I have been following the local high school basketball tournaments. I wish we could figure out how to capture some of those fans and some of that spirit. The game atmosphere is electric. The local community provides another market that needs to be tapped. I have attended nearly every game that Fairfield has played in the Arena, and I have NEVER paid for parking. There is always plenty of parking nearby, on Main St., Broad St., and other streets. Most of the paths go by Ralf and Rich's, where you can always find Stag fans after the game. Take advantage.
Disco, yes you are right, the electricity at some of these important games are refreshing and fun to be a part of. Of course there are a couple of problems that make it hard to see a concurrent situation with the Stags, at least at the present time. First of course is that unfortunately the team hasn't really been involved in many important games recently. And the second is that if the students adopted the current hot high school chant "I believe that we will win," I'm not sure they would be doing it with conviction that their wish would actually come true!
I have been following the local high school basketball tournaments. I wish we could figure out how to capture some of those fans and some of that spirit. The game atmosphere is electric. The local community provides another market that needs to be tapped. I have attended nearly every game that Fairfield has played in the Arena, and I have NEVER paid for parking. There is always plenty of parking nearby, on Main St., Broad St., and other streets. Most of the paths go by Ralf and Rich's, where you can always find Stag fans after the game. Take advantage.
Disco, yes you are right, the electricity at some of these important games are refreshing and fun to be a part of. Of course there are a couple of problems that make it hard to see a concurrent situation with the Stags, at least at the present time. First of course is that unfortunately the team hasn't really been involved in many important games recently. And the second is that if the students adopted the current hot high school chant "I believe that we will win," I'm not sure they would be doing it with conviction that their wish would actually come true!
When we were winning and played in meaningfull games we drew good crowds and students, and there was a lot of excitement and electricity in the air. Just like HS games, there are games in the regular season that are not as meaningfull as Playoff or tournament games.
We are not always going to play meaningfull games. But the answer is not in Bagels, Hot dogs, Parking or Game time. Its increasing our Season Ticket Base. Teams that have consistently high attendence, focus their efforts on increasing Season Tickets. Not Just College Hoops, but any sport, or entertainment venue (Playhouses, theaters).
If our games our reliant on Walk-up crowds, then our attendance will be wildy inconsistent. And we will only get good crowds by Winning and playing meaningfull games. But if we want to have at least 3,000 for every game, we need to double/triple Season Ticket holders. That's the programs infrastructure.
Focusing on Bagels and Students are misguided efforts. We have to do the basics first.... Winning and increase Season Tickets
Focusing on Bagels and Students are misguided efforts. We have to do the basics first.... Winning and increase Season Tickets.
Winning is absolutely the first place to start as nobody wants to watch losing basketball or bad basketball or bad losing basketball. However, the current 3,300 students are the future season ticket buyers and IMO getting them interested and connected with Stag Basketball in the four years that they are at Fairfield University is not misguided. If it takes FREE bagels, give-a-ways or sumo wrestling matches at halftime or whatever then I say do whatever it takes to get them to the WBA. If they have a good time or have fun then they will come back. Stag Basketball to the non diehard Stag fan is entertainment not sports. A goal of doubling or tripling season ticket sales needs to have graduating students and area alumni as the prime target. Who cares about them, F- the students or we don't need them is shortsighted and a mistake.
The entire process/plan of Stag Basketball marketing, promotion, increasing student attendance, season ticket sales and increased alumni support needs to be reevaluated because what is being done now is clearly not working. Approximately 7 months till Homecoming's annual Red/White scrimmages!
