BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

[candycanes99]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Most of this is fair, but BU had by far the largest fans of any one school in DC, without a doubt. Granted the other 3 were Bemidji, UVM, and Miami Ohio but BU still definitely bought more tickets than any other school.

Definitely true. And of course you're not going to outnumber a school in their home arena for away games. Can't forget that UNH essentially had a home game in the NCAA QF in Manchester. And we did outnumber Merrimack's fans for their games.

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Really ? I think, like BC, offer free parking to get them in. Does your AD care that only 20 people show up ?

Several times this season, usually 24-48 hours before tip-off, Agganis (the ticket office, not the poster ) has offered free b-ball tickets to hockey season tix holders. Have taken advantage of this 3x this season and from my observations, the response rate has been tepid. I don't think it's made enough of a difference in attendance despite an entertaining and winning product.

As for the AD, I think Lynch revels in BU's successes in its programs besides men's hockey. FWIW I think he's done an excellent job at cultivating success with many of BU's athletic programs and I'm very curious to see how his new "baby" (men's lacrosse) will do. I also think it's been a priority of his to treat every program as equals, which I know has received mixed responses from those affiliated with the hockey program.

Follow him on Twitter as well as follow BU Athletics on Instagram, and it's clear to him that he tries very hard to promote BU's lower-profile, non-revenue programs.

 

[J.D.]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

went to the BC High- Catholic memorial game and parked in beacon st garage- took 45 minutes to exit and cost $9
One machine for money and no one had a clue how to use it- no attendant for 30 minutes

So you actually had to pay in order for those barrier things to rise up? What time was the game at?

 

[BCeagle]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

So you actually had to pay in order for those barrier things to rise up? What time was the game at?

I think that game was at 4 PM and I couldn't go because of the Beanpot that day. Also I found it annoying to pay for parking on Comm Ave garage when hardly anyone goes to the women games. Not a good way to generate fan support for women sports. I went to see the ladies in their Beanpot win. $5 for the ticket and $9 to park.

 

[Rover]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Most of this is fair, but BU had by far the largest fans of any one school in DC, without a doubt. Granted the other 3 were Bemidji, UVM, and Miami Ohio but BU still definitely bought more tickets than any other school.

I noticed this comment too. Not sure who he was hanging around with but BU was by far the biggest contingent in DC even though I was pleasantly surprised and impressed with the turnout of the other 3 schools. I mean, we win a championship once every 15 years! We weren't going to pass up on that opportunity.

Regarding fan support, no New England school with the possible exception of UConn hoops is ever going to compete with Michigan,etc because this is a pro-sports town, and a town where the pro teams have brought home 8 titles in 12 finals over the past dozen years. Having said all that, BU can and should do a much, much better job attracting fans.

For starters enhance the student experience. Organize pre-game and post game get-togethers, promote the hell out of upcoming games on campus, if its a problem curb aggressive security people, etc. With 30,000 students in the vicinity, only 5,000 of which are foreign students, some of which go to games anyway, how hard can it be to bang out the student sections?

Next, for young alums, older alums, families, etc DROP PRICES!!! Anybody bringing kids, defined as under the age of 17, should get a 2-1 ticket special for them unless its the BC/UNH games. Even in the unlikely event someone shows up with 16 year old twins. Charging for parking for people with tickets is beyond ridiculous. Lower the price of concessions as well to something appropriate for a college sport. The arena management really needs to be straightened out. If you want to charge TD Garden prices for a concert, fine, but college hockey does not equal watching a Bruins game in terms of demand.

I think the AD and the new President do care about athletics, but they aren't considering the whole fan experience (cost of tix, parking, etc) because it doesn't apply to them.

 

[mookie1995]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

bu does not control any of this.

they contract out the concessions. bu receives a set fee and the peeps selling the food charge what they want to pay off bu and make oodles of profit.

i believe the parking stubs also have a company name on it, it doesn't read "bu parking services". so bu cashed in there too and lets a contractor make money off of their customers.

same thing that the redsox do, for example.

 

[Rover]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

bu does not control any of this.

they contract out the concessions. bu receives a set fee and the peeps selling the food charge what they want to pay off bu and make oodles of profit.

i believe the parking stubs also have a company name on it, it doesn't read "bu parking services". so bu cashed in there too and lets a contractor make money off of their customers.

same thing that the redsox do, for example.

I appreciate a good Chris Christie defense as much as the next guy ("I'm not the one screwing you. It was the people I hired but I know nothing about it.") but I'm not buying it. Its a BU owned arena and a BU team playing. If arena management sucks, force them to change policies or fire them. Fans are going to vote with their feet, not cut the school some slack because they aren't involved in day to day management.

Oh, and before you say it mookie, the school will be hearing from me as soon as the season's over.

 

[Agganis]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

bu does not control any of this.

they contract out the concessions. bu receives a set fee and the peeps selling the food charge what they want to pay off bu and make oodles of profit.

i believe the parking stubs also have a company name on it, it doesn't read "bu parking services". so bu cashed in there too and lets a contractor make money off of their customers.

same thing that the redsox do, for example.

Beer dropped from $8.03 to $8. And I doubt the concession company directly fielded any complaints so BU has some influence on the situation.

 

[Bomber]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

My 2 cents on all of this:

- My laugh over the $10 parking was that someone decided basketball should be 2 dollars cheaper than hockey. Who did the market research on that!? Dumb
- I took advantage of the free tickets offered to hockey season ticket holders. Good idea to fill the seats, but let's talk about marketing, shall we...

Students: Nobody can convince me that with proper marketing, you can't get 300 students to a Wednesday night game between the top two teams in conference. This isn't a $ or parking issue. 300 students from a school with 17k. Come on. Now, let's take that to the next level. The tickets are already only $12. That's dirt cheap in this day and age. Make the parking $5 and a family could take in a two hour basketball game for a little over $50. Heck, create a $50 package that includes parking and a concession voucher.

Does anyone receive emails promoting BU basketball? (other than the hockey season ticket holder offers.) Anyone? Bueller?

Yes, it's a hockey school. Yes, it's not exactly a "sports school." 300 students. 1.7% of the student body.

BU Hockey: Support the Basketball Team

 

[mookie1995]

Beer dropped from $8.03 to $8. And I doubt the concession company directly fielded any complaints so BU has some influence on the situation.

they (concessions & arena) DID send out that questionnaire, right?

i think all of us mentioned that

 

[Rover]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

they (concessions & arena) DID send out that questionnaire, right?

i think all of us mentioned that

Did they act on your "porn in the Friends Lounge" suggestion? I didn't join this year so I haven't been down there.

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

BU Hockey: Support the Basketball Team

Every game I've been to this year, I've seen a good portion of the hockey team in attendance. Talked to a member of the team at last night's game; they were given permission to watch from the Bavis box. Have seen them sit behind the basket by 108 in the other games I've attended...

When I had b-ball season tix during the 2 Chambers seasons, I rarely saw any hockey team members at any games. Saw Parker at more games than his team members.

 

[Agganis]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

Students: Nobody can convince me that with proper marketing, you can't get 300 students to a Wednesday night game between the top two teams in conference. This isn't a $ or parking issue. 300 students from a school with 17k. Come on.

BU actually promoted this game very thoroughly to students, as a somewhat recent alum with friends still enrolled I am still privy to those promotions. It obviously wasn't reflected in the attendance, but at this point I can't come up with a strategy I think would work to build a basketball student crowd.

Kids don't go, it's promoted a lot and Johnny freshman decides to give it a go with his friend, they realize there are only 20 students there and ignore all future promotions about it. It's a catch 22, it's not fun because no one goes, and no one will go til it is fun.

they (concessions & arena) DID send out that questionnaire, right?

i think all of us mentioned that

The price changed between December and February, they sent out a questionaire in that window? If so I missed it. If not I doubt they just now acted on a survey from late last spring.

 

[Rover]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

BU actually promoted this game very thoroughly to students, as a somewhat recent alum with friends still enrolled I am still privy to those promotions. It obviously wasn't reflected in the attendance, but at this point I can't come up with a strategy I think would work to build a basketball student crowd.

Kids don't go, it's promoted a lot and Johnny freshman decides to give it a go with his friend, they realize there are only 20 students there and ignore all future promotions about it. It's a catch 22, it's not fun because no one goes, and no one will go til it is fun.

They need to promote it in groups. Like "Warren Towers Dorm Night @ the B-ball game", etc. They should also not discount the grad school population who like to get together but aren't on campus all day to do so. Trying to organize that (for hockey) when I was in grad school was an exercise in futility, and you would think a school's group sales ticket office would be trying to please a relatively well off segment of the population (MBA students).

 

[mookie1995]

The price changed between December and February, they sent out a questionaire in that window? If so I missed it. If not I doubt they just now acted on a survey from late last spring.

you missed it

 

[mookie1995]

Did they act on your "porn in the Friends Lounge" suggestion? I didn't join this year so I haven't been down there.

mookie wanted a pole. not porn. pole

 

[mookie1995]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

everyone see the BU girl tie the game!!!

go bu
go bu
go go go go go bu!

 

[Friend_of_BU_Hockey]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

everyone see the BU girl tie the game!!!

go bu
go bu
go go go go go bu!

At least we know where our most clutch goal scorer is...

 

[Agganis]

Re: BU 2013-14 (Part II): Crash before the Phoenix

They need to promote it in groups. Like "Warren Towers Dorm Night @ the B-ball game", etc. They should also not discount the grad school population who like to get together but aren't on campus all day to do so. Trying to organize that (for hockey) when I was in grad school was an exercise in futility, and you would think a school's group sales ticket office would be trying to please a relatively well off segment of the population (MBA students).

Can't speak to the grad student part, but in my 4 years there were plenty of dorm events to BU sporting events, not that you could tell by the crowds. Greek night was the only promotion of that nature that ever had a noticeable impact.

you missed it

Darn, I would've asked for $7.03 instead of $8

 

[mookie1995]

At least we know where our most clutch goal scorer is...

GO BU!!
GO BU!!
GO GO GO GO GO BU!!!



bu beats bc in something this year!!