Question

[TrueBlue147]

Why are so many seats near the court empty? It looks awful on TV and is misleading to the actual amount of people in attendance. You watch other college games and there is always a crowd of people around the court. We had a decent crowd yesterday but you wouldn't have thought that watching it on TV because of all the empty court side seats.Recruits see this I am sure. Something needs to be done to portray a better atmosphere on TV.

 

[MTFNBY5]

Agree that the crowds at some other games look much better on TV than ours and not just power schools with rabid fan bases. I'm envious of most of the MVC school and even some SoCon along with others such as Murray St. Their attendance in their venues looks much better on TV than ours. I'm sure the POB would like to present a better image with fuller seats next to the court on "stage" side but how to do it? Many, if not all, of the "good" seats are sold to long time supporters who keep their seats even if they rarely attend games. It's rally hard to take a chance on offending these "fans".

Something needs to be done to encourage those with prime seats to either use them or move somewhere else. Wish I knew the solution, and I'm sure Massaro does also.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

Originally posted by TrueBlue147:
Why are so many seats near the court empty? It looks awful on TV and is misleading to the actual amount of people in attendance. You watch other college games and there is always a crowd of people around the court. We had a decent crowd yesterday but you wouldn't have thought that watching it on TV because of all the empty court side seats.Recruits see this I am sure. Something needs to be done to portray a better atmosphere on TV.

Apathy among the larger givers is what I was told yesterday. I'm not one of the courtside seats or Rows 1-4 but I did not renew my seats in Sec. N Row 9.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

5,200 reported attendance for yesterday and that was prolly tickets sold, not butts in seats. Even if accurate, there were still 6,300 empty seats for a hated rivalry game that goes back decades.

 

[MidTnBlues]

Originally posted by FranklinRaider315:
I'm not one of the courtside seats or Rows 1-4 but I did not renew my seats in Sec. N Row 9.

This post was edited on 2/23 1:36 PM by MidTnBlues

 

[TeKEraider]

So you were apathetic towards hoops after the last 3 seasons?!!!!

 

[TeKEraider]

So you were apathetic towards hoops after the last 3 seasons?!!!!

Originally posted by FranklinRaider315:

Originally posted by TrueBlue147:
Why are so many seats near the court empty? It looks awful on TV and is misleading to the actual amount of people in attendance. You watch other college games and there is always a crowd of people around the court. We had a decent crowd yesterday but you wouldn't have thought that watching it on TV because of all the empty court side seats.Recruits see this I am sure. Something needs to be done to portray a better atmosphere on TV.

Apathy among the larger givers is what I was told yesterday. I'm not one of the courtside seats or Rows 1-4 but I did not renew my seats in Sec. N Row 9.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

Originally posted by TeKEraider:
So you were apathetic towards hoops after the last 3 seasons?!!!!

Heck no. I just got tired of driving over to sit in a half empty arena. I don't have the answers for why local support is so bad for Middle. I've been very active for eight years but this year just did it for me. Heck, I drove to Columbus, OH for the St. Mary's screw job we got from Mike Stuart and also was there for the NIT loss to Tubby's Minnesota bunch. Then we got screwed last year for post season but we screwed ourselves in El Paso. So far, the largest home crowd I've been a part of was the women's game vs. UT last year and the Minnedota game for the men. I'm also a Belmont hoops fan and had season tix to both. Football was a huge letdown after sitting through the loss in Ft. Worth and on into this season. I really miss the excitement from the NOLA Bowl trip and beatdown of Southern Miss.

I guess what I'm saying is I've just lost the excitement of previous years and my BRAA contacts during those years are all gone. I miss Alan, Roy and Clint and I'll just leave it at that.

Is that apathetic enough?

 

[TeKEraider]

I'm sure Memphis will take you back. Nothing against Clint or Roy but I think the new BRAA staff, particularly at the top, is greatly improved. I think people looking for an excuse to be apathetic will find it. I am sorry but claiming to be a long time supporter but pulling your support after 3-peat conference champs in hoops and back to back 8-4 in footballl just doesn't pass the smell test.

 

[FranklinRaider315]

Originally posted by TeKEraider:

I'm sure Memphis will take you back. Nothing against Clint or Roy but I think the new BRAA staff, particularly at the top, is greatly improved. I think people looking for an excuse to be apathetic will find it. I am sorry but claiming to be a long time supporter but pulling your support after 3-peat conference champs in hoops and back to back 8-4 in footballl just doesn't pass the smell test.

Yawn.

 

[dukewayne]

No surprise to see the name Belmont come up in this discussion. What a shock.

Speaking of Belmont: With all of the success they've experienced over the years with constant NCAA appearances, they seem to have a lot of empty seats in their arena for games. That's an arena that holds 5000! BTW, just checked, Belmont avg just over 1800 in attendance this year.

Back to Murphy Center: One would think it would be possible to simply ask in a polite manner for season ticket holders in the front rows who don't attend to volunteer to move their seats back 5 or 10 rows. Sell it as a looking for volunteers to move their seats to benefit the program with louder support closer to the team on the court and perception/image on very important TV broadcasts. It is very important to look and show that there is buzz and excitement at games. It helps to be more attractive in the "it's the place to be" for potential fans and attendees.

 

[MTFNBY5]

Brings up a question: When reserved tickets are scanned is a record made of which seats are being used? Without this information how can the athletic dept. get a handle on how to effectively deal with the problem.

I dare say that our ticket operation is not advanced enough to identify individual tickets scanned for each event.

And as for Belmont or any area %$&-major program. It's a pity that attendance for all the area schools is so bad. I assume it's a result of Nashville and it's media gone all big-time and pro in emphasis. When AP/TTU draws 2,500 and Belmont/TSU draws 1,560 you know this is not a hotbed for %$&-major BkB. It's sad that other areas of the country draw so well at the same level. And MT fans have to realize it could be a lot worse.

 

[TeKEraider]

It's not that people are not showing up. Its that they are not sold. We don't have enough donors that qualify to fill those seats that will buy them. Look at the program. Not a lot of names on $2500 and up lists and of lot of those are football only fans. I am torn on the issue. Sure it would look better to just let anybody buy and fill those seats but then you take away the incentive to donate. We already seem to be doing that somewhat because I know we have some pretty minor donors(according to the program)in some primo seats. I assume they are grandfathered in. I don't know the solution but I am okay with expecting a premium for premium seats even it means a few are empty.

 

[MTFNBY5]

IIRC only the first few seats on the risers require a specific level of BRAA donation to buy. The riser seats are usually much more full than the first seats in what is called the lower bowl and IMHO it's the lower bowl not being fuller is the problem in TV shots.

Again, I could be wrong - Would have to look at a season ticket application to confirm (and all those forms have been turned in with my renewal each year.