We've Got Issues.

[thefish7]

A couple of problems-- I'm one of that 60% and my season tickets got more expensive despite the number of games that ticket buys being reduced... Plus I guess I'll have to pay full price for the game at the new arena... I'm a willing donor to Bradley athletics but I can't see how any rational person in my position wouldn't feel screwed.

[shaunguth]

All I think is they are trying to sell those licenses and it makes it a whole heck of a lot easier to sell them if you give those buying a license a pretty big incentive... a regular season Mens Basketball game.

Don't forget about the possibility of attending postseason games!

[shaunguth]

5000 "loyal" fans will not be shut out.

Roughly 60% of season ticket holders attend every single game during a given year. That is roughly 4800. For instance, actual attendance was very near that for the Presbyterian game (despite the announced 8200 or so), with a walkup of only 185.

Subtract several hundred corporate held seats.

I'm hearing now with standing room only, 5000 is a possibility.

So I think the number of people who will be squeezed out is going to be relatively low.

And the numbers for the last eight postseason games at the PCC? Aren't those REALLY close to the number of people actually at the game, given there was generally only a couple days to purchase the tickets?

[ph]

From a pure, one game $ perspective for Bradley, I can see how the post season can be more profitable at the new, smaller arena. I seem to recall hearing that Bradley, at best, broke even on the past few EIEIO tourneys, and not paying rent could help BU.

I also understand a home game every 10 years at the new arena, in a hope to get more fans familiar with the arena for womens games.

Bradley is completely within their right to persue money.

That said, it seems one of the best sources of income for Bradley is the mens season tickets. And it would be very short-sighted to do anything in the short term that may reduce that long-term revenue stream. There needs to be something more fair to those loyal fans, at least a lottery for even distribution of the few available seats, and then the next game is made available to the ones missed in the first game?

Still, sports is about money, and I recall stories of generational season ticket holders at Soldier field that were shut out from renewing when the 'spaceship' landed.

[SFP]

there are other issues such as concessions revenue, overhead costs of playing at the Civic Center, and lastly the benefit of filling the place for a lesser desirable opponent instead of playing in a downtown arena with half the seats empty.
Also - the on-campus arena is "our baby' - so let's give our baby a chance and see how she does...

Agreed. I get why people are upset by this, but let's see what the story is after they've given it a try.

If those long-time fans can't see the reasoning behind playing one game at the new arena then perhaps your fandom is more related to basketball then the institution itself. Playing there just one game gives BU a bit of leverage in negotiating the new contract with CC, helps develop a reason for the school to be able to sell those licenses which will benefit BU, quite possibly help BU make a bit more money on that game then what it would cost to host it at CC and further create an atmosphere for the students which the game is primarily for. I know there will be some that will beat up on the last statement saying if the students need this or that the heck with them but long before we are buried BU will need them as fans and the best time to create loyalty is in those golden 4 years on the Hilltop!

Get over yourselves guys and if you can't get tickets enjoy your family. I can hear my significant other saying to me, "What are you getting upset about you old man?" One lousy game and there's all this animosity. There are a lot of other things happening in this world, in your community and country that need a lot more attention then this.

[shaunguth]

If those long-time fans can't see the reasoning behind playing one game at the new arena then perhaps your fandom is more related to basketball then the institution itself. Playing there just one game gives BU a bit of leverage in negotiating the new contract with CC, helps develop a reason for the school to be able to sell those licenses which will benefit BU, quite possibly help BU make a bit more money on that game then what it would cost to host it at CC and further create an atmosphere for the students which the game is primarily for. I know there will be some that will beat up on the last statement saying if the students need this or that the heck with them but long before we are buried BU will need them as fans and the best time to create loyalty is in those golden 4 years on the Hilltop!

Get over yourselves guys and if you can't get tickets enjoy your family. I can hear my significant other saying to me, "What are you getting upset about you old man?" One lousy game and there's all this animosity. There are a lot of other things happening in this world, in your community and country that need a lot more attention then this.

Personally, I'm more conerned with the fact that all home postseason games will be played in the the new arena. For people to say things like "since almost all the post season games draw 5000 or so or less, then I am OK having them on campus" is completely astounding to me, especially since it's just not true!

You are right....there are other things happening in this world that need a lot more attention than this. We should just do away with entertainment completely since it's just not that important.

Again, I'm just not sure how much "leverage" a 4,500-seat arena gives Bradley in negotiating a contract with the PCC. I've never negotiated a contract before, but it seems to me Bradley would have to be willing to move ALL men's basketball games to the new arena in order to have the leverage they would need.

[ph]

For post season games, Bradley can go to the PCC and say, we will net $$,$$$ per game by selling 4500 seats in our own arena, plus we keep our concession revenue while you get nothing. What better deal can you offer us so you can get a piece of the pie, too?

[squirrelgotdead]

If those long-time fans can't see the reasoning behind playing one game at the new arena then perhaps your fandom is more related to basketball then the institution itself. . .

Get over yourselves guys and if you can't get tickets enjoy your family. I can hear my significant other saying to me, "What are you getting upset about you old man?" One lousy game and there's all this animosity. There are a lot of other things happening in this world, in your community and country that need a lot more attention then this.

Thank you, SFP!

I know people don't like to hear it. The comments that are to follow do not apply necessarily to the BU arena issue.

But I have always found it laughable that people donate for privilege, access and to be "inside" and threaten to withhold money if that is taken away.

That is ridiculously counter-intuitive. Many big-time institutions have gotten into serious problems cheating as a result of that mentality. The whole notion that coaches are oblivious is hogwash and a copout. They know. But they allow unfettered access to levels where they can pretend they don't know. But they know. It can easily be stopped by eliminating access.

And yes, people who do give under those conditions are not giving to the University for the advancement of its pursuits, but rather for selfish reasons.

[dogsrus]

[QUOTE=ph;188582]From a pure, one game $ perspective for Bradley, I can see how the post season can be more profitable at the new, smaller arena.


I guess thats just it....its not, at least to me, all about the money. Is BU broke...I don't think so.

Should they do what they can to be profitable...of course....at the risk of ticking off loyal season ticket holders that wouldn't need to be ticked off save for the STOOPID decision to lock some of them out. NO

Its not ALWAYS about the $$$$$......

Attendance was pitiful last year. Sunday games and some apathy hurt os at the turnstyle allthough we will here the tired ole argument that the numbers say different.

This isn't the time to tick even more fans off some of which don't need much more of any reason to skip the 2:30 5th place game at St Louis....

[BU RICK]

This has been an interesting thread to read and I think others think so based on the total views. What makes it interesting is that both sides have some good thoughts. There is a way to make postseason home games a mute point, just make the NCAA, become a perennial power

[Out of Balance]

If those long-time fans can't see the reasoning behind playing one game at the new arena then perhaps your fandom is more related to basketball then the institution itself. Playing there just one game gives BU a bit of leverage in negotiating the new contract with CC, helps develop a reason for the school to be able to sell those licenses which will benefit BU, quite possibly help BU make a bit more money on that game then what it would cost to host it at CC and further create an atmosphere for the students which the game is primarily for. I know there will be some that will beat up on the last statement saying if the students need this or that the heck with them but long before we are buried BU will need them as fans and the best time to create loyalty is in those golden 4 years on the Hilltop!

Get over yourselves guys and if you can't get tickets enjoy your family. I can hear my significant other saying to me, "What are you getting upset about you old man?" One lousy game and there's all this animosity. There are a lot of other things happening in this world, in your community and country that need a lot more attention then this.

WOW All this coming from someone who has not see a home game in years and is not a season ticket holder Lets not forget that without all the season ticket holders and their maintenance fees, there just maybe no BU basketball. Not to mention how the maintenance fees go to support all the other BU sports Yes I see your point friend, it does not effect me, so all the ones who it does (the very one's who help pay for you and others watch the games on the computer or in some other ways), be happy and suck it up But keep shelling out for something you won't get Yep it's only one game, Come on Man

[FortyTwo]

The fact that Bradley can and will pull games from the PCC to the new arena is a very big negotiating chip. Each game pulled is lost revenue for the PCC, and they, unlike Bradley, really do need the revenue. If Bradley can get a better lease deal, amenities, etc. by using the new arena chip, their going to do it.

I know this won't be popular with the season ticket holder base (which I am one of of), but I would like to see one crappy non-conference game a year played at the arena with a majority of the tickets (especially coutside) pushed to students. We all complain loudly about student apathy towards the team, what better way to help student experience the excitement of Bradley basketball than this? If marketed properly, this could be the key to peaking student interest by bringing the game to them, which in turn would make them more likely to make the trip down to PCC, maybe even join the student section.

For those interested in really bettering the program via routes other than a checkbook, this is a winning proposition.

[shaunguth]

For post season games, Bradley can go to the PCC and say, we will net $$,$$$ per game by selling 4500 seats in our own arena, plus we keep our concession revenue while you get nothing. What better deal can you offer us so you can get a piece of the pie, too?

I don't believe they're negotiating with the PCC for postseason games. Bradley has already stated "the men's basketball team will host all potential home games in campus-site postseason tournaments on campus".

[SFP]

WOW All this coming from someone who has not see a home game in years and is not a season ticket holder Lets not forget that without all the season ticket holders and their maintenance fees, there just maybe no BU basketball. Not to mention how the maintenance fees go to support all the other BU sports Yes I see your point friend, it does not effect me, so all the ones who it does (the very one's who help pay for you and others watch the games on the computer or in some other ways), be happy and suck it up But keep shelling out for something you won't get Yep it's only one game, Come on Man

I do see your point but the big picture to me is about the institution. Always has and always will. The more money the University makes to be able to attract the best professor and students the better for me. To say BU has a lot of money is funny. Stanford, Yale and Harvard have a ton of endowment. BU is probably better off then most but could be doing better.

[shaunguth]

The fact that Bradley can and will pull games from the PCC to the new arena is a very big negotiating chip. Each game pulled is lost revenue for the PCC, and they, unlike Bradley, really do need the revenue. If Bradley can get a better lease deal, amenities, etc. by using the new arena chip, their going to do it.

I know this won't be popular with the season ticket holder base (which I am one of of), but I would like to see one crappy non-conference game a year played at the arena with a majority of the tickets (especially coutside) pushed to students. We all complain loudly about student apathy towards the team, what better way to help student experience the excitement of Bradley basketball than this? If marketed properly, this could be the key to peaking student interest by bringing the game to them, which in turn would make them more likely to make the trip down to PCC, maybe even join the student section.

For those interested in really bettering the program via routes other than a checkbook, this is a winning proposition.

I just see it as an empty "threat" unless Bradley really is willing to move all games to a 4,200-seat arena.

I have slightly less problem with one "crappy non-conference game" being played in front of a small arena full of students (even though I'm quite sure they aren't the ones buying the rights to attend these games). My biggest problem is the fact that Bradley has said outright that all home postseason games will be played there.