2024-2025 Schedule Thread

Patriot8

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IMO, a non-conference home schedule that interests fans would be a sound marketing strategy.
This is not meant to be sarcastic as I believe you enjoy research.

Can you show me an example of a current mid-major non-conference home schedule that would interest you?
 
IMO, a non-conference home schedule that interests fans would be a sound marketing strategy.
I agree. What happened to the Princeton and Bucknell game's we used to get? I'd rather see CAA, Ivy, and Patriot games than the DIII and HBCU's we've been playing. If they really want to drive up attendance, play some of the VA and DC teams in lesser leagues (American, UMBC, Longwood, ODU, Liberty, JMU, Radford) to name a few. I can always find friends that have attended one of those schools to join us in the Gold Room. We've never had a shortage of takers for our extra tickets to A10, ACC or higher league games.
 

Falco

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GIVING DAY 2023
I think what we know about this team is they can dominate against teams who are smaller and less athletic and it struggles against teams who can match them physically. They have to fix part two because they aren’t going to get a bunch of undersized u athletic teams in conference play.
ECU and CMU Keep winning. Perhaps they are tournament teams even and Mason played tough against them. Mason just needs to find its chemistry. They have the talent
 

Pablo

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This is not meant to be sarcastic as I believe you enjoy research.

Can you show me an example of a current mid-major non-conference home schedule that would interest you?

Would it be unfair if I choose Dayton's non-conference home schedule over George Mason's?
 

Patriot8

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Would it be unfair if I choose Dayton's non-conference home schedule over George Mason's?
No, that’s fair. I would say that Dayton is in a different position than Mason is, but they’re still an A10 comparison.

Dayton and vcu both have great non-conference schedules.
vcu has Bellarmine, Merrimack, Loyola MD, Elizabeth City State (D2), Georgia Southern, Penn, Colorado St, and W&M.
 
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mkaufman1

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Would it be unfair if I choose Dayton's non-conference home schedule over George Mason's?
No, that’s fair. I would say that Dayton is in a different position than Mason is, but they’re still an A10 comparison.
Yeah I agree thats fair but Dayton is THE gold standard for scheduling as a midmajor. I would absolutely love for Mason to be able to schedule like them, be invited to the best tournaments and somehow schedule Power 5s for home and homes, but that just isn't practical. It has never happened, and most likely wont.

Dayton and vcu both have great non-conference schedules.
for vcu - they have 7 buy games inc a non d1 school, a solid MTE and they had 2 neutral games. I agree that this is a pretty solid schedule. To me the neutral games are a nice touch and I still feel Mason needs to find a way to get into one annually. I will continue to beat that drum. Good for them to still be able to schedule in a solid manner. This would be something Mason should be able to get closer to.

for dayton - solid MTE, 2 P5s at home (NW and Marquette) along with a neutral game with Cincy (wow local rivalries that must be nice). Their schedule as usual is just incredible, and I could only dream of a schedule like that for Mason.

And BC, Seton Hall, Nevada, Miami, and New Mexico. And I'd go see a Mason/Penn and Mason/Colo St game anytime.
Mason is hosting Penn this year in December
 
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Falco

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I always harp on this, but George Mason should prioritize scheduling games against schools with recognizable names. These matchups not only help build excitement but also attract more fans to EagleBank Arena. For example, playing Ivy League schools like Harvard, Yale, or Princeton offers a balance of household name recognition while providing opportunities for competitive but winnable games.

While scheduling Power Five schools can be challenging, as they often avoid games against mid-majors like Mason, programs like DePaul or Boston College might be more willing to play. These schools have national name recognition but haven’t consistently performed at a high level in recent years, making them appealing opponents.

Scheduling more recognizable programs—even if they’re not top-tier teams—would draw larger crowds.
 
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mkaufman1

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I always harp on this, but George Mason should prioritize scheduling games against schools with recognizable names. These matchups not only help build excitement but also attract more fans to EagleBank Arena. For example, playing Ivy League schools like Harvard, Yale, or Princeton offers a balance of household name recognition while providing opportunities for competitive but winnable games.

While scheduling Power Five schools can be challenging, as they often avoid games against mid-majors like Mason, programs like DePaul or Boston College might be more willing to play. These schools have national name recognition but haven’t consistently performed at a high level in recent years, making them appealing opponents.

Scheduling more recognizable programs—even if they’re not top-tier teams—would draw larger crowds.
Completely agree with you. It seems like we always play Penn or an Ivy league for a buy game. Perhaps a second buy game with an Ivy league school could help. Loy Chi played Princeton this year in a neutral game I believe.

As far as a DePaul or Boston College, i agree those are opponents to look for. Unfortunately the best youll get is a neutral game which would be fine. vcu got BC in Annapolis. I definitely agree with where youre coming from here. It always takes two to tango though.
 

Patriot8

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Completely agree with you. It seems like we always play Penn or an Ivy league for a buy game. Perhaps a second buy game with an Ivy league school could help. Loy Chi played Princeton this year in a neutral game I believe.

As far as a DePaul or Boston College, i agree those are opponents to look for. Unfortunately the best youll get is a neutral game which would be fine. vcu got BC in Annapolis. I definitely agree with where youre coming from here. It always takes two to tango though.
Loyola played at Princeton. I’d be cool with a H&H with Princeton, Penn or Harvard. Princeton is a weird place to shoot because Jadwin is like an airplane hanger, but all 3 of those are cool destinations.

There’s currently a lot more for a HM team to lose than gain by playing at Mason, but luckily there’s a way to change that: Winning
 
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mkaufman1

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Loyola played at Princeton. I’d be cool with a H&H with Princeton, Penn or Harvard. Princeton is a weird place to shoot because Jadwin is like an airplane hanger, but all 3 of those are cool destinations.

There’s currently a lot more for a HM team to lose than gain by playing at Mason, but luckily there’s a way to change that: Winning
I stand corrected. We have done h/h with Penn and Princeton in the past and Harvard we got for a buy game years ago. I know Umass did a h/h with them.

I would love another game at the Palestra. I missed that opportunity in 2017.
 

jessej

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To increase turn out
Consider those colleges and universities with a large alumni base in the DMV
Consider those schools with coaches with local roots and in their HS hall of fames and set aside a block of tickets for those supporters to purchase
 

GMU79

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ECU and CMU Keep winning. Perhaps they are tournament teams even and Mason played tough against them. Mason just needs to find its chemistry. They have the talent
Maybe. Remains to be seen.
 

Falco

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GIVING DAY 2023
To increase turn out
Consider those colleges and universities with a large alumni base in the DMV
Consider those schools with coaches with local roots and in their HS hall of fames and set aside a block of tickets for those supporters to purchase
We should definitely set up a home-and-home series with Towson. They’re relatively local, and plenty of Towson graduates live in Northern Virginia. While I’m not eager to see EagleBank Arena filled with Towson fans, a packed stadium is always better than an empty one.
 

Patriotsince81

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Season - Avg. Attendance - Home record. Lots of factors to consider.
24-25 - 2,654. 4-1.
23-24 - 3,922. 14-3.
22-23 - 3,584. 14-2.
21-22 - 3,558. 10-4.
20-21 - 2,212. 7-3. Covid year.
19-20 - 4,037. 10-7.
18-19 - 4,335. 11-6.
17-18 - 4,088. 10-7.
16-17 - 4,235. 10-7.
15-16 - 4,300. 7-8.
 
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