Crowd

[goon]

Re: Crowd

Fairly certain Duke and Maryland's student section is behind the player and scorer's table, not right on the floor like Frost used to be.
I would have to agree with Filbert that the NDSU game and games over the past 4-5 year have not helped in the least.
On a positive note(which I have not been lately in regards to SDSU, I do realize this)...it was nice to see the student section full and 3200 people there for a Thursday night game. Just time to take the next step, IMO.

Go Jacks!!

The Scorers table at SDSU was there, now the media have a row in front of the student section. Its not so much how close they are, but they raised the seats up. The sight line in the sections above the students use to see somewhat ok, when students would stand. Since they were raised up, they are blocking views no matter what they are doing. Thats my biggest concern.

[jackmd]

Re: Crowd

I personally feel the changes in the bleachers behind the baskets and student sections really affected the game feel. Moved students up and way from the court, now they stand and get yelled at by people who cant see behind them, the baskets on the side are not as good court view as they were before. removing seats from the court level was the worst Idea. WE needed new bleachers for sure, but they look nicer then they actually are helpful.

I recall that it was a safety issue and they had no choice. Bleachers were to close to the court. In order to preserve seating the only option was to raise the seating. They chose chairbacks because you can sell them for season tickets much more easily.

As a consequence of raising the seats on the lower level the site lines in the upper level were negatively affected further decreasing fan experience. Furthermore, we now play a large number of games on week nights and Saturday evening, Sunday afternoon. We never play a Friday, Saturday combo weekend. Add to that the newness of DI and unfamiliar opponents and you get reduced attendance.

So, you have to raise prices to make up some of the difference which changes the dynamic of the crowd and you get an older, more reserved group that doesn't get impressed by much or if they do they don't show it by screaming, clapping, or cheering loudly.

[slosho]

Re: Crowd

I know its frowned upon but I sit in the student section. So I can cheer...

[goon]

Re: Crowd

I know its frowned upon but I sit in the student section. So I can cheer...

Your still like a student at heart, and most fans would probably want you and others who like to cheer get the closer seats.

[RabbitObsessed]

Re: Crowd

I know its frowned upon but I sit in the student section. So I can cheer...

I don't care as long as there is enough seats for students. I'm usually there early enough that it's not a problem for me.

I hate sitting in the bleachers behind the student section because 1) I can't stand 2) when I watch games I tend to...curse very frequently.

Sitting in the bleachers puts a real damper on my viewing experience.

[goon]

Re: Crowd

I recall that it was a safety issue and they had no choice. Bleachers were to close to the court. In order to preserve seating the only option was to raise the seating. They chose chairbacks because you can sell them for season tickets much more easily.

As a consequence of raising the seats on the lower level the site lines in the upper level were negatively affected further decreasing fan experience. Furthermore, we now play a large number of games on week nights and Saturday evening, Sunday afternoon. We never play a Friday, Saturday combo weekend. Add to that the newness of DI and unfamiliar opponents and you get reduced attendance.

So, you have to raise prices to make up some of the difference which changes the dynamic of the crowd and you get an older, more reserved group that doesn't get impressed by much or if they do they don't show it by screaming, clapping, or cheering loudly.

The end behind the basket bleachers or the student section blechers? I guess I am not sure what the problem really was, but it seems to me having giant walls behind the basket more a problem then fans. The scorers table infront of the students is the same, so moving the sudents furth back behind them, not sure how that makes it safer. Are they concerned about fan or player safety or both equally in making those changes? As a student, sitting behind the media row just felt like they took away something special that the students have. The wood was broken and worn and needed to be replaced, so I understand changing them. I feel they were changed to look better then to provide actual user friendly function.

[JACKGUYII]

Re: Crowd

I personally feel the changes in the bleachers behind the baskets and student sections really affected the game feel. Moved students up and way from the court, now they stand and get yelled at by people who cant see behind them, the baskets on the side are not as good court view as they were before. removing seats from the court level was the worst Idea. WE needed new bleachers for sure, but they look nicer then they actually are helpful.

I don't think the future at Frost is to build new bleachers, but rather add more chairbacks. They will eventually be elevating and raising new chairbacks on the south side of Frost so people can see the floor over the students. Nothing screams more of a high school gym than bleachers.

[bigticket1]

Re: Crowd

I don't think the future at Frost is to build new bleachers, but rather add more chairbacks. They will eventually be elevating and raising new chairbacks on the south side of Frost so people can see the floor over the students. Nothing screams more of a high school gym than bleachers.

What will that do to seating capacity ? Would that eliminate general admission seating ?

[JACKGUYII]

Re: Crowd

What will that do to seating capacity ? Would that eliminate general admission seating ?

Decrease it further. The whole idea is to get as many reserved seats and pre-sold season tickets as possible to maximize revenue. I'm sure the Event Management people would love to not have to worry how many people are going to walk up and buy a GA ticket.

[YanktonRabbit]

Re: Crowd

I think or cheerleaders do a very poor job of getting the crowd involved in the game. I too think it is sad that grown men get more excited for a tshirt than a great defensive stop or a great offensive play.

[SUPERBUNNY]

Re: Crowd

This one really gets me fired up. It was like a morgue in there last night. Anyone that remembers what Frost was like "back in the day" has to just about be sick over it.

There are so many reasons that it has changes and the "home court advantage has been lost:

1. The seating changes were a real killer. Yeah, they bring in $$$$ but they take the people that would make the noise and move them away from the court. Also, capacity is a lot lower but we're so far from filling the joint it doesn't matter.

2. Last time I checked, we've struggled for a few years so people are a little bit apathetic. We're turning it around (thank God) but it will take time. Look at the playoff games the women hosted. Don't tell me Jackrabbit fans can't make the joint rock! They can and will when given the reason to get excited. Stay tuned, I think it will happen and soon.

3. Thursday night games are a buzz kill. It's the night businesses stay open, kids have school, and everyone works the next day. Games on a weeknight don't draw, period.

4. The students have so many more options of things to do. They're online, playing X-Box, studying, watching any of 300 cable channels, etc., etc., etc.,...

5. The band, yeah I said it, the band. They are talented but the play list needs to be updated. It's been talked about on here many times. "Back in the day" when Frost rocked the band was with the students and run by student members of the band. They had a lot of fun and got the other students into. Is it feasible to do that again now? Probably not and there are plenty of rules for game and crowd control that may prohibit that so it may be a moot point. But does it change the atmosphere? You better believe.

6. Corporate atmosphere. I get tired of the constant barage of advertisements. What happened to the team making a run and we break into "Ring the Bells". Now, everything is on a schedule for production. I wish it could be done with a little more improvisation and feel for the game. The comapnies that pay the large amounts of money deserve to have their ads heard by the fans and I am and we all should be thankful for everything they do for Jackrabbit atheletics because without them we are a LONG way from where we are now in many respects. Again, does it affect the atmosphere? You bet!

7. Conference scheduling. Conference games every other Thursday, Saturday, and Monday is a lot. Not sure about what your life is like but it seems like mine is busier all the time and making to all of them is tough. The NCC days were Friday and Saturday nights when you didn't have to work the next day. Those days aren't coming back because of the travel involved for the teams so there isn't much that can be done to improve it. But it does change things.

There are probably several more things that can be brought up but I've spent too much time already.

IMHO, there is one thing that changes things. KEEP IMPROVING AND WINNING GAME!!! If Frost Arena is the place to be then it will happen. I hate the Duke comparison. We aren't Duke. Nobody else is like Duke! That is probably the most special atmosphere in all of college basketball. Why? Because they are really good every year and they have a smaller than average gym so there is huge demand for tickets. The better our team gets the more people will want to come. We've already chopped the capacity down to size.

I'll conclude this rant with this. After all the years in D1, we are definitely heading in the right direction. Think about it. In year one we had a frontcourt of Brady Hokensen and Luke Geiver (again two of the nicest kids you will ever meet and worked their tails off for the Jacks). Now we have Wolters and Sargent. Huge improvement in talent and two pretty good kids as well. We just have to keep improving. There is huge talent on the floor for the Jacks and they are a young team. The future is bright and I so look forward to hearing Frost Arena rock again as close to "back in the day" as possible. It was fun! I really miss it! We can do this!

End of rant! SUPERBUNNY out!

[yotemeal]

Re: Crowd

USD can relate, though, at times during the transition, getting thousands of people off their butts wouldn’t accurately describe the extent of the problem. Getting thousands of people in the door would be the more appropriate starting point, but anyway….

If your basketball team is rallying and has just hit a shot to cut a deficit to single digits….

If your football team’s defense has forced any third down in a game that’s still undecided….

Not only can you make a case for standing up, but you SHOULD be standing up. If that bothers someone behind you, that’s not a you problem. College basketball games are not daycares and they are not nursing homes. Odds makers take into account home court advantage. Ask the guy behind you who apparently got lost on his way to the morgue whether he enjoys literally giving points away to the opposition.

[SF_Rabbit_Fan]

Re: Crowd

I don't think the future at Frost is to build new bleachers, but rather add more chairbacks. They will eventually be elevating and raising new chairbacks on the south side of Frost so people can see the floor over the students. Nothing screams more of a high school gym than bleachers.

Minnesota and Kentucky are two places I've been that have lots of bleachers in their gyms. I would assume lots of other big programs have them as well.

[goon]

Re: Crowd

Minnesota and Kentucky are two places I've been that have lots of bleachers in their gyms. I would assume lots of other big programs have them as well.

As long as people fill them I care not what they are or look like, as long as they provide a great game seating atmosphere(SP).

[mitchellrabbit]

Re: Crowd

Minnesota and Kentucky are two places I've been that have lots of bleachers in their gyms. I would assume lots of other big programs have them as well.

i dont see anything wrong with bleacher seating. notre dame has bleacher seating all around above the other seats.