Bored with Pre Game Activities

[Out of Bounce]

Not much to talk about BU's team and players so lets talk about the pre game activities again. I'm talking before tip off. I for one, am bored with things before the game starts. It just seems like to me that most fans don't come alive until half way through the first half. The "Welcome to the Court, Your Bradley Team/Braves (what ever) is OK and the anouncment of the starting 5 with the kids on the court getting high 5's is a good thing. Not sure I care for the team coming out of the stands thing. It seems like it takes way to long and I just keep thinking that one of the players is going to miss a step and get hurt. As for the video on the scoreboard its good but the music played sucks. It sounded like it should be played at a funeral and we were on a death march. I thought the video of the trip from the Fieldhouse to Carver was great(Something like the Bulls had). The few Brave Club's pep rallie's are so boring, if it wasn't for the free beer no one would come. Theres just not much action going on. Maybe a band, a speaker (past player/coach) or two to get the fans up for the game. The cheerleaders are good. The food sucks! Also they have split the season ticket holds so some now can not go to the new Brave Club room.
I just think things need to change to get the fans into it before the game.

[MacabreMob]

OoB - you make some good points.

And this seems to bark up the Marketing tree. I am not a believer in Marketing. I believe in the product. Product sells.

So in this case, I believe a good product (a good team) with good results (winning) gets you good crowds. From that - the whole atmosphere becomes elevated/electric. Pre-game activities get better from all the excitement coming out of the product.

I don't believe it comes from Marketing telling you to get excited and showing how to feel excitement and joy. (creating excitement/creating a "perceived reality", "perception = reality")

That's just me - and I might be in the minority with my views.

[2bradleyfans]

OoB - you make some good points.

And this seems to bark up the Marketing tree. I am not a believer in Marketing. I believe in the product. Product sells.

So in this case, I believe a good product (a good team) with good results (winning) gets you good crowds. From that - the whole atmosphere becomes elevated/electric. Pre-game activities get better from all the excitement coming out of the product.

I don't believe it comes from Marketing telling you to get excited and showing how to feel excitement and joy. (creating excitement/creating a "perceived reality", "perception = reality")

That's just me - and I might be in the minority with my views.

I'm inclined to agree with you MM. However, one can hardly ignor the comercials on t.v. radio, print media, bilboards. Marketing is taught at every major University including Bradley, one might contend that it is part in parcel to the corner stone of our capitalist society way of life.

[Out of Bounce]

OoB - you make some good points.

And this seems to bark up the Marketing tree. I am not a believer in Marketing. I believe in the product. Product sells.

So in this case, I believe a good product (a good team) with good results (winning) gets you good crowds. From that - the whole atmosphere becomes elevated/electric. Pre-game activities get better from all the excitement coming out of the product.

I don't believe it comes from Marketing telling you to get excited and showing how to feel excitement and joy. (creating excitement/creating a "perceived reality", "perception = reality")

That's just me - and I might be in the minority with my views.

I agree with all you have said. Who wouldn't agree that winning teams will put fans in the stands and create a atmosphere of excitement and joy. I am not talking Marketing BU's Team. We have won and the fans are there. The fans just don't come to BU games to see the Scoreboard Video, the Cheerleaders, the Band, and all the other activities, they are there to root ,cheer and see BU play. But all these activities are a big part of what leads up to the main act (game). Take it all away and what will you have.
This isn't Marketing in the way the CUBS have had to do things to bring entertainment to the fans because they didn't have a winning team. All I am saying is there can be some changes to the pre game things that will boost the atmosphere to its highest level with these activities. As for the Team and Game, it will sell itself.

[Chico]

Pre game isn't that important to me, unless you're talking about just before the game. A lot of fans don't get there much before the game and most of the ones that get there early, like myself, prefer to socialize and let the teams warm up. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think you can go overboard on the pre game introductions. IMO, I would like the the lights to go down, the band play the fight song and the players get introduced to a loud standing ovation. It worked just fine for years.

[basketball nut]

Pre game isn't that important to me, unless you're talking about just before the game. A lot of fans don't get there much before the game and most of the ones that get there early, like myself, prefer to socialize and let the teams warm up. Maybe I'm old fashioned, but I think you can go overboard on the pre game introductions. IMO, I would like the the lights to go down, the band play the fight song and the players get introduced to a loud standing ovation. It worked just fine for years.

I know I am going to irritate some but it seems to me for a lot of the season ticket holders BU bb is a social event. I am sorry but it takes a long time for the fans to get into a game. It was fun a year ago when they asked people tostand for the 1st 4 minutes and last 4 minutes of each half. This seemed to get people into the game a lot more. Go to a UI, MSU, NC, Duke, KU, UK, (I could go on) game and the crowd is going nuts 30-45 minutes before the game. Does this help the team? Of course it does in many ways as the opposing team has to face the noise of the crown and it helps the home team become more fired up. I am sure some will not agree here but that is the way I see it and I seen some games at some of these other schools.

[Beninator]

I know I am going to irritate some but it seems to me for a lot of the season ticket holders BU bb is a social event.

That shouldnt irritate anyone..imo... I think that your statement is dead on accurate. The same can be said for other schools as well.

[houstontxbrave]

I think BU should go back to 8pm starts no pregame at all other then the band playing and during time outs its either the BU fight song or the Cheerleaders doing pyramids.

But that is just me, since it seemed there was plenty of enthusiasm when I was a kid in the fieldhouse and that is how it was then.

Basketball is the product and the rest is just for those with ADD and seem to think there has to be something going on at all times to entertain themselves or their children.

[Chico]

I thought I said the socializing went on before the game. Once the game starts is where it ends with 99% of the fans. Why does somene have to be seated, or standing, to watch the teams shoot layups. You can't compare BU crowds to Duke, North Carolina, etc. They have many more students attend their games. It's good the BU fans stand to start each half and help the team play defense, but you don't have to stand the whole game to be a fan. If you want to, fine. I'm first row upper bowl so you won't bother me. You don't irritate me. Been going to BU games since the Armory days and you won't find a fan in the Civic Center who cheers the team on more than me, but I only stand when I'm given a reason to. Love seeing the students stand the whole game though.

[it's boogie time]

What's wrong with Bradley Basketball being a social event? I love seeing my friends at Carver Arena and on the trips to Redbird Arena and the ScottTrade Center.

[Beninator]

What's wrong with Bradley Basketball being a social event? I love seeing my friends at Carver Arena and on the trips to Redbird Arena and the ScottTrade Center.

Nothng wrong with that at all... I have to slightly disagree with a previous post... I think the socializing happens before, during and after the game with some fans... just as there are people who go to games that are die-hard fans as well---- again nothing wrong with that it happens everywhere...imo

[MacabreMob]

What's wrong with Bradley Basketball being a social event? I love seeing my friends at Carver Arena and on the trips to Redbird Arena and the ScottTrade Center.

Nothng wrong with that at all... I have to slightly disagree with a previous post... I think the socializing happens before, during and after the game with some fans... just as there are people who go to games that are die-hard fans as well---- again nothing wrong with that it happens everywhere...imo

Agreed - nothing wrong with it at all.

But Bradley basketball shouldn't be considered a social event first, IMO. I think that is an arrogant approach... it's like saying, "yea - why would I go to see Bradley play basketball. If I want to watch college basketball, I'd go to UIUC or watch ESPN."

But, IMO, this also explains why 5500 at the Ohio U game were louder than the 9500 at most regular season games. The CBI games really brought out the "true fan". (I know, that rips some of you guys up when fans get described as "true fans" versus just regular fans, or maybe semi-fans) But anyway - those CBI games didn't have the semi-true fan sitting in the company provided seats. Some semi-fans wouldn't buy a ticket to a game - but they will go free and think of it as a social event. And they are also hoping to be entertained outside of the action on the court.

I think about the Illini fans I know and saw at the Providence NIT game.... they never cheered and they left early with their hands in their pockets. So why would they go to the Cincinnati, Ohio, or Tulsa game in the CBI? Not much time for promotions. Tickets cost more. No special 1/2 time shows. And they don't want to see Bradley win. [Oh, and they definitely don't want to go and socialize with a real fan when their team isn't even in the post-season]

[Chico]

Where I sit the only socializing during the game is fans talking about the game. I don't consider that socializing, do you? IMO it's kind of ridiculous to think with 10,000 fans in a building, they shouldn't be socializing.

[Beninator]

Agreed - nothing wrong with it at all.

But Bradley basketball shouldn't be considered a social event first, IMO. I think that is an arrogant approach... it's like saying, "yea - why would I go to see Bradley play basketball. If I want to watch college basketball, I'd go to UIUC or watch ESPN."

But, IMO, this also explains why 5500 at the Ohio U game were louder than the 9500 at most regular season games. The CBI games really brought out the "true fan". (I know, that rips some of you guys up when fans get described as "true fans" versus just regular fans, or maybe semi-fans) But anyway - those CBI games didn't have the semi-true fan sitting in the company provided seats. Some semi-fans wouldn't buy a ticket to a game - but they will go free and think of it as a social event. And they are also hoping to be entertained outside of the action on the court.

I think about the Illini fans I know and saw at the Providence NIT game.... they never cheered and they left early with their hands in their pockets. So why would they go to the Cincinnati, Ohio, or Tulsa game in the CBI? Not much time for promotions. Tickets cost more. No special 1/2 time shows. And they don't want to see Bradley win. [Oh, and they definitely don't want to go and socialize with a real fan when their team isn't even in the post-season]

Very good points Mob. I was at the BU-Providence game. How anyone who considers themself a basketball fan could leave early is beyond me?
Then again, I probably answered my own question.

[Beninator]

Where I sit the only socializing during the game is fans talking about the game. I don't consider that socializing, do you? IMO it's kind of ridiculous to think with 10,000 fans in a building, they shouldn't be socializing.

Disagree... From where I have watched BU games, I have heard people talking shop, news about the market etc etc... Heck last year there was a lady in front of me with her two teen-aged sons... The lady was keeping score while her sons were playing a video game! That is only a couple of examples...

And again this happens everywhere...