Average Home Attendance

[Patriotsince81]

I have expressed my frustrations here about attendance and the fan experience, as have others. So the question becomes what, if anything, can be done about it? Complaining about it here isn't likely to do much in the way of effecting change or even garnering a response. When I expressed my concerns about the Gold Room and lack of communication I heard back within a few hours and saw immediate change.

I'm considering sending off an email to Marvin Lewis, Zack Bolno, and Patriot Club staff. Anyone else that needs to be included? Including Tony Skinn is likely as well so at least he knows that there are passionate fans who support the program, just not enough. Reaching out can't hurt. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

The purpose would be to express concerns about the cost of single game tickets, being approached by Mason staff to quiet down, lack of student engagement, poor overall attendance and what is being done about it, etc. I think I'll leave out the free head and dollar beers, at least for now.

 

[Old Man]

Have more give aways to everyone. For example, Popcorn night. Give every fan a coupon for a free popcorn from the concessions. Free soda is another idea. And advertise, advertise, advertise. It's simple but everyone likes free.

Put a TShirt (XL please) in each seat, and have a place where you can exchange for a different size if needed. This gives fans a feeling of care by the university AND the university can get some visibility for the new @$##&+ logo.

For season ticket holders and as a way to lure in others, reduce, really, the season ticket prices. If needed, raise the Patriot Club PSLs costs too offset. This way, someone with a family who won't take the kids to the Gold Room anyway, can still have a guaranteed seat they feel connected to and maybe even ownership over (and be honest, we all feel like our seats are ours and enjoy the experience from the same view each game) that doesn't cost them an arm and a leg.

 

[mkaufman1]

Hate to say it, but I agree with 79. $1 beers are asking for trouble. Similar to why big screen camera moves to another person once someone starts chugging. Not the message that a university (and their lawyers) want to send.

I guess Uconn and other programs that do $3 or cheap beer night are very concerned too.

The cheap beer night isn't going to happen at Mason because Sodexho refuses. But it is an absolute good idea.

 

[JimP]

The last game of the season, my local minor league baseball team sells $1 beers until the first run is scored. $1 beer until GMU hits 20?

I'd settle for reasonably priced arena beer. I think the price was $8 or $9 at JMU.

 

[jkh1978]

Have more give aways to everyone. For example, Popcorn night. Give every fan a coupon for a free popcorn from the concessions. Free soda is another idea. And advertise, advertise, advertise. It's simple but everyone likes free.

I think I was charged like ten bucks. Concessions should get better or cheaper. They are probably unable to change that.

Put a TShirt (XL please) in each seat, and have a place where you can exchange for a different size if needed. This gives fans a feeling of care by the university AND the university can get some visibility for the new @$##&+ logo.

I was shocked this wasn’t a giveaway opening night with the rebrand. They stopped in the middle of designing it and they stopped in the middle of promoting it.

 

[Old Man]

I think I was charged like ten bucks. Concessions should get better or cheaper. They are probably unable to change that.

Yeah, the popcorn is so overpriced. I used to always buy a popcorn at the game, though I get my popcorn now "for free" ... HA! ... as I pay for the privilege for entry into the Gold Room. As for incentives, season ticket holders used to get a 25% discount on concessions, but that ended a few years ago, too.

 

[Verdad]

Yeah, the popcorn is so overpriced. I used to always buy a popcorn at the game, though I get my popcorn now "for free" ... HA! ... as I pay for the privilege for entry into the Gold Room. As for incentives, season ticket holders used to get a 25% discount on concessions, but that ended a few years ago, too.

There has been an insane lack of consistency in their promotions/incentives.

If sodexho is not cooperative (they aren’t), fire them. So much easy shit that we could fix but just continue to get in our own way - aka “Masoning”

 

[TweederGMU]

Remember Andy Ruge telling me years ago about the concessions at Eagle Bank. Sodexho has a contract to lease the units or concession areas from GMU. The school has no say into what food types or prices they charge. Would be like a landlord telling a District Taco how much to charge for a taco at the space they lease, ain't happening. They are just paying for the space/units. Up to them on what to serve, charge, and how to staff.

Sodexho is so huge they probably have many bean counters and analysts telling them what to charge for a popcorn, hot dog, soda, etc. for home bball games and other events based on tickets sold/attendance trends.

As for the Papa Johns or other restaurants that have been in there, they sign a contract with the school to lease that space.

If concerned about paying top tier money for shitty food.... there are plenty of options over in University Mall to choose from that would love your business.

 

[Jack Strop]

Free head? Dollar beers?

YES! Cup holders. Finally , a fine place to rest one's beer!! Talk about yer facilities upgrades.

 

[Jack Strop]

I have expressed my frustrations here about attendance and the fan experience, as have others. So the question becomes what, if anything, can be done about it? Complaining about it here isn't likely to do much in the way of effecting change or even garnering a response. When I expressed my concerns about the Gold Room and lack of communication I heard back within a few hours and saw immediate change.

I'm considering sending off an email to Marvin Lewis, Zack Bolno, and Patriot Club staff. Anyone else that needs to be included? Including Tony Skinn is likely as well so at least he knows that there are passionate fans who support the program, just not enough. Reaching out can't hurt. Nothing ventured nothing gained.

The purpose would be to express concerns about the cost of single game tickets, being approached by Mason staff to quiet down, lack of student engagement, poor overall attendance and what is being done about it, etc. I think I'll leave out the free head and dollar beers, at least for now.

I'll sign on.

 

[GMUgemini]

If concerned about paying top tier money for shitty food.... there are plenty of options over in University Mall to choose from that would love your business.

This is what I always used to do. Sometimes it meant going to McDonalds, sometimes it meant going to Brion’s (RIP). If it was a Saturday game it usually meant going after the game and you’d sometimes catch the coach at Brion’s.

 

[GMU79]

This is impressive, it may become your most disliked post of all time.

And thanks to hoopsjunkie75, I made it to 10 dislikes. I am honored guys!!
Is that a site record?

 

[MasonSAE4]

And thanks to hoopsjunkie75, I made it to 10 dislikes. I am honored guys!!
Is that a site record?

Gave you an 11th, just to be sure.

 

[mkaufman1]

And thanks to hoopsjunkie75, I made it to 10 dislikes. I am honored guys!!
Is that a site record?

I'm pretty sure this would set the record other than if someone something completely ridiculous, like we should bring back Tom O'Connor.

 

[GMU79]

I'm pretty sure this would set the record other than if someone something completely ridiculous, like we should bring back Tom O'Connor.

Hmm.
Let me mull over that one.
BTW, I'm up to 12!

 

[GunstonsGhost]

BTW, I'm up to 12!

Make it 13 for good luck.

 

[Mason2006Patriot]

If you want attendance to rise, tell all your friends and family, local youth basketball teams, coworkers, highschool/AAU teams etc about George Mason basketball.

It literally takes 2 seconds to send out a text to your family/friends group chat about GMU basketball

Post on Instagram about GMU basketball, get the word out etc


Mason fans gotta do their part to help get the word out about GMU basketball, can't only rely on the team's social media to do it

 

[NewPatriot]

https://atlantic10.com/stats.aspx?path=mbball&year=2023#misc

​

Attendance​

Index	Team	G	Total ATT.	Home ATT.	Home AVG/G
1	Dayton	10	88499	53628	13,407.0
2	vcu	11	52011	49432	6,179.0
3	Richmond	11	48985	25436	5,087.0
4	Rhode Island	11	49261	23638	3,939.0
5	St. Bonaventure	10	31791	19379	3,875.0
6	Saint Louis	14	44275	32570	3,618.0
7	George Mason	11	42530	21334	3,047.0
8	UMass	8	23534	17468	2,911.0
9	Loyola Chicago	12	21672	18850	2,692.0
10	Davidson	11	29908	14859	2,476.0
11	Saint Joseph's	11	58461	14188	2,026.0
12	Duquesne	10	31423	11675	1,945.0
13	La Salle	11	31079	10120	1,686.0
14	Fordham	11	22672	9428	1,571.0
15	George Washington	11	22560	10671	1,524.0

My takeaway is that Dematha's average home attendance is better than the bottom 5 A10 teams.

 

[GMUgemini]

My takeaway is that Dematha's average home attendance is better than the bottom 5 A10 teams.

And they might be able to have a winning record against those teams too

 

[FreeGunston12]

If you want attendance to rise, tell all your friends and family, local youth basketball teams, coworkers, highschool/AAU teams etc about George Mason basketball.

It literally takes 2 seconds to send out a text to your family/friends group chat about GMU basketball

Post on Instagram about GMU basketball, get the word out etc


Mason fans gotta do their part to help get the word out about GMU basketball, can't only rely on the team's social media to do it

Give it a rest. What am I supposed to tell said individuals? “Come watch the knitting in person!”. Been there, done that. I usually spend most of the time apologizing for how lame everything is.

I don’t think awareness of Mason basketball is the issue here.