Building Student Interest

[SFP]

FortyTwo when were you at BU? When I was there, maybe because we were winning, the games became an event and it was a place to be. Student tickets were hard to come by and you needed to purchase season tickets to guarantee a seat. I can say every Fraternity was represented at the games and usually with around 20-30 guys at least from each house. Plenty of times I would pre-party with guys from the different houses prior to rolling down the hill. Then again we did not have cell phones, internet, on-line games, social media and the games were a way for everybody to get together and head on out afterwards. I would hope that students still like to get together with co-eds and not have a screen between them.

BTW...Even the bookworms showed up!

'83-'87

[Future Walk-On]

I schedule my classes around basketball season.

I had to do a lab on either Wednesday or Tuesday night from 6-9....I broke down the schedule and voted on Wednesday because of all the Tuesday games we had. See ISU but come late for WSU...

There is no excuse for classes being in the way!

[FortyTwo]

I was there in the late 90's, early 2000's, so not the greatest era for Bradley fandom. I was a fan from growing up in the area, seeing the teams from the 80's and the great teams/crowds. I was thrilled to have the chance to go to all the games as a student and couldn't believe the attitude from the guys from Chicago or out of state I would meet who were supposed basketball fans. They couldn't believe I wanted to waste time going to see Bradley play, like it was a glorified high school game.

One of my greatest memories was going to the game we beat Michigan my freshman year and only being able to find 3 guys to go with me, and most of them just wanted to see Michigan.

I was also in a fraternity, which might have skewed my perception because there was always a party on Saturday's which took precident over the game and we had chapter meetings on Tuesday or Wednesday, which eliminated the chance to go to many of the weekly games. Personally, I would have rather been at the games in most instances, but the peer pressure (and girls at the frat house every night) can affect a young man's judgement.

[ChewaBrave]

I came to Bradley from out of state. I follow basketball a lot, and always have growing up in Kentucky, but honestly, I knew very very little about Bradley's team till arriving on campus. Someone up the thread talked about how people become avid bu bball fans because of the "local team" mentality of it all for people in the area - I don't disagree with that at all. But a huge portion of the student body isn't from Peoria. You get so many people wrapped up in Chicago/St. Louis sports, not to mention people with their eyes towards Indiana and Illinois. When the team isn't winning, despite being at the school, Bradley Basketball kind of becomes a second tier team to follow for a lot of people I would imagine. I know for many, even when Illinois is playing terrible, they are still playing high profile teams, and in a major conference. That just isn't the case at Bradley. I can't be certain to what extent this idea is widespread, but I know for me personally, I try to watch as many BU games as I can living elsewhere in the country, but I tend to just invest more of my time and emotion in Louisville, because even when they play god awful, it is just more interesting to watch.

[amckillip]

I came to Bradley from out of state. I follow basketball a lot, and always have growing up in Kentucky, but honestly, I knew very very little about Bradley's team till arriving on campus. Someone up the thread talked about how people become avid bu bball fans because of the "local team" mentality of it all for people in the area - I don't disagree with that at all. But a huge portion of the student body isn't from Peoria. You get so many people wrapped up in Chicago/St. Louis sports, not to mention people with their eyes towards Indiana and Illinois. When the team isn't winning, despite being at the school, Bradley Basketball kind of becomes a second tier team to follow for a lot of people I would imagine. I know for many, even when Illinois is playing terrible, they are still playing high profile teams, and in a major conference. That just isn't the case at Bradley. I can't be certain to what extent this idea is widespread, but I know for me personally, I try to watch as many BU games as I can living elsewhere in the country, but I tend to just invest more of my time and emotion in Louisville, because even when they play god awful, it is just more interesting to watch.

Dude, your fighting a losing battle... I'm been trying to explain this for quite a while. I grew up going to MVC games and still didn't know BU had any history at all. They stunk as much as INSU, worse really, as INSU had Michael Menser when I was going to those games. But most Chicago/St. Louis students don't have a clue we exist as far as sports go, which is why we need to to get them to come to games. But I guess people are supposed to have a instinctual pull that gets them there...

[RedSeaElite1]

We are already in the works to do a lot to increase student attendance at games next year. We have some incentives for greek houses to get them more involved (last year there were 2 fraternities always at the games but that was it) and more events to get regular students involved. Now that the Red Sea is an official student organization we are much more organized and have faculty and Athletic Department support in rallying the students. We are also marketing more towards the incoming freshman this year. Last year during my orientation the only reason i knew they were selling basketball tickets was a sign in the student center, but this year the Red Sea will be promoted at every orientation session as well as during welcome week in the fall. With more events such as season ticket pick up party with the mens team and text message alerts on game days we hope to get more students involved and to work to rebuild the student section so we can have that great group out to support the team.

[SFP]

We are already in the works to do a lot to increase student attendance at games next year. We have some incentives for greek houses to get them more involved (last year there were 2 fraternities always at the games but that was it) and more events to get regular students involved. Now that the Red Sea is an official student organization we are much more organized and have faculty and Athletic Department support in rallying the students. We are also marketing more towards the incoming freshman this year. Last year during my orientation the only reason i knew they were selling basketball tickets was a sign in the student center, but this year the Red Sea will be promoted at every orientation session as well as during welcome week in the fall. With more events such as season ticket pick up party with the mens team and text message alerts on game days we hope to get more students involved and to work to rebuild the student section so we can have that great group out to support the team.

Sounds like a good game plan. Hit them up early and often! You also may want to get the Sororities to the games! They could be the carrot that gets the Frats down there.

[ManMythLegend]

It would also help if they reschedule spring break. In 2006 students left the Friday before Selection Sunday and BU was already in the Sweet 16 before they got back. That was the chance to build interest but no one was there to grow it.

Winning takes care of a lot of the problems, but they can still do a much better job of promotion, win or lose.

I was there! I was one of a few dedicated (and too broke to go somewhere warmer) student fans who made the trip to Detroit and skipped classes to see them keep playing!

But I agree, WINNING consistently and contending for 'ships consistently will draw more fans. Landing in the NCAA or a high seed in the NIT will keep them coming.

-MML

[Rusty 54]

Doing stuff like this would be awesome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARpzavb7PQk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQywmNxCd8E&NR=1

[Big Lance]

Sounds like a good game plan. Hit them up early and often! You also may want to get the Sororities to the games! They could be the carrot that gets the Frats down there.

Game. Set. Match.

You get the hotties to show up, you won't be able to find a seat in the student section! (And I'll have to bring my dad's binoculars as I peer down from my perch in the upper bowl!!!)

[Chico]

We are already in the works to do a lot to increase student attendance at games next year. We have some incentives for greek houses to get them more involved (last year there were 2 fraternities always at the games but that was it) and more events to get regular students involved. Now that the Red Sea is an official student organization we are much more organized and have faculty and Athletic Department support in rallying the students. We are also marketing more towards the incoming freshman this year. Last year during my orientation the only reason i knew they were selling basketball tickets was a sign in the student center, but this year the Red Sea will be promoted at every orientation session as well as during welcome week in the fall. With more events such as season ticket pick up party with the mens team and text message alerts on game days we hope to get more students involved and to work to rebuild the student section so we can have that great group out to support the team.

looks like you and your group are really dedicated to get the students to go downtown and support their team and their fellow students. Good luck. As you know, I don't think it's the schools responsibility to get them to go. They know when there's a game. If they're sports fan they should want to go. Part of the college experience. Hope you guys can get the job done.

[Fetz86]

They know when there's a game. If they're sports fan they should want to go.

There is the problem, many people don't know because its not advertised well on campus, and many of our students simply are not sports fans in general or basketball specifically. Its not a campus full of guys cashing in their GI bills, its more women than men, and more nerds than jocks.

[Beninator]

We are already in the works to do a lot to increase student attendance at games next year. We have some incentives for greek houses to get them more involved (last year there were 2 fraternities always at the games but that was it) and more events to get regular students involved. Now that the Red Sea is an official student organization we are much more organized and have faculty and Athletic Department support in rallying the students. We are also marketing more towards the incoming freshman this year. Last year during my orientation the only reason i knew they were selling basketball tickets was a sign in the student center, but this year the Red Sea will be promoted at every orientation session as well as during welcome week in the fall. With more events such as season ticket pick up party with the mens team and text message alerts on game days we hope to get more students involved and to work to rebuild the student section so we can have that great group out to support the team.

I really have to commend your effort. (as long as you drop the "elite" part of this) Your sign in the student center remark is exactly what I mean when I have posted that there seems to be an "apathy" on campus when it comes to information and lack of promotion about the basketball team etc. I hope you find a way to make the Midnight Madness event fun for the students as well. From my experience, other schools do so much more than what BU has done in the past. Best of luck to you with your efforts.

[Chico]

There is the problem, many people don't know because its not advertised well on campus, and many of our students simply are not sports fans in general or basketball specifically. Its not a campus full of guys cashing in their GI bills, its more women than men, and more nerds than jocks.

That's what I mean. The sports fans will know when there's a game and will have to make the "tough" decision to go or not.

[Future Walk-On]

Can we do something like free hot dogs and half priced beer for students???