Bradley completely shut out of MVC television package

[lefty]

get the names of their guys and give 'em a call....we already have one of the Missouri State guys working for us.








gotta notice that the further back you go - the more 10K crowds - are those days long gone? I say we don't even get 8K for the ISU game now....who'da think it??

I think we will have to be really special to get 10k at a game for awhile??¦the old days are gone for awhile. I would say that irregardless who was coaching or what kind of administration. I'm not blaming it all on the economy at all but people have changed their priorities??¦we were becoming an older fan base and the younger people just aren't as interested. I'm surprised how few people go to HS games as well now??¦.I don't go alot a lot but I don't see packed HS gyms either like I use to.

[Da Coach]

I think we will have to be really special to get 10k at a game for awhile…the old days are gone for awhile. I would say that irregardless who was coaching or what kind of administration. I'm not blaming it all on the economy at all but people have changed their priorities…we were becoming an older fan base and the younger people just aren't as interested. I'm surprised how few people go to HS games as well now….I don't go alot a lot but I don't see packed HS gyms either like I use to.

This is where I differ, and a lot of others I know do, too. I believe that a number of poorly thought out, and ill timed decisions by administration are directly responsible for a major portion of the lost fans, diminished fan interest, diminished visibility of the basketball team. and diminshed revenues.

Whatever reasons for it that people want to believe, this unimaginable drop in fan support, revenues, and donations has happened coincidentally with the reign of the current admins, despite lofty promises of soaring successes that we were assured we'd see for basketball and all other sports. And that has not happened. That could be their lasting legacy.
Unfortunately, as I and others predicted 2 1/2 years ago, it will take years to overcome this fallout and get back to where we once were.

[lefty]

This is where I differ, and a lot of others I know do, too. I believe that a number of poorly thought out, and ill timed decisions by administration are directly responsible for a major portion of the lost fans, diminished fan interest, diminished visibility of the basketball team. and diminshed revenues.

Whatever reasons for it that people want to believe, this unimaginable drop in fan support, revenues, and donations has happened coincidentally with the reign of the current admins, despite lofty promises of soaring successes that we were assured we'd see for basketball and all other sports. And that has not happened. That could be their lasting legacy.
Unfortunately, as I and others predicted 2 1/2 years ago, it will take years to overcome this fallout and get back to where we once were.

I agree with some things DC…it seems the administration hasn't done as much as they could to endear themselves to the fan base……..

[tornado]

10-20 years of negative press for the program sure didn't help either but we still weathered thru it as long as there were games and teams that appealed to fans, and as recently as a year ago were still drawing crowds of over 10,000 - and as recently as 2-3 years ago we were drawing >10K multiple times...

so one has to ask just what is it in the past 3-4 years that has sent us on this downward spiral that seems to have not ended yet......
some have made suggestions but then they get attacked simply for posting their opinions on a free & open message board.

-the economy was way worse 5-6 years ago but that's when we drew 10K+ half the time,
-there were a lot of old fans then and they didn't give up on games
-and as I said the press coverage was almost constantly negative then despite the teams winning way more and having way fewer off-the-court issues and disiplinary things as we have now in the face of an almost giddy-positive press
-we haven't even really had a game on a BAD weather day since 2010-11

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=212251&postcount=1

[Buesch N Chips]

I grow weary of the "I told ya so".

[tornado]

not sure what you mean - but I don't think it's meant to offend anyone. But if someone throws you a life preserver when you're drowning and going down for the third time - do you tell him to stop it because you're getting weary of people interfering?
"I told ya so" might be the key phrase used more than just about any other on message boards - I sure remember hearing a ton the whole last decade...and even as recently as last year when we finished the regular season 16-16 but were told how tremendously we had improved (using largely four holdover players who would have been here anyway)

I don't see anyone on this board attacking anyone else or making any attempt to offend anyone - certainly not attacking other fans as seem to be the rule elsewhere - all I see are thoughts about what's going wrong and how it might be fixed. Not one bit of this actually affects me or my family directly so the only reason I care - like a lot of fans - is because we passionately love Bradley basketball and we hate seeing it circle the bowl...

[lefty]

10-20 years of negative press for the program sure didn't help either but we still weathered thru it as long as there were games and teams that appealed to fans, and as recently as a year ago were still drawing crowds of over 10,000 - and as recently as 2-3 years ago we were drawing >10K multiple times...

so one has to ask just what is it in the past 3-4 years that has sent us on this downward spiral that seems to have not ended yet......
some have made suggestions but then they get attacked simply for posting their opinions on a free & open message board.

-the economy was way worse 5-6 years ago but that's when we drew 10K+ half the time,
-there were a lot of old fans then and they didn't give up on games
-and as I said the press coverage was almost constantly negative then despite the teams winning way more and having way fewer off-the-court issues and disiplinary things as we have now in the face of an almost giddy-positive press
-we haven't even really had a game on a BAD weather day since 2010-11
http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showpost.p...51&postcount=1

There is no silver bullet here IMO.....I'm not convinced the economy was way worse 5-6 years ago....the impact then was huge....but the effects are still around with many people(. It's just not all about the coaching change which some want to say is pretty much the sole reason. Our attendance was declining then too....not as great as now...that part I agree with.
But it was still going to decline some IMO regardless who was coaching, especially if we continued to lose(please, not a slam on JL just saying if)
I know some long time fans have felt abandoned and/or forgotten..and I can understand that. I know many who have been retired who leave for Florida earlier and earlier....and just decide not to renew their season tickets anymore...and to many of those it didn't make any difference how we were doing.

I agree BU should do whatever they can to get people back to games...winning would sure help. Having some of the activities that they use to have would help as well.....at least they wouldn't hurt. I'm not sure of the timing of the luxury seats was right either..if anything it hurt the perception of the administration from some.

Since 07 the average age of cars on the road has gone from like 5.9 to almost 11 years old(yes that's a terrible thing)......BU games fall under disposable income category and there is still not an abundance of that yet.

[Da Coach]

...
Since 07 the average age of cars on the road has gone from like 5.9 to almost 11 years old(yes that's a terrible thing)......BU games fall under disposable income category and there is still not an abundance of that yet.

These kinds of fluctuations occur with every downturn of the economy. But with cars, you know that people's old cars can't last forever and they aren't going to walk or ride bicycles. Eventually, they'll be back as long as you haven't pi$$ed them off.
But with entertainment options like Bradley basketball, they will find other ways to spend their time and dollars. It's a shame, but I already know quite a few former long time season ticket buyers who have lost interest and more will after this season, I guarantee.

[Buesch N Chips]

It's a shame, but I already know quite a few former long time season ticket buyers who have lost interest and more will after this season, I guarantee.

Not if we run the table in the MVC.

[Chico]

Have to agree with Lefty on some of it. Many of us old timers are leaving during the season for warmer climates, like Arizona myself, and many long time fans are just getting older and can't make it to as many games as they used to. I know many of us enjoyed and looked forward to activities such as the ITOO dinner and that got everyone back into the basketball mood. Also, the students used to be more of a presence. Sure, having a winning team and playing better competition would help but Bradley fans always supported the Braves because they were Peoria's team win or lose. But one of the biggest reasons, IMO, is the fact that, as many clubs are finding out, the younger crowd isn't getting involved and there is no one taking the place of the older guys when they leave or can't make it anymore and have to be content to enjoy Dave's radio broadcast.

[tornado]

...Many of us old timers are leaving during the season for warmer climates,...

nobody denies that but just how has that fact changed over just the past 3, 4 or 5 years -- it has NOT changed at all - and if anything, since the economic downturn of 2008, it's probably a factor that less of an impact now than then - as many older people I know are travelling less

The facts are hard to dispute - that attendance remained relatively unchanged & the number of 10,000+ games remained about the same all the way from the early 1990's 'til 2008, 2009, even 2010....nearly THREE decades of stability...thru thick and thin...
Even the worst losing years of the Molinari era and the early sub-.500 years of the JL era had attendance well over 9000 even 10,000.

In 2009-2010 we still averaged 9339.....that's THREE years LATER than KW blames the attendance slide on!!!
The next year started the turmoil - There were rumors JL was already fired and KW was writing columns with rumors, assistant coaches were forced out, one recruit not of the HC's choosing was brought it, and then the entire staff was sent packing the following year...the attendance has not only declined every year since - it has plummetted. People can choose to blame who or what they want

We are now averaging 40% less than in 2009-2010 - wow - we've seen a 40% drop in attendance - PRACTICALLY HALF! - after decades of stability - it is NOT due to tons of old folks headed south - that was happening for sure in 2009 and is NOT happening any more now than then.

[Buesch N Chips]

I would like to know more info of the recruit not wanted by the head coach.

[tornado]

Andrew Davis was brought here by Jim Platt when they hired Platt as Alvin Brooks' replacement from Army - he was not a JL recruit - he never played at Bradley and left a year later

[Reality]

I suggest re-reading your posts and threads of 3 years ago regarding marketing, attendance and atmosphere ... We were drawing fans and complaints were about the intros, music selection, band vs piped music, half-time entertainment (or lack thereof), stupid on-court promotions (although most posters on this board agreed we needed revenue to recruit), and "lack of fan support and getting people off their butts to energize the team!". Oh how it would be nice now to have some of those butts back into the seats. While our teams did not always play well on the road, it was unusual to lose at home ... our players recognized a pretty full arena at home and felt the community support behind them. The players had an opportunity to interact with the "average" fan at events such as the Itoo Supper and in turn the "average" fan felt special. IMO administration gambled with raising prices for future return since hiring Geno, anticipating success and demand for seats. Unfortunately the team has not performed as anticipated. In general, the 80/20 rule is in pay...probably 20 percent (or less) of those fans supporting BU are generating 80% of fan revenue. If you cater only to those 20%, expect to eventually see them plus a few in the arena. If you want to see more families in the arena, think about deep discounts and make it AFFORDABLE to the mid-income family. This administration does not have that mentality ... Basic principle -- if I go to a store and think about buying something that is not popular or has major flaws, I expect to pay very little for it. Why would anyone pay at a minimum $50 for a family of 4 to watch Bradley Basketball. Before hiring an outside consulting firm how about out of the box thinking with $3 tickets for upper bowl or $5 tickets for lower bowl available seats until the team has some sustained success. Simple question...with the current status of the team do you want butts in seat or standing firm in "people should be willing to pay to have the privilege to watch Division I basketball?"

[lefty]

I suggest re-reading your posts and threads of 3 years ago regarding marketing, attendance and atmosphere ... We were drawing fans and complaints were about the intros, music selection, band vs piped music, half-time entertainment (or lack thereof), stupid on-court promotions (although most posters on this board agreed we needed revenue to recruit), and "lack of fan support and getting people off their butts to energize the team!". Oh how it would be nice now to have some of those butts back into the seats. While our teams did not always play well on the road, it was unusual to lose at home ... our players recognized a pretty full arena at home and felt the community support behind them. The players had an opportunity to interact with the "average" fan at events such as the Itoo Supper and in turn the "average" fan felt special. IMO administration gambled with raising prices for future return since hiring Geno, anticipating success and demand for seats. Unfortunately the team has not performed as anticipated. In general, the 80/20 rule is in pay...probably 20 percent (or less) of those fans supporting BU are generating 80% of fan revenue. If you cater only to those 20%, expect to eventually see them plus a few in the arena. If you want to see more families in the arena, think about deep discounts and make it AFFORDABLE to the mid-income family. This administration does not have that mentality ... Basic principle -- if I go to a store and think about buying something that is not popular or has major flaws, I expect to pay very little for it. Why would anyone pay at a minimum $50 for a family of 4 to watch Bradley Basketball. Before hiring an outside consulting firm how about out of the box thinking with $3 tickets for upper bowl or $5 tickets for lower bowl available seats until the team has some sustained success. Simple question...with the current status of the team do you want butts in seat or standing firm in "people should be willing to pay to have the privilege to watch Division I basketball?"

I suggest you read posts 3 days to 3 months ago....Nelligan has absolutely nothing to do with ticket sales or pricing policies...