Red-White River Jam Updates

[ihatetea]

I support the new event fully bobby p.

innovation trumps stagnation.

[Buesch N Chips]

A wise man once said: "never complain, and never explain." Mr. Parker I hope the new events are a rousing success. People will complain regardless. Kudos to BU for trying to accommodate the kids, and the curmudgeons, which is almost impossible.

[Chico]

A wise man once said: "never complain, and never explain." Mr. Parker I hope the new events are a rousing success. People will complain regardless. Kudos to BU for trying to accommodate the kids, and the curmudgeons, which is almost impossible.

You'll be a curmudgeon someday also. As for drawing the kids, like I said good luck. Most of the students complain about having to go downtown to a game, but don't mind going down the hill on Farmington Rd. GO BRAVES

[Buesch N Chips]

You'll be a curmudgeon someday also. As for drawing the kids, like I said good luck. Most of the students complain about having to go downtown to a game, but don't mind going down the hill on Farmington Rd. GO BRAVES

My kids would call me one right now, and you're right about the students, but the beer on Farmington Rd is 1/3 the price of the PCC, and college kids are poor.

[wizard1]

Red-White River Jam updates

Bobby...First of all, thanks for responding to our posts. Having a reasonable dialog with message board posters and BU people is really great! Now for the rest...
Regarding your comments on what I may or may not have asked for and what "opportunity" I allegedly turned down, you are batting 50%...one is correct and one is absolutely incorrect.
First - I have been and continue to be a 100% advocate of having open practices on several select dates throughout the season and not using these as a fund raiser. I know from actual experience that these can and will increase fan interest. Stowell, Versace, Molinari, and Les opened practices. Why doesn't Geno?
Secondly - I was NEVER asked to assist with the operation of the Itoo spaghetti supper.
You obviously do not know who I am and are only guessing. However, I will make it a point to introduce myself to you at the River Jam (barring terrible weather) and/or the Augustana game.
And finaly, regarding the remainder of your "frisky" post, I am not against the River Jam...I think it is a teriffic idea and I support it 100% and my wife and I will be there. I just hope the weather cooperates.
However, you still seem to miss the point regarding the old preseason events.
1) We don't mind at all paying for a good Red & White scrimmage or the Itoo supper. We just don"t want to be forced into watching a boring womens BB game or a bad volleyball game beforehand.
2) The Itoo hall event was great for mixing with the players and it was weather proof.
3) We don't need "cheap" tickets but these events should not be viewed as a fund raising opportunity by the Ath. Dept. but rather as events designed to generate fan interest prior to the next season.
Looking forward to meeting you!
Wiz

[amckillip]

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.

I agree with everything said in here.

[tornado]

but again - why wouldn't BP want to both HEAR the views of the very fans they are trying to appeal to - and respond to them?
Some have a crazy idea that if interest & attendance has fallen 40-50% then anyone who offers a suggestion as to why is unfair, a villain, and "blasting" Bradley.

Whatever happened to the "concept that the customer is always right"?
Everyone in business hears complaints or maybe even "gets blasted" - --- this should be almost expected after a 5-year run of bad finishes....
...and how you reply or respond might just make the difference between keeping the fans vs. alienating them further.
Newsflash - the fans are NOT the bad guys here and treating them such is part of the problem.
Gotta learn from things like this - where the Michigan State AD criticized his own fans - LINK

One more separate thought - that if the fans "here" are the bad guys, then what about the small group of fans "there" who prodded, cheered, and demanded all the changes that brought us all the Thursday night?

one more thing- someone told me today & I am not sure how true...
that there's concerns if a men's only Red-White were held on campus it might cause criticism from certain vocal sources that always look for things to complain about...
- which is why so many schools combine the men's & women's events - but if held independently elsewhere it would avoid those concerns..

And nobody here wants Bradley to fail - although I can say I have heard people wanting Bradley to fail and wanting Bradley to lose -
such an amazingly bizarre scenario happened as the 2010-11 season was winding down and I heard multiple people express that they wanted Bradley to lose badly to guarantee the housecleaning they wanted and that got us here.

[Chico]

I agree with everything said in here.

Lefty, I wouldn't mind an ITOO get together, team wearing short shorts and a 32-3 season again. Ah, the good old days.

[lefty]

Lefty, I wouldn't mind an ITOO get together, team wearing short shorts and a 32-3 season again like when we had those things. Of course only Bradley would fire a 32-3 coach.

Like the short shorts Chico??¦things do change. I never had a problem with any of the old events. I don't think I went to the ITOO but I use to go to the Red-White scrimmage chilli supper event??¦??¦.

BU is trying something different to get fans involved and I have no idea if it will work or not??¦.I won't be able to go because of some other things but I hope the weather cooperates and the event goes well??¦??¦??¦the biggest thing is how we do during the season

[Da Coach]

...
BU is trying something different to get fans involved and I have no idea if it will work or not….I won't be able to go because of some other things but I hope the weather cooperates and the event goes well………the biggest thing is how we do during the season

I have no problem with trying new things, and I like the idea of the Riverfront Jam, but why abandon the events that have traditionally proven successful? And at what point do the marketing people at Bradley finally admit their new ideas aren't working? As far as drawing in younger fans, what evidence is there that these new formats and events are doing that? They have tried everything to get the students to come, including moving the games to campus, free transportation, food, free tickets, and gifts to the students and we still can't get them interested. And if these new ideas are alienating the established fans, then is it really worth it? I am guessing the older, established fans are the ones buying most of the tickets and making most of the donations. We've lost enough of those fans from the negative effects of all the fallout and losing already, why abandon the standard Red-White intrasquad scrimmage which people look forward to every year?

Lefty, I know you don't seem to talk to the same fans and season ticket holders that I do, but one of the most common complaints I have heard lately from the fans I've talked to is about these preseason events and that the successful events they have enjoyed (Red-White scrimmage, Itoo Hall, Chili supper or spaghetti supper, Open House events where fans can meet the players and coaches, the community night events, etc.) have been altered or taken away, and replaced by new formats like the volleyball/Red-White, the late starting time, and the Red-White games that required fans to watch women's scrimmage, and now an outdoor Red-White that does not even include a scrimmage or a chance to actually see the players compete.

I have to agree with bu fan 9 and wizard, as well as many others who I have talked to and have PMed me, I don't think these new approaches are working, and they are alienating some of Bradley's best, loyal fans.

[bigjimmy]

I'm not sure I've ever seen a basketball season at BU that needs a winning season more than this season. I am sure I've never seen morale this low. When the men's soccer team is even having a losing season you know bad karma is surrounding the sports programs. I appreciate the effort that Bobby Parker is giving to this site. At least it appears that he at least cares about our opinions, unlike certain people who shall remain nameless.

[tornado]

BP - again, not trying to offer anything except perhaps suggestions....

but we are only five days from the riverfront Red-White - and I bumped into several long time BU fans & season ticketholders at church and not one had seen nor heard a thing about this event.
Just saying - that if the only place it is mentioned is the BUBraves.com web site, then the vast majority of folks over 50 will never see a thing about it.

[Bobby Parker]

A postcard is going out to all season - ticket holders, but today's holiday will hold it up a day. I have made 3 appearances on radio, it was reported in PJ Star, our ads in PJ Star have included the info, we are working on morning radio and TV talk this week and it is appearing on our billboards. The postcard also was available in multiple copies at all the tables at Thursday's ISC Smoker, with a reminder announcement from Dave Snell.

[tornado]

thx - hope it gets the folks out!

[Bobby Parker]

Fans can now help select the songs for 90's Daughter's set list Friday night. Voting each day this week for songs from the 80's, 90's, Pop and Country. Today's vote is for an 80's classic: You Shook Me All Night Long, Livin' On A Prayer, Sweet Child O' Mine or Don't Stop Believing. The poll is open through 4:30 p.m. today.

http://www.bradleybraves.com/quest/Questionaire.dbml?&QID=269021&DB_OEM_ID=3400