If we want lots of fans we should 1) increase the enrollment to 20,000 and/or 2) move the school to an area where this is nothing else to do except attend college basketball games.
If we want lots of fans we should 1) increase the enrollment to 20,000 and/or 2) move the school to an area where this is nothing else to do except attend college basketball games.
Absolutely right Va. Indeed places like Bowling Green, Ky., Evansville, Ind. Murray, Ky. etc. etc. support their local mid major program because they are basically "the only game in town." I know because I have been to some of these places including the above (W. Kentucky, Evansville and Murray St.), and it is amazing the buzz you feel around the area on game night, even if the team itself is only mediocre. Different ballgame in the crowded northeast unfortunately with not only the local high major team being too close (UConn to Fairfield as axample), but then you also have the interest of the pro sports to contend with. And that's not even counting the other mid majors like SHU, Quinn., etc. that are not very far away. Therefore the only real way to get traction for consistently high draws is to win, and even more important get to the NCAA Tournament. Then hope for decent luck in playing rivals or contenders on desired dates (Saturdays maybe), plus fair weather. Put it all together and things may improve. But to your original point, it is MUCH harder to create a large base of fans in this part of the country, not only for Fairfield, but also for most of the other programs, especially those that have enrollments below 5,000 students.
This thoughtful acknowledgement of who we are as a program and a school needs to occur in the halls of Bellarmine. Too long we have expended too much time, effort and money to become a major program we will never become. We are a small, academics first midmajor program that needs to focus on strengthening that position in the market. Routine large crowds at WBA against major competition (unless we extort them) will never occur in the MAAC and Fairfield just does not have the characteristics or resources to become a major program.
Winning the MAAC Conference and getting an NCAA bid is all the really matters and Stag basketball has not done that since 1997. The WBA will always be too big of a facility for Fairfield and MAAC Basketball.
Over a third of the 33 MAAC Championships have been won by Iona (8) and Manhattan (4) including the only two at large bids (one each). Unfortunately, this is what the NYC media and area basketball fans remember when it comes to MAAC Basketball. Fairfield University has not been a factor in the MAAC for a very long time.
LaSalle, Loyola and Fordham are no longer in the MAAC.
The Fairfield University Women's Basketball program has been more successful in the MAAC with 3 Championships (1988, 1991, 1998) and one at large NCAA bid (2001).
I am glad that Kirschner is trying to the game day experience, it is needed. But once again I heard very little about the 3 things that are really needed to build a self-sustaining fan base.
1. The team needs to win 2. Season Tickets needs to increase dramatically 3. The CT Post needs to cover the Stags with more Pre-game and offseason coverage.
#2 and #3 both depend on winning. But the real key is that we have to start winning the MAAC Tourney and go to the NCAA Tourney. Without that, we cannot take the next step. We have had the best Record in the MAAC regular season since the WBA has opened, but that can only take us so far and so high. Yes, Kirschner is not responsible for winning the MAAC, but he should be concerned about Season Tickets and the CT Post coverage. If not, then his efforts will be misguided as it has been in the past.
Great points JS. CT Post coverage should be the easiest to address. Lack of coverage, esp game day, is a particular pet peeve of mine. I hope the game atmosphere improvements do not include the silly shenanigans that they do in places like the Dunk in Providence, with canned cheering, etc., and the nonsense with the PA announcer elongating and screaming a players name when he makes a basket. Prov has a great product and a great following. IMO, that stuff cheapens the product.
Disco Some of those silly things are tolerable as long as they balance out with interesting things to get the crowd involved. I am tired of the little kid contests and unwinnable timed shot contests, but I understand that it is for the families and students. One thing Providence has which is a spectacle unto itself is the T-shirt cannon...now that is a good investment. Our cheerleaders barely throwing into the first 2 rows is very lame. At least coax a couple of FF guys to toss them up to the cheap seats. And why not a free raffle among all ticketholders who attend? Prizes don't need to be elaborate -- free hot dog voucher, free first row parking to next game, etc.
In the end though, the product on the court has to be worth watching. We've cut Sydney enough slack.
For years Roy Brown wanted to get a t-shirt canon especially for the WBA, a hockey rink building, but there never was money in the budget to allow him to do that. All the good and innovative ideas to enhance the game day experience cost money and unless the marketing/promotion budget is adequately funded then I wouldn't expect to see much change.
My soph year we had a slingshot made out of surgical tubing and an empty clorox bottle. It could fling waterballoons from Loyola 3 to about 3/4 of the way across the quad. I can still make one if requested. Craig Moorer was a favorite target since he was so big and would loudly curse out his unknown assailants.
While not a t-shirt cannon and liability issues aside, instead of a home made sling shot Stags in the Stands can get a 100 Yard T-shirt Launcher for the WBA, Alumni Hall, Rafferty Stadium and Lessing Field. All you need is $16.95, two strong Stags to cock it, one Cheerleader to load it and one Stag to aim it and shoot it. Some safety googles, camo t-shirts with the Stag logo and you'll have Stag Team 6 next season?