MVC First Exhibition Attendance

[tornado]

DJ-- the answer is really quite simple.....and most BU fans probably already know........
..at the time the season ticket package is put together, BU counts only the games that they KNOW will be at the Civic Center...because that's where the seats are....and that's where the games that are part of the package have always been played.
Historically one of the early exhibition games has always been held elsewhere- always at the Fieldhouse and so it wasn't part of the season ticket package.

That was going to be the same this year...BU wasn't sure they'd be able to secure an opponent AND have the Civic Center available for a mutually agreeable date, and it still wasn't even certain where that exhibition game was going to be held, as BU was also contemplating the ICC gym, and other local HS gyms.

In the end BU did get it set at the Civic Center, but not until after all the season ticket packages were said and done.
The re-upping of season tickets occurs in late April through June, and so BU has to lock in on certain dates at the Civic Center then....but the finalizing of the Lewis game -- which initially looked like it might get held at ICC or Central HS, didn't take place until September -- but did get finalized at the Civic Center......so how could it have been added to the season ticket plan at that late time?? impossible....

[Chico]

LG, it isn't feasable to have an on campus arena. Parking would be a major problem, as the majority of ticket holders aren't students who could walk to the game. The Civic Center is only about a mile further from campus than the bars on Farmington Rd, so being downtown should be no excuse for failure to attend games.

[thefish7]

LG, it isn't feasable to have an on campus arena. Parking would be a major problem, as the majority of ticket holders aren't students who could walk to the game. The Civic Center is only about a mile further from campus than the bars on Farmington Rd, so being downtown should be no excuse for failure to attend games.

Parking isn't an unsolvable problem... and it may or may not remain unfeasible to afford an on-campus arena. I believe it should always remain "on the radar," so to speak. PCC is a good venue, but a purpose-built on-campus stadium would be preferable I think.

[Stryker]

Parking isn't an unsolvable problem... and it may or may not remain unfeasible to afford an on-campus arena. I believe it should always remain "on the radar," so to speak. PCC is a good venue, but a purpose-built on-campus stadium would be preferable I think.

I think an on campus arena would be sweet, but BU would pretty much have to remove the Arbor sub-division to do that, which would be very expensive. Plus no alcohol at an on-campus arena, and it isn't real close to all the downtown attractions. Maybe something will happen when the PCC gets way too outdated and something has to happen.

[SFP]

Parking isn't an unsolvable problem... and it may or may not remain unfeasible to afford an on-campus arena. I believe it should always remain "on the radar," so to speak. PCC is a good venue, but a purpose-built on-campus stadium would be preferable I think.

I agree but we are years and I mean years away from leaving Carver. Carver besides the ice rink issue is a nice venue. I wish we had some type of scheduling mandate but the BU's administration I am sure are quite happy with the financial status around it. An on campus arena right now would be unfeasible due to all the other projects we are working on. Also you could not serve beers on an on campus venue.

Chico on the students getting to Carver. It has been since the beginning, a sore subject for the students having to make their way down the hill. It is only a mile yes but during the middle of winter it may as well be in Chicago if the students had to walk there. The shuttle is great and what they should do though (they may already do this) is have services from both ends of the campus not just from the middle. Driving down there should be greatly discouraged. I know I made it down there with a few to many to be legally driving when I was a student.

[dogsrus]

[QUOTE=cpacmel;95830]Enrollment of students has little to do with overall attendance at games.


Hogwash.....do you think BU would draw more students if it was on-campus? I do. And IF we had an on-campus arena and 3 times as many students as we do now I bet attendance would be increased to the extent tickets would be hard to get.

[dogsrus]

I think you CAN serve Beer on-campus but BU chooses not to. I don't think its against NCAA "rules"...anyone know for sure? This has been a life long discussion and I have never seen solid proof one way or the other.

[Chico]

SFP, as anyone who knows me would tell you I like my beer also, but I'm sure on cold Winter nights the students don't walk down to Farmington Rd. Can't believe anyone thinks it possible to ever have an arena on campus with most of the attending fans living off campus. If the students don't want to walk a mile to the Civic Center, why would non students want to walk a mile to an on campus event.

[thefish7]

Agree with SFP's sentiments. I'm not in any hurry, and think Carver is fine-- but think an on-campus arena has to be a goal for the program, even if a distant one.

Chico, don't understand your last post? I would bet very VERY few non-student Bradley fans live within a mile of the civic center. I feel like I live pretty close, but guess my driving distance is 5 or 6 miles. The non-students fans would be able to get to an on-campus venue as easily as they get to the PCC... The point here is that you will get more students to games if they're on campus, not sure where the non-student fans come into play.

Also SFP, I can't help but think that the current location of Campustown wouldn't be a decent spot for an arena.

[Double D]

It was discussed last year at length when the new facilities were announced, that Bradley's relationship with the Civic Center will continue indefinatley.

The Civic Center and Carver Arena were constructed with Bradley Basketball being it's signature tenant. There has been a lot of money poured into the Civic Center in recent years to keep it upgraded. The Peoria community has demonstrated that it is committed to doing all that it can to keep Bradley Basketball downtown.

I can envision an on campus arena and I think it would be great for the university, but the issues above along with the parking/campus space issue were cited as the primary reasons for moving forward with the setup we'll have with the Markin Center and the New Women's sports and basketball practice facility.

It was a fun debate when there was the possiblity for an on campus facility. Last year our administration put that all to rest.

[DoubleJayAlum]

Thanks for the answers to my question.

As many of you know, Creighton plays at a non campus arena too. Personally, I don't think there is anything wrong with it. Small private schools may not have the funds to build or maintain their own arena; and if they do, the campus arena certainly wouldn't have all the bells and whistles of a community funded arena (not to mention beer).

I also think there is a greater bonding opportunity with the community when schools play in off campus arenas. Sure it may make it more difficult for students to attend games off campus, but it allows for easier access to the community residents. Sometimes small, private schools operate as a bit of an enclave within their towns/cities. As a result, it may be harder for the typical community resident to feel involved with the school if the school didn't play in a community facility.

P.S. - I'm considering a trip to BU for the CU-BU game this year. I've never been to Peoria or BU and would like to check it out. If I can clear my calendar to attend, I might be requesting advice regarding accommodations and eating establishments from you guys...

[ph]

There appeared to be a temp beer stand in the lobby of the Fieldhouse during last year's Red/White. I think the public alcohol sales ban must be more of a state facility issue.
The only real solution: I suppose if you wanted to build your own private stadium across the street from Bradley, you may find you can get a long term lease tennant...

[Double D]

There appeared to be a temp beer stand in the lobby of the Fieldhouse during last year's Red/White. I think the public alcohol sales ban must be more of a state facility issue.
The only real solution: I suppose if you wanted to build your own private stadium across the street from Bradley, you may find you can get a long term lease tennant...

I spoke with someone about the beer in the Fieldhouse foyer last year. They said that it was allowed because it was considered a "special event," rather than a game.

I don't know what that meant, but I enjoyed the beer.

[thefish7]

I spoke with someone about the beer in the Fieldhouse foyer last year. They said that it was allowed because it was considered a "special event," rather than a game.

I don't know what that meant, but I enjoyed the beer.

As did I.

[Stryker]

Notify me if I am wrong here. Alcohol is not served at on-campus facilities when an official NCAA sporting event is taking place. I am pretty sure this is for basketball, idk about football.