Attendance

[brocks]

Watching this game on ESPN+, I can only hope nobody else was watching this pathetic excuse for a home court "advantage" or fan interest. What an absolute disgrace. I live in Tampa, Florida, so I have an excuse. You people in central Illinois should be ashamed of yourselves. Those empty seats all over the lower bowl--for a team that won a CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP--holy good night. PATHETIC.

[Da Coach]

Attendance was only 4,813. Yes, pathetic. Maybe this is the new normal? Maybe the free and/or low cost streaming is keeping people home?
But we now have people at Bradley bragging about crowds of 5,400. I remember not many years ago, if we drew under 9,000, it was a disappointing crowd.
It's no secret and most people here know who I place the most blame on for the massive drop in attendance, donations, and other support. The current administration, coaches, etc. are doing everything they can do, but the people responsible dug way too deep a hole a few years ago, and destroyed what was one of the best midmajor programs in the country.

[brocks]

I can't remember the last time I saw the ENTIRE section behind the visitors' bench EMPTY. It's devastating to see on TV. I don't recognize BU hoops anymore.

[BUSongwriter]

I am not a fan of the 6 p.m. starts. I'm a longtime season ticket holder but neither my wife nor I could make it tonight because we both had to work late.
I can't imagine area restaurants like the early starts, either. Makes it impossible for many working people to go out to eat before the game.
Thanks to those who were there for cheering the Braves to victory. We'll be back Friday night.

[Dub]

Hey Brocks, be a part of the solution. Move back up here to God’s country and help us out. We are doing all we can.

[Bradley3342]

I don’t know how everyone else feels about these 6:00 o’clock starts but I think they stink! A lot of people are barely getting home from work at that time and if you want to go out and get a bite to eat before the game you have to be at the restaurant by 4:30 at the latest! Moving these week night games back to 7:00 would surely help the attendance IMO.....

[Da Coach]

I don’t know how everyone else feels about these 6:00 o’clock starts but I think they stink! .....

Agree 100%. It needs to change. There is still time to eliminate all the 6 pm starts the rest of the season, and put them back at 7 pm. It is a terrible idea.
You listed several reasons, and I could list a bunch more why 6 pm starts are a really bad idea. But the lousy attendance should be enough reason by itself to fix this before we lose even more fans who just give up and stop coming to games.

Who thought this was a good idea? And why? And if it is such a good idea, why is there virtually not a single other sports team, pro, college, or otherwise in any sport that starts weekday games at 6 pm?

[BUfan17]

I agree, the 6pm start is bad for attendance. That just isn't enough time to have dinner and make it to the game if you have to work.

[brocks]

Hey Brocks, be a part of the solution. Move back up here to God’s country and help us out. We are doing all we can.

You might not believe this, but I'd trade Tampa for Peoria in a heartbeat. My heart is in Peoria, and I miss the seasons, and I want a white Christmas!

Sounds like the BU marketing people are to blame here as well. They should have brought in busloads of high school kids if necessary to avoid what was nothing short of a PR disaster tonight. If you saw the ESPN feed, you know what I mean. BU looked like the basketball equivalent of a banana republic. NO recruit seeing that pathetic display would even CONSIDER attending BU. Is there anyone at BU being paid to address this? If not, I'll do it. I'll leave my cushy law prof job and move to Peoria and do it myself for half the money I make. Not kidding. I would do it without thinking twice.

[Classof77]

Add me to the list of those who hate the 6pm starts. I saw a lot of people buying food who normally don't (including me), so perhaps the Civic Center concessions benefit. Although I also think the 6pm starts lower attendance, which means less concessions. Whatever.....I hope they go back to 7pm.

[Bradley3342]

I agree Da Coach. I don’t know who brainstormed this idea either but it needs to be rethought. Is there time to change it and who would you petition to get it changed? Any thoughts from you all?

[Da Coach]

Add me to the list of those who hate the 6pm starts. I saw a lot of people buying food who normally don't (including me), so perhaps the Civic Center concessions benefit. Although I also think the 6pm starts lower attendance, which means less concessions. Whatever.....I hope they go back to 7pm.

For the record, unless something has changed in the agreement that Bradley has with the Civic Center, but in the past, Bradley didn't get anything from the sale of concessions. So the only people who might benefit from making fans come early and buy more food is the Civic Center.
But even when the Civic Center schedules their events, they don't schedule any of them to start at 6 pm.

And as far as a petition, I doubt it would do any good.
I would suggest fans call the Bradley Athletics office and register your displeasure with the early start times.
Bradley Athletics Office- (309) 677-2666

It might also be just as helpful for fans to post their complaints here. I know the ticket people read this board, because they have clipped quotes from here in the past and tweeted about them.

[Classof77]

Instead of calling tomorrow, I just sent an e-mail to Chris Reynolds, Nathan Bramwell, Karen Carty, and Bobby Parker. Addresses here:

bparker@bradley.edu
nbramwell@bradley.edu
kcarty@fsmail.bradley.edu
kbothast@bradley.edu

Coach - I got those e-mail addresses off the Bradley Athletic Dept web site. If I have violated forum rules putting them on here, my apologies and please delete.

https://bradleybraves.com/staff-directory

[Chibearsfan10125]

As someone who works downtown and lives about 20-25 minutes away, I love the 6 pm start. It’s so easy for me to get off work at 4:30, grab something quick to eat then head to the game. Plus I’m still getting home earlier to do a few things before going to bed. I guess I’m in the minority though.

[Da Coach]

No, those are all publicly listed email addresses, so I take it that they are all OK with people emailing them, and we will allow them to remain posted here.
I would encourage all fans who are so moved to either call, or email their dissatisfaction with the 6 pm start time.

I just sent an email to Bobby Parker as follows-

There have been a number of fans posting on the BradleyFans message board who are questioning why Bradley games on weekdays now start at 6 pm. There are many who are unhappy with the early (6 pm) game times.
I am unable to give any answer. Can I ask why there was a decision to change from the decades-long policy of starting games at 7 pm, and moving the start time back to 6 pm? I suspect you have heard from fans that it makes it difficult if not impossible for many fans to get to the games on time, or to be able to eat dinner before coming to games.
Could it be affecting the attendance? I believe it is.
I have also heard from fans who simply watch the games on ESPN3 or ESPN+ that they are not happy with the 6 pm start times.

Also, could you please convey to Dr. Reynolds and others in charge that I also personally find these 6 pm start times a great inconvenience. I arrived late tonight to the game, and will be arriving late and possibly even missing some games that I have paid for because I cannot always make it by 6 pm.
In addition, I will be less likely to renew my season tickets in the future if the 6 pm start times continue in future years.

I would encourage everyone who feels the same to email Bobby Parker (bparker@bradley.edu) and ask that your complaint be forwarded to those in charge of game times. Or email Karla Bothast (kbothast@bradley.edu) who is the administrative assistant for Bradley AD Dr. Chris Reynolds, and ask that your complaint be forwarded to Dr. Reynolds.