Re: Ryan Center In-Game Experience - Issues and Upgrades
Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 2:47 pm
Seems the belt is a point of emphasis! I feel safer knowing each and every belt buckle is checked.
and a razor blade is only an inch long, but you can do major damage slashing with it...same way you could with the blade you had.the_one_mike wrote:I typically carry a micro-sized Swiss army all-in-one tool on my keys... One of these clowns made me bring it back to my car after waiting in the line for 10 minutes. The blade is .75" and no more dangerous than my keys themselves. I hid it behind a tree right next to the Ryan with the intent to grab it on the way out. I thought he was gonna cavity search me because I was back in line so quick.
I'm all for security, but these rent-a-cops take themselves JUST A BIT too seriously.
Sounds like protecting annoying people like you is the reason they need to confiscate such dangerous objects from people like me.Da_Process_Survivor wrote:and a razor blade is only an inch long, but you can do major damage slashing with it...same way you could with the blade you had.the_one_mike wrote:I typically carry a micro-sized Swiss army all-in-one tool on my keys... One of these clowns made me bring it back to my car after waiting in the line for 10 minutes. The blade is .75" and no more dangerous than my keys themselves. I hid it behind a tree right next to the Ryan with the intent to grab it on the way out. I thought he was gonna cavity search me because I was back in line so quick.
I'm all for security, but these rent-a-cops take themselves JUST A BIT too seriously.
are simple instructions like 'no knives' or 'no guns' really that hard to follow?
This isnt rocket science, you are given a specific and simple set of rules...and frankly by not following them you're adding to the same wait times you complain about
Never even thought about being in danger. Now I do...ATPTourFan wrote:Was everyone attending in fear prior to this season? Can anyone honestly say they felt unsafe last year?
Are you allowed to take this knife on a plane?the_one_mike wrote:Sounds like protecting annoying people like you is the reason they need to confiscate such dangerous objects from people like me.Da_Process_Survivor wrote:and a razor blade is only an inch long, but you can do major damage slashing with it...same way you could with the blade you had.the_one_mike wrote:I typically carry a micro-sized Swiss army all-in-one tool on my keys... One of these clowns made me bring it back to my car after waiting in the line for 10 minutes. The blade is .75" and no more dangerous than my keys themselves. I hid it behind a tree right next to the Ryan with the intent to grab it on the way out. I thought he was gonna cavity search me because I was back in line so quick.
I'm all for security, but these rent-a-cops take themselves JUST A BIT too seriously.
are simple instructions like 'no knives' or 'no guns' really that hard to follow?
This isnt rocket science, you are given a specific and simple set of rules...and frankly by not following them you're adding to the same wait times you complain about
To be fair, the Ryan Center was built with that thought process in mind. There is a reason that a railing/fence exists between 103-107 and 203-207, along with plastic seats instead of the cushy ones in 204, 205, 206 and across the court.Beachcomber wrote:Changing the subject: Watching last Saturday's game against Duquesne on TV, I was astonished to see that the vast majority of URI fans on the lower bowl (behind the bench) were sitting during the last play. If ever there was a time to get up on your feet and cheer, that was it -- but instead, the vast majority of those people -- clear as a bell on national TV - sat. I replayed it a couple of times just to be sure -- asses glued to their seats. Having been a URI fan going back for decades, I always thought this was a URI thing by their older fan base. I have been yelled at many times at both Keaney and Ryan to "sit down" during a game at pivotal plays and moments -- incredible.
I fondly recall sitting in Keaney along the court as a student (my preferred seat was right behind the Rammettes -- great location.) I've always thought that if the Ryan Center could create that "Cameron Indoor Stadium" feel that Duke has with its students along the court, the atmosphere and game experience at Ryan would be so much better for everyone -- and would demonstrate to the student body (i.e., future alumni and season ticket holders) the URI cares about them.
Well, I watched the Duke games against Virginia and last night against Notre Dame. Per usual, the Duke student were standing and cheering the whole game, and constantly on TV (which fuels their antics). But I looked at the crowd above and on the end courts, the season ticket holder seats at Cameron populated by older fans and alumni. I noticed something I did not expect: They acted just like URI fans: they mostly sat and cheered, very few standing. Imagine that: older URI and Duke fans act in much the same way. I also notice it at many other arenas: the dead atmosphere at games, with students tucked away like an afterthought. Duke could sell those student courtside seats for top dollar, but understand they have an even greater value because of the perception they provide on TV and the atmosphere they create.
Lesson to me: if you want to create crazy atmosphere, and a perception to casual TV viewers and fans that this is place I want to go to and be part of, get the students in a place where the TV cameras are on them constantly, like Duke. I doubt the $$ cost to URI of moving a couple of hundred lower bowl season ticket holders on the TV view side would be that much, and likely more than made up by creating an atmosphere that people -- the causal fan that every School needs to capture -- wants to be part of, and would be willing to pay for. In my view, what URI does is dime smart and dollar stupid. How can it be that the powers that beat URI don't see what the most successful program does, and copy it?
You want a cheap and instant upgrade, and an enhancement to the in-game experience: put 5-6 rows of students along the TV side of the court (but carve out a small section behind the opposing team's bench just so they won't complain of intimidation, etc.).
End of screed.
so do URI students...for 15 years and counting now.Obadiah wrote:There are significant differences at Duke. First the Duke students do not sit behind the team benches which is verboten at most schools. Second, Duke students pay to attend the games and have to stand in a first come first served line to get in and the number of students is capped at a number below the 1500 that URI permits. Not sure on the exact cap number, however. Finally, Duke can afford to put the students in such desirable seats because the move is, in essence, subsidized by Duke season ticket holders. You cannot buy a season ticket to Duke games without making a monetary contribution of $6500 each season. And if you are a first time season ticket buyer, the ante is an initial $7500. And no one at Duke is allowed to buy more than four season tickets. So ALL Duke season ticket holders contribute to the program in a significant amount. This latter point is not true at URI. I know several season ticket holders who have great seats, but do not contribute a dime to the program. Not a damn dime.
so do URI students...for 15 years and counting now.
Every URI student is charged a fee that goes to paying for the Ryan Center...said fee was set up under the lie that student seats would be the 100 bowl.
Instead they stuck them in an endzone and kept the money.
The actual plan when it opened was students wrapped around the court in the 100s like Cameron Indoor
they dont pay a fee to directly pay for Cameron Indoor....URI students do for the Ryan Center.Obadiah wrote:
so do URI students...for 15 years and counting now.
Every URI student is charged a fee that goes to paying for the Ryan Center...said fee was set up under the lie that student seats would be the 100 bowl.
Instead they stuck them in an endzone and kept the money.
The actual plan when it opened was students wrapped around the court in the 100s like Cameron Indoor
Duke students pay a fee plus a game ticket price, URI students pay a fee, but get in free. Not the same at all. I am surprised you missed that difference.
Obadiah wrote:Syracuse students have to buy tickets, too. My daughter went there.
so do URI students...for 15 years and counting now.
Every URI student is charged a fee that goes to paying for the Ryan Center...said fee was set up under the lie that student seats would be the 100 bowl.
Instead they stuck them in an endzone and kept the money.
The actual plan when it opened was students wrapped around the court in the 100s like Cameron Indoor
Duke students pay a fee plus a game ticket price, URI students pay a fee, but get in free. Not the same at all. I am surprised you missed that difference.
hey dont pay a fee to directly pay for Cameron Indoor....URI students do for the Ryan Center.
I am surprised you missed that difference
theblueram wrote:Just get rid of the media section and build out the seats. Then put the students opposite the benches. Problem solved and students are where they should be.
Interesting to note that quite a few obscure schools in college basketball have way bigger arenas than URI!!KevanBoyles wrote:Interesting list of current college basketball arenas with capacities.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of ... all_arenas
Not totally free at all. They're paying for the seats behind the bench with their student fees. That they got moved while they're still paying for those seats is a travestyBlue Man wrote:To be fair, the Ryan Center was built with that thought process in mind. There is a reason that a railing/fence exists between 103-107 and 203-207, along with plastic seats instead of the cushy ones in 204, 205, 206 and across the court.Beachcomber wrote:Changing the subject: Watching last Saturday's game against Duquesne on TV, I was astonished to see that the vast majority of URI fans on the lower bowl (behind the bench) were sitting during the last play. If ever there was a time to get up on your feet and cheer, that was it -- but instead, the vast majority of those people -- clear as a bell on national TV - sat. I replayed it a couple of times just to be sure -- asses glued to their seats. Having been a URI fan going back for decades, I always thought this was a URI thing by their older fan base. I have been yelled at many times at both Keaney and Ryan to "sit down" during a game at pivotal plays and moments -- incredible.
I fondly recall sitting in Keaney along the court as a student (my preferred seat was right behind the Rammettes -- great location.) I've always thought that if the Ryan Center could create that "Cameron Indoor Stadium" feel that Duke has with its students along the court, the atmosphere and game experience at Ryan would be so much better for everyone -- and would demonstrate to the student body (i.e., future alumni and season ticket holders) the URI cares about them.
Well, I watched the Duke games against Virginia and last night against Notre Dame. Per usual, the Duke student were standing and cheering the whole game, and constantly on TV (which fuels their antics). But I looked at the crowd above and on the end courts, the season ticket holder seats at Cameron populated by older fans and alumni. I noticed something I did not expect: They acted just like URI fans: they mostly sat and cheered, very few standing. Imagine that: older URI and Duke fans act in much the same way. I also notice it at many other arenas: the dead atmosphere at games, with students tucked away like an afterthought. Duke could sell those student courtside seats for top dollar, but understand they have an even greater value because of the perception they provide on TV and the atmosphere they create.
Lesson to me: if you want to create crazy atmosphere, and a perception to casual TV viewers and fans that this is place I want to go to and be part of, get the students in a place where the TV cameras are on them constantly, like Duke. I doubt the $$ cost to URI of moving a couple of hundred lower bowl season ticket holders on the TV view side would be that much, and likely more than made up by creating an atmosphere that people -- the causal fan that every School needs to capture -- wants to be part of, and would be willing to pay for. In my view, what URI does is dime smart and dollar stupid. How can it be that the powers that beat URI don't see what the most successful program does, and copy it?
You want a cheap and instant upgrade, and an enhancement to the in-game experience: put 5-6 rows of students along the TV side of the court (but carve out a small section behind the opposing team's bench just so they won't complain of intimidation, etc.).
End of screed.
The problem is that Jim Baron killed the program, the fan base, and the attendance. There had to be a way to squeeze more money out of those who would attend games to offset the empty seats everywhere else.
Also, URI students have it good. Totally free tickets to games, which isn't something afforded to fans of many other programs.
I expect in the coming years, once sellouts become more a rule than exception, they will move back to having the students in the 100 levels.
This is correct. URI students at the time agreed to an extra fee solely to be used to pay bonds on the Ryan Center and in return were promised 100 level seats. That fee is lumped in under a generic student services fee to avoid the "I don't go to games, why am I paying this" argument, but that money comes right off the top and is solely used to pay for the Ryan Center. The Ryan Center doesn't get built without the students agreeing to that fee and the students at the time (I was one) don't agree to that fee without the promise of 100 level seats.Beachcomber wrote:But, is it fair to say that URI students get their tickets "for free?" My understanding is that in order to get Ryan built, the university had to pick up a portion of the cost. That cost, in turn, was transferred in part to students through increased fees. If so, each student pays for a part of that stadium, whether they go to games or not. (BTW, I read a good article recently about how university's are increasingly relying on "fees" to conceal tuition increases.)
And, wasn't it more than that Ryan built with this thought process in mind? I thought I read somewhere that preferred seating was a promise to students, not just some aspirational goal.
I think they have their priorities wrong. The basketball team should be priority number one since that is why the Ryan Center was built.RhowdyRam02 wrote:http://rhodycigar.com/2017/03/02/buildi ... e-in-2018/
This article talks about the fees students pay for the Ryan Center
URI students do not pay for the Ryan Center. The state did and athletics pays for its usage.Da_Process_Survivor wrote:they dont pay a fee to directly pay for Cameron Indoor....URI students do for the Ryan Center.Obadiah wrote:
so do URI students...for 15 years and counting now.
Every URI student is charged a fee that goes to paying for the Ryan Center...said fee was set up under the lie that student seats would be the 100 bowl.
Instead they stuck them in an endzone and kept the money.
The actual plan when it opened was students wrapped around the court in the 100s like Cameron Indoor
Duke students pay a fee plus a game ticket price, URI students pay a fee, but get in free. Not the same at all. I am surprised you missed that difference.
I am surprised you missed that difference
You're wrong on this oneBlue Man wrote:URI students do not pay for the Ryan Center. The state did and athletics pays for its usage.Da_Process_Survivor wrote:they dont pay a fee to directly pay for Cameron Indoor....URI students do for the Ryan Center.Obadiah wrote:
Duke students pay a fee plus a game ticket price, URI students pay a fee, but get in free. Not the same at all. I am surprised you missed that difference.
I am surprised you missed that difference
URI student fees go to athletics and fund the athletic budget. Ryan Center was paid for by state bonds.
There was never an agreement that said students get specific seats...no matter the original plans. Please stop making up theories if you don’t have facts.
Do tell me how, since I worked in the athletic department during that time and was in every meeting as it pertained to student seating from 07-09.RhowdyRam02 wrote:You're wrong on this oneBlue Man wrote:URI students do not pay for the Ryan Center. The state did and athletics pays for its usage.Da_Process_Survivor wrote:
they dont pay a fee to directly pay for Cameron Indoor....URI students do for the Ryan Center.
I am surprised you missed that difference
URI student fees go to athletics and fund the athletic budget. Ryan Center was paid for by state bonds.
There was never an agreement that said students get specific seats...no matter the original plans. Please stop making up theories if you don’t have facts.
Ignore that I posted an article where a university administrator says student fees go directly towards paying the bond for the building. I was there when it happened. I was in Petro's office discussing student seating. If athletics told you that student fees didn't go to the building and there was no agreement for student seating placement then they didn't know what they were talking about or they were lying to you to begin the process of moving studentsBlue Man wrote:Do tell me how, since I worked in the athletic department during that time and was in every meeting as it pertained to student seating from 07-09.RhowdyRam02 wrote:You're wrong on this oneBlue Man wrote:
URI students do not pay for the Ryan Center. The state did and athletics pays for its usage.
URI student fees go to athletics and fund the athletic budget. Ryan Center was paid for by state bonds.
There was never an agreement that said students get specific seats...no matter the original plans. Please stop making up theories if you don’t have facts.
This is correctRF1 wrote:The state only paid for about 1/3 of the cost of the Ryan Center. 1/3 was paid for by individual and corporate donations and naming rights. The remainder of the cost was paid for with bonds secured by the state. URI was tasked with paying off the bonds over a long period from venue revenues and student fees. If I am not mistaken, the student fees designated solely for the RC bond repayment were increased early on as revenues were not meeting projections. Note that this student fee was separate from the normal long existing athletics fee.
Real simple Blue, you got fed a line of bullsh*t and you bought it.RhowdyRam02 wrote:Ignore that I posted an article where a university administrator says student fees go directly towards paying the bond for the building. I was there when it happened. I was in Petro's office discussing student seating. If athletics told you that student fees didn't go to the building and there was no agreement for student seating placement then they didn't know what they were talking about or they were lying to you to begin the process of moving studentsBlue Man wrote:Do tell me how, since I worked in the athletic department during that time and was in every meeting as it pertained to student seating from 07-09.RhowdyRam02 wrote:
You're wrong on this one
park at the very back row as close to the exit as you can. then pop out the back, left at the stop sign and head out the back way and you come out at the 1st light on Rt 1.MARhody wrote:I will echo what most have already said about the in-game experience:
- WIFI and cell phone reception, excruciatingly bad. It'd be nice to be able to find and meet people, make a post to social media to publicize the event -- during the event.
- I can't remember the last time I bought a concession, lines way too long, food quality not great. It used to be I'd go to the "dots" ice cream, but I'm not sure that is there anymore? Kids are older now and pay attention w/out needing the ice cream incentive.
- I've only been in the "beer garden" once, again, took much too long to be worth it. We drive close to 90 mins to the games, would be nice to "have one"...but honestly I'm torn as to if this should be something people can take to their seats. Probably some $ being left on the table, but it's saving my wallet not being able to get one and I don't have to worry about one being spilled on me. Cooler in the parking lot seems to be sufficing quite nicely.
- Security a bit of a pain, but a fact of life these days. Perhaps URI can help mitigate the issue by giving out clear plastic bags for season ticket holders? My wife has a few, never an issue when she has that....and yea, the belt buckle thing is wierd, same with my two kids being wanded front and back. Easy to tell people to "get there early", but it's not always a possibility (note, that when late I always wait until there is a whistle before walking down into my seats). We have made it a point to be earlier this year so have not had to wait long and/or we've been late enough to miss the rush (can't be helped sometimes with kids activities).
- Somewhat related, now that there have been several well attended games, anyone have ideas and/or had success where the best places to park in the Plains Road Lot and get out reasonably? Perhaps someone with better technical skills than I can get a picture in here, but for lack of a better description we've been trying to park in the middle, sort of where there is an intersection between the line to exit that gets out of the lot going west to Plains Road to go South to 138 (to get to Route 2) and the line that goes north to get on Plains Road then snakes thru the farm to Route 4 (to head North). That's given us the best success as its a crossroads where there are two choices direction to go.
And before everyone chimes in with "...just wait around in the arena and leave leisurely", we do that. We are usually one of the last ones out of the stadium, and we don't mind being in the car, even if we have to pull in the radio broadcast off my phone since there is no radio reception for 101.5 on my car radio.....it can take 30 minutes or more to get off campus even taking our time. This is not a complaint per se, as we are very excited about the team and the crowds....but there HAS to be a better way. Can Plains Road be made a one way in order to get people off campus a little quicker, any other "one way" ideas to move things along? I would not think it would be a tremendous burden to close Plains Road inbound for 15-20 minutes after the game.
Go Rhody!
Da_Process_Survivor wrote:park at the very back row as close to the exit as you can. then pop out the back, left at the stop sign and head out the back way and you come out at the 1st light on Rt 1.MARhody wrote:I will echo what most have already said about the in-game experience:
- WIFI and cell phone reception, excruciatingly bad. It'd be nice to be able to find and meet people, make a post to social media to publicize the event -- during the event.
- I can't remember the last time I bought a concession, lines way too long, food quality not great. It used to be I'd go to the "dots" ice cream, but I'm not sure that is there anymore? Kids are older now and pay attention w/out needing the ice cream incentive.
- I've only been in the "beer garden" once, again, took much too long to be worth it. We drive close to 90 mins to the games, would be nice to "have one"...but honestly I'm torn as to if this should be something people can take to their seats. Probably some $ being left on the table, but it's saving my wallet not being able to get one and I don't have to worry about one being spilled on me. Cooler in the parking lot seems to be sufficing quite nicely.
- Security a bit of a pain, but a fact of life these days. Perhaps URI can help mitigate the issue by giving out clear plastic bags for season ticket holders? My wife has a few, never an issue when she has that....and yea, the belt buckle thing is wierd, same with my two kids being wanded front and back. Easy to tell people to "get there early", but it's not always a possibility (note, that when late I always wait until there is a whistle before walking down into my seats). We have made it a point to be earlier this year so have not had to wait long and/or we've been late enough to miss the rush (can't be helped sometimes with kids activities).
- Somewhat related, now that there have been several well attended games, anyone have ideas and/or had success where the best places to park in the Plains Road Lot and get out reasonably? Perhaps someone with better technical skills than I can get a picture in here, but for lack of a better description we've been trying to park in the middle, sort of where there is an intersection between the line to exit that gets out of the lot going west to Plains Road to go South to 138 (to get to Route 2) and the line that goes north to get on Plains Road then snakes thru the farm to Route 4 (to head North). That's given us the best success as its a crossroads where there are two choices direction to go.
And before everyone chimes in with "...just wait around in the arena and leave leisurely", we do that. We are usually one of the last ones out of the stadium, and we don't mind being in the car, even if we have to pull in the radio broadcast off my phone since there is no radio reception for 101.5 on my car radio.....it can take 30 minutes or more to get off campus even taking our time. This is not a complaint per se, as we are very excited about the team and the crowds....but there HAS to be a better way. Can Plains Road be made a one way in order to get people off campus a little quicker, any other "one way" ideas to move things along? I would not think it would be a tremendous burden to close Plains Road inbound for 15-20 minutes after the game.
Go Rhody!
So, in this image. The red block in the upper left corner is the plains lot. park as close to the road coming out of the top as you can, and head up the road that goes out the top of the image (Plains Rd)
have never had it take more than 10 min to leave the lot. well worth the extra walk.
Wifi can improve for sure, cell is tough. Dont forget it's essentially a giant concrete box, that is a cell reception killer.