ISU Attendance

[tornado]

Well, the ISU fans can no longer claim their attendance isn't an issue, and we shouldn't be discussing it.

Now their writers are finally chiming in on the lousy attendance..

"No more excuses for a half-empty Redbird Arena"

http://www.pantagraph.com/articles/2008/02/15/usports/doc47b4d39dc6f66064905357.txt

and guess what word Randy Kindred uses to describe their attendance......
"a pathetic turnout"

"ISU fans delight in being anti-Bradley, and that’s fine. It’s part of what makes a rivalry.
Yet, like it or not, they could learn from the Braves’ fans.
Bradley has averaged 9,942 for 13 home games at 11,060-seat Carver Arena. That is 90 percent capacity, in an off-campus facility, for a team with a 14-12 record.
.............Pathetic."



And a separate report from another writer....Jim Benson....
"There was something missing Wednesday night at Redbird Arena. Oh, yeah, about 5,000 fewer fans than watched Illinois State's 72-68 victory against archrival Bradley four days earlier. The lack of electricity was evident.
...The crowd of 5,446 was ISU's smallest since drawing 5,082 against Northern Iowa on Jan. 8. What a shame."
"It's a shame more fans didn't show up at Redbird Arena. ...more empty seats in the upper bowl than fans. After Saturday's stirring victory over Bradley before only the second sellout in 10 years, you have would thought there would be a bounce with the crowd and at least 8,000 would show up."



also, some discussion on the redbird board

http://redbirdfan.com/msgforum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=8859

[shaunguth]

"ISU fans delight in being anti-Bradley, and that??™s fine. It??™s part of what makes a rivalry.
Yet, like it or not, they could learn from the Braves??™ fans.
Bradley has averaged 9,942 for 13 home games at 11,060-seat Carver Arena. That is 90 percent capacity, in an off-campus facility, for a team with a 14-12 record.
.............Pathetic."


And a separate report from another writer....Jim Benson....
"After Saturday's stirring victory over Bradley before only the second sellout in 10 years, you have would thought there would be a bounce with the crowd and at least 8,000 would show up."

Enough said! Just one of many reasons I love Bradley basketball (even in down years).

[ph]

Do their fans need a shakeup or their marketing department?

When Mark Cuban took over the Dallas Mavericks, he went to the season ticket /corp. sales team and told them "You will sell out the season. I do not care if it takes doubling the sales staff, but they will sell out the season."

The sales team worked like crazy (without a numbers increase) and finally sold out the season, and reported the news to Mark.
Mark just said. "OK, you did your job"
No congratualtions or extra bonus...
(Although I imagine the sales staff did receive commission which would of meant they already saw more pay)

[mike radigan]

Maybe, just maybe, that their Buck F radley shirts, FUBU chants, and throwing garbage keeps families with kids away. Just a thought.

[Double D]

IMO back in the 80's ISU fans had plenty of reason's to support their team, but they attatched themselves to these things:

A love of Bob Donewald and Horton Field House, and a hatred of BU and Dick Vercase.

There were many reasons to be excited and have a love for their basketball program and their university, but NONE were greater than those.

They have had MANY sucesses since all three of those were long gone, but ultimatley they can't get over it.

Esp. the move from Horton, and the firing of Donewald. There were legions of ISU fans in McLean Co. who absolutely refused to come back after those two.

[tornado]

Hey--- ISU fans....here is a thought....as long as someone over there seems to finally be listening to our suggestions (like getting rid of the chants and finding a way to boost attendance).
...........guess which game each year is the biggest crowd that Evansville has?? (although they didn't play this year)
It's when they play University of Southern Indiana, a big time (non-DI) crosstown opponent. They sold out in each of 2006-2007 and 2005-2006,
seriously.....they SOLD OUT!!

Why not host Illinois Wesleyan each year and get the fans in there are see the caliber of talent you have? You might create MORE local fans!
If you are going to host UM-St. Louis or Lewis, why not play IWU instead.
UIUC hosted IWU and sold out on 11/03/05.

[cpacmel]

It is pathletic, but I will take a smaller crowd, one that is into the game and making a difference in the outcome over the larger, sit on their hands, coach has to remind them to make noise crowd.

IWU won't play ISU in basketball. Not as long as Denny Bridges is there.

[Double D]

Hey--- ISU fans....here is a thought....as long as someone over there seems to finally be listening to our suggestions (like getting rid of the chants and finding a way to boost attendance).
...........guess which game each year is the biggest crowd that Evansville has?? (although they didn't play this year)
It's when they play University of Southern Indiana, a big time (non-DI) crosstown opponent. They sold out in each of 2006-2007 and 2005-2006,
seriously.....they SOLD OUT!!

Why not host Illinois Wesleyan each year and get the fans in there are see the caliber of talent you have? You might create MORE local fans!
If you are going to host UM-St. Louis or Lewis, why not play IWU instead.
UIUC hosted IWU and sold out on 11/03/05.

I am not sure what ISU's take on it is, but I have an inside source that say's that Dennie Bridges (who is still the AD) would never do it.

[tornado]

Money talks and seems to have a way of overcoming all obstacles

[DannyCooksey]

Money talks and seems to have a way of overcoming all obstacles

You sound like you speak from experience.

[tornado]

I may be a lot harder to persuade with $$ than most people, simply because i am so darned used to not having it, and have never acquired expensive tastes,
but I guess like anyone else, I'd listen if you're talking................

[Chico]

Bradley fans can't help fill up their arena every game. they have to do it on their own the rest of the time.

[Dallas Brave]

I may be a lot harder to persuade with $$ than most people, simply because i am so darned used to not having it, and have never acquired expensive tastes,
but I guess like anyone else, I'd listen if you're talking................

Not true ... did you not, in fact, opt for a Ferrari rather than than a Yugo

[tornado]

I buy all my cars from Mrcoachdude, Beninator, and their associates, and they don't sell Ferrari's


(by the way...Mrcoachdude, did Beninator tell you I got the new Aero?? I like it!)

[bert notorius]

You gotta admit, it sure is a nice, big facility sitting right there in the middle of campus- even if it's only half full. Maybe TJ can turn that around. He's off to a pretty good start.