this is only the right thing to do since they fund ISU athletics. Beyond that ISU really needs to grow their fan base long term and that all starts with getting the students to the games now. I like that ISU is making changes I just hope whomever is deciding on the changes is doing it the right way and is aware of the trends
We have talked about GCU several times in the past. Our team has looked at what they do, along with many other U's across the station. Not sure I have the energy to provide more specific info again, just to say that if it was all that feasible, it would have been replicated all over the country by now.
We are making changes in these directions. We are moving the band close to the visiting bench. And one of the student sections will be closer. And now along both baselines. Actually, some U's have moved away from putting students right behind either of the benches. Because they just don't come to the games, and the empty seats are embarrassing.
We are making changes in these directions. We are moving the band close to the visiting bench. And one of the student sections will be closer. And now along both baselines. Actually, some U's have moved away from putting students right behind either of the benches. Because they just don't come to the games, and the empty seats are embarrassing.
ChiRedbirdfan
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So people acknowledge that ISU is struggling getting their biggest paying customers (students) and their long term donor base (students) to their marque athletic games yet the solution is to hide the problem? How about taking action to get them to the game vs hiding ittpskult said:
Lastly, if ISU can get students involved it will be a big boost in terms of entertainment for all attendees regardless of age. A true win win.
TIMMY
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Move the students to the sideline. More kids will show up. The sideline seats at Horton were awesome. We were load and crazy. It wouldn't have been the same if we were all in the north end. Give it a shot. Nothing to lose.
ChiRedbirdfan said:
I just don't know that i buy into the idea of putting them on the sideline will make them come. I think a winning team makes them come.
I was a student during the Osiris era and he student section was packed every game with multiple arena sell outs.
Reggie Redbird
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What doesn’t seem to have worked for students this year:
Quality non-con opponents (getting them to come)
Various game times - 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, etc.
What works to keep them there for a bit: some giveaways. However, some students leave when they can get them.
Anything you can get the Greeks to come to.
What is left in the tunnel to try?
Win more, especially over quality opponents.
Make the NCAAs. About half our student population wasn’t alive the last time we made the tourney.
Alcohol - for “of-age” students and fans in general.
Free tickets - no Red Alert pass needed.
Perhaps selling beer/wine would offset the lost revenue from students.
Quality non-con opponents (getting them to come)
Various game times - 1, 3, 6, 7, 9, etc.
What works to keep them there for a bit: some giveaways. However, some students leave when they can get them.
Anything you can get the Greeks to come to.
What is left in the tunnel to try?
Win more, especially over quality opponents.
Make the NCAAs. About half our student population wasn’t alive the last time we made the tourney.
Alcohol - for “of-age” students and fans in general.
Free tickets - no Red Alert pass needed.
Perhaps selling beer/wine would offset the lost revenue from students.
Agree, tpskult. How about an NCAA tourney bid, finally?
As I said earlier, some schools have actually moved students from the sidelines that have tried it. It has become a significant issue. Getting students to the games. But of course, some will tell you it is something only ISU is screwing up somehow.
Personally, I have come to think a student can be anywhere to have a phone 8 inches in front of their face not go through all of that hassle of getting off their butts and heading out to the cold to an arena. And they can have a beer in one of their non phone as well. But that's might be the old man crumungeon side coming out in me.
Making the dance would be a big help though. And maybe vend the beer ( for those of age, of course).
As I said earlier, some schools have actually moved students from the sidelines that have tried it. It has become a significant issue. Getting students to the games. But of course, some will tell you it is something only ISU is screwing up somehow.
Personally, I have come to think a student can be anywhere to have a phone 8 inches in front of their face not go through all of that hassle of getting off their butts and heading out to the cold to an arena. And they can have a beer in one of their non phone as well. But that's might be the old man crumungeon side coming out in me.
Making the dance would be a big help though. And maybe vend the beer ( for those of age, of course).
ChiRedbirdfan
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bb fan said:
Name some universities that have recently or are currently pulling the students further away. I call bs unless you back it up with examples.
Yes winning will help attendance but management of the athletic environment/atmosphere and winning should be symbiotic and not mutually exclusive. Create a fun environment/ atmosphere and maybe ISU will get better recruits which in turn will help winning which in turn will help attendance ...etc
ChiRedbirdfan
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.Reggie Redbird said:
ISU athletic admin should always be doing anything and everything to get fans to the game. No stone unturned esp given the falling attendance trend.
There is an article, Chi. I will try to find it. Saw it about a year ago. And I have seen if for myself, scrolling through games on ESPN+. Many empty seats behind the benches with a few students. And Chi, just look at the crowds in student sections in general. Aside from the Dukes and Michigans of the world. If you are not aware this is a situation virtually everywhere, it taints your comments on the subject, I think. But of course, It is just Illinois State dropping the ball. SMH.
