How do your students get to the games?

[hoyasincebirth]

After another pathetic turnout by the Georgetown student section last night I wanted to ask how your students get to the Bradley Center. Does the school run buses to and from the game? Georgetown used to do this when I was an undergrad, but they stopped doing it my senior year and students have had to take public transportation ever since. They run shuttles to the metro on game days but no longer directly to the arena. The student attendance has slowly declined over the last 5 years. The students had a great showing for the Butler and Villanova games rushed the court against Villanova and haven't been back since. We've had about half a student section for the past 3 home games, and we lost 2 of them.

Do you guys have any suggestions besides bringing back the busses to increase student turnout? I mean this is an entertaining team that is headed to the tournament and has been in and out of the rankings. Yet can't get more than 200 students to show up.

[MUfan12]

They run shuttles from campus, but a lot of students walk to the game. The Bradley Center is only about a mile from campus.

[warriorchick]

Not so sure it is a transportation issue. If the kids really want to attend, they will find a way to get there.  Heck, how much would an Uber cost split among three kids?

[wadesworld]

Not so sure it is a transportation issue. If the kids really want to attend, they will find a way to get there.  Heck, how much would an Uber cost split among three kids?

There's no chance I would've gone to games against the likes of DePaul, Seton Hall, etc. if the only options were a taxi/taxi type service or public transportation.  The BC being within walking distance allowed me to walk to every game without a problem.  If it were a 10 minute drive I'd probably hop on a bus provided by MU.  I doubt I'm alone in that line of thinking.

[GooooMarquette]

I can definitely seeing cost/convenience being an issue, especially against lesser teams.  Unfortunately, the only solution I see for Georgetown - short of extending the DC Metro to the area - would be shuttles.

We're fortunate to have the options of a very easy walk and shuttles.

[jsglow]

They run shuttles from campus, but a lot of students walk to the game. The Bradley Center is only about a mile from campus.

I'd venture that 75% walk, except on the coldest nights.  It's really been the same historic walk from campus for 3 generations. The only thing that changes is that every 25 years or so they build a new arena, a block further north from the previous one.  I know that my kids used the same curly walking ramp behind the museum that I used a generation ago.

[JakeBarnes]

Hey guys, Marquette student turnout is the worst and no other team in our conference struggles with it

[CreightonWarrior]

Creighton does shuttles and it is also walkable. I find the fact that Georgetown doesn't provide shuttle services for the studnets mindboggling and deterring.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

There's no chance I would've gone to games against the likes of DePaul, Seton Hall, etc. if the only options were a taxi/taxi type service or public transportation.  The BC being within walking distance allowed me to walk to every game without a problem.  If it were a 10 minute drive I'd probably hop on a bus provided by MU.  I doubt I'm alone in that line of thinking.

Agreed.  Paying for transportation was a non-starter for a poor undergrad like me, particularly as that would have equated to beer money for a pitcher or two at The Gym or Hag's

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

My friends and I always walked. 

What I remembered was "if we make it to the tunnel we'll be fine."

[Brewtown Andy]

I'd venture that 75% walk, except on the coldest nights.  It's really been the same historic walk from campus for 3 generations. The only thing that changes is that every 25 years or so they build a new arena, a block further north from the previous one.  I know that my kids used the same curly walking ramp behind the museum that I used a generation ago.

My driving path away from games has me taking State Street to 11th to get back on I-94, and having seen the numbers of students walking across 11th on Wells while I wait for a light to change, I'd say that 75% is about accurate.

[rocky_warrior]

Agreed.  Paying for transportation was a non-starter for a poor undergrad like me, particularly as that would have equated to beer money for a pitcher or two at The Gym or Hag's

I assume Gtown students have a transportation pass included in their fees.  Like Marquette does now.

[warriorchick]

Agreed.  Paying for transportation was a non-starter for a poor undergrad like me, particularly as that would have equated to beer money for a pitcher or two at The Gym or Hag's

All students get a 24/7 pass for the city bus now.  Poverty can't be used as an excuse.

[GooooMarquette]

I assume Gtown students have a transportation pass included in their fees.  Like Marquette does now.

It seems to vary from school to school. Neither of my daughters goes to Marquette, but one goes to a school that allows them to buy a significantly discounted bus pass ($100/semester), and the other goes to a school with no bus pass program at all.  No idea about Georgetown.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

All students get a 24/7 pass for the city bus now.  Poverty can't be used as an excuse.

Fair enough. I was hung up on the taxi/Uber suggestion

[Aughnanure]

Creighton does shuttles and it is also walkable. I find the fact that Georgetown doesn't provide shuttle services for the studnets mindboggling and deterring.

DC traffic would make a bunch of shuttles difficult especially for 6/7 pm games when rush hour is full-on. Not sure if Georgetown provides free/discounted passes for the bus/metro, but regardless it's always harder to get out of that area than anywhere else in NW DC.

[Newsdreams]

'79-'83 we walked barefoot in the cold Milwaukee winter. Stopping at every bar to stay warm.

[TSmith34, Inc.]

'79-'83 we walked barefoot in the cold Milwaukee winter. Stopping at every bar to stay warm.

Pfffttt.  Starting in '84 we didn't even bother with pants.

[Newsdreams]

Pfffttt.  Starting in '84 we didn't even bother with pants.

Stopped at every bar I assume

[hoyasincebirth]

The first year they stopped shuttling students directly to games they gave out metro cards for round trip to and from the game enough for every home game. Now they don't give them anything. And no free bus passes either.

My friends and I usually taxied to games to get in line before the shuttles would start running and it usually came out to $3 a person. Thanks for the insight.

Seems like we really need to bring back the shuttles. Yes it's a mess with traffic and expensive, but I think it's worth it in the long haul. More students at the game means more people who are willing to become season ticket holders when they graduate not to mention the help in recruiting and game day environment.

[Galway Eagle]

All students get a 24/7 pass for the city bus now.  Poverty can't be used as an excuse.

I used to sell mine to law students to get beer money. Those were the days. 

[Eldon]

A DC streetcar instantly solves this problem, along with all other problems in the DC metro area.

In all seriousness, maybe you could talk to a local bar about having free shuttles to and from the game.  It would be free advertising for the bar and the cost could potentially be made up by the students who pregame at the bar before the game.  How about the "who wants to sex Dikembe tonight" bar?  Maybe there's a reason some bar(s) aren't already doing this, but it's worth a shot to ask.

[Skitch]

I remember waiting for the school buses on the service road that ran between the AMU and Schroeder in the 90's.  For some reason Freeway was allowed on the bus and always seemed to be sitting near me.

[GooooMarquette]

A DC streetcar instantly solves this problem, along with all other problems in the DC metro area.

Well played.

[Boozemon Barro]

Get on the shuttle and go straight to the back. Start screaming at everyone to shut the f up. Once it gets quiet you ask the bus crowd "does anyone here go to marquette?!?" Wooooooo!