Summit League Major Announcement

[LakeJack]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

Trying to compare SF to OKC, KC, or Lincoln is not exactly apples-to-apples.

This.

[Coyote_Fan]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

I like this idea, but I'm not sure if its a big enough "win" for the SFSA to put in the effort of organizing that mess.

An engaged USD fan base would be huge for this tournament. I just don't see them showing up for women's games or men's games against anyone except NDSU/SDSU.

Getting UNO up to snuff is going to be an uphill battle, but they seem to be making some pretty significant strides in the right direction.

USD fans will turn out if the motivation is there and that doesn't necessarily come just because of the opponent. I was pleasantly surprised, actually VERY pleasantly surprised with the USD fan turnout for the Women's Basketball National Championship Game against Northern Kentucky. The game was in Kearney, Nebraska which is about a 5 hour drive. The motivation was success and there were 2,500-3,000 Coyote fans taking over the UNK arena that evening. I know SDSU fans did the same for their prior run(s) for their women's team as well. Coyote Fans made up nearly half of Alli Gynasium when they played Morningside in basketball and there were also quite a few at the Elmen Center when they played Augustana. During the Boots golden years of 93 and 94 the team had a very good following. Even with inflated attendance numbers there were fans that packed the lower bleachers for every conference home game. The team was dominating which certainly didn't hurt.

With a new facility on the way for basketball that will help attendance by probably about 500 per game. It will be a much better overall basketball experience and by the time it opens whenever that should be the team will likely be more successfull as well. There is still alot of room to grow and alot of fans to be properly motivated but it is possible for the fan base to expand, no doubt about it.

[GoJacks]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

USD fans will turn out if the motivation is there and that doesn't necessarily come just because of the opponent. I was pleasantly surprised, actually VERY pleasantly surprised with the USD fan turnout for the Women's Basketball National Championship Game against Northern Kentucky. The game was in Kearney, Nebraska which is about a 5 hour drive. The motivation was success and there were 2,500-3,000 Coyote fans taking over the UNK arena that evening. I know SDSU fans did the same for their prior run(s) for their women's team as well. Coyote Fans made up nearly half of Alli Gynasium when they played Morningside in basketball and there were also quite a few at the Elmen Center when they played Augustana. During the Boots golden years of 93 and 94 the team had a very good following. Even with inflated attendance numbers there were fans that packed the lower bleachers for every conference home game. The team was dominating which certainly didn't hurt.

With a new facility on the way for basketball that will help attendance by probably about 500 per game. It will be a much better overall basketball experience and by the time it opens whenever that should be the team will likely be more successfull as well. There is still alot of room to grow and alot of fans to be properly motivated but it is possible for the fan base to expand, no doubt about it.

USD will provide plenty of fans and passion to the Summit League Tournament.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

USD fans will turn out if the motivation is there and that doesn't necessarily come just because of the opponent. I was pleasantly surprised, actually VERY pleasantly surprised with the USD fan turnout for the Women's Basketball National Championship Game against Northern Kentucky. The game was in Kearney, Nebraska which is about a 5 hour drive. The motivation was success and there were 2,500-3,000 Coyote fans taking over the UNK arena that evening. I know SDSU fans did the same for their prior run(s) for their women's team as well. Coyote Fans made up nearly half of Alli Gynasium when they played Morningside in basketball and there were also quite a few at the Elmen Center when they played Augustana. During the Boots golden years of 93 and 94 the team had a very good following. Even with inflated attendance numbers there were fans that packed the lower bleachers for every conference home game. The team was dominating which certainly didn't hurt.

With a new facility on the way for basketball that will help attendance by probably about 500 per game. It will be a much better overall basketball experience and by the time it opens whenever that should be the team will likely be more successfull as well. There is still alot of room to grow and alot of fans to be properly motivated but it is possible for the fan base to expand, no doubt about it.

I actually agree with this.

[LakeJack]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

http://www.kdlt.com/index.php?option...temid=58#video

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

USD fans will turn out if the motivation is there and that doesn't necessarily come just because of the opponent. I was pleasantly surprised, actually VERY pleasantly surprised with the USD fan turnout for the Women's Basketball National Championship Game against Northern Kentucky. The game was in Kearney, Nebraska which is about a 5 hour drive. The motivation was success and there were 2,500-3,000 Coyote fans taking over the UNK arena that evening. I know SDSU fans did the same for their prior run(s) for their women's team as well. Coyote Fans made up nearly half of Alli Gynasium when they played Morningside in basketball and there were also quite a few at the Elmen Center when they played Augustana. During the Boots golden years of 93 and 94 the team had a very good following. Even with inflated attendance numbers there were fans that packed the lower bleachers for every conference home game. The team was dominating which certainly didn't hurt.

With a new facility on the way for basketball that will help attendance by probably about 500 per game. It will be a much better overall basketball experience and by the time it opens whenever that should be the team will likely be more successfull as well. There is still alot of room to grow and alot of fans to be properly motivated but it is possible for the fan base to expand, no doubt about it.

I hope USD fans show up, and you make a good case that they will. USD and SDSU are going to have to carry the lion's share to make this continue to work, especially in a 12,000 seat arena.

I happen to believe that the new arena in Vermillion will attract more than 500 additional fans to basketball games.

[91jack]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

Hasn't the city of SF spent money on the downtown area, too?

I think if USD has a team like their women's team last year, they will have some fans show up. The way their team was playing, I was picturing a SDSU/USD championship game to see who would move on to the big dance. That would really help the attendance figures.

I don't know if NDSU really had that many fans there the last couple of years. They had more than most schools but there were the 2nd closest and it is only about a 4 hour drive for them.

It's just like anything else, if your team is winning or has a good chance of winning, more of your fans will show up.

[joeboo22]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

Hasn't the city of SF spent money on the downtown area, too?

I think if USD has a team like their women's team last year, they will have some fans show up. The way their team was playing, I was picturing a SDSU/USD championship game to see who would move on to the big dance. That would really help the attendance figures.

I don't know if NDSU really had that many fans there the last couple of years. They had more than most schools but there were the 2nd closest and it is only about a 4 hour drive for them.

It's just like anything else, if your team is winning or has a good chance of winning, more of your fans will show up.

The story I got from NDSU was that many more would had planned on coming this past tournament but a blizzard stopped people at the border. The first year of the tournament they represented well, and I think if there team has a legit chance they will attend well again.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

Hasn't the city of SF spent money on the downtown area, too?

I think if USD has a team like their women's team last year, they will have some fans show up. The way their team was playing, I was picturing a SDSU/USD championship game to see who would move on to the big dance. That would really help the attendance figures.

I don't know if NDSU really had that many fans there the last couple of years. They had more than most schools but there were the 2nd closest and it is only about a 4 hour drive for them.

It's just like anything else, if your team is winning or has a good chance of winning, more of your fans will show up.

I agree, which is why the league/SFSA needs to do as much as it can to make early purchased all session passes as enticing as possible. Discounts, hotel/meal packages, merchandise, etc. If you've bought an all session pass a year in advance, chances are you will show up to watch your 6th seed men and 4th seed women. You don't know how things will shake out a year in advance, you have a pretty good idea two weeks before the tournament.

As SDSU fans (and USD) we need to support sessions when our teams aren't playing as well. This won't be as much of an issue since SDSU, USD, or NDSU is pretty much guaranteed to be playing in every session, but if you have a ticket, try to use it. Even if that means watching IPFW vs. UMKC.

[goon]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

I agree, which is why the league/SFSA needs to do as much as it can to make early purchased all session passes as enticing as possible. Discounts, hotel/meal packages, merchandise, etc. If you've bought an all session pass a year in advance, chances are you will show up to watch your 6th seed men and 4th seed women. You don't know how things will shake out a year in advance, you have a pretty good idea two weeks before the tournament.

As SDSU fans (and USD) we need to support sessions when our teams aren't playing as well. This won't be as much of an issue since SDSU, USD, or NDSU is pretty much guaranteed to be playing in every session, but if you have a ticket, try to use it. Even if that means watching IPFW vs. UMKC.

Some of what I like about the all sessions passes is you can watch great basketball and enjoy it would out getting to cought up in the emotion of your team playing. just a fun experience. hope USD fans realze how good of a time it can be, My dad and I take the days off from work so we can make every session and enjoy eating not the healtist food and have a beer. great bonding time with my old man.

[OldHare]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

With exception of Oakland or ORU, the crowds for the non SDSU games were probably larger than a home game. It was just that Oakland and ORU did not have the crowd behind them at all times. I know that ORU furnished a bus for students for $20 each so they would have a few more fans at the game.

[Southeast]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

I know it was a lot of fun watching Oakland and ORU get upset on the men's side last year. You are right about getting to watch some good (non-SDSU) basketball with the all-session passes.

[jacksfaninne]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

You seriously believe that the eastern fans wont come here because its not being built downtown? Like they really know about SF and care if its downtown or at the current site? Really? Your serious? If they are going to come here for the tourney, they will find their way downtown if there is good reason to go downtown. They will find the hotspots. Its not like they have to go very far from the current site to find the downtown spots.

Did I say eastern fans won't come here because it's not being built downtown? No. I said (or at least intended to say) you might be able to get a few more fans to come if they knew the facility was located in an area that gave them something more to do between or after games -- a river front, a variety of bars/restaurants, shopping, other entertainment -- than what is available to them now in the current arena neighborhood. Maybe this will develop around the new arena. Maybe not.

[goon]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

I know it was a lot of fun watching Oakland and ORU get upset on the men's side last year. You are right about getting to watch some good (non-SDSU) basketball with the all-session passes.

USU and Western sure got good support from SDSU fans for their upset bids. I bet they appreaciated it too. Didnt take long to realize that those games had upset potential and the fans were quick to give their support. Just talking about it I am already looking forward to being their. Just need to figure out how to get better all session passes. Get them like the first day or 2 available and are always middle of the way up. not as close as I would assume we should be considering their are a lot of people in lower sections that are not their for all the sessions so thats my only issue. Over all its still great.

Does this mean summit league will be going to 5 year bids or will it get back to 2 year bids or will they change it when another city can offer or up what the league is getting now. I would only be willing to travel if it would be in omaha considering i have family their i can stay with. getting a hotel the whole time and session passes would get a little expensive going every year for me if its out of SF. Kind of spoiled its here but sure glad we have it locked up for a bit.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Summit League Major Announcement

Some of what I like about the all sessions passes is you can watch great basketball and enjoy it would out getting to cought up in the emotion of your team playing. just a fun experience. hope USD fans realze how good of a time it can be, My dad and I take the days off from work so we can make every session and enjoy eating not the healtist food and have a beer. great bonding time with my old man.

I agree with this 100%, but like yourself I live in South Dakota. I commit to the price of admission plus some beers/food. I don't have to buy a plane ticket or gas, deal with the hassle of flying/driving to Sioux Falls, get a hotel, and eat out 3 meals a day. You and I can take 2 days off from work, Oakland fans probably have to take at least 4.

I can sympathize with fans from the eastern schools who might be less than pleased with the idea of coming to Sioux Falls every year, I might go 1 out of every 5 years if it was in Grand Rapids, MI.