"Elite" Student Section

[RedSeaElite1]

The people in the front are already the ones who yell and cheer and care (minus those who get their seats saved while getting lost trying to find the SS )...I won't pay 50 bucks for a seat that I can get for a dollar when I arrive at the game somewhat early or occasionally right on time!

Also I feel that it is more respectable to watch intently, care, and understand what is going on...rather than just paint my body and scream like a chicken with my head cut off not really knowing what is happening. As in just going to games because it is fun to act CRAZIE. (Not that this definitely is the case, just a possibility)

The thing is the team needs people to be yelling and acting crazy. how are they supposed to get pumped up by a buncha students sitting quietly. I paint my body, and understand whats going on as do most of the students in the front currently. This is aimed at getting more students to not only come to the games but to get them excited enough to yell and cheer for the team. If you want to sit in the front you have to put some more into it, $50 is not really that much even for a poor college student, thats not even 4 cases of keystones which i'm sure any of us could find the money for on a weekend.

[Future Walk-On]

The thing is the team needs people to be yelling and acting crazy. how are they supposed to get pumped up by a buncha students sitting quietly. I paint my body, and understand whats going on as do most of the students in the front currently. This is aimed at getting more students to not only come to the games but to get them excited enough to yell and cheer for the team. If you want to sit in the front you have to put some more into it, $50 is not really that much even for a poor college student, thats not even 4 cases of keystones which i'm sure any of us could find the money for on a weekend.

Yeah I agree we need the noise and craziness. I yell and cheer...and get pissed. It is just my speculation that some people are clueless.

So the idea will be...."Well, I paid 50 bucks for this seat...so I should get louder." ? I don't get it.

It will be the same amount of people as usual just people paying more where they have sat already....

Keystone yuck!

[amckillip]

Ok, so i'm one of the students who was approached by the athletic department to start this group. The intention is not to screw anyone over or for us to "make some money" the intention is to get the students who care about bradley basketball to be able to support the team. I am currently a freshman, and i was at every home game except 2, stood in the front row and led most of the cheers. The student support is terrible, my high school student section was larger and more passionate. The extra $35 isn't going to kill anyone, but it will make the tickets mean a little bit more to people. Last year over 40 people bought season tickets and never picked them up, and compared to other schools, $50 is still extremely cheep for basketball tickets. With this group, we can work to further organize the students, and get the students who are going to yell and cheer to the front.

Just to be clear on all the facts - He is referring to BU Athletics Marketing not what many here consider 'The Athletic Department' (as evidenced by Bobby Parkers lack of knowledge on the subject), and from what I understand from those I've talked to in the marketing department students approached the marketing department about this, not vice-versa and this is not an official extension of the marketing department or any other arm of BU Athletics but rather a registered student organization through SAO (like 'Guitar Club' and the sort). The faculty advisor is a member of the Marketing Staff.

I really do think efforts like this are good in their idea and purpose, I don't think there is anyone here who doesn't want to promote BU Basketball. I feel like this approach however, is half-baked at best. Doing 'exclusive' things and charging more for tickets up front runs counter to the BU family atmosphere and it is very unlikely to work when BU has as weak a student section as we've had in quite some time.

[Future Walk-On]

Just to be clear on all the facts - He is referring to BU Athletics Marketing not what many here consider 'The Athletic Department' (as evidenced by Bobby Parkers lack of knowledge on the subject), and from what I understand from those I've talked to in the marketing department students approached the marketing department about this, not vice-versa and this is not an official extension of the marketing department or any other arm of BU Athletics but rather a registered student organization through SAO (like 'Guitar Club' and the sort). The faculty advisor is a member of the Marketing Staff.

I really do think efforts like this are good in their idea and purpose, I don't think there is anyone here who doesn't want to promote BU Basketball. I feel like this approach however, is half-baked at best. Doing 'exclusive' things and charging more for tickets up front runs counter to the BU family atmosphere and it is very unlikely to work when BU has as weak a student section as we've had in quite some time.

you can be my new official spokesperson....

[amckillip]

The thing is the team needs people to be yelling and acting crazy. how are they supposed to get pumped up by a buncha students sitting quietly. I paint my body, and understand whats going on as do most of the students in the front currently. This is aimed at getting more students to not only come to the games but to get them excited enough to yell and cheer for the team. If you want to sit in the front you have to put some more into it, $50 is not really that much even for a poor college student, thats not even 4 cases of keystones which i'm sure any of us could find the money for on a weekend.

Promoting a group based on the equivalent # of cases of keystone on a board as heavily traveled by BU fans, staff etc. as this one probably isn't a good representation of the group or yourself.


This isn't ILSU man... (If I'm going to borderline lecture, I need to at least get an ILSU jab in)

[Future Walk-On]

Promoting a group based on the equivalent # of cases of keystone on a board as heavily traveled by BU fans, staff etc. as this one probably isn't a good representation of the group or yourself.


This isn't ILSU man... (If I'm going to borderline lecture, I need to at least get an ILSU jab in)

Yeah, I drink Budweiser anyways...

[amckillip]

Yeah, I drink Budweiser anyways...

I was the same way. Now that I have a good paying job and and am not a broke college student I find myself shilling out a bit more for micro-brews nowadays.

[KMart]

Re-read what he said KMart -- 98.9% of the student population that goes to the games...... not 98.9% of the student population goes to the games.

Besides, I doubt if even 47%ish of BU students go to the games. I'd guess it's more like 25%........ and that's just sad.

No. I meant that about 47ish% of the people that go don't care about the outcome. Sorry if it was unclear before.

[Future Walk-On]

No. I meant that about 47ish% of the people that go don't care about the outcome. Sorry if it was unclear before.

lol did you find an error in my calculations

[SFP]

You're right Chico. I remember when I was in school and it was a REAL chore convincing friends to go to the game..... even the ones with season tickets. And this was during the Hawk years. I'd bully, belittle, and question their manhood yet they would still rather stay back and drink or spend time with their girlfriend. Bunch of wusses, I tell ya.

Guys in your house had GFs jk

We had no problem getting guys to the game. We had a few rituals before the game which made it even more fun. Then as Chico said plenty of time after the game to head to a watering hole to discuss the game and check out the girls.

Chico you maybe right about the current student body not interested but regardless obviously something new needs to happen in order to get these lame students to appreciate a full spectrum of college life.

[BU_EMT128]

Ok, so i'm one of the students who was approached by the athletic department to start this group. The intention is not to screw anyone over or for us to "make some money" the intention is to get the students who care about bradley basketball to be able to support the team. I am currently a freshman, and i was at every home game except 2, stood in the front row and led most of the cheers. The student support is terrible, my high school student section was larger and more passionate. The extra $35 isn't going to kill anyone, but it will make the tickets mean a little bit more to people. Last year over 40 people bought season tickets and never picked them up, and compared to other schools, $50 is still extremely cheep for basketball tickets. With this group, we can work to further organize the students, and get the students who are going to yell and cheer to the front.

So we have made the assumption that those who are willing to pay more money are better fans? I for one will sit a few rows up to save the $35, as lord knows i spend enough money on beer during the season. I simply feel that my passion as a fan now has a price tag, and I now have to pay an extra $35 to be considered "passionate". I don't understand how charging students, who are apathetic to begin with, more money will make them any more passionate. This idea is beyond stupid, and I will wait for it to crash and burn and then continue to take my position in the second ow.

[BradleyDU4]

The thing is the team needs people to be yelling and acting crazy. how are they supposed to get pumped up by a buncha students sitting quietly. I paint my body, and understand whats going on as do most of the students in the front currently. This is aimed at getting more students to not only come to the games but to get them excited enough to yell and cheer for the team. If you want to sit in the front you have to put some more into it, $50 is not really that much even for a poor college student, thats not even 4 cases of keystones which i'm sure any of us could find the money for on a weekend.

If your agenda is truly to get a loud and active student section, you are going about it all wrong. What game last year was our section the loudest....? ISU? Attendance drives noise and enthusiasm, its fairly simple. Charging $50 doesnt appeal to student masses who wont pay $1 for a single game unless its ISU. You are essentially creating a product for a high demand environment where there is no demand. I can tell you for a fact as well that my group of friends that attends and is always either first or second row, as well as myself, are not participating in this at all. This group doesnt address the issue to fix your stated problem.

[shaunguth]

If your agenda is truly to get a loud and active student section, you are going about it all wrong. What game last year was our section the loudest....? ISU? Attendance drives noise and enthusiasm, its fairly simple. Charging $50 doesnt appeal to student masses who wont pay $1 for a single game unless its ISU. You are essentially creating a product for a high demand environment where there is no demand. I can tell you for a fact as well that my group of friends that attends and is always either first or second row, as well as myself, are not participating in this at all. This group doesnt address the issue to fix your stated problem.

Very good post. The part I've bolded is really all that needs to be said about this idea.

[Beninator]

Guys in your house had GFs jk

We had no problem getting guys to the game. We had a few rituals before the game which made it even more fun. Then as Chico said plenty of time after the game to head to a watering hole to discuss the game and check out the girls.

Chico you maybe right about the current student body not interested but regardless obviously something new needs to happen in order to get these lame students to appreciate a full spectrum of college life.

SFP, I think that you are on to something here. The answer here is not to encourage an elite student section. What is very needed is to promote the basketball and college experience to the student body. I transferred to Bradley from an out of state school during the Hawk years. As a townie and a newbie on campus, I was surprised at the lack of promotion and information as to how to go about to get student tickets to a game. Compared to what I had previously experienced at another school, it seemed to me that there was a huge disconnect (apathy) between the school and the athletic program. IMHO instead of the elite section, maybe the marketing department should find ways to increase interest for the team on campus. One obvious way would be to start a "midnight madness" type of promotion at the start of the basketball season at the new facilities. ---have an event like a cook out, live bands etc on the quad with activities for students (maybe even a raffle for free books for the next semester for the winner) and bring back former players for the fans then highlight things with an open scrimmage for the team... The other obvious way would be to approach fraternities, and other campus groups to encourage participation. The out of state school that I attended encouraged fraternities to have their pledges attend games... Then again the athletic department at that school purchased a couple of kegs for the band at the end of the school year as a show of appreciation... I know that's old school and wouldn't fly at BU.

[Future Walk-On]

So we have made the assumption that those who are willing to pay more money are better fans? I for one will sit a few rows up to save the $35, as lord knows i spend enough money on beer during the season. I simply feel that my passion as a fan now has a price tag, and I now have to pay an extra $35 to be considered "passionate". I don't understand how charging students, who are apathetic to begin with, more money will make them any more passionate. This idea is beyond stupid, and I will wait for it to crash and burn and then continue to take my position in the second ow.

oh neat I am usually in 2nd or 3rd. I can sit down there even if I come around 7 most of the time too. say hello.