Wisconsin-Parkside at Bradley Sat. 11/3 1 PM

[Braves4Life]

So now those people are willing to wait until a player's 4th or 5th year with the program?

Interesting.

Why you may find this so surprising is that NW was a Les recruit...

Reality: It was never about Jim Les.

[JMM28]

By reading this thread, I figured Bradley lost by 6 to a division 2 team in an exhibition game. Turns out the team won by 28.

No one has brought up one of the real problems of attendance. The season ticket base has the average age of your typical Buick customer. A lot of season tickets have been given up over the last few seasons because these folks are turning into snowbirds.

It makes it hard to fill those spots, let alone grow the numbers, when the team has been as terrible as it has for the last 3 years.

A lot of people are still leery about the economy. A few years ago a couple thousand on Bradley season tickets might not have been as big of a sacrifice as it is now.

In my line of work I talk to a lot of fans. The vast majority are unhappy with the losing but can understand that it will take some time to rebuild from the empty cupboard that Geno inherited.

Bottom line is that when Bradley starts winning games the demand for tickets will return.

[shaunguth]

Why you may find this so surprising is that NW was a Les recruit...

Reality: It was never about Jim Les.

I don't really care who's recruit it is. People complain about wasted scholarships and then all of a sudden they are willing to wait until a player's 4th or 5th year?

[bu fan 9]

I'm not willing to wait. If they can't play by year 2 send them packing this is business.

[shaunguth]

I'm not willing to wait. If they can't play by year 2 send them packing this is business.

I don't really agree with "send them packing" and I would give them a couple years to play before sitting them down and letting the player know it might be a good idea to look at other options. If the player decides to stay, then I wouldn't want to force them out. At that point, the coaching staff may want to improve their evaluation and development of the talent.

[tornado]

No one has brought up one of the real problems of attendance.
The season ticket base has the average age of your typical Buick customer.
A lot of season tickets have been given up over the last few seasons because these folks are turning into snowbirds. ...

the scenario you describe is exactly the same as it has been since the 1960's --you act like we suddenly find ourselves with an aging fan base...but those are the exact people who have always been very loyal - coming to every game.

BUT now those "blue hairs" are all leaving - did you not see it Saturday -- half the lower bowl was deserted - those are the blue hairs, the big money people...they feel alienated...
I have never seen it like that...
even the most OBSCURE Presbyterians and Plattevilles still brought out lots more loyal fans...

.. The vast majority are unhappy with the losing but can understand that it will take some time.

this is where you and I see the evidence quite differently - as I pointed out earlier - the LOSING did NOT result in crowds of 3500 back the last time we had several really bad years in a row and ran out one guy and hired another...
You seem to think that whenever a team has a couple losing years the crowds will shrink like this. And I know you are old enough to recall the Joe Stowell era...and what you describe DID NOT happen with
the changeovers of Versace, Molinari, Les - and NOT EVEN with Albeck!! There was no downer period than the last few years of Albeck & Mo's first couple and in Mo's 2nd year - still we never had a crowd as pitiful as we did Saturday.

[wily coyote]

Tornado is right that was a pitiful crowd Sat afternoon,but b4 we jump off that cliff why don't we wait and see what Fri. night brings. It's the season opener and I'm betting the crowd will be much better. The opposition maybe not but no football and I'm hoping for at least 6,000 real people in the seats.

[Braves4Life]

I'm sorry, but I just don't see how a simple changing of coaches (in many sports) can cause these vast problems that you talk about tornado. I believe there are other factors at work. Just ike the economy and country, I happen to think things are different this time around. That next generation that has always filled in and replaced the blue hairs is broke, out of work, and scared to spend. This is the first generation that is not better off than their parents and I believe that we are seeing some of the effects of this. There are other factors involved as well, such as losing and a shift in what this younger generation perceives as "entertainment". Bradley really does need to study this phenomenon before we end up playing ALL of our games on campus at the RC.

[SFP]

I know this is a long-shot but lets move this conversation forward. The problem of attendance I'm sure can be traced back to a few of the attributes everyone has mentioned. The cure is winning, creating an atmosphere for the community and getting the students to realize that there are fellow students who would greatly appreciate their support.

[Gary the Gargoyle]

So now those people are willing to wait until a player's 4th or 5th year with the program?

Interesting.

For a kid who is 7' 1", yes. For a kid who is 5' 10", no.

[shaunguth]

For a kid who is 7' 1", yes. For a kid who is 5' 10", no.

What about 6'8"?

Not sure I understand if someone says a scholarship is being wasted, why it would be acceptable to wait until year 4 or 5 just because the player is 7'1". Besides, I'm pretty sure these things were being said about AT as well as MK. What has changed?

[jasonpeoria911]

Loved to see BU come out and dominate. They likely could of won by 50 points if they wanted to and is a definite improvement over last season.

Perhaps the lower attendance was due to the 1-2,000 at the Disney play going on in the theater LOL. At least it wasn't as bad as the Rivermen game last Thursday night. Advertised attendance was 3,300 or so, but I would guess 1,000 at the most from this pic taken late in the 1st period...

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=447427915295191&set=a.137258602978792.15481.100000839602735&type=1&theater

[Gary the Gargoyle]

What about 6'8"?

Not sure I understand if someone says a scholarship is being wasted, why it would be acceptable to wait until year 4 or 5 just because the player is 7'1". Besides, I'm pretty sure these things were being said about AT as well as MK. What has changed?

What's not to understand? People are more patient with the development of a7' 1" center.

[bigjimmy]

People are not just tired of losing. They are tired of losing badly. How many games over the last few years have their been when we just got our butts kicked. People eventually get tired of watching it. Just look at the Cubs. For the 1st time in quite awaile the Cubs didn't draw over 3 million at Wrigley. People are tired of paying good money to watch a bad product. Once we start becomming more competitive people will start coming back out. Once we start winning, and I believe we will, over 10,000 peole in attendance will be the norm not the exception.

[tornado]

I'm sorry, but I just don't see how a simple changing of coaches (in many sports) can cause these vast problems that you talk about tornado. I believe there are other factors at work. ...

I think you know I also concur with the "other factors" philosophy...