Vidette - Student Attendance

[chuckie1980]

I am such a Trekkie but....I think RedAlert should choose a different BLEEP of their own each season. Right now...RA is suffering only because most of the "traditions" are built into the concrete and never improving with a new year.

I say TECH RA up and somehow combine a DJ with the pep band....and let them ripped the roof off.

 

[SgtHulka]

Keeping the students behind the baskets is just a jab from Muller to silence the student crowd and deflect from this poor season

 

[Hamdonger]

Keeping the students behind the baskets is just a jab from Muller to silence the student crowd and deflect from this poor season

Because, you know, he's losing it.
:roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll :roll: :roll:

 

[RedbirdMan]

Sell beer. Attendance would jump immediately.

 

[V Boy]

This is not a chicken/egg thing. In order for you to expect good crowds you actually have to consistently win. Not the other way around.

Get rid of football. Put that money into men's basketball. In a few years ISU would become the next Wichita and Redbird Arena would be full. Men's basketball would be highly highly profitable. You could charge more for tickets down the line.

 

[redbirds2000]

If for some reason they had to build a new arena I doubt they'd make it as big as RBA. I rather have a smaller and louder arena with the fans practically on the court. It's depressing to see all those empty seats.

Agree. Grand Canyon did it right. 7,000. Even when you get 5,000 in a place like that, it is rocking.

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[BallwinBird2012]

If for some reason they had to build a new arena I doubt they'd make it as big as RBA. I rather have a smaller and louder arena with the fans practically on the court. It's depressing to see all those empty seats.

Agree. Grand Canyon did it right. 7,000. Even when you get 5,000 in a place like that, it is rocking.

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Completely agree. Don't even have to rebuild. Several schools (I know Florida for sure, but there have been others) have downsized when they've renovated their arenas. Think UF knocked off something like 1,000 seats and replaced with more suites/priority seating areas. Would love to see ISU follow suit.

 

[HT59]

If for some reason they had to build a new arena I doubt they'd make it as big as RBA. I rather have a smaller and louder arena with the fans practically on the court. It's depressing to see all those empty seats.

Agree. Grand Canyon did it right. 7,000. Even when you get 5,000 in a place like that, it is rocking.

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Completely agree. Don't even have to rebuild. Several schools (I know Florida for sure, but there have been others) have downsized when they've renovated their arenas. Think UF knocked off something like 1,000 seats and replaced with more suites/priority seating areas. Would love to see ISU follow suit.

:text-+1:

 

[SgtHulka]

If for some reason they had to build a new arena I doubt they'd make it as big as RBA. I rather have a smaller and louder arena with the fans practically on the court. It's depressing to see all those empty seats.

Agree. Grand Canyon did it right. 7,000. Even when you get 5,000 in a place like that, it is rocking.

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Completely agree. Don't even have to rebuild. Several schools (I know Florida for sure, but there have been others) have downsized when they've renovated their arenas. Think UF knocked off something like 1,000 seats and replaced with more suites/priority seating areas. Would love to see ISU follow suit.

Looks to me like they are. Maybe not 1k but seats will be closer, fewer rows and maybe not full on suites but more specialty areas from the pics I've seen at the top of the LB

 

[TheTruth]

This is not a chicken/egg thing. In order for you to expect good crowds you actually have to consistently win. Not the other way around.

Get rid of football. Put that money into men's basketball. In a few years ISU would become the next Wichita and Redbird Arena would be full. Men's basketball would be highly highly profitable. You could charge more for tickets down the line.

No reason to drop football, you just trap yourself in a crumbling MVC that way.

 

[jamminjamarsmiley]

If for some reason they had to build a new arena I doubt they'd make it as big as RBA. I rather have a smaller and louder arena with the fans practically on the court. It's depressing to see all those empty seats.

Agree. Grand Canyon did it right. 7,000. Even when you get 5,000 in a place like that, it is rocking.

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I have personally been to a GCU game.

1) They have a great student tailgate lawn right in front of the arena. Yes - too cold in Normal, but what about something in Horton or a Legends/Redbird Room for students. Get them in, have food, games, beer for those over 21 etc. Most kids would show up just for the social aspect. Play some hip music - GCU has created a "club" atmosphere, which the young kids love.

2) The arena size is just right for GCU... and for most ISU games now probably so. However, if we could develop a top 25 basketball team, I don't mind the size of RBA. Back in the Janko days werent the average crowds around 8-9K?

3) at GCU basketball is KING. That school invests everything they have into it. And they win just a tad bit more than they lose. Not too much different than ISU as far as wins and losses. They have just created a fun atmosphere for students. The students also sit on the SIDELINES and take up one whole side of the arena. These are the prime seats in the arena. It's General admission, and they do charge $5 a ticket.

I had a lot of fun at the game, and it's a formula that I believe can be replicated. It just takes the commitment and investment, as well as the brainpower to create it.

 

[jamminjamarsmiley]

Also - I am not sure if ISU has considered doing this, but shouldn't the athletic marketing/administration be out meeting with schools like GCU to find out how they do it? It seems to me like that would be a smart idea. I would target mid major schools who fill up 80% of the arena on average..... Go figure out what they are doing, that we aren't. The mindset of: "attendance is down everywhere, nothing we can do" - is only going to drive ISU into the ground, and we will soon be SIU

 

[ricohill]

Also - I am not sure if ISU has considered doing this, but shouldn't the athletic marketing/administration be out meeting with schools like GCU to find out how they do it? It seems to me like that would be a smart idea. I would target mid major schools who fill up 80% of the arena on average..... Go figure out what they are doing, that we aren't. The mindset of: "attendance is down everywhere, nothing we can do" - is only going to drive ISU into the ground, and we will soon be SIU

Larry said new seats and cup holders will boost attendance!!

Good stuff. The sad thing is ISU has shown they can increase student attendance. The problem is they only do it once or twice a year. It takes creativity and hard work. Having a jersey or Hawaiian night isn’t going to get kids to show up. Students and fans want a social experience now. You have to do something to make it worth leaving your dorm or house.

We complain about it on here, but I don’t think ISU is that concerned with student attendance or creating a great basketball environment. It’s really a waste of time. If ISU was serious the athletic department would meet with every group on campus and ask what it would take to get them to go to games. The arena renovation was a great time to make major changes and it looks to be more of the same.

 

[gobirds85]

Athletics losses donors and doesn’t follow up to see what they did to turn off the flow why should they invest time and energy trying to get students to attend and make it a more pleasurable experience. My athletic donations are currently at $0.00 and I haven’t attended a game at Redbird Arena in two years. I went to homecoming last year and that was it for me and football. My buddy and I have been buying season tix for football for over 5 years. We are not buying them this year. I simply will not pay for a bad product, especially when I see no effort to fix that product. Larry Lyons has done a spectacular job off running people off and I can only assume that will continue under his leadership. Aim low. No disappointment.

Quick question...does anyone know of anyone increasing the $$$$ to ISU athletics? If so, I’d love to know their motivation. Maybe I’m missing something.

 

[Bird Friend]

Athletics losses donors and doesn’t follow up to see what they did to turn off the flow why should they invest time and energy trying to get students to attend and make it a more pleasurable experience. My athletic donations are currently at $0.00 and I haven’t attended a game at Redbird Arena in two years. I went to homecoming last year and that was it for me and football. My buddy and I have been buying season tix for football for over 5 years. We are not buying them this year. I simply will not pay for a bad product, especially when I see no effort to fix that product. Larry Lyons has done a spectacular job off running people off and I can only assume that will continue under his leadership. Aim low. No disappointment.

Quick question...does anyone know of anyone increasing the $$$$ to ISU athletics? If so, I’d love to know their motivation. Maybe I’m missing something.

Me. Because I can. Deal with it.

 

[Morans14]

Athletics losses donors and doesn’t follow up to see what they did to turn off the flow why should they invest time and energy trying to get students to attend and make it a more pleasurable experience. My athletic donations are currently at $0.00 and I haven’t attended a game at Redbird Arena in two years. I went to homecoming last year and that was it for me and football. My buddy and I have been buying season tix for football for over 5 years. We are not buying them this year. I simply will not pay for a bad product, especially when I see no effort to fix that product. Larry Lyons has done a spectacular job off running people off and I can only assume that will continue under his leadership. Aim low. No disappointment.

Quick question...does anyone know of anyone increasing the $$$$ to ISU athletics? If so, I’d love to know their motivation. Maybe I’m missing something.

We are. Because we support the student athletes.


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[Redbird Alum 2004]

Athletics losses donors and doesn’t follow up to see what they did to turn off the flow why should they invest time and energy trying to get students to attend and make it a more pleasurable experience. My athletic donations are currently at $0.00 and I haven’t attended a game at Redbird Arena in two years. I went to homecoming last year and that was it for me and football. My buddy and I have been buying season tix for football for over 5 years. We are not buying them this year. I simply will not pay for a bad product, especially when I see no effort to fix that product. Larry Lyons has done a spectacular job off running people off and I can only assume that will continue under his leadership. Aim low. No disappointment.

Quick question...does anyone know of anyone increasing the $$$$ to ISU athletics? If so, I’d love to know their motivation. Maybe I’m missing something.

My wife and I because we are alums and want the best for the student athletes representing our University.

 

[JHBird]

Also - I am not sure if ISU has considered doing this, but shouldn't the athletic marketing/administration be out meeting with schools like GCU to find out how they do it? It seems to me like that would be a smart idea. I would target mid major schools who fill up 80% of the arena on average..... Go figure out what they are doing, that we aren't. The mindset of: "attendance is down everywhere, nothing we can do" - is only going to drive ISU into the ground, and we will soon be SIU

I always thought they should be doing that. Target schools that have above average attendance with below average teams. Winning always brings in crowds, so throw that out of the equation. If a team continually loses but brings in decent sized crowds, then they most be doing the marketing right. There are so many colleges out there doing unique things that we could copy. Of course, winning is the quick cure, but we can't always expect to be good.

I also liked that idea of a separate 'Legends Room' for students to meet before the game. Give them free popcorn and have the hip hop music blasting -- make it fun! A disco ball, anything!

 

[BIGfan]

The overall experience for students is NOT enhanced by having grade schoolers running up and down the court for halftime entertainment. If you want students to get into the games... don't bore them to death at halftime.

 

[SgtHulka]

The overall experience for students is NOT enhanced by having grade schoolers running up and down the court for halftime entertainment. If you want students to get into the games... don't bore them to death at halftime.

That's called Dollar Cost Averaging