ITOO Spaghetti dinner

[wizard1]

Will the ITOO Spaghetti dinner be held this year or has MC cancelled it?

[tornado]

not sure if "cancelled" is the right word -- this was addressed in the Q&A session at the Dunlap Community Event -- that these other events plus Homecoming events have crowded the preseason schedule and the "Itoo Spaghetti Supper" had not been scheduled for this season but that it might return next year.

[BUFanatic]

I really hope the merger they did with the scrimmage isn't permanent. I liked the ITOO supper a LOT better.

[amckillip]

I really hope the merger they did with the scrimmage isn't permanent. I liked the ITOO supper a LOT better.

How can you say this? It hasn't even happened?

[BUFanatic]

How can you say this? It hasn't even happened?

oops, sorry, I'll just STOP using logic hahahaha jk

[Chico]

Just my opinion, but the ITOO hall is the best place to hold this dinner. Parking is the main reason.

[BUFanatic]

Just my opinion, but the ITOO hall is the best place to hold this dinner. Parking is the main reason.

Agreed.

[wizard1]

Spaghetti Dinner

I think its teriffic that we are having the spaghetti dinner----BUT I also think the ITOO hall is a much better place. Better parking, a bar, and lots of space. Let the people who have done the dinner in the past do it again---If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Also, This dinner should include fried chicken as in the past. Have the Red & White on another day.

Don't micro manage this thing----Let it happen as in the past and you'll have a great event.

[Beninator]

I like the idea of bringing back the spaghetti dinner. But, why not hold the event at the Student Center. I would like to know the constraints against having the dinner there

I raised this question on the other thread as well.

[tornado]

I think these are all good suggestions - but...

-obviously this year's events are pretty much ALL already set & scheduled - the times, dates, etc.....so they're not going change much at this point

-second - Bradley has already shown a TREMENDOUS tendency to listen to, hear, and respond to the fans
- ALL THE FANS, even the "smaller contributors/fans"
- and this is a perfect example where they added the spaghetti supper just for those fans who were asking for it!

-so since Geno, Bobby Parker & the people at Bradley have done such an incredible job getting out and meeting folks, and setting up MORE and VARIED events for the fans than EVER before, and since we still have MANY more upcoming events (Red-White, spaghetti supper, the homecoming events, Bid for Braves, etc..) -- then why can't we just get out, enjoy these numerous, tremendous events that we have, and stop asking for them to change again and again and again...
I'm not sure what the complaints are....we have the events - more than ever before,
we have the spaghetti supper, and yet there's people saying...
"A growing problem for Bradley is that they have ignored the smaller contributors/fans" - LINK
I have to wonder if they're getting frustrated trying to do all they can do and still seeing complaints?

[Beninator]

I embrace some of the changes that have been made. While I understand that Bradley needs to cater to the big contributors, I also praise the Athletic Department for trying to provide the fan base with exposure to the team. As with a lot of changes, questions arise. I see no problem with asking questions in this forum. If it can be arranged, one question I have is why hold a spaghetti dinner in a gym when we have a Student Center that could provide a better atmosphere for the fans? I understand that this years spaghetti dinner may have been a last minute event, and that there may be some type of contractual obligations as far as food etc is involved with the student center, however if possible, I think that the student center would be a far more appropriate place to hold the event on campus. Just honest opinions, and I think that feedback can be the best way to improve events in the future.

[tornado]

I think this is overwhelming proof of how hard the people at Bradley are trying to be fan-friendly, cater to the public,
to listen to fans, and to get get some events scheduled that are what people want - so the fans will NOT have any excuse to stay home....


The folks at ITOO give of their time & effort for Bradley but BU does not own the Itoo Hall so they are at some disadvantage holding an event there --
Mainly Bradley has to PAY a fee to use it...it is the ITOO owners who make money renting it to Bradley.
but...Bradley does own the Renaissance Arena and it is a BEAUTIFUL facility that they'd be foolish NOT to use!!!
This way we don't have to pay a rental fee and if there's actually a profit to be made then it's Bradley making it not someone else -
the event becomes a fund raiser and helps keep our ticket prices down - hallelujah!!

-if BU uses the ITOO Hall then Bradley would be obligated to pay a fee to use a facility (see link below)
when we already OWN an adequate facility to hold the event in.
PLUS -- the ITOO has a cramped SINGLE entryway with lines of people waiting to get in -- typically also
had LONG, LONG lines all the way around the facility waiting to get food, and the place holds a max of about
400 people so there were many times that people had to STAND to eat their spaghetti, or that they couldn't find adequate seating
to allow large groups and families to sit together - and had to break up and sit widely separated.
I recall people commonly complaining about the waiting, the lines, the cramped aisles and paucity of seating.
PLUS if you get there late - the ITOO parking lots is NOT that big and parking was tough to find.
I cannot imagine this will even come close to happening at a facility that's 5-10 times bigger...and the Renaissance parking deck holds almost 1000 cars and a second parking lot across Maplewood from the Alumni Center and Markin holds a couple hundred more.

-BTW -- Here's the ITOO Hall's own rental terms -- their standard charge is $17.50 per person for the use of the facility
(it is possible BU may have negotiated a slight discount) and BU typically has 500-600 people served when it was held there.
BUT Bradley will owe nobody nothing to use the Renaissance -- and by catering food in will keep the cost down
to only a couple dollars per person - making it a MONEY-earner rather than a money-LOSER.

http://www.videogenique.com/Itoo/Pricing.html

-as for the "free parking" at Itoo....the Renaissance Arena has gobs of free parking and, as for ITOO having "lots of space" -- are you saying you think the Itoo Hall is bigger than the Renaissance Arena plus the Mitchell JJ Anderson Court combined?

-Bobby Parker says there will be beer for sale -
"the dinner price includes two drinks for adults (soda or beer for 21+) and one drink (soda) for children"

-the Arena is bigger than the Student Center and has far better proximity and availability of parking than the Student Center
On the past occasions when Bradley's post-season banquet was held at the Student Center there was dissatisfaction due to the parking,
and the actual main dining area was no bigger than the ITOO - maybe even smaller.

-someone said that this is doing things "the wrong way"....that chili would be better than spaghetti because
"Spaghetti will be messy for this with people carrying their plates all over the arena"
...duh.....this guy either does not have kids or must not know what chili is ....because it is NOT less messy than spaghetti.
Anyway -- all the eating will be AWAY from the Arena as clearly noted -- it will be behind the arena at the PRACTICE FACILITY.
The release on Bradley's website - LINK - clearly makes it known that the food will be away from the arena
and over in the practice court area - with the practice court obviously covered and well protected.
"The dinner will be served in the practice facility (the floor will be tarped to prevent spilling spaghetti on it)"

[Beninator]

Bradley also owns the Student Center as well and would not have to go to the expense of putting the tarp on the floor.

[tornado]

The size of the crowd at Itoo was much larger than the place actually held -- the folks who came at 6PM and 7PM were actually sitting down in seats already vacated by others...
In total -- 500-600 people attended the Itoo supper -- but I suspect a crowd of that size would overwhelm the Student Center and where would they all park - over on the other side of Maplewood then walk three blocks?
I really don't know all the answers but I think it's great that it's being held on campus, showcasing the new arena that many have yet to see or be inside of, and it's right next to parking and allows the sale of beer.

The Michael Student Center has a seating capacity barely larger than ITOO.
Does anyone else find it ironic that we play basketball downtown in a BIG arena - yet some say we should have built an arena on campus and hold all our ball games there.
Yet we hold our fan events and spaghetti supper in a BIG arena ON-CAMPUS - and yet some say we should move out to the boonies and hold it at a much smaller facility that we don't own, pay the rent, and crowd people in to the parking lot and smaller building.
I don't believe there's anything BU can do without displeasing a certain element of the fan base.

[Chico]

Don't be so dramatic T. The ITOO chicken and spaget dinner will always be a favorite for us long time BU fans. No one is putting down anyone at Bradley.