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Post by Coyote Fan on Jan 22, 2011 23:23:49 GMT -6
The first thing that needs to be done is for USD to realise that they have a major problem on their hands with basketball attandance. This is a far cry from the excitement level that the U had during many of Boots' good seasons.
The first thing that needs to be done is to realise the problem at hand. It all starts with reporting an accurate attendance. If someone is going to go on a diet and truley get something done as a positive they can't count a 3500 calorie day as 2700 on their journal. Nothing will ever truley get done unless the truth comes out.
Saylor has been good in many areas but he needs to turn his attention to getting people to the game. If he doesn't do it himself he needs some serious help in this area. This is going to directly affect the bottom line in the athletic budget.
Are ticket prices too high right now in this economy. Maybe the 3 dollars plus per gallon in gas prices is keeping the commuters at home. Of course the Yotes have a few games on TV but more of the games aren't on TV and those attendance figures don't seem any better.
I would like to hear the administration come out with a plan on how to get this issue straightened out, at least a little. This is the highest level of basketball outside the NBA D-League in the entire regional vicinity. It probably doesn't help that many in this state still put high school basketball on a higher pedestal than they do D1 College Basketball.
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Post by Yote 53 on Jan 23, 2011 14:41:12 GMT -6
The all day snowstorm didn't help attendance much either.
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Post by yotemeal on Jan 23, 2011 15:48:19 GMT -6
I predict (and I'll be disappointed if I'm wrong) that our arrival in the Summit League and MVFC will significantly increase attendance, and not just for games against SDSU and NDSU. I've offered my own perspective on this before. Yes, the Great West has served its purpose, providing us a home through this transition process. But at the end of the day, this is a transition process. I'm a season ticket holder for football, a howling pack member, and I attend a good number of basketball games each season, but, as a fan, I've never felt totally invested in the Great West because I've always viewed it as temporary. The Summit and MVFC provide more regional flavor, historic rivals and a mix of teams that are just of a higher caliber than those that make up the Great West. Oakland, Oral Roberts, IUPUI, NDSU, SDSU...those are teams that get me genuinely excited to make a trip down to Vermillion. I know others who feel the same way.
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Post by yoteforever on Jan 23, 2011 15:54:24 GMT -6
I sure hope that is the case yotemeal. If not, then we are in for some troubling times. I have recently read where student fan base is down all across the country except for the traditional powers. I am not sure why, I guess is it is because that the level of interest isn't as high anymore.
AD Sayler in my opinion, partially based on unsubstantiated rumors has done a real good job getting done what needs to be done regarding facilities. How he gets butts in the seats is a job he will have to tackle.
I believe we will have to change the dynamics of the game itself to attract fans. Football and basketball games are no longer that. With halftime shows, interaction with fans, corporate sponsorships, it is now a production.
Contrary to what is said, people will come back to Vermillion and get involved if we market this the way it should be.
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Post by Coyote Fan on Jan 23, 2011 18:21:03 GMT -6
SDSU as well supported as they are for basketball have struggled with their attendance even since joining the Summit League. I think it's finally starting to come along. SDSU and NDSU brought to light the Summit League and made people more aware of the Summit League and what it is about. The tourney is Sioux Falls certainly helps.
USD will have the advantage of going into a more exposed (to this region) league with two formal rivals already in place. That will help as will a new arena.
I do believe that the economy is a factor or at least an economy that is preceived to be weak. I know in my personal situation I have felt it. The cost factor is a big issue. One of the most under-rated aspects to the economic downturn is the ridiculous gas prices. That is a definate factor when it comes to game attendance as does all the home weekday games. It seems like employee salaries aren't really going up but the cost of alot of expenditures are.
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Post by bincitysioux on Jan 24, 2011 12:07:16 GMT -6
We are having a similar attendance problem at North Dakota. Averaging just 1,400 per game. The USD game was the only decent draw at around 2,700......and I suspect it will be the only good draw we have all season.
Our main problem is that the men's team has been so bad for so long that fans have lost interest and even though we are fielding probably our most exciting team to watch in several years, that the fans are slow to come back. The women have also struggled badly this season and that doesn't help.
With no familiarity with the GWC schools, it is hard for fans to care much, other than when we play the Yotes. Hopefully, when Big Sky play starts, Montana, Montana St., and Northern Colorado will be good draws for fans. And hopelfully we continue an annual game with USD and NDSU, even SDSU. Familiarity with opponents, and having post season to play for shoul help in theory.
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Post by Yote 53 on Jan 26, 2011 15:25:56 GMT -6
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Post by yotemeal on Jan 26, 2011 16:57:16 GMT -6
I've mentioned this in other posts about fan attendance in general, but it also holds true for students. We're diehards on this board; we're hooked. But others need to be sold on the product. I like what I'm seeing thus far, and I trust we'll continue to make strides marketing USD Athletics and watching the brand develop in association with the Summit League and MVFC.
I happened to be watching the Georgia/Florida basketball game last night on ESPN, and one of the commentators mentioned that Georgia's student section, at least in recent years, has been crickets and tumbleweeds. Georgia's young coach took to the streets and started knocking down the doors of every sorority and fraternity on campus, as well as other places. The student section has since filled up (it doesn't hurt, and this point can't be understated, that Georgia's men's team is good this year). And this is an SEC school! That sort of grass roots effort is a cool idea. I don't know if or to what extent we do things like that at USD, but it would be a nice supplement to the natural momentum I expect as we make our homes in the Summit and MVFC.
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usdlaw
Senior Member
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Post by usdlaw on Jan 27, 2011 9:53:00 GMT -6
I agree Yotemeal. I've said many times we need to get the Greeks to the games. They seem to be an all or nothing group. Could you imagine Boots knocking on the Theta house door. "Hey girls, come to the BB game tonight. " Or Ryun knocking on the A Phi house door. But I think it would be a good idea for someone to do that.
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Post by yotemeal on Jan 27, 2011 11:14:14 GMT -6
I agree Yotemeal. I've said many times we need to get the Greeks to the games. They seem to be an all or nothing group. Could you imagine Boots knocking on the Theta house door. "Hey girls, come to the BB game tonight. " Or Ryun knocking on the A Phi house door. But I think it would be a good idea for someone to do that. Heck, I've even thought about doing some things personally to engage the Greeks. After all, I am a fraternity guy myself. The ESPN broadcast got me thinking it might be a productive idea to get a couple of my fraternity brothers who also live up in Sioux Falls to pitch in on a pre-game keg/food and invite our house's current members on campus over to Pro's or some similar venue. It allows me to stay active with my fraternity and also demonstrates to some of these guys that Coyote Athletics can keep them connected to USD far beyond graduation. |
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usdlaw
Senior Member
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Post by usdlaw on Jan 27, 2011 11:58:46 GMT -6
Great idea
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Post by Yote 53 on Jan 27, 2011 12:21:53 GMT -6
Wasn't Greek in my time at USD but that is a great idea. You, and your fraternity brother graduates, should do this. I think it should be stressed that athletic support is another bond that can be shared between students and alumni. It is something we have in common that ties a school's past to its present and to its future. I think it is also very important for the alumni association to worry about current student attendance at USD events because I would bet there is a direct correlation between that and future giving to the U.
Student participation in athletic events is the most visible gauge of student support and involvement in the university. I would think it would an automatic for the Greek community to support athletics. Apparantly I am wrong because Greek support has lacked ever since I have been associated with USD, going on 20 years now.
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