Game 12, 2016-17: Rider (12/22)

[69MG]

UMass is -10 v Rider tomorrow.

Feel great about that.

It's down to 8.5 now on many sites. The betting public must have been reading 87's posts in the 2016-2017 thread.

[Berkman]

if we had more people like berkman attendance would not be the problem.

Thanks for your kind words. At one time, probably in the 90's, I knew of about 30 season ticket holders from the Berkshires from Great Barrington to North Adams that traveled over to the games. As of right now I know of about 6. Some have passed away and several are too ill to travel

[econalum]

A couple of points. First, I was a huge attender when at school in 70's. Work largely prevented me from much in 80's. 90's, of course, but a lot of the games were also on national tv, right? Still have some VHS tapes. 2000+ international travel killed attendance, or my teaching schedule.

Second, no one has addressed the core of my idea about the quality and inexpensive video now being available. I was OTR from UMASS for the horrible ice event Signman speaks about. As we all know, New England weather can always obviate the closeness of many alums to campus.

Last, the major question to me is not we 'old folks', who follow the teams closely, but where are the students and new alums? There are 22-23k undergrads on campus, we graduate 5.5k per year.

Why is the athletics dept. so unable to build interest and fan(aticism) even among 10-15% of the students for the major sports, which would yield 2-3k extra attendees, and a lot of energy and cheering? That is the biggest strategic problem for UMASS athletics - apathy and disengagement among the current undergrads. It has not improved over the past few years, but is at best level, toward worsening.

Perhaps academics are simply more important to our increasingly excellent student base, than athletics. Or perhaps, due to expenses, students are working more. Whatever, we are not seeing student engagement.

Some will say 'winning solves all'. Well, MBB is winning, and interesting/fun to watch. So??????

[PJ2015]

Don't mean to toot my own horn but traveling from Eastern Mass can be done. I live in Boston without a car and tomorrow night will be my 6th game of the year.

Temple
Holy Cross
Harvard
UCF
Providence
Rider

I get not wanting to go on a weeknight, but no reason you can't head out west on a Saturday. As Berkman said, find a couple buddies (Dad in my case) that will make the trip with you and it couldn't be more fun.

[Swampy]

I hate agreeing with Econ, but.... 2 hours there, 2 hours for the game, 2 hours back. No thanks. Just not a feasible option for almost every fan in E-MA (or further) on a week night. Let alone those with kids. I've had no problem paying for the A-10 package the last few years, free is even better. If it wasn't available, I guess I would just have to get my updates through various score apps.

Berkman, how could you possibly think anyone is targeting you when they criticize people for not going. Unless you're coming up to get some kielbasa from your butcher we all know you have an excuse for not attending.

These are the same UMass fans that went to Gillette because it was a short drive.

When this team wins enough that you can't ignore them is when UMass fans will show up.

[69MG]

From econalum, above:

Why is the athletics dept. so unable to build interest and fan(aticism) even among 10-15% of the students for the major sports, which would yield 2-3k extra attendees, and a lot of energy and cheering? That is the biggest strategic problem for UMASS athletics - apathy and disengagement among the current undergrads. It has not improved over the past few years, but is at best level, toward worsening.

If all other things remained the same and we (Athletic Dept, Administration, whomever) could increase student attendance by 1,000 per game the entire atmosphere of the Mullins Center would change. The energy level, noise, etc. would actually give us a home court advantage. I know AP is trying, but I'm hoping the answer is out there and they find it.

[sbloombe]

If I may weigh in on the attendance discussion: if we are relying on fans from Eastern Mass to boost our attendance for non-marquee games, we are in trouble. Our fan base needs to come from students and the Western Mass population centers. We need to be Holyoke's team, Springfield's team, Amherst-Hadley's team, NoHo's team, and even Pittsfield's team. Frankly, I think we should pull all of our marketing from Boston and shift it to those communities. I've lived in Pittsfield or had family there my whole life and I've never seen an ad or promotion for a UMass sporting event there in my life.

[Swampy]

UMass has never had a fan base that supported mediocre teams. Not ever!

Lots of people showed up during Erving's soph & junior years and stuck around during the Eldridge, Claiborne, Pyatt, Murphy, Donoghue years. Jack couldn't reign in the NYC kids and he retired. After that the Cage was lucky to see 2000 fans with any regularity for ten years until Calipari showed up and started winning again. There were a few of us that enjoyed Hemple, Zo Sutton, Russell, Carl Smith, etc., during the 80s but they were the hard core people just like now. When Cal got them winning again EVERYBODY wanted tickets to watch his teams play regardless of what time the game was scheduled, the weather, what day of the week it was or how far they had to drive.

I don't know if that group will ever show up again but I do know that they will NEVER be seen until/unless UMass puts wining teams on the hardwood/turf/grass. It's the way it has always been in The Valley. It really is that simple and all the discussion in the world won't change a thing.

I wonder what Eldon thinks?

[UMass87]

^ I think this is right.

[natwam2547]

Eldon is on hiatus, until he's not anymore.

[InnervisionsUMASS]

Swampy, unfortunately, is right on.

[rsox1221]

If I may weigh in on the attendance discussion: if we are relying on fans from Eastern Mass to boost our attendance for non-marquee games, we are in trouble. Our fan base needs to come from students and the Western Mass population centers. We need to be Holyoke's team, Springfield's team, Amherst-Hadley's team, NoHo's team, and even Pittsfield's team. Frankly, I think we should pull all of our marketing from Boston and shift it to those communities. I've lived in Pittsfield or had family there my whole life and I've never seen an ad or promotion for a UMass sporting event there in my life.

As the school is the flagship of the Commonwealth, and with the recent emphasis on that point in their presentation, you can't eliminate one area of the state from being targeted re: marketing. Certainly not the portion that has the highest population, most alumni, and majority of dollars potentially available for donation.

I do believe there has been a bit of an overcorrection in recent years targeting EMass as opposed to the 413, but I believe that will soon swing back to fall more in a balance, which when it comes down to it is where the marketing needs to be...balanced. You have to advertise to the entire Commonwealth, since you are attempting to establish an identity as the "Commonwealth's Team."

The main item that will change attendance though, in spite of where the team is marketing, is performance. It's been stated before, and it will be again. Perform better, win games, and people will come out. That's what drives numbers.

[natwam2547]

^ Agreed. Plus familiarity. When St. Bonaventure, St. Joe's, URI and LaSalle are here, people will show (weather permitting). It's hard to get up for Kennesaw State, Pacific and NC A&T. The Temple game was a little underwhelming, but it was also on TV and very early in the season before the casual fan knew what to get excited about. I expect a good crowd (minus a good student showing because of break) for the St. Bona game if they are 10-3.

[JE38]

I wonder if ticket prices are also playing a role in decreased attendance? I was shocked when I went to my first game of the year and asked for 2 tickets at their cheapest price and it was $40! I know now they have a $5 discount to buy early, but anyone who is waiting til the last minute to buy tickets for whatever reason could easily be swayed away by this I would think. It adds up, say a family of 4 is in the area and they decide they want to check out a game last minute, there's an extra $20 bucks! I remember within the last 10 years when you could show up and get a GA ticket for $10 or $12, whatever it was.

[m626t]

UMass has never had a fan base that supported mediocre teams. Not ever!

... There were a few of us that enjoyed Hemple, Zo Sutton, Russell, Carl Smith, etc., during the 80s but they were the hard core people just like now.
I wonder what Eldon thinks?

agree with this post, however would certainly include Curtis Phauls in the list of players worth driving to see.