Bradley announces new Personal Seat Option (PSO) plan for new arena

[amckillip]

One of the ways!

It's great that Peoria supports the Braves but the emphasis should be on how to use the program to create a better platform for the University overall. They have used it nicely to generate revenue and build new facilities on campus no doubt. What is being lost is the future generation of BU alumni holding the program dear to them. That type of thinking, me now will eventually catch up. This is one area I have total confidence in our President. She is trying to find the balance along with the crew in The Chief Club.

If the future generation of BU alumni isn't interested in Bradley basketball enough to attend games now while they are in school, I doubt they will be interested alumni.

I agree with both of you here (never thought that would happen in this set of threads... lol), if students aren't interested while they are here, they won't be after graduation. But this highlights the need to get them to games and let them see what BU Basketball is all about. It really takes a few games to get hooked, so each game we need to provide incentive to come back at least once more, as people come to a few games, learn the players, memorize the chants, build camaraderie with the fans in their section, the games become better, and this is how we develop fans like those on this board. It doesn't happen overnight, and that's why we DO need to get the casual fans to the games, because we were all casual fans at one point.

[Beninator]

Have to agree with Dogs on this one. IMO, all the University should have to do is give each student a schedule for the upcoming season. If they want to attend the games it's up to them. BU always has been the town's and surrounding area's team. How did they get screwed when BU moved to the Civic Center? Had to sit behind the basket? The students that do show up seem to have a good time.

I know we disagree on this one Chico. Yes it is about the seating and BU ignoring the students with the PCC set up. Someone might want to correct me on this, but I remember reading an article a while ago on how the students were not taken into consideration when we moved to the PCC and Dick Versace was upset at the outcome.

I agree with both of you here (never thought that would happen in this set of threads... lol), if students aren't interested while they are here, they won't be after graduation. But this highlights the need to get them to games and let them see what BU Basketball is all about. It really takes a few games to get hooked, so each game we need to provide incentive to come back at least once more, as people come to a few games, learn the players, memorize the chants, build camaraderie with the fans in their section, the games become better, and this is how we develop fans like those on this board. It doesn't happen overnight, and that's why we DO need to get the casual fans to the games, because we were all casual fans at one point.

Amckillip, nice post and this is my point. We need to have a more inclusive alternative with this rather than have the team as Peoria vs Bradley team. I think that it can be done. I don't know what is currently being done, but when I transferred to BU, I was shocked at the apathy that existed on campus regarding ticket sales to students. This is when the Hawk was here so times were good and I know attendance was good as well. But compared to my previous school, I had to go out of my way to find information about student tickets and to purchase a media guide. --and yes Chico that goes into what you have posted numerous times and that part I agree with you--- The midnight madness event gives me hope that maybe something new is being planned to be more inclusive to grow the fan base for future years. There isn't an overnight solution but this gives me hope that there is a starting point.

[SFP]

If the future generation of BU alumni isn't interested in Bradley basketball enough to attend games now while they are in school, I doubt they will be interested alumni.

Bingo! So it is now that the emphasis, some heavy lifting needs to happen. Get them completely involved now before they leave campus and Peoria.

I'm not sure exactly what you meant by "interested alumni" but I know quite a few alumni who are engaged but have no clue of what is happening with the basketball program. As a matter of fact most of the BU alumni I know do contribute but are clueless of who the players are and especially recruits.

[Chico]

Bingo! So it is now that the emphasis, some heavy lifting needs to happen. Get them completely involved now before they leave campus and Peoria.

I'm not sure exactly what you meant by "interested alumni" but I know quite a few alumni who are engaged but have no clue of what is happening with the basketball program. As a matter of fact most of the BU alumni I know do contribute but are clueless of who the players are and especially recruits.

I meant if they aren't interested in Bradley basketball when they are students how can we expect them to be interested in Bradley basketball after they graduate. My simple solution, as always, is give them a season schedule and if they are interested they'll head down to Carver on game night. That's all it took for us "bluehairs". When we were working we were just as busy as they are but we looked forward to going to the games. As for the alumni you know who don't know the players or recruits, tell them to log onto Bradleyfans.com

[AZ BU Fan]

In the absence of a reduction of the total cost of buying season ticket seats at Carver (ie lowering the season ticket price and/or mandatory matching fees), moving some preseason, regular season, or post season MBB games to the BU's on campus facility and requiring season ticket holders at Carver to separately buy tickets at the BU campus arena, and charging additional PSL money for similar seats at BB games at the BU campus arena, is a money grab by BU and should be represented as such.

Its a price increase to see BU MBB by splitting games into two locations and charging for the seats a 'second' time, and adding a second PSL for some of the tickets, for games played at BU Arena. Nothing wrong with it. Consumers always have a choice to pay more for what they had before. Its a BU business decision that ticket demand/revenue will be positively impacted by the price increase.

Just don't try and sugar coat it. It is what it is.

Personally, I find it risky since the product has deteriorated the past several years, demand is down, and with a slumping local economy, charging more for less is typically not smart business strategy.

[tornado]

UConn is just one example of a school that does this exact same thing...

The games they expect to be lesser draws (such as their home games vs. Harvard and DePaul) and NIT games are played at their on-campus Gampel Pavilion in Storrs, CT...where they typically draw less than half the draw of their big time games but get to keep all the revenue!

Their big draw games like their home contests with Notre Dame, Pitt, and West Virginia are all played at the massive XL Center in Hartford, CT where they draw 16,000 or more but don't keep all the revenue...


Even DePaul occasionally does the same thing...playing all their exhibitions and an occasional game at their on-campus McGrath Arena (where women's basketball and volleyball call home) while all their big draw games are at the AllState Arena. (even though the McGrath Arena only seats 3,000!!!!)

http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=68824&SPID=7777&DB_OEM_ID=15600&ATCLID=1626292

http://www.depaulbluedemons.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=15600&ATCLID=1368396

This is just good business and few if anyone ever complains like they do at Bradley...

[Beninator]

I meant if they aren't interested in Bradley basketball when they are students how can we expect them to be interested in Bradley basketball after they graduate. My simple solution, as always, is give them a season schedule and if they are interested they'll head down to Carver on game night. That's all it took for us "bluehairs". When we were working we were just as busy as they are but we looked forward to going to the games. As for the alumni you know who don't know the players or recruits, tell them to log onto Bradleyfans.com

Chico, I have to respectfully disagree. A brochure or a pocket schedule is not enough especially these days. I can't speak for BU, but the athletic department at the school I previously attended did a lot more to encourage student participation at sporting events. They got the fraternities and sororities as well as the dorm councils actively involved through contests. In short they made the sporting event more fun than anything I have seen so far at BU since the Fieldhouse days. I think that fun and student participation can be brought back to the PCC if the Athletic Department was to take a more active role on campus which in turn solidifies the future fan base.

[AZ BU Fan]

I hope the new MBB game and arena seating price strategy works for BU and increases attendance and BU revenue from overall ticket/season ticket sales, maintenance fees and PSL's.

The market will decide if it is a good idea.

FWIW, I believe BU needs to expand its fan base as I suspect BU alum population in the central ILL isn't increasing as more graduates move away from Peoria area. BU needs to market to non BU alum in the Tri County area and make the games "events" more interesting to non BU alum in the area.

Possibly get more involved with the African American community for instance in the Peoria area and get more of them involved in supporting BU Basketball.
But this is a topic for another thread...

[tornado]

OMG now yet another school is offering a Premium Seat Option (PSO)...this can't be good...

http://www.goxavier.com/sports/m-baskbl/spec-rel/090310aaa.html

[shaunguth]

OMG now yet another school is offering a Premium Seat Option (PSO)...this can't be good...
http://www.goxavier.com/sports/m-bas...090310aaa.html

Personally, I don't have a problem with the PSO offering.

Besides, the PSO offering at Xavier is for their 10,000+ seat arena.

[AZ BU Fan]

OMG now yet another school is offering a Premium Seat Option (PSO)...this can't be good...
http://www.goxavier.com/sports/m-bas...090310aaa.html

I guess the market will decide if this move is a good idea...I guess they believe there is enough fan demand who are willing/able to fork over $$ for their new PSO plan. Hope it works for them....

In these times of unemployment and stagnating incomes, I wouldn't think college basketball ticket/premium seating demand is inelastic to price...

Actually, if I read this right, their new PSO is to help sell premium seats at a lower price than their previous plan(s)...They are not trying to charge people to watch Xavier MBB IN ADDITION to their existing season ticket/PSO products like BU is trying to do.