This topic has been touched upon in other threads, but I thought it deserves it's own thread.
The Fan Game Experience has to improve, in my opinion. Not just at the BC, which has one of the better experiences, but across sports.
Even the NFL is starting to have concerns and have difficulty in selling out games, including playoff games. Let's face it, it has gotten very expensive to go to games and the TV experience is really good (especially when games now go well over 3 hours on average; at least at home you can pause it and do something for a while and fast forward commercials, etc). So, the NFL has created its own problems by being too good on TV (and getting way to expensive, in my opinion). With real income not rising nearly as much as the cost to attend games and be a season ticket holder, watching on TV is apparently a better option for more and more.
I know some here think that everyone should make every MU game and that MU should be a major focus in all of our lives. But that just isn't the case, and it seems (maybe I'm wrong) that more people are willing to stay home and watch on TV rather than brave the cold and an hour or more drive, etc, to see many games in person. And, let's face it, it isn't cheap and adds up when you talk about tickets, food, parking, kids, 6 or 8 o'clock starts, etc. I realize our attendance this year is outstanding given everything, but as far as butts in the seats, it seems to me to be down.
So, for MU, what needs to change to keep people buying tickets and make the game experience better?
Obviously a winning team helps a lot. After that I would say a team that moves the ball helps.
But as far as fan experience:
1. Have to show replays. Not showing replays really makes being at the game a disadvantage for reviewing close calls, etc. At this point, we expect it. The Big East and MU really need to change this if they want to compete with TV.
2. Everyone has a mobile device. It is time for MU to use wifi to stream content to our devices, weather it be stats, injury and comment updates, coach comments on other teams players, etc. I'd love to see MU student media involved, and they could even write about recruits in attendance, etc.
3. During game play, people should have to wait for a break in the action to be seated. Way too many people getting up and moving around during play. The BC seats are too tight for people to get in and out without creating a lot of commotion.
4. The BC is fine, but if we do end up with a new arena, having a properly configured bowl would be nice, with more space for legs/feet, and hopefully a higher rise between seat levels as the current height difference between seats is not enough.
5. More 7:00 o'clock and weekend games. I know that won't happen because of TV, but 6 and 8 o'clock weekday starts really impact attendance for those of us with kids and an hour plus drive, especially on weekdays. So, more Friday, Saturday and Sunday games are needed. Everyone knows this, but somehow we need to make it happen and make it one of the primary priorities in scheduling. Maybe this conflicts with TV and they wants it spread out more, I don't know, but then attendance and ticket sales will suffer going forward.
1 and 2 are really good ideas. Disclaimer: I think basketball is great live, and I go to every MU home game.
1. Agree, but doubt this is going to happen. Maybe I'm wrong, but I'd bet every major conference has a rule like this.
2. Disagree. If we want fans to be more involved, the last thing I'd want is everyone having one more reason to look down at their iPhone instead of at the game.
3. Agree...but with the number of people coming and going during play, I suspect the majority would disagree.
4. Agree. I suspect this is a given now that the money wouldn't be coming from the Pettits.
5. Agree, but doubt this is going to happen. TV revenue drives our bus, and if 6:00/8:00 is what Fox wants, that's what they'll get.
Last year I'd vehemently disagree with the wait for a break thing. But considering how many fouls get called now days I don't think I'd be waiting that much.
Replays! Replays! Replays!
The BC used to be really good at this, but now they don't show anything. They barely even show big highlights and dunks anymore.
Quote from: PunchingPiper on March 04, 2014, 10:25:19 AM
Last year I'd vehemently disagree with the wait for a break thing. But considering how many fouls get called now days I don't think I'd be waiting that much.
This is probably part of what makes watching at home a viable option. No flow and so many breaks in the action.
The games sure seem like they have gotten longer with the foul calls... and with 8 or 9 mandatory time outs for TV every game that seem to go on and on for twice as long as they are supposed to, there is so little flow to the games. Maybe make a 30 second time out closer to 30 seconds for the commercial... regular time outs don't need to go on and on until the TV reporters have their say and are ready to go back to the game...
Quote from: LAMUfan on March 04, 2014, 10:18:17 AM
1 and 2 are really good ideas. Disclaimer: I think basketball is great live, and I go to every MU home game.
But do you leave when the refs limit your enjoyment? What if it is a big game and the outcome undecided?
Quote from: GOO on March 04, 2014, 10:39:51 AM
This is probably part of what makes watching at home a viable option. No flow and so many breaks in the action.
The games sure seem like they have gotten longer with the foul calls... and with 8 or 9 mandatory time outs for TV every game that seem to go on and on for twice as long as they are supposed to, there is so little flow to the games. Maybe make a 30 second time out closer to 30 seconds for the commercial... regular time outs don't need to go on and on until the TV reporters have their say and are ready to go back to the game...
Once heard Kevin O'neil say during a broadcast that the NCAA adjusted the foul calls to get more people to the free throw line and increase scoring. He said all they needed to do was make the rim a quarter inch bigger or something. Think about how much more flow the game would have!
Replays, replays, replays! Must have replays.
We all need to sign a pledge that we'll stop going to games until they start showing them.
Really, we can control ourselves and not storm the court, refs, or away team.
Quote from: GOO on March 04, 2014, 10:04:59 AM
This topic has been touched upon in other threads, but I thought it deserves it's own thread.
The Fan Game Experience has to improve, in my opinion. Not just at the BC, which has one of the better experiences, but across sports.
Even the NFL is starting to have concerns and have difficulty in selling out games, including playoff games. Let's face it, it has gotten very expensive to go to games and the TV experience is really good (especially when games now go well over 3 hours on average; at least at home you can pause it and do something for a while and fast forward commercials, etc). So, the NFL has created its own problems by being too good on TV (and getting way to expensive, in my opinion). With real income not rising nearly as much as the cost to attend games and be a season ticket holder, watching on TV is apparently a better option for more and more.
I know some here think that everyone should make every MU game and that MU should be a major focus in all of our lives. But that just isn't the case, and it seems (maybe I'm wrong) that more people are willing to stay home and watch on TV rather than brave the cold and an hour or more drive, etc, to see many games in person. And, let's face it, it isn't cheap and adds up when you talk about tickets, food, parking, kids, 6 or 8 o'clock starts, etc. I realize our attendance this year is outstanding given everything, but as far as butts in the seats, it seems to me to be down.
So, for MU, what needs to change to keep people buying tickets and make the game experience better?
Obviously a winning team helps a lot. After that I would say a team that moves the ball helps.
But as far as fan experience:
1. Have to show replays. Not showing replays really makes being at the game a disadvantage for reviewing close calls, etc. At this point, we expect it. The Big East and MU really need to change this if they want to compete with TV.
2. Everyone has a mobile device. It is time for MU to use wifi to stream content to our devices, weather it be stats, injury and comment updates, coach comments on other teams players, etc. I'd love to see MU student media involved, and they could even write about recruits in attendance, etc.
3. During game play, people should have to wait for a break in the action to be seated. Way too many people getting up and moving around during play. The BC seats are too tight for people to get in and out without creating a lot of commotion.
4. The BC is fine, but if we do end up with a new arena, having a properly configured bowl would be nice, with more space for legs/feet, and hopefully a higher rise between seat levels as the current height difference between seats is not enough.
5. More 7:00 o'clock and weekend games. I know that won't happen because of TV, but 6 and 8 o'clock weekday starts really impact attendance for those of us with kids and an hour plus drive, especially on weekdays. So, more Friday, Saturday and Sunday games are needed. Everyone knows this, but somehow we need to make it happen and make it one of the primary priorities in scheduling. Maybe this conflicts with TV and they wants it spread out more, I don't know, but then attendance and ticket sales will suffer going forward.
There is no problem with attendance or the in-game experience. Clearly you think you can do a better job of running MU home games than the guy who has been coordinating the BC for years. MU has been in the top 20 for attendance for at least a decade! How dare you question the game day experience! What makes you qualified to give these recommendations? EVEYTHING IS FINE!! WHINER!!!!! Some people just need something to complain about! SMH
1. I think it is a Big East thing. Looking through google, the Big 10 just allowed unlimited replays at football games. I think it might be more difficult to see this happen, as there's proximity to the game unlike most football stadiums. Someone's going to get real upset at a replay.
2. Nah. If someone wants to use twitter or the facebooks, there's various hashtags and other crap to look at. I'd rather leave that one out.
3. I don't think that would happen, but I would like it. I think stadium staff would be concerned about people congregating around the seating entrances and possibly creating some sort of fire hazard (I know, but city ordinances are weird).
4. Yeah. Some knee room would be appreciated, and I am not tall.
5. I like the start times being varied. Gives me a bit of a different experience coming up from Chicago. Later start - go to a favorite restaurant. Early start, get home earlier and look at stats and game reaction before calling it a night.
Adding an idea (possibly marginal).
Give every class decade a reunion weekend game. A weekend game be dedicated to a particular decade of alumni - the 90's could feature KO and McIlvaine wrestling in sumo suits at halftime. For me going to games with classmates while a student was a big part of my experience. That experience isn't available during the summer reunion weekend, but the basketball weekend would be a good way to get classmates together and watch a game. (This wouldn't be a replacement for the traditional summer reunion.)
Quote from: We R Final Four on March 04, 2014, 10:44:52 AM
But do you leave when the refs limit your enjoyment? What if it is a big game and the outcome undecided?
YES
Most likely a nudie bar on the 200 concourse would get more dudes on their feet.
Quote from: We R Final Four on March 04, 2014, 10:44:52 AM
But do you leave when the refs limit your enjoyment? What if it is a big game and the outcome undecided?
No, I pretty much never leave early. I pay for the whole game, I'm watching the whole game.
1. Whether you can show a replay or not in the arena is not up to MU... in fact, it might not be up to the Big East entirely. Fox Sports may have a say on in-arena replay restrictions. In any event, I agree that more replay is better, but I'd focus more on what MU has the power to control.
2. Good idea, but potentially expensive just to overcome bandwidth issues... the only feasible, cost-effective way I could see this happening is if it was completely segregated from the internet, i.e. the stream would have to come from an in-house server and would only be available to people who are logged into the BC's wi-fi network... which probably means that you cannot access the internet while logged into the BC's wi-fi system (unless your smart device allows you to be logged into a wi-fi network and a cellular data network simultaneously. Then you have the problem of content... what would an in-house stream provide that isn't already available online or Twitter?
3. I like this idea and think you could easily get away with it in the lower bowl... but it's a major "culture change" that might require a couple years of soft-implementation before it's fully enforced.
4. The Benny Center is going to be i) on-campus (or immediately adjacent to), ii) an upgraded model of the Dee Events Center (Weber State) with elements of the Joyce (ND) that gets everyone, particularly the students & band, closer to the floor, and iii) licensed for alcohol service throughout but Bud and Miller/Coors products will only be served from a single kiosk in the corner of the stadium. Ground-breaking is TBD.
5. Remember the golden rule... he with the gold makes the rules. TV has a big say when it comes to scheduling games, and it would be detrimental to take this away. One hour may be a big deal to those of us attending, but it's an exponentially bigger deal when it comes to scheduling a TV lineup.
Quote from: 4everwarriors on March 04, 2014, 11:10:50 AM
Most likely a nudie bar on the 200 concourse would get more dudes on their feet.
Isn't that what Gametime is going to become?
http://onmilwaukee.com/bars/articles/stripclubcommentary.html
too many mandatory time outs but that isn't going to change anytime soon. However, it would be nice if the Refs stepped up the pace of the game as far as time spent after free throws, in-bounds play, substitutions. Seems like after every free throw, before every in-bounds play, or after every substitution, players always seem to huddle up. Refs need to step up the pace, get the ball in play faster.
I'm not sure replays is a league or network decision in the venue... I was in Philly for the Nova game on Sunday, and they showed replays... Showed them even directly after a dunk while MU had possession on the other end.
One more suggestion... another location that serves mixed drinks. The Baseline Bar area outside Sec. 210 gets really crowded with long lines at halftime. The Leinie Lodge area in the next corner is pretty empty, they could put it in there.
I love all of the OP's ideas.
I would add:
6. More game day promotions.
7. More options for kids and families at the games. A lot of professional stadiums have "kid fun zones" or things like that to keep the youngings happy at half time.
8. Not in our control, but I would love to see FS1 come up with some version of College GameDay.
9. Figure out some way to get the announcers to encourage the alumni to participate in student section traditions.
A couple of thoughts on the suggestions herein:
1) The 6/8 p.m., games are really 7/9 games and are timed for the eastern time zone. Sorry, but that's the way it is. Biggest problem for Marquette with these game times is getting their Chicago fan base up in time for the game. Can be a headache getting out of downtown Chicago for a 6:00 p.m., start.
2) Would be nice if the students showed up in larger numbers more frequently. I recognize particularly on weekday nights that they're studying hard, but the place rocks when we have a full student section.
3) Actually think the BC is great. I also have season tickets for the Chicago Bears and regularly go to the Milwaukee Brewers. The Brewers and the BC are by far the easiest stadiums to get in and out of. Oh and, don't hold your breath looking for more leg room. It won't happen, not with the way stadiums are designed today. Soldier Field has the same problem.
4) My vote would be for more Saturday night games... 7:00 p.m., starts. But to get these games, we'd have to negotiate with the Milwaukee Bucks and be among the Top 15 to 20 teams in the country so TV will clamor for us in prime time. We're not close to being highly ranked and when it seems to scheduling, we're the weak sister to the Bucks, which never ceases to amaze me.
5) Find a way to roll up and hide the Bucks and Admirals banners when we're playing. It's about us, not them. The focus should be on Marquette and our accomplishments, not the Bucks. Find a way to get that 1977 banner and the 1974 and 2003 banners where EVERYONE can see them!
Maybe FS1 should start doing 6:30 & 8:30ET for game starts, instead of 7 & 9.
I like the Bucks and Admirals banners! I wouldn't want them to role up the Marquette banners when the Bucks play.
I'd actually combine items 1 and 2. Replays are critical and while nice on the big screen, sometimes I'd like them on demand. Have an internal wi-fi and host game day content. How cool would it be to have the SportVU system feeding real time stats, shot charts, etc for me to be able to view? I can then also have video on demand from the game in case I missed something or to entertain myself during halftime/TOs.
You can even monetize it by using banner ads and video advertisement like youtube before a video play.
Quote from: PunchingPiper on March 04, 2014, 10:46:33 AM
Once heard Kevin O'neil say during a broadcast that the NCAA adjusted the foul calls to get more people to the free throw line and increase scoring. He said all they needed to do was make the rim a quarter inch bigger or something. Think about how much more flow the game would have!
That's sort of a cool idea.
I'd much rather they slightly expand the rim than change the way fouls are called. It doesn't change the flow of the game at all, more shots just fall in. Its brilliant.
I would also love to host a game or two at the Al. I know this will never happen because of lost ticket revenue, but the more intimate game environment can reek havoc on opposing teams. Maybe only put weekday games in the Al to minimize revenue lost