Red-White River Jam Updates

[wizard1]

Red-White River Jam Updates

Bobby...IMO you guys screwed up again! You should have had the Red & White and the Itoo Hall event. This is what people want. Why do you ignor this?
Wiz

[bu fan 9]

I agree Wiz.

[ihatetea]

I like this event. If there is an issue with the fan base not having enough of the younger generations, incorporating new events like this is far preferable to doing the same old things. Without an inexhaustible budget, you can't please all the people all the time. Something like this encourages growth in the fan base. End of the day preseason events don't matter, winning games is what will matter.

Let's go Geno, let's go braves!

[Bobby Parker]

For those who want basketball, please be reminded that you can attend the open practice Oct. 29, which is not available to just season-ticket holders, but also buyers of the Marquee 3 Package, which is a 3-games-for-the-price-of-2 option including the Wichita State and Illinois State games and one non-conference game of your choice.

I realize people are resistant to change, but it seems like the two events - River Jam and Open Practice - provide all of the same opportunities, but in a new format, as the previous Spaghetti Supper and Red-White Scrimmage. And let me see how my math skills work:

Old Way of Doing Things
Spaghetti Supper - $12 and limited to somewhere around 400 people
Red-White Scrimmage - $5
3 regular-season games - White $24, Red $44, Bronze $64
Total Price - $41, $61 or $81

New Way
River Jam - Free admission (dinner options available) and open to any and all-comers
Open Practice - Free
3 regular-season games - White $16, Red $30, Bronze $44
Total Price - $16, $30 or $44

It is easy to knock new things before they happen, but let's give the new things a try before we criticize.

Much of the criticism we have heard in the past is that we charge too much and the way we do things has become stale. I think we have listened to that criticism and offered some new options that are fresh, provide the opportunity to interact with our student-athletes and coaches that fans enjoy and have provided those options at a far reduced price than previous offerings.

Of course, it is impossible to please all of the people all of the time, but we will continue to be diligent in our efforts to please as many people as possible as often as possible. If we fail, we apologize, but it is not for a lack of effort or desire, but perhaps simple idiocy.

[tornado]

BP - just my two cents - I think the issue for some is a little like when Coca Cola decided to change their Coke formula...
...some didn't like the new formula, but ......
a lot of the people who objected did so simply because they were offended that things were changed without their input...
...but with a rather large, long term, loyal fan base - the presence of a little resistance to change is to be expected and possibly is even a good thing - that you guys can learn from and make your future plans in order to keep those guys loyal (remember - the Coke people tried marketing BOTH the new & the old formulas at the same time then went back to the old formula )

[Chico]

Most fans would rather pay the 37.00 difference. Most fans would also still be buying season tickets. Anyone who attended the ITOO dinner and it's programs would gladly have it renewed. But like I said before, can't have that. Another coach favored that program. Not blaming Geno as I'm all for him to succeed.

[wizard1]

Red-White River jam updates

Bobby...Re: The old (and very successful) pre-season events...Remember...IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!
Wiz

[Bobby Parker]

Bobby...Re: The old (and very successful) pre-season events...Remember...IF IT AIN'T BROKE, DON'T FIX IT!
Wiz

I am breaking my own rule with this post, as I really try to avoid the debates in favor of simply provide accurate infomation, but it's Friday and I'm feeling frisky.

Wiz,

WHICH OUGHT TO MAKE IT OBVIOUS WHY WE HAVE TRIED TO FIX IT!

I am glad you found the events worthwhile, as we always work extremely hard to put on good events for our fans, but if those events were doing everything that we needed them to do, you're right, it would be dumb to mess with them. So the fact that we have messed with them ought to speak volumes! Who is not listening? The world is changing and the events were not generating the return on investment required to keep repeating in the same manner.

I think we have listened pretty intently to what many of you have said you want:

1) You don't want to pay for a scrimmage (except for Chico, who apparently is willing to spend $37 for the scrimmage)
2) You don't want to have to watch another team play in order to watch the guys scrimmage
3) Perhaps I have confused you with someone else, but someone who at least reminds me of you, has specifically asked for the ability to attend practice
4) You want the opportunity to interact with the student-athletes and staff
5) Cheap tickets
6) Spaghetti

By introducing the Red-White River Jam and the Men's Basketball Open Practice, we are providing:

1) A FREE night of entertainment on the Peoria RiverFront
2-3) The opportunity to watch the men's basketball team, and only the men's basketball team, work out for two hours (I am sure there will be some scrimmaging involved)
4) An entire evening to spend with the men's and women's basketball players on the RiverFront
5) The opportunity to not only attend three great games during the season, but also experience both of the preseason events, for as little as $16 ($37 for Chico).
6) Okay, you got me on the spaghetti, but there will be a selection of pulled pork sandwiches, chicken wings, ground beef and chicken burritos and chips 'n queso to choose from at the River Jam.

I cannot express enough how grateful we are to have such a loyal fan base, but everyone will agree it is an aging fan base. While the preseason events many not be perfect, we believe the River Jam, in particular, is a great event to engage Bradley students and young families alike, with the goal of adding to that loyal fan base.

And Wiz, please forgive me if I am mistaken, but I am pretty sure you were directly presented an opportunity to assist with the organization of another Spaghetti Supper at the ITOO Hall, and you refused the opportunity. If not you, then again someone who reminds me of you was given that opportunity.

[Chico]

Now you have gotten me a little frisky also. Many, many BU fans enjoyed the ITOO event and attended all the scrimmages and get togethers, whatever they might be, and didn't worry about how much it might cost, not much, and we didn't have to pay for the 3 games you mentioned because we had season tickets, when fans used to do such a thing,which you seem to forget. We may be old but not stupid. Good luck in your quest to get the students involved.

[lefty]

I'm really kind of amazed BP posts anything on here at all. Hats off to BP and his patience.He posts events going on and then has to sit back and watch it get blasted time and time again. I doubt anywhere in the country a person in his position would spend time explaining every decision made by the athletic department......


I have no idea if the River Jam will work.....I'm sure many here hope it fails so they can say "I told you so"...if it's a success many will make up something to downplay it. That's the way it happens on this board now....


I've tried many events over the years in business....some work and some don't. That's the way it goes.......I applaud BU for trying something different......


I guess we could go back to the ITOO hall....and maybe the players will go back to wearing short shorts too.

[Bobby Parker]

Chico, as I also attempted (and apparently failed) to express, your loyalty to Bradley Athletics is most greatly appreciated, and as a season-ticket holder, you need to pay nothing additional to attend the preseason events. There is no doubt that there were many fans who attended those events every year, but when you are limiting yourself to the same 400 people every year, it becomes difficult to grow the fan base. Our obvious goal is to come up with events that continue to appeal to our long-time fans, but also are available to a larger audience for the goal of having them join the party. Given the success of those events, we have tried to incorporate many of the elements to keep the new events appealing to people like yourself. I hope you will give the River Jam and the Open Practice a try (and I won't even charge you the $37 ).

Engaging students continues to be a challenge, but we are trying to cast a much wider net than simply the students and we think the River Jam is an event that can appeal to young families and young professionals, as well as our students and our long-time supporters.

[bu fan 9]

I don't care about the cost. I want to watch basketball not the Gus Macker. The reason things went stale is no one wants to watch bad basketball and poor coaching.why do you think no one shows up for the games? It's not the cost of the tickets.

[Bobby Parker]

And as I continue to point out BU Fan 9, you can get your basketball fix Oct. 29 at the open practice, 6-8 p.m. at Renaissance Coliseum.

[Chico]

Thanks for the offer BP, but never been afraid to pay for anything. Been on many road games, charter flights etc. and they weren't free. Our 12.00 at the ITOO hall included food, drinks and meeting the players, drawings etc.. After arriving at the river front, how many will go without spending a penny? Not too many. Most will make an evening out eating, drinking whatever is available and pay for it. I'm in favor of any event Bradley puts on and have been to most of them. Guess most of us loyal old timers just miss the good old days and wonder why with all the new events they can't keep the ones that drew the best and most loyal BU fans also, and who were mostly season ticket holders.

[Bobby Parker]

Chico, thank you again for the longtime support, but like I said earlier, times are changing. I feel your pain in that it would be great to continue to cater specifically to one group, but especially as playing seasons continue to expand, it becomes increasingly difficult to attract new fans with new events while also keeping the old events. Instead, we have have tried to offer a new event that will still appeal to those who have loyally attended the old events by offering many of the same elements in a new environment.

Something to keep in mind as it relates to how times are changing, Bradley's 31-game 2014-15 men's basketball season will open on Nov. 14 and on that same day we will host the NCAA Cross Country Midwest Regionals at Newman Golf Course and the semifinals of the MVC Men's Soccer Championship at Shea Stadium.

Using the 1996 MVC Championship season as an example, the 26-game men's basketball season did not end begin until Nov. 25 and we did not play a home game until Dec. 2. By Nov. 25, the soccer season had been completed for more than two weeks and the cross country season ended on Nov. 16.