Thoughts on Attendance & Season Tickets

[jwa123]

Winning cures everything. All of the problems listed here whether real or perceived fade to oblivion with wins. What was it, ’98? There’s your answer.

 

[gobirds85]

The need to breath energy into the arena is critical. Has anyone talked with campus groups, greeks, etc about coming out to the games? Maybe give them some freebies and feed them. Watching games on the telly is painful. I watched Belmont the other night and they had that place rocking.

And I agree...winning cures all.

 

[Bdub777]

Attendance will go back up with winning. Always does. We've seen it happen before. String some wins together, get some buzz going on campus and around town, and people show up.

All factors for declining attendance mentioned above are correct. But there's one more that's both a byproduct of all those reasons AND an ongoing hurdle: gameday atmosphere. Ours has dwindled severely and that can easily put people off who are expecting a real college basketball game. We have a DJ playing instead of the band, and what students do show up sit down and pay more attention to their phones. So what happens when students bring their friends to games or someone shows up for the first time? What impression will they get? Chances are it, "oh, THIS is IT?" It's not impressive or exciting. That has an adverse effect. Students and casual fans alike probably have expectations of what college basketball should be: loud bands, students jumping around, engaged fans, big energy in the building...and we haven't had that for awhile now, with the exception of the Horton game.

The good news is thats all fixable. Just win and do some exciting stuff.

As to improving the game day experience, they did get rid of the loud girl with the microphone (or at least she wasn’t at game 1), so let’s at least give them a little credit

 

[Phantom]

It saddens me to realize that current students (unless they saw it when they were younger), have never experienced a full house at RA, with a packed student section, everyone standing, and tons of noise and energy in the building. That's such a shame. THAT is what is needed to get people to return time and again. They experience that just once, and realize they're a critical part of that, and they will keep coming back.

Also, that energy gets the rest of the crowd into the game, and of course the players, who then might be energized to find an extra gear, and then that gets the crowd even more revved up, and so on. It's a pretty powerful cycle.

 

[Pistol1957]

It’s not just ISU

 

[stats]

When my kids were younger, I think they were more excited to see the individual players than the actual team. Most fans didn't know who guys like Jackie or Osiris were at the beginning of their first years at ISU, but each year after that their familiarity was a major reason for the excitiement. Having good players stay for 4 years gets fans engaged to the point they also want to come back the following year. The transfer portal has made many mid-majors a new team every year.

 

[gobirds85]

It’s not just ISU

DePaul sucks and has for some time. This year looks no different. They will get attendance boosts when Marq, Nova, GTown, etc, etc, etc come to town to pick up an easy W. We don't have that luxury of big name schools dropping in once or twice a week.

Loyola might out draw them tonight, but it is FAU, last year's Cinderella.

 

[BirdGrad2011]

When my kids were younger, I think they were more excited to see the individual players than the actual team. Most fans didn't know who guys like Jackie or Osiris were at the beginning of their first years at ISU, but each year after that their familiarity was a major reason for the excitiement. Having good players stay for 4 years gets fans engaged to the point they also want to come back the following year. The transfer portal has made many mid-majors a new team every year.

Agree to an extent. Kendall Lewis has been here a long time and played at a pretty high level. The problem? The team has sucked. You have to put a winning product on the floor to get that type of enthusiasm. I promise if they win kids will love Ty Pence, Johnny Kinziger, Chase, etc.

 

[MadBird]

It’s not just ISU

Yeah, watched the last 10 minutes or so of that game last night and it was sad. Not that I've ever been a DePaul fan. But the crowd was pathetic, the team is pretty pathetic, got their pants taken down by Purdue-Fort Wayne, which had something like a 16-2 run down the stretch. Really, I tend to think athletic department malpractice there, they really let their good thing slip away. They should be playing at least half their games on campus at the old gym.

But the greater point is, yes, it's happening all over, not at Kansas or Duke or plenty of other places, but at lots of places. People aren't coming out, schools "gouging" people for tickets, concessions, parking, what have you. Times have changed. I was at the Badger game Monday vs. Arkansas State and they claim 14K in attendance, but really much closer to 7K. In a 17K arena.

 

[Manchester Matt]

DePaul sucks and has for some time. This year looks no different. They will get attendance boosts when Marq, Nova, GTown, etc, etc, etc come to town to pick up an easy W. We don't have that luxury of big name schools dropping in once or twice a week.

Loyola might out draw them tonight, but it is FAU, last year's Cinderella.

It's also a doubleheader, so if you are even a casual college hoops fan, you'll surely attend tonight's Barstool event over a miserable Tony Stubblefield led crew.

 

[TBS_20]

Baylor is a recent national championship and their new stadium will have a smaller capacity than RA. If we can routinely average 7000 I think that's a win. Sure, they'll maybe get 8.5 if a P5 team comes in but you shouldn't expect sellouts anymore. That's just the way the world works now. I'm confident well get back to the 7k area in the next few seasons

 

[Hamdonger]

Is it too much to ask our Redbird basketball team to improve their conversion rate on sideline and out of bounds possessions?? ANYONE?? That makes us a better team. In some cases, a way better team. 1 additional bucket every 10 min on out of bounds is a difference maker. Could mean 5 more wins a year.

Is it too much to ask our Redbird basketball team to look at transition opportunities a bit more? 1 additional transition bucket every 10 minutes could mean 5 more wins for us this year...and heck, maybe even a Sunday appearance in StL.

What's the problem with asking this??????????.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

I have many thoughts and observations to add to this and will. If you’re looking to quote me, just know this will grow tonight. To start:

1.) Winning. It’s been a long time since we have done this consistently. As people move into/out of town, losing a lot more than you win won’t draw them out.

2.) Ticket prices and required donations continuing to increase without winning will guarantee the attendance continues to decline. Every time we raise ticket prices, fewer people will renew. Required donations have skyrocketed for people in a lot of cases. Some have dropped their tickets. Others have moved or just purchase some games.

Fans do not buy the argument that they need more money to compete. We spend more than other programs who have had much more recent success.

Frankly, I have trouble giving away tickets unless it’s to WBB games.

3.) Continued staff turnover has led to difficulties for fans to get issues resolved. We have donor relationships we can’t cultivate or build if we don’t have staff to do it. Paul Kabbes’ first few hires are extremely important for getting the ship turned. There are some former employees they may want to reach out to . It seems a lot of departures were directly related to the toxic Brennan/Mulhauser culture.

4.) This goes along with #2, but Brennan/Mulhauser went the path of slash and burn. Using all the resources to grow assets for their short-term resume building versus looking at what is best for the program and building a sustainable operation. It was clear they wanted to roll out whatever cash grabs they could and then get out before it collapsed. Having them gone is a huge step toward climbing back up.

 

[SlackBooDom]

I have many thoughts and observations to add to this and will. If you’re looking to quote me, just know this will grow tonight. To start:

1.) Winning. It’s been a long time since we have done this consistently. As people move into/out of town, losing a lot more than you win won’t draw them out.

2.) Ticket prices and required donations continuing to increase without winning will guarantee the attendance continues to decline. Every time we raise ticket prices, fewer people will renew. Required donations have skyrocketed for people in a lot of cases. Some have dropped their tickets. Others have moved or just purchase some games.

Fans do not buy the argument that they need more money to compete. We spend more than other programs who have had much more recent success.

Frankly, I have trouble giving away tickets unless it’s to WBB games.

3.) Continued staff turnover has led to difficulties for fans to get issues resolved. We have donor relationships we can’t cultivate or build if we don’t have staff to do it. Paul Kabbes’ first few hires are extremely important for getting the ship turned. There are some former employees they may want to reach out to . It seems a lot of departures were directly related to the toxic Brennan/Mulhauser culture.

4.) This goes along with #2, but Brennan/Mulhauser went the path of slash and burn. Using all the resources to grow assets for their short-term resume building versus looking at what is best for the program and building a sustainable operation. It was clear they wanted to roll out whatever cash grabs they could and then get out before it collapsed. Having them gone is a huge step toward climbing back up.

Three and four here are extremely accurate. I would echo that the cost is a huge barrier, as stated earlier.

 

[Reggie Redbird]

Three and four here are extremely accurate. I would echo that the cost is a huge barrier, as stated earlier.

Most fans aren’t going to pay $100-200 or more for a family of 4 to go watch us play a Norfolk State or SIU-E in Horton. For some, the nostalgia and discretionary spending is there. However, I can understand why people don’t buy the tickets.

I know very few people who have added season tickets. I know a lot of people who have dropped them. Moreso they flock to a winning program like WBB.

Our marketing staff has come up with some creative ideas. They just need the winning program to match it. Just look elsewhere in the arena to WBB to see what can be done, and their program was rock bottom.

 

[redbirds2000]

Are you drunk? High? Outside of one pocket of success recruiting teams of athletes that couldn’t play basketball didn’t work. That’s why we fired and moved on from Muller. This is a program that is trying to wash the Muller stink off itself after he cratered support and the program. Give Pedon a chance and don’t hold attendance against a NAIA school on a Monday night against him or this team.

What the hell is wrong with some of you.

Overreact much? I was referencing a component to a team that might draw a casual fan in a thread about attendance. I'm giving Pedon a chance. He has a roster with 11 seniors and many with an extra year. That says to me he thinks these are THE guys or he would have easily moved on and completely flipped the roster in the portal. He's getting his chance. I was 100% onboard with moving on from Muller. I have the same expectations for Pedon that I had for Muller.

 

[Redbird222]

Is it too much to ask our Redbird basketball team to improve their conversion rate on sideline and out of bounds possessions?? ANYONE?? That makes us a better team. In some cases, a way better team. 1 additional bucket every 10 min on out of bounds is a difference maker. Could mean 5 more wins a year.

Is it too much to ask our Redbird basketball team to look at transition opportunities a bit more? 1 additional transition bucket every 10 minutes could mean 5 more wins for us this year...and heck, maybe even a Sunday appearance in StL.

What's the problem with asking this??????????.

I think the reigns are on the team until they can prove they won't turn the ball over. I don't have proof it just seems like that.

I don't get out out of bounds plays last year and was equally frustrated. I am hoping that will improve and have added it to our our arsenal but have elected not to show anything until we play a D1 team.

 

[Redbird222]

Winning will help improve attendance amd is the number one driver however online streaming of games has contributed greatly to this as well.
We have a large alumni base in Chicago and it's much easier to stream a game vs drive 1.5 to 2 hours each way.

Besides being convenient, some fans like watching the games for replays.

Let's also not forget all the fans that stand up and block your view at the game.

 

[RedbirdSoxFan]

Not sure if this has been discussed before, but sitting in the upper bowl Monday night I noticed quite a few elderly folks struggling to make their way up the steps to their seats. After 33 years you would think that the facility manager would have installed handrails. For those younger fans (who would rather the old folks sit in the upper bowl anyway) this may not be an issue. I’m guessing that there are probably some elderly fans who have enjoyed years of attending Redbird basketball games that no longer attend games due to the challenges (and somewhat dangerous) of getting up to their seats. The lower bowl has handrails, maybe some should be installed in the upper bowl (before some elderly person experiences a fall due to not having a handrail to support them). Unfortunately, as we get older we can lose our sense of balance.

 

[Dmills]

Not sure if this has been discussed before, but sitting in the upper bowl Monday night I noticed quite a few elderly folks struggling to make their way up the steps to their seats. After 33 years you would think that the facility manager would have installed handrails. For those younger fans (who would rather the old folks sit in the upper bowl anyway) this may not be an issue. I’m guessing that there are probably some elderly fans who have enjoyed years of attending Redbird basketball games that no longer attend games due to the challenges (and somewhat dangerous) of getting up to their seats. The lower bowl has handrails, maybe some should be installed in the upper bowl (before some elderly person experiences a fall due to not having a handrail to support them). Unfortunately, as we get older we can lose our sense of balance.

I think that would be a great idea. Those steps are not the safest as it is. I wouldn't mind seeing a renovation of the upper bowl although I don't know how that would be accomplished with the existing concrete. We lost 600 seats renovating the lower bowl. It wouldn't kill us to lose a couple hundred more in this day and age if necessary.