Let's start with this
These DePaul games take it all of me.
I've been to countless number of games in the past decade- home, tourney, road. I'm not a season ticket holder since I live in Illinois, but I go to Marquette games all over the county year in and year out.
These games at AllState and Wintrust Arenas versus DePaul are always some of the most stressful of the season, it's unreal.
That said, these games hold a special value.
My son, who is 4, has gone to games at both FiServ and Wintrust and you could just see how into it he is.
There's something special about a roughly 50/50 crowd split, people cheering loudly both ways, a young pup being confused about why the "De-fense" chants are coming equally loud both ways, and why the baskets are cheered with massive roars one after the other.
It's honestly a special atmosphere for a not so special game versus an elite BE team and a team that cant win a game in conference.
Kudos to the pregame reception folks as well- Pizanos was packed, the tables set up nicely with swag, the food was solid and readily available, and the service was good for the steep price point.
I'm blessed enough to be able to spend 400$+ on a wintery Tuesday night to watch Marquette with my family of 3- 120 for the reception and 300ish for the tickets for excellent seats, but when you spend that against DePaul you kind of expect it to be a bit of a wasteful spend, you just do it for the experience.
Having to get an ulcer yet again to sit thru a tough game against DePaul really is rough, it takes a lot out of you, but then you look over and realize that the kid is fully engaged and into it, and the crowd is really loving it step by step, play by play, and it makes it all worth while. The experience far outweighed the price point, especially when you sense it's made a new Marquette fan for life.
And that's worth it's weight in Gold...
I will add here that I read a poster note that perhaps all the Marquette fans in attendance actually make it tougher for the team in these games, and I said the same to my wife halfway thru the 2H. Not sure what gives, but my sense is that showing up to Wintrust with 4-5k DePaul fans in what would be a "weak" road atmosphere might be easier to play in than performing in this raucous back and forth loud atmosphere with a bunch of your fans there and Armageddon losses looming versus a team that has 0 to lose and everything to gain. It's almost as if having all the MU fans there inspires the DePaul kids. Might be reaching for straws here, but it seems legit
Quote from: DoctorV on January 14, 2025, 11:11:49 PMLet's start with this
These DePaul games take it all of me.
I've been to countless number of games in the past decade- home, tourney, road. I'm not a season ticket holder since I live in Illinois, but I go to Marquette games all over the county year in and year out.
These games at AllState and Wintrust Arenas versus DePaul are always some of the most stressful of the season, it's unreal.
That said, these games hold a special value.
My son, who is 4, has gone to games at both FiServ and Wintrust and you could just see how into it he is.
There's something special about a roughly 50/50 crowd split, people cheering loudly both ways, a young pup being confused about why the "De-fense" chants are coming equally loud both ways, and why the baskets are cheered with massive roars one after the other.
It's honestly a special atmosphere for a not so special game versus an elite BE team and a team that cant win a game in conference.
Kudos to the pregame reception folks as well- Pizanos was packed, the tables set up nicely with swag, the food was solid and readily available, and the service was good for the steep price point.
I'm blessed enough to be able to spend 400$+ on a wintery Tuesday night to watch Marquette with my family of 3- 120 for the reception and 300ish for the tickets for excellent seats, but when you spend that against DePaul you kind of expect it to be a bit of a wasteful spend, you just do it for the experience.
Having to get an ulcer yet again to sit thru a tough game against DePaul really is rough, it takes a lot out of you, but then you look over and realize that the kid is fully engaged and into it, and the crowd is really loving it step by step, play by play, and it makes it all worth while. The experience far outweighed the price point, especially when you sense it's made a new Marquette fan for life.
And that's worth it's weight in Gold...
I will add here that I read a poster note that perhaps all the Marquette fans in attendance actually make it tougher for the team in these games, and I said the same to my wife halfway thru the 2H. Not sure what gives, but my sense is that showing up to Wintrust with 4-5k DePaul fans in what would be a "weak" road atmosphere might be easier to play in than performing in this raucous back and forth loud atmosphere with a bunch of your fans there and Armageddon losses looming versus a team that has 0 to lose and everything to gain. It's almost as if having all the MU fans there inspires the DePaul kids. Might be reaching for straws here, but it seems legit
Agree......however that was an 80/20 MU crowd.
I think there were quite a few burgeoning MU fans there. I was in 112 and there were two adorable little girls yelling at the top of their lungs "go Marquette go" that they wrote on the back of blue demon signs. Super heart warming to see.
I was in 112 also down low. After I purchased two seats the ticket site said section sold out. Where was this "sold out" crowd? Another buddy of mine could have filled in the rest out our entirely empty row!!!
Love that, Doc. I was just like your little guy at that age, going to games with my dad. Being able to take my kids is such a thrill now. My oldest is 6, and she is starting to put it together about the team/how the game works/etc and I'm absolutely loving it. I let her stay up to watch the end/OT last night much to my wife's chagrin.
Alas I only went to minor league hockey games as a child. Became a marquette fan my sophomore year at the place. Still love to go minor league hockey games tho.
Whose kid has the killer mullet that they kept showing? Respect
Quote from: swoopem on January 15, 2025, 11:22:20 AMWhose kid has the killer mullet that they kept showing? Respect
For real. Great head of cabbage
DoctorV - Great to hear about your awesome experience with your family last night. You will cherish that forever.
I relish that type of atmosphere if it means Depaul played as good as they could play against us. Only helps this team getting everyone else's best shot and still finding success.