Post by thetripleteam on Feb 4, 2024 17:06:33 GMT -5
Just got back from the Manhattan game and I am continued to be impressed by the arena and the local turnout all season. It’s really disheartening to not see a raucous student section. Not sure what the school can do to get student participation at the games, but something needs to change!
The student turnout at some of the games has been pretty good. However, it is far from consistent and today was a good example of the inconsistency. However, there were a boatload of families and kids at todays game and the atmosphere was excellent. The stags gave them a good show. A very enjoyable game.
The student turnout at some of the games has been pretty good. However, it is far from consistent and today was a good example of the inconsistency. However, there were a boatload of families and kids at todays game and the atmosphere was excellent. The stags gave them a good show. A very enjoyable game.
Agree. Our fan base is the community and they show for these weekend games more consistently than students. The arena is a great draw and so is this team. And when Leach made that late three it sure felt like a full house.
Post by alsostagparty on Feb 5, 2024 9:03:57 GMT -5
I agree. I think college kids, by their nature, tend to be cynical and anti-establishment and that includes not being coerced by the administration to support the teams. It’s “square” as they used to say decades ago. Give some of those freebies to the local fan base and seniors!
Post by stagneighbor on Feb 5, 2024 9:14:17 GMT -5
I believe the issue yesterday was there were so many tickets needed for the youth basketball kids and families, that student seats had to be used. Maybe it plants the seeds for more parents/kids to come back to another game and builds the fan base.
Sure great to have students fill the end zones, but quite honestly, keeping the locals and families engaged is your long term bread and butter.
Look at the Siena model. It's not students. Be competitive and win and get locals involved. You'll fill the Leo consistently.
The Leo is one of the main reasons you had a packed house yesterday. Clean, safe and fun environment with easy access to watch a competitive team.
There is no better inexpensive local entertainment than a Stags game.
Little kids are having a ball and their parents are all smiles. Keep them involved and happy. They don't go on holiday or spring breaks.
Students are fickle. Smiling parents watching their kids consistently enjoying a day out are not.
As someone who was there with 2 kids, I completely agree with you. However, 2 points 1) I sat next to someone at the game who was a UConn fan, who had no allegiance to Fairfield, and have heard great things about the new arena and wanted to check it out. While I do think the new arena is great and has staying power, how long does the new car smell last, esp if we don't have good years. 2) A local friend (Maryland Alum) who has been to a few games, thought the lack of student support really takes away from the atmosphere. If we can sustain a strong student section, we might be able to steal games with the energy that brings. I guess we just need to enjoy the Leo being "sold out" and the boys performing.
Sure great to have students fill the end zones, but quite honestly, keeping the locals and families engaged is your long term bread and butter.
Look at the Siena model. It's not students. Be competitive and win and get locals involved. You'll fill the Leo consistently.
The Leo is one of the main reasons you had a packed house yesterday. Clean, safe and fun environment with easy access to watch a competitive team.
There is no better inexpensive local entertainment than a Stags game.
Little kids are having a ball and their parents are all smiles. Keep them involved and happy. They don't go on holiday or spring breaks.
Students are fickle. Smiling parents watching their kids consistently enjoying a day out are not.
As someone who was there with 2 kids, I completely agree with you. However, 2 points 1) I sat next to someone at the game who was a UConn fan, who had no allegiance to Fairfield, and have heard great things about the new arena and wanted to check it out. While I do think the new arena is great and has staying power, how long does the new car smell last, esp if we don't have good years. 2) A local friend (Maryland Alum) who has been to a few games, thought the lack of student support really takes away from the atmosphere. If we can sustain a strong student section, we might be able to steal games with the energy that brings. I guess we just need to enjoy the Leo being "sold out" and the boys performing.
Agree, certainly would prefer a large, rowdy student section. I don't understand it, as I never missed a home game as a student. But you can't legislate fun or school spirt.
As we've been saying for years, win, make it fun and they will come. Keep the timeout and halftime activities engaging.
(BTW, the $10K putt an inch to right yesterday would have been a great PR).
Sure great to have students fill the end zones, but quite honestly, keeping the locals and families engaged is your long term bread and butter.
Look at the Siena model. It's not students. Be competitive and win and get locals involved. You'll fill the Leo consistently.
The Leo is one of the main reasons you had a packed house yesterday. Clean, safe and fun environment with easy access to watch a competitive team.
There is no better inexpensive local entertainment than a Stags game.
Little kids are having a ball and their parents are all smiles. Keep them involved and happy. They don't go on holiday or spring breaks.
Students are fickle. Smiling parents watching their kids consistently enjoying a day out are not.
Vermont is another good example. And those cats travel to support! The obvious best-case answer is both...a loyal community/alumni following, along with a student fan base to inject the over-the-top enthusiasm that makes the college hoop environment unique.
One item to consider: the men’s team is the 2nd most successful basketball team on campus this year.
I would love to see an energized student section but I agree that the basketball game is made a very entertaining event for families that attend. From just yesterday —— the trio rendition of the national anthem, the li’l stag fan of the game shouting out Go Stags!, the full court putt, the halftime youth basketball event, and the Ay-yo scoreboard cheer along with the dance team, cheerleaders and Pep band.
Post by nashvillestag on Feb 5, 2024 9:54:28 GMT -5
As long as the Leo starts to consistently get 3,000 plus every game, I'll take it, even though the makeup of the crowd doesn't include the amount of students that I'm sure we would all like. If the team continues to play exciting and winning basketball I think this will become the norm, especially after the holidays when the important league contests are played. And speaking of the atmosphere, yes it's not like a Duke or Kansas where the students are totally involved, but when the Stags are indeed performing well, the sound in that place is kind of electric, at least in comparison to almost all the other league school arenas. I definitely think the second half comeback yesterday was aided greatly by the fans rooting for the home team. Surely this is something that we could only dream about a few years ago playing at the Mausoleum in Bridgeport where you could hear a pin drop at times. So IMO I think we should celebrate what is beginning to happen here.
Oh, for the days of the RED Sea, Santini Say - a good student crowd sets a tone - away teams used to hate Alumni Hall - I remember the FDU coach, Al LoBalbo complaining in the Daily News about the crowd - it gives you an automatic advantage when the students are there to back you. I sat with a guy from Manhattan yesterday he was really impressed with the Leo and the crowd - Draddy Gym is drawing about 1,000/game .
