Gameday Experience

[phoenix-arizona]

I’d like to reframe the question, because this debate always winds up with “just win” or “winning cried all,” because we aren’t a blue blood and we will have down years, maybe sometimes several.

So here is what I propose: how do we reside the floor so that even in down periods in the program the crowd, the ones who show up, are passionate and engaged and raucous even if it’s not a packed house?

They probably won't do this because of rent issues, but they could close off the upper portions of the arena so that fans have to sit down closer to the floor. This could help create a smaller and compacted crowd, leading to a louder and more intimate feeling game experience.

Maybe right now, for our program, Eagle Bank is too big a space as it is currently used.

 

[GMUgemini]

They probably won't do this because of rent issues, but they could close off the upper portions of the arena so that fans have to sit down closer to the floor. This could help create a smaller and compacted crowd, leading to a louder and more intimate feeling game experience.

Maybe right now, for our program, Eagle Bank is too big a space as it is currently used.

First of all, I have no idea where reside came from lol.

I meant metaphorical “raise the floor” of what the gameday experience is like so we don’t get 2,500 completely disinterested fans sitting with their thumbs up their butts.

 

[phoenix-arizona]

They have hype men working the crowd and the band makes an effort. Maybe in addition the athletic department needs a few dedicated students to lead coordinating songs, chants, during the game. Hand out song/chant sheets to the crowd and have the students go through different sections of the arena to organize and lead the songs/chants.

 

[Verdad]

Have the side opposite the team benches for season tickets - you want season tickets, you have to go there - expand season ticket area as demand requires.

Have rest of arena be GA with a designated student section - so everyone will just go sit down below.

 

[GMU1983]

Yes how hard could it be? Coordinate students, cheerleaders and the band. After a monster dunk and the few times the crowd goes wild then Doc Nix starts playing and sucks the life out of the crowd. He is great every time else but after a massive dunk play overhead music and then do chants. I got along great with Andy Ruge and when I explained this to him he fluffed me off. Good grief this is easy for someone to take charge. Just like the post before this - have a crowd coordinator! In 2011 this was not a problem- we forgot how to cheer after all the disappointment. Rant done!

 

[mkaufman1]

I actually did ask someone about the "close off the top of the arena" and restructure how they sold tickets a few weeks ago It was just on text but it didn't sound like it was too possible. Granted, it was a casual conversation.

That said, I'm 100% for that idea. Make season tickets up to the first row that is right below each portal (row E?). Unfortunately, they also offer a lot of plans (3 games, 6 games) that are above that row at a lower cost. Perhaps you put the season ticket holders in the area I described, and the short season folks in the next set of rows across the arena. If you start putting all the fans in the lower sections you definitely can curtain off the higher levels (make them dark for TV or whatever), and you make it more intimate.

The issue also with this, are games like Homecoming where we draw 6 or 7000 people. So as much as we want the intimate environment 90% of the time, you run into an issue for Homecoming. But none of these issues are rocket science and takes a little bit of creativity. Just sell Homecoming tickets above the rows where the 3 to 6 game holders are, and that's that. I'd love to know the reasons/excuses on why something like this can't be worked.

 

[Patriotsince81]

I got along great with Andy Ruge and when I explained this to him he fluffed me off.

Andy Ruge was a joke. When Brillo complained about me cheering he actually called me at work and asked me to quiet down. Sat a few seats away during the next game to try to spy on me. What a waste. Glad he's gone.

 

[GMU79]

Andy Ruge was a joke. When Brillo complained about me cheering he actually called me at work and asked me to quiet down. Sat a few seats away during the next game to try to spy on me. What a waste. Glad he's gone.

Imagine Duke trying to tell the dookies to quiet down! Ridiculous!

 

[twinmom]

Piling on here - I used to have season tickets, drove two hours each way to attend games, and moved further away and had to give them up. We attend homecoming now, and if we're lucky, maybe one other game during the season. We nearly always sit in 101 or 102 when we are able to make it. Every single time we attend SOMEONE tells us to sit down or be quiet. I have 11 year old twins who now feel like they can't cheer during games. It's MADDENING. I wish I had a suggestion beyond "just win", but after the several efforts to leave flyers on seats, reorganize the students, have better giveaways, I don't. It feels like reconfiguring seating may be the last possibility...

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Is anyone from the athletic department on the boards? Its seems like our options are to bitch into the wind or email the general info line, but someone from the athletic department should have some representation on here. It can't take much effort to have an intern to do community outreach and field question. Making people feel heard would go a long way. Especially gaining some insight into recognized issues and things they're doing to correct said issues.

 

[mkaufman1]

Is anyone from the athletic department on the boards? Its seems like our options are to bitch into the wind or email the general info line, but it someone from the athletic department should have some representation on here. It can't take much effort to have an intern to do community outreach and field question. Making people feel heard would go a long way. Especially gaining some insight into recognized issues and things they're doing to correct said issues.

I can confirm that the boards are read at times. Your best bet as its been mentioned before about compliments/complaints/grievances is reaching out directly to either your ticket representative or someone on senior staff.

The contact information has been posted several times, but I'll post the link to the directory: https://gomason.com/staff-directory.

 

[Mason2006Patriot]

Yes, best to email Mason Athletics directly with any suggestions, ideas, complaints etc

Giving them the direct link to this thread would be good

 

[Jack Strop]

Andy Ruge was a joke. When Brillo complained about me cheering he actually called me at work and asked me to quiet down. Sat a few seats away during the next game to try to spy on me. What a waste. Glad he's gone.

Just a week or so back, I noticed Zack Bolno walk the floor near the front row waving his arms in the "STAND UP" mode during a game Someone's trying.

 

[Jack Strop]

I wish I had a suggestion beyond "just win", but after the several efforts to leave flyers on seats, reorganize the students, have better giveaways, I don't. It feels like reconfiguring seating may be the last possibility...

We've been talking about the same old shiii......er, issues and ideas for over 15 years, now. You are right, we need novel ideas, not a rehash of the first 349 posts on this thread

Here's one... get all the 60+ y.o. rowdy fans (we know many from this forum) do cheerleading routines along both sidelines. I'd love to see some splits, pyramids, and pom-pom drills. Then, these senior folk can help with 3-pointer tees. Make it a contest to see which cheerleader can throw a shirt furthest up the stands. Whoever wins GETS his own rite of passage t-shirt with the highest number of rows up he or she throws.

Here's the catch. Each participant must be bare chested and wearing khaki shorts. Paint funny names across their pecs or bellies like, "Grizzly Al" or "On the Rebound".

DO IT!

 

[TweederGMU]

We've been talking about the same old shiii......er, issues and ideas for over 15 years, now. You are right, we need novel ideas, not a rehash of the first 349 posts on this thread

Here's one... get all the 60+ y.o. rowdy fans (we know many from this forum) do cheerleading routines along both sidelines. I'd love to see some splits, pyramids, and pom-pom drills. Then, these senior folk can help with 3-pointer tees. Make it a contest to see which cheerleader can throw a shirt furthest up the stands. Whoever wins GETS his own rite of passage t-shirt with the highest number of rows up he or she throws.

Here's the catch. Each participant must be bare chested and wearing khaki shorts. Paint funny names across their pecs or bellies like, "Grizzly Al" or "On the Rebound".

DO IT!

We are trying to get people to games, not scare them away

 

[CHRISTOPHER JAMES JOLLAY]

It feels like reconfiguring seating may be the last possibility...

Or you could just complain endlessly on the Internet about it going on two decades like Patriot 81 does.

The 70 year olds on these boards want to rock out but The Man wont let them. Even with Ruge and Marsh gone, The Man has a different name now.

I had been going to Patriot Center for 30 years but I don't go anymore because the disapproving looks of strangers hurts my feelings

 

[Patriotsince81]

Piling on here - I used to have season tickets, drove two hours each way to attend games, and moved further away and had to give them up. We attend homecoming now, and if we're lucky, maybe one other game during the season. We nearly always sit in 101 or 102 when we are able to make it. Every single time we attend SOMEONE tells us to sit down or be quiet. I have 11 year old twins who now feel like they can't cheer during games. It's MADDENING. I wish I had a suggestion beyond "just win", but after the several efforts to leave flyers on seats, reorganize the students, have better giveaways, I don't. It feels like reconfiguring seating may be the last possibility...

Hope our paths cross again this year! Always great to see you and the kids.

 

[MasonSAE4]

I can confirm that the boards are read at times. Your best bet as its been mentioned before about compliments/complaints/grievances is reaching out directly to either your ticket representative or someone on senior staff.

The contact information has been posted several times, but I'll post the link to the directory: https://gomason.com/staff-directory.

Feel like if we had an arena like the Ryan Center with a true upper deck we'd have already closed it.

 

[mkaufman1]

Feel like if we had an arena like the Ryan Center with a true upper deck we'd have already closed it.

Probably. Unfortunately the way the arena was designed I think there are limitations. But I’m not really sure if they are just excuses either. Nor do I care that much haha.

 

[Old Man]

Another missing aspect of the game experience
each home game have a former player attend, give free seats to his high school team and former coaches,
set aside a section for his high school and friends to purchase tickets and
make him honorary Captain for the game
and have his party line the court pregame and have the players run through for the pregame warmup

Sure, do this. Great for them. But what does this do for the rest of those in attendance? Not to be a downer as that is not my nature, but do the people in the stands really care about who is honorary captain and his HS team, who on average are no where near the DMV? I mean it's great to have former players around, and if that's what we have to do to entice them to appear, sad but ok.

Everything required had been discussed at one time or another. Winning, Chick-fil-A air drops, the derigible flying around, cater to the students before and during games, lower ticket prices, and lower concession prices are only a fraction of the suggestions I've seen here.

And ........................... nothing changes

PS - not sure why, but I'm a little salty this morning. Carry on.