Improving our home court experience

[BUSongwriter]

I went to dinner tonight with a Duke season ticket holder. He made a comment about BU not having a great home court advantage because "we have more stiffs in the crowd than a mortuary."

Here are some things I think most of us can agree on about our home court:

Negatives: The off-campus location is far from ideal for students. The location of student tickets is poor. Our fan base is older, and many of them are there to socialize as much as to cheer.

Positives: For our conference, our attendance (most years) rates very high. We have terrific cheerleaders and band. The students who do come are enthusiastic. (I think the Red Sea is a great name for the cheering section, by the way.) The tradition of having kids surround the court for player intros is great.

Here's my challenge: List one thing that can be done next year to improve our home court experience and advantage (no matter who the coach is...can we give that a rest in this thread?!?!?!?!) Also, winning more games is a given, so be more creative than that.

My contribution. Have a "best banner of the game" contest with a decent prize. This is our house, and on game nights it should LOOK like our house, not like a sterile civic center. I think kids would get into that if the prize was a seat by the team for a future game or something like that, and I'm for whatever gets younger, noisier people to the games.

You guys probably have much better ones. I look forward to hearing them.

[dogsrus]

Good luck...seriously. I like the fact you are brainstorming. Hope some good ideas come forth.

[Chico]

Tell your Duke friend to give us their record and their recruits and I'm sure our home court advantage would improve. If the BU students are basketball fans they will find a way to the Civic Center. It's not much further than the bars on Farmington Rd. Practically every game I watch on TV the home students are behind the basket. What's the big deal about our mistreated students having to be located there. The "older fan base" have been supporting the Bradley teams for many, many years and have done their share of cheering. Bradley does have a great band, when they are allowed to play. One way to improve home court advantage is to let the fans cheer when they want to and knock off the goofy promotions during timeouts and the worthless announcements.

[Braves4Life]

Going to a Duke game is an "experience" both for students and alums. The day (sometimes week) leading up to the game is always packed with anticipation and excitement, especially for their big games. However, the students realize that they are "expected" to perform. To do their part. To "put on a show". They literally feel as if they are part of the team and that Duke's players need them to be able to win.

Bradley must find a way to make each home game a special "can't miss" event. The students must be made to feel that this is an expected part of their college experience and that they are needed by the team for support. It is their duty to become involved in the "university experience" and this is just part of their educational experience. Unfortunately, I'm not quite sure how to do this.

[BradleyJD]

Win games, especially at home.

When BU is winning and winning consistently the Civic Center is full, loud, and into the game.

[squirrelgotdead]

This first and most noticeable would be more usage of the band. I'd say fewer commercials, but that just ain't gonna happen.

But drop the rap crap and Zombie Nation nonsense and tip-off to the "Swing March".

Honestly, dropping that single-handedly changed the atmosphere at games at the expense of getting the players pumped up.

There were instances where the crowds would be clapping to the Swing March rhythm deep into the first half. I remember one time they went all the way to the 14 minute mark.

Second, they should keep the fans standing until the first timeout, not the first time the visiting team scores.

[BUFanatic]

K, I know the last time I suggested this everyone yelled at me BUT I still say we go with chants printed on paper and distributed to the students (NO, it's not annoying side crap like someone on this board said) we could make it sort of our thing. Of course Utah State had their one or two, but even if we had two or three different ones for each game from a library of about 20 or so (about the coach, a certain player, history, certain situations in a game, etc.) I think it would do a lot to help the students feel like a part of the experience.

On the other side that I haven't seen yet; I've said it before I'll say it a million times... PUT THE LYRICS TO THE FIGHT SONG ON THE BOARD!!! No one knows it and it would encourage people to sing! I would say to do the same for the Alma Mater to encourage everyone in the arena to stay after a win or a loss to come together behind the Alma Mater. Makes you feel like a REAL part of the college (true, this just comes from going to a Notre Dame game, but I've seen it at other places as well)

[SFP]

Give the students better seats! The ones that do go deserve to ring the court and be able to stand up when they want without the oldies yelling at them to sit down. There are way to many stiffs at the game and I expect a few of them to shout my post down.

Winning also really helps.

[BuB]

Dedicated sections around the arena for Warrens Warriors, or DSE's army, or the Lemon Drops, etc. The players could connect at times during the year with the members to allow the fans a chance to mingle with their favorite player. Who could grow the biggest section?

Give the band the green light to play high energy music more. I might be in the minority but I really don't need to hear the Bradley fight song more than once a game. Twice if we win. I would rather hear some of the popular songs from the "Jock Jams" soundtracks.

Get a bunch of professors to buy into the basketball program. An assignment that is due is to be turned in at halftime or after a game. That could get hundreds of students to the game. Let students earn an extra credit grade for attendance. Food/drink vouchers passed out to all students present after a game is completed. Reduce the price of books or increase the amount of the book buyback to all students that attend games. Video or internet recognition for the best or most creative outfits or signs.

Even have some of the same type of incentives for the local fans and our many loyal senior citizens who attend and continue to support Bradley. Recognize/reward fans whose behavior shows energy and creativity. How about a free Viagra pill to the senior citizens who stand all game.

All kidding aside, I am for anything that brings back the noise, energy, life, and people to the civic center. Not just the ISU game or a Michigan St game but a game like the Journal Star just reminded us about years ago. 10,450 people and a sellout for a game against Drake. I really don't like the ticket sold figure we release. When it is announced that attendance is 9200 but your eyeballs tell you that the civic center is a little over half full.... Everybody wants to see the butts in the seats. At the Fieldhouse we won 400 out of 500 games and the place was always full or sounded full. I think we can and should expect that type of success every year at home. If we win fans will come.

[Future Walk-On]

how about 2 dollars beers for students.... seriously

[BuBraves55]

how about 2 dollars beers for students.... seriously

that's actually a great idea.

[Braves4Life]

Good stuff BuB and FWO.

[runninfiend]

Move the students to center court lower bowl and put all the ashen-colored, big money boosters in the end zone.

[Beninator]

My contribution. Have a "best banner of the game" contest with a decent prize. This is our house, and on game nights it should LOOK like our house, not like a sterile civic center. I think kids would get into that if the prize was a seat by the team for a future game or something like that, and I'm for whatever gets younger, noisier people to the games.

You guys probably have much better ones. I look forward to hearing them.

I have said similar things in the past to your banner suggestion. I like this idea and think that it should be expanded further for banners etc on campus to create a game day atmosphere everywhere on campus. Contests etc should involve the different groups on campus and IMO would require a more proactive athletic department than what I have seen. I transferred to Bradley during the Hawkins era and was amazed at the lack of activity to promote events on campus by the athletic department. These competitions would not cost much and from what I have witnessed at other schools, are quite fun!

Give the students better seats!
Winning also really helps.

very much agree

how about 2 dollars beers for students.... seriously

I like the way you think on this subject!

[Beninator]

This first and most noticeable would be more usage of the band. I'd say fewer commercials, but that just ain't gonna happen.

But drop the rap crap and Zombie Nation nonsense and tip-off to the "Swing March".

Honestly, dropping that single-handedly changed the atmosphere at games at the expense of getting the players pumped up.

There were instances where the crowds would be clapping to the Swing March rhythm deep into the first half. I remember one time they went all the way to the 14 minute mark.

Second, they should keep the fans standing until the first timeout, not the first time the visiting team scores.

Speaking of the band, I think that they do a great job and they don't get thanked enough, but someone needs to tell Dr Vroman to lose the part at the end of the swing march where the band changes from a major cord to a minor cord. I know from a musician standpoint it is kind of cool, but from a crowd standpoint, this is really lame!