2019-20 Home Attendance Predictions Summary

[Rhody15]

With all of us being disappointed with 6673 last game, it just goes to show how far the program has come these last few years.

We used to pray and then be absolutely thrilled to get 6600+ to any non PC game.

[Iggy1979]

It was the fourth highest attendance of the season -- not terribly disappointing.

[RF1]

It was the fourth highest attendance of the season -- not terribly disappointing.

It is true that the number in itself for such a game in a typical season would not be disappointing. It was however for a game late in this type of season with an NCAA at large bid within reach. Further making it worse was the fact that the difference from a sellout was nearly 100% attributed to the lack of students. URI reserves 1,500 seats per game for students. There appeared to be less than 500 on Saturday and given all students are now assigned to one end it looked pretty bad with a vast sea of empty seats. Compare this to basically nearly every non student seat in the Ryan Center being bought.

[reef]

Anyone know what we have to average in the next 2 to get the attendance over 6 k ???

[Rhody_JAM]

Anyone know what we have to average in the next 2 to get the attendance over 6 k ???

We need to average 6,372 the last 2 games to have a season average over 6,000. We need to average 7,999 to match the record from a few years ago.

[TruePoint]

It was the fourth highest attendance of the season -- not terribly disappointing.

It is true that the number in itself for a game in a typical season would not be disappointing. It was however for a game late in this type of season with an NCAA at large bid within reach. Further making it worse was the fact that the difference from a sellout was nearly 100% attributed to the lack of students. URI reserves 1,500 seats per game for students. There appeared to be less than 500 on Saturday and given all students are now assigned to one end it looked pretty bad with a vast sea of empty seats. Compare this to basically nearly every non student seat in the Ryan Center being bought.

I guess one way of looking at it is that the poor student attendance makes it worse, although I think it only makes it worse if we are specifically talking about student attendance. However, I view the poor student attendance as actually being exculpatory insofar as attendance reflects on the larger fan base. The reality is that there was essentially no tickets left for the public to buy by the time the game tipped off. Considering the opponent, I actually view that as an excellent job by our fans and a hopeful sign for how we finish the season from an attendance perspective.

As far as the students, I’m on record that it was a weak showing and I do honestly find it frustrating and a bit disheartening. However, if they come back in full force for the final two home games then I am more than willing to give them a pass. They have generally done a great job this season filling the student section and I do believe the anomalous showing this past Saturday was 95% due to the specific combination of the time of the game and the social realities of a college campus, as opposed to total apathy on the part of the students. I suppose time will tell.

[Obadiah]

With two remaining games that are expected to draw crowds above the current average of 5,943, those with bets in the range of 6,050 to 6,150 are looking good.

[RF1]

A second straight disappointing student turnout on Sunday for the game versus St Louis prevented another potential sellout. A crowd 7,004 was on hand to see URI get totally manhandled by the Billikens. This crowd still however increased the YTD average attendance to 6,019, the first time over 6k for the season. With a certainty that the crowd will be larger than this for the Dayton game, the average is guaranteed to be over 6k for the regular season mark which Obadiah uses for his contest. This number however will not necessarily be the final official season average attendance as the NCAA and its schools count the numbers for any postseason home games, be it conference tournaments or events such as the NIT, CBI, or CIT. Given that URI now possibly appears headed to a high seed in the NIT, there is a strong probability of additional Ryan Center home games. NIT home games will likely hurt average attendance as selling tickets to these games is a difficult prospect. These games are usually determined just days before play giving little time for promotion and sales. Furthermore, there are no already presold season tickets as the starting base is at zero. If my memory serves me correctly, student tickets are also not free unless a sponsor steps forward and pays for them. All of these factors combined with a low level of fan enthusiasm given how close an NCAA bid was within reach points to poor attendance at these games. If URI does end up hosting any NIT games, the average could very easily fall back below 6k and potentially drop from the 2nd highest average ever to 3rd place (5,915 in 2007/08).

RHODE ISLAND HOME ATTENDANCE 2019-20
OPPONENT | ATTENDANCE | TO DATE | AVERAGE | LY AVG | DIFF | %
LIU | 4,258 | 4,258 | 4,258 | 5,010 | (752) | -15.0%
Alabama | 7,021 | 11,279 | 5,640 | 5,252 | 388 | 7.4%
Nicholls State | 4,520 | 15,799 | 5,266 | 5,173 | 93 | 1.8%
Manhattan | 4,434 | 20,233 | 5,058 | 5,087 | (29) | -0.6%
Providence | 8,052 | 28,285 | 5,657 | 5,346 | 311 | 5.8%
Western Kentucky | 5,325 | 33,610 | 5,602 | 5,352 | 250 | 4.7%
Richmond | 5,325 | 38,935 | 5,562 | 5,390 | 172 | 3.2%
Davidson | 5,095 | 44,030 | 5,504 | 5,450 | 53 | 1.0%
LaSalle | 6,323 | 50,353 | 5,595 | 5,526 | 69 | 1.2%
Duquesne | 6,007 | 56,360 | 5,636 | 5,699 | (63) | -1.1%
VCU | 7,896 | 64,256 | 5,841 | 5,750 | 92 | 1.6%
UMass | 6,328 | 70,584 | 5,882 | 5,733 | 149 | 2.6%
St Joe's | 6,673 | 77,257 | 5,943 | 5,709 | 234 | 4.1%
St Louis | 7,004 | 84,261 | 6,019 | 5,797 | 222 | 3.8%

RYAN CENTER URI HOME ATTENDANCE BY AVERAGE
SEASON | GAMES | TOTAL | AVERAGE
2017-18 | 16 | 99,466 | 6,217
2007-08 | 15 | 88,731 | 5,915
2018-19 | 14 | 81,153 | 5,797
2003-04 | 17 | 97,762 | 5,751
2002-03 | 17 | 96,194 | 5,658
2014-15 | 16 | 86,461 | 5,404
2008-09 | 14 | 74,196 | 5,300
2009-10 | 17 | 88,853 | 5,227
2016-17 | 16 | 82,761 | 5,173
2005-06 | 16 | 76,150 | 4,760
2015-16 | 17 | 80,198 | 4,718
2004-05 | 14 | 65,227 | 4,659
2010-11 | 16 | 72,598 | 4,537
2006-07 | 15 | 67,293 | 4,486
2013-14 | 16 | 71,058 | 4,441
2012-13 | 15 | 64,368 | 4,291
2011-12 | 15 | 57,428 | 3,829
TOTAL | 266 | 1,349,897 | 5,075

[RamIt!]

so safely assuming Wednesday is a sell out, we will have had our 2nd best attendance average in 17 seasons... not too shabby if you ask me. despite the chatter of the lack of student support, marketing is doing something right.

[ramster]

Not necessarily. Lots of giveaway low cost tickets.
A team knocking on the door of the Top 25

It’s been disappointing

[RF1]

so safely assuming Wednesday is a sell out, we will have had our 2nd best attendance average in 17 seasons... not too shabby if you ask me. despite the chatter of the lack of student support, marketing is doing something right.

As I noted above, it may not necessarily end up being the 2nd highest official average attendance. The possibility of hosting additional NIT games would likely lower the average and could potentially drop it into 3rd place.

[RamIt!]

Not necessarily. Lots of giveaway low cost tickets.

um, that's called marketing... putting butts in the seats. you'll see it all over college and professional athletics no matter the team with certain exceptions of course. revenue is revenue whether you sell the seats for $30 or $10 it's better than 0$

[ramster]

Not necessarily. Lots of giveaway low cost tickets.

um, that's called marketing... putting butts in the seats. you'll see it all over college and professional athletics no matter the team with certain exceptions of course. revenue is revenue whether you sell the seats for $30 or $10 it's better than 0$

I just think to give the marketing department good grades is tough to judge. You had a team ranked #27 Nationally just outside the Top 25.
You had a PC home game
Alabama home
A team with Jeff Dowtin and Cyril Langevine who are two of the all time greats at URI
I’m not pleased with attendance this year with the debacle for students in the St Joseph’s and Saint Louis games. Plus not even a sellout yet for #3 Ranked Dayton
Marketing / Ticketing should:
Fix Wi-Fi
Get replays
Know when students are not going to show in advance do those unused tickets can be sold. This is easily done with some imagination
Food is bad
Food prices are bad
Students are disinterested
People come to games late. Do some marketing and promos to get people in their seats earlier. There are many ways to do this
Improve traffic flow
Better halftime shows
Better time out events - tend to have the same events every game
Beer in seats
Beer in seats study
Customer surveys and questionnaires
Customer focus groups
Find out what the ticket buyers and ticket no buyers want
Marketing 101

[RamIt!]

It’s obvious you’re just one of those nothing is ever good enough no matter how good it is fans.

[ramster]

I’m Especially that way when I see nothing concrete improved other than the performance of the team itself

But I’m not beyond convincing

What are some of the actions taken by the Advertising, Marketing and Arena Management in this past year 2019 and the first 2 months of 2020 that they can put on their Accomplishments List?

Preferably I’m talking Men’s Basketball but if you want to throw in other sports that’s fine.

[Obadiah]

OK, back to the original theme of this thread. Ryan Center attendance now stands at 84,261 which comes out to an average of 6,019 with one game remaining to complete the 15 game regular season home schedule. So with the Wednesday Dayton game we will know the winner of the attendance bonus contest.

Here is bracketing within which the eventual winner will be found.

1) If Dayton game attendance is 6,500, the average will be 6,051

2) If Dayton game attendance is 7,000, the average will be 6,084

3) If Dayton game attendance is 7,500, the average will be 6,117

3) If Dayton game attendance is 8,000, the average will be 6,151


So those with predictions in this range of outcomes are looking good.

[McRam]

For giggles, here is last year's attendance for all of the BB programs in the nation.http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketb ... ndance.pdf

[NYGFan_Section208]

Not necessarily. Lots of giveaway low cost tickets.

um, that's called marketing... putting butts in the seats. you'll see it all over college and professional athletics no matter the team with certain exceptions of course. revenue is revenue whether you sell the seats for $30 or $10 it's better than 0$

I just think to give the marketing department good grades is tough to judge. You had a team ranked #27 Nationally just outside the Top 25.
You had a PC home game
Alabama home
A team with Jeff Dowtin and Cyril Langevine who are two of the all time greats at URI
I’m not pleased with attendance this year with the debacle for students in the St Joseph’s and Saint Louis games. Plus not even a sellout yet for #3 Ranked Dayton
Marketing / Ticketing should:
Fix Wi-Fi
Get replays
Know when students are not going to show in advance do those unused tickets can be sold. This is easily done with some imagination
Food is bad
Good prices are bad
Students are disinterested
People come to games late. Do some marketing and promos to get people in their seats earlier. There are many ways to do this
Improve traffic flow
Better halftime shows
Better time out events - tend to have the same events every game
Beer in seats
Beer in seats study
Customer surveys and questionnaires
Customer focus groups
Find out what the ticket buyers and ticket no buyers want
Marketing 101

Yawn...the people that need to, either don't care, or just don't have the resources to do anything. Every year I get a survey. Every year, I fill it out. I don't even recall how I filled it out, and I've only been a STH for 5ish years, but absolutely NOTHING has changed. Not one noticeable thing.
Things that have not changed:
1) no replays
2) beers limited to a tiny timeout cubicle
3) no stats
4) consistent complaints about 1-3, probably far out-dating my short time here

I could use a boost...so, if someone can tell me one thing about the experience that's changed for the better in the last 5 years...yer first brew in the cubicle Weds is on me.

PS - Even though these things are sad and may never change, I still go, because...D1 hoops and very close to my house.
Kudos and much thanks to those of you with significant drives that continue to show. When we first bought season tix, we lived in CT. If we still lived there, I confess that I'd be having 2nd thoughts about next year...but since we don't, we'll be there.

[RamIt!]

ting should:
Fix Wi-Fi Faciliteis Issues, nothing to do with marketing, has nothing to do with whether people come to a game or not
Get replays I totally agree with this one, no reason not to have it but again not something that ultimately keeps people from coming
Know when students are not going to show in advance do those unused tickets can be sold. This is easily done with some imagination Despite poor student turnout for games on breaks, we've had a great attendance, only marketing could have accomplished that
Food is bad could be worse, its the ryan center in kingston, not fenway or Gillette, save your money and support a local business before or after the game
Good prices are bad ???? If you knew how to market something you wouldn't have made this statement
Students are disinterested let them pack the lower 100 all the way around, they want a college basketball atmosphere, not a sunday afternoon matinee
People come to games late. Do some marketing and promos to get people in their seats earlier. There are many ways to do this people are late because they don't give themselves time to get through those ridiculous security lines
Improve traffic flow There's 2 ways in and two ways out... what more could they do? ever try to get on the T after a redsox game? nature of the beast
Better halftime shows people come for the game and to socialize on the concourse, who cares what happens at the half
Better time out events - tend to have the same events every game Like what?
Beer in seats beer in seats won't improve the atmosphere, thats just a convience
Beer in seats study
Customer surveys and questionnaires they have these often, you can always email or call in your complaints instead of hoping they read a fan board, we only make up less than probably 1/2 a percent of all attendance
Customer focus groups/Find out what the ticket buyers and ticket no buyers wantJust have to look at what other colleges are doing, no need to waste time and money here
Marketing 101

Again marketing seems to be doing just fine considering the attendance. Your complaint is the entertainment value for the price, and considering ticket pricing we get more than most i'm sure. Brown tickets were going for twice cheap URI tickets, think about that.

Ultimately it's the quality and entertainment of the team / game that brings in the bodies... and despite losses we're still generating excitement and new fans. Every year we'll gain fans and lose fans... feel free to be the latter if the team / coach / ryan center / food / cheers / etc... aren't good enough for you.

[Blue Man]

ting should:
Fix Wi-Fi Faciliteis Issues, nothing to do with marketing, has nothing to do with whether people come to a game or not
Get replays I totally agree with this one, no reason not to have it but again not something that ultimately keeps people from coming
Know when students are not going to show in advance do those unused tickets can be sold. This is easily done with some imagination Despite poor student turnout for games on breaks, we've had a great attendance, only marketing could have accomplished that
Food is bad could be worse, its the ryan center in kingston, not fenway or Gillette, save your money and support a local business before or after the game
Good prices are bad ???? If you knew how to market something you wouldn't have made this statement
Students are disinterested let them pack the lower 100 all the way around, they want a college basketball atmosphere, not a sunday afternoon matinee
People come to games late. Do some marketing and promos to get people in their seats earlier. There are many ways to do this people are late because they don't give themselves time to get through those ridiculous security lines
Improve traffic flow There's 2 ways in and two ways out... what more could they do? ever try to get on the T after a redsox game? nature of the beast
Better halftime shows people come for the game and to socialize on the concourse, who cares what happens at the half
Better time out events - tend to have the same events every game Like what?
Beer in seats beer in seats won't improve the atmosphere, thats just a convience
Beer in seats study
Customer surveys and questionnaires they have these often, you can always email or call in your complaints instead of hoping they read a fan board, we only make up less than probably 1/2 a percent of all attendance
Customer focus groups/Find out what the ticket buyers and ticket no buyers wantJust have to look at what other colleges are doing, no need to waste time and money here
Marketing 101

Again marketing seems to be doing just fine considering the attendance. Your complaint is the entertainment value for the price, and considering ticket pricing we get more than most i'm sure. Brown tickets were going for twice cheap URI tickets, think about that.

Ultimately it's the quality and entertainment of the team / game that brings in the bodies... and despite losses we're still generating excitement and new fans. Every year we'll gain fans and lose fans... feel free to be the latter if the team / coach / ryan center / food / cheers / etc... aren't good enough for you.

The WiFi issue - while maybe inconvenient, absurd, and a negative impact on the experience for people in their 30's, 40's and 50's - I agree, it does not affect them showing up to the game. However, it 110% most DEFINITELY affects student turn out. As you can see from recent games - winning brings the crowd...but very obviously that's not the crowd that helps build an atmosphere that wins games. You need the students.

So it's obviously something else. What doesn't the Ryan Center lack that all of the other entertainment options available to them (even including watching the basketball game at home) have in spades? Beer, WiFi, a cell signal, and by extension - replays.

You cannot tell me that a kid who has their phone in had 24 hours a day, with instant access to their friends, plans, gambling, and social media - doesn't weigh their decision to go or not go to the Ryan Center on their inability to be connected to the world. URI has great TV visibility now. If you're an average college kid and your choice is go to the Ryan Center for a non-marquee matchup and sit in the fortress of solitude for 3 hours and have no contact with the outside world, or go to the bar to watch the same game and drink a beer - which are you choosing?

Sure - big opponent? It's an event. Not a big opponent? It's a project. To ask a 20 year old to give up their phone for 2-3 hours is a lot. Sneer at it all you want but it's a fact.

I'm all for bringing back student seating to the 100's - I fought to keep it there my entire collegiate career, and it was like that until I left. But until you fix all the other issues that make the Ryan Center the furthest thing from a 21st century arena, I'm not sure it matters.

Can't disagree with you more on beer. You think people with beer in their systems aren't just a tad bit louder than people without?

Say it with me: Beer. WiFi. Replay. Repeat.

[RamIt!]

Is it the public WiFi that’s an issue? Because all these students have access to the campus wide WiFi, anyone know how that’s working in the Ryan Center?

[Rhody15]

In the end of the season survey they email us about the season, I usually always leave the “other comments” section blank, but we all should fill up that with all these complaints.

It’s comical at this point nothing has been done.

[Obadiah]

The cost for WiFi installation is over $1 million and it is apparent that Atletics would rather use that money in a different manner. It is always a question of priorities. Do you suggest that re-allocate money away from, for example, charter flights.

[josephski]

ting should:
Fix Wi-Fi Faciliteis Issues, nothing to do with marketing, has nothing to do with whether people come to a game or not
Get replays I totally agree with this one, no reason not to have it but again not something that ultimately keeps people from coming
Know when students are not going to show in advance do those unused tickets can be sold. This is easily done with some imagination Despite poor student turnout for games on breaks, we've had a great attendance, only marketing could have accomplished that
Food is bad could be worse, its the ryan center in kingston, not fenway or Gillette, save your money and support a local business before or after the game
Good prices are bad ???? If you knew how to market something you wouldn't have made this statement
Students are disinterested let them pack the lower 100 all the way around, they want a college basketball atmosphere, not a sunday afternoon matinee
People come to games late. Do some marketing and promos to get people in their seats earlier. There are many ways to do this people are late because they don't give themselves time to get through those ridiculous security lines
Improve traffic flow There's 2 ways in and two ways out... what more could they do? ever try to get on the T after a redsox game? nature of the beast
Better halftime shows people come for the game and to socialize on the concourse, who cares what happens at the half
Better time out events - tend to have the same events every game Like what?
Beer in seats beer in seats won't improve the atmosphere, thats just a convience
Beer in seats study
Customer surveys and questionnaires they have these often, you can always email or call in your complaints instead of hoping they read a fan board, we only make up less than probably 1/2 a percent of all attendance
Customer focus groups/Find out what the ticket buyers and ticket no buyers wantJust have to look at what other colleges are doing, no need to waste time and money here
Marketing 101

Again marketing seems to be doing just fine considering the attendance. Your complaint is the entertainment value for the price, and considering ticket pricing we get more than most i'm sure. Brown tickets were going for twice cheap URI tickets, think about that.

Ultimately it's the quality and entertainment of the team / game that brings in the bodies... and despite losses we're still generating excitement and new fans. Every year we'll gain fans and lose fans... feel free to be the latter if the team / coach / ryan center / food / cheers / etc... aren't good enough for you.

The WiFi issue - while maybe inconvenient, absurd, and a negative impact on the experience for people in their 30's, 40's and 50's - I agree, it does not affect them showing up to the game. However, it 110% most DEFINITELY affects student turn out. As you can see from recent games - winning brings the crowd...but very obviously that's not the crowd that helps build an atmosphere that wins games. You need the students.

So it's obviously something else. What doesn't the Ryan Center lack that all of the other entertainment options available to them (even including watching the basketball game at home) have in spades? Beer, WiFi, a cell signal, and by extension - replays.

You cannot tell me that a kid who has their phone in had 24 hours a day, with instant access to their friends, plans, gambling, and social media - doesn't weigh their decision to go or not go to the Ryan Center on their inability to be connected to the world. URI has great TV visibility now. If you're an average college kid and your choice is go to the Ryan Center for a non-marquee matchup and sit in the fortress of solitude for 3 hours and have no contact with the outside world, or go to the bar to watch the same game and drink a beer - which are you choosing?

Sure - big opponent? It's an event. Not a big opponent? It's a project. To ask a 20 year old to give up their phone for 2-3 hours is a lot. Sneer at it all you want but it's a fact.

I'm all for bringing back student seating to the 100's - I fought to keep it there my entire collegiate career, and it was like that until I left. But until you fix all the other issues that make the Ryan Center the furthest thing from a 21st century arena, I'm not sure it matters.

Can't disagree with you more on beer. You think people with beer in their systems aren't just a tad bit louder than people without?

Say it with me: Beer. WiFi. Replay. Repeat.

I graduated recently and can still get on URI_Secure which works great in the Ryan Center. WiFi is 100% not an issue for students.

[ramster]

The cost for WiFi installation is over $1 million and it is apparent that Atletics would rather use that money in a different manner. It is always a question of priorities. Do you suggest that re-allocate money away from, for example, charter flights.

I would like to have some amount of communications about what the plans are. How much money did we waste on CUE?

How much is no Wi-Fi impacting lack of student attendance and also paid attendance? The last 2 games student attendance has been way down. We heard from a student here that lack of social media impacts whether to come to the Ryan Center vs staying home down the line to watch the game.

We heard Athletic Department is now meeting to try to figure out why students stayed away in significant numbers past two games - would be interesting to hear their findings

Would be nice to know if there is a plan? Or just written off. It would be better to know it won’t be done for 5 years - at least people can adjust to that and withhold complaining.

UCONN fixed their Wi-Fi and they are in hideous financial shape in Athletics

https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2020/1/17 ... ilion.aspx

[RhodyRams916]

The cost for WiFi installation is over $1 million and it is apparent that Atletics would rather use that money in a different manner. It is always a question of priorities. Do you suggest that re-allocate money away from, for example, charter flights.

I would like to have some amount of communications about what the plans are. How much money did we waste on CUE?

How much is no Wi-Fi impacting lack of student attendance and also paid attendance? The last 2 games student attendance has been way down. We heard from a student here that lack of social media impacts whether to come to the Ryan Center vs staying home down the line to watch the game.

We heard Athletic Department is now meeting to try to figure out why students stayed away in significant numbers past two games - would be interesting to hear their findings

Would be nice to know if there is a plan? Or just written off. It would be better to know it won’t be done for 5 years - at least people can adjust to that and withhold complaining.

UCONN fixed their Wi-Fi and they are in hideous financial shape in Athletics

https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2020/1/17 ... ilion.aspx

I really don't know what you're talking about. The WIFI has been an issue all season. The students have been good all season up until the UMass game. WIFI is not the problem here. Also the game on Saturday was advertised all over campus and social media so you can scratch off any sort of excuse about them not knowing there was a game.

[ramster]

The cost for WiFi installation is over $1 million and it is apparent that Atletics would rather use that money in a different manner. It is always a question of priorities. Do you suggest that re-allocate money away from, for example, charter flights.

I would like to have some amount of communications about what the plans are. How much money did we waste on CUE?

How much is no Wi-Fi impacting lack of student attendance and also paid attendance? The last 2 games student attendance has been way down. We heard from a student here that lack of social media impacts whether to come to the Ryan Center vs staying home down the line to watch the game.

We heard Athletic Department is now meeting to try to figure out why students stayed away in significant numbers past two games - would be interesting to hear their findings

Would be nice to know if there is a plan? Or just written off. It would be better to know it won’t be done for 5 years - at least people can adjust to that and withhold complaining.

UCONN fixed their Wi-Fi and they are in hideous financial shape in Athletics

https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2020/1/17 ... ilion.aspx

I really don't know what you're talking about. The WIFI has been an issue all season. The students have been good all season up until the UMass game. WIFI is not the problem here. Also the game on Saturday was advertised all over campus and social media so you can scratch off any sort of excuse about them not knowing there was a game.

I’m simply responding to Obadiah’s comment about Wi-Fi. That’s all.

I don’t know why the students were not there the last two games. Nobody seems to know. Do you?

[Billyboy78]

The cost for WiFi installation is over $1 million and it is apparent that Atletics would rather use that money in a different manner. It is always a question of priorities. Do you suggest that re-allocate money away from, for example, charter flights.

I would like to have some amount of communications about what the plans are. How much money did we waste on CUE?

How much is no Wi-Fi impacting lack of student attendance and also paid attendance? The last 2 games student attendance has been way down. We heard from a student here that lack of social media impacts whether to come to the Ryan Center vs staying home down the line to watch the game.

We heard Athletic Department is now meeting to try to figure out why students stayed away in significant numbers past two games - would be interesting to hear their findings

Would be nice to know if there is a plan? Or just written off. It would be better to know it won’t be done for 5 years - at least people can adjust to that and withhold complaining.

UCONN fixed their Wi-Fi and they are in hideous financial shape in Athletics

https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2020/1/17 ... ilion.aspx

I really don't know what you're talking about. The WIFI has been an issue all season. The students have been good all season up until the UMass game. WIFI is not the problem here. Also the game on Saturday was advertised all over campus and social media so you can scratch off any sort of excuse about them not knowing there was a game.

Are they pissed off about something? According to Josephski, it isn't wifi. It isn't about lack of knowledge that there is a game, as JV points out, plenty of advertising. If it's beer, it hasn't stopped them until recently. Did something happen recently to turn the students off....or as I said, piss them off?

[NYGFan_Section208]

ting should:
Fix Wi-Fi Faciliteis Issues, nothing to do with marketing, has nothing to do with whether people come to a game or not
Get replays I totally agree with this one, no reason not to have it but again not something that ultimately keeps people from coming
Know when students are not going to show in advance do those unused tickets can be sold. This is easily done with some imagination Despite poor student turnout for games on breaks, we've had a great attendance, only marketing could have accomplished that
Food is bad could be worse, its the ryan center in kingston, not fenway or Gillette, save your money and support a local business before or after the game
Good prices are bad ???? If you knew how to market something you wouldn't have made this statement
Students are disinterested let them pack the lower 100 all the way around, they want a college basketball atmosphere, not a sunday afternoon matinee
People come to games late. Do some marketing and promos to get people in their seats earlier. There are many ways to do this people are late because they don't give themselves time to get through those ridiculous security lines
Improve traffic flow There's 2 ways in and two ways out... what more could they do? ever try to get on the T after a redsox game? nature of the beast
Better halftime shows people come for the game and to socialize on the concourse, who cares what happens at the half
Better time out events - tend to have the same events every game Like what?
Beer in seats beer in seats won't improve the atmosphere, thats just a convience
Beer in seats study
Customer surveys and questionnaires they have these often, you can always email or call in your complaints instead of hoping they read a fan board, we only make up less than probably 1/2 a percent of all attendance
Customer focus groups/Find out what the ticket buyers and ticket no buyers wantJust have to look at what other colleges are doing, no need to waste time and money here
Marketing 101

Again marketing seems to be doing just fine considering the attendance. Your complaint is the entertainment value for the price, and considering ticket pricing we get more than most i'm sure. Brown tickets were going for twice cheap URI tickets, think about that.

Ultimately it's the quality and entertainment of the team / game that brings in the bodies... and despite losses we're still generating excitement and new fans. Every year we'll gain fans and lose fans... feel free to be the latter if the team / coach / ryan center / food / cheers / etc... aren't good enough for you.

Couple quick comments on the above. Sure, these things may not encourage people to go in the first place...but they CAN contribute to the kind of experience you'd like to go back to and influence whether the casual fan does or not. I think a great survey question might be, "You went to one game and never came back...why?"

Replay, for example. Fatts had a nice dunk this year against (can't remember)...followed by a timeout. If that dunk had been replayed a few times during the timeout, the crowd would have been in total frenzy mode. That's not going to make you GO to the game, but that crowd-frenzied feeling you get will stick with you, and possibly, at least subconsciously, influence you to come to another one. And, with replay, you have a chance to create several of those per game.

No beer in seats is a hassle. Beer in seats going to get you to go in the first place? Probably not. But, when I bring a friend to their first game and they go through our 'cubicle experience', it just adds an element of unnecessary suckdom that makes it somewhat LESS likely that my friends are coming back. My brother and a couple friends have come to games and their reaction was consistent. What the ____ is this??

Again, these two things, not gonna bring new customers directly...but they would influence first time visitor casual fan to go again. Hard core fan...going to show up every game anyway, but for next level, you need casual fan to go, too, and these two factors alone have a negative impact on that likelihood... Is anybody listening, does anybody care? Nope.

[RhodyRams916]

I would like to have some amount of communications about what the plans are. How much money did we waste on CUE?

How much is no Wi-Fi impacting lack of student attendance and also paid attendance? The last 2 games student attendance has been way down. We heard from a student here that lack of social media impacts whether to come to the Ryan Center vs staying home down the line to watch the game.

We heard Athletic Department is now meeting to try to figure out why students stayed away in significant numbers past two games - would be interesting to hear their findings

Would be nice to know if there is a plan? Or just written off. It would be better to know it won’t be done for 5 years - at least people can adjust to that and withhold complaining.

UCONN fixed their Wi-Fi and they are in hideous financial shape in Athletics

https://uconnhuskies.com/news/2020/1/17 ... ilion.aspx

I really don't know what you're talking about. The WIFI has been an issue all season. The students have been good all season up until the UMass game. WIFI is not the problem here. Also the game on Saturday was advertised all over campus and social media so you can scratch off any sort of excuse about them not knowing there was a game.

Are they pissed off about something? According to Josephski, it isn't wifi. It isn't about lack of knowledge that there is a game, as JV points out, plenty of advertising. If it's beer, it hasn't stopped them until recently. Did something happen recently to turn the students off....or as I said, piss them off?

Billyboy and Ramster:

It's a bit of a mystery. Plenty of advertising. It can't be the WIFI. It also can't be the game time because even last year we did fine with games on the weekend like the SLU game last year. I really don't know.

I'm hoping that the Ruckus or someone sends out a survey asking why they didn't show up. Let them type in free response form exactly why.

[NYGFan_Section208]

I still would like to hear from people that went once and didn't go back.
Two question survey:
1) Do you consider yourself a college hoops fan? (Important identifier question)
2) We see you went to one game and never came back...whyz-zat?

[Billyboy78]

I still would like to hear from people that went once and didn't go back.
Two question survey:
1) Do you consider yourself a college hoops fan? (Important identifier question)
2) We see you went to one game and never came back...whyz-zat?

1. Yes
2. Nunya bizniz.

[NYGFan_Section208]

I still would like to hear from people that went once and didn't go back.
Two question survey:
1) Do you consider yourself a college hoops fan? (Important identifier question)
2) We see you went to one game and never came back...whyz-zat?

1. Yes
2. Nunya bizniz.

I would say that, if I'm doing a survey to find out why people don't come back, then that's what my bidness be about. And those that receive such survey, have every right not to respond. Why would someone respond to a survey with 'nunya', rather than just ignoring said survey? Isn't that the same thing? Lazy > mean....

[Billyboy78]

I still would like to hear from people that went once and didn't go back.
Two question survey:
1) Do you consider yourself a college hoops fan? (Important identifier question)
2) We see you went to one game and never came back...whyz-zat?

1. Yes
2. Nunya bizniz.

I would say that, if I'm doing a survey to find out why people don't come back, then that's what my bidness be about. And those that receive such survey, have every right not to respond. Why would someone respond to a survey with 'nunya', rather than just ignoring said survey? Isn't that the same thing? Lazy > mean....

Only answer I could come up with for the question, "whyz-zat" .

[NYGFan_Section208]

1. Yes
2. Nunya bizniz.

I would say that, if I'm doing a survey to find out why people don't come back, then that's what my bidness be about. And those that receive such survey, have every right not to respond. Why would someone respond to a survey with 'nunya', rather than just ignoring said survey? Isn't that the same thing? Lazy > mean....

Only answer I could come up with for the question, "whyz-zat" .

Perf.

[ramster]

I really don't know what you're talking about. The WIFI has been an issue all season. The students have been good all season up until the UMass game. WIFI is not the problem here. Also the game on Saturday was advertised all over campus and social media so you can scratch off any sort of excuse about them not knowing there was a game.

Are they pissed off about something? According to Josephski, it isn't wifi. It isn't about lack of knowledge that there is a game, as JV points out, plenty of advertising. If it's beer, it hasn't stopped them until recently. Did something happen recently to turn the students off....or as I said, piss them off?

Billyboy and Ramster:

It's a bit of a mystery. Plenty of advertising. It can't be the WIFI. It also can't be the game time because even last year we did fine with games on the weekend like the SLU game last year. I really don't know.

I'm hoping that the Ruckus or someone sends out a survey asking why they didn't show up. Let them type in free response form exactly why.

I think looking for a single answer is futile

My guess is it’s a combination of things, some of which people have already said “it can’t possibly be that”, but a bunch of little things add up to the student finally just saying, “No, I’ll just stay in and watch it on TV”

But it has been a dramatic reduction in students for sure. We can all agree on that.

[RI_Bred]

I think the URI administration has hemmed themselves up by catering to the season ticket holding crowd, the majority of which are long-removed from their student days at URI. Very conservative, older crowd translates into very conservative (nervous) administration. As in, nervous that they will lose season ticket holders if the students are allowed some leeway (beers in seats, 100 level seats ringing the floor for students, more rowdiness, etc.). That has to have something to do with it.

[RF1]

I think the URI administration has hemmed themselves up by catering to the season ticket holding crowd, the majority of which are long-removed from their student days at URI. Very conservative, older crowd translates into very conservative (nervous) administration. As in, nervous that they will lose season ticket holders if the students are allowed some leeway (beers in seats, 100 level seats ringing the floor for students, more rowdiness, etc.). That has to have something to do with it.

It should be no surprise that the market that provides the direct money is targeted. It actually makes the best business sense.

This is not to say that the students should be forgotten. There does seem a need to make the games more attractive for students. Must make it a better experience for them.

I myself am not sure that allowing beer back to seats will necessarily be a big draw for students. How many of them are going to be able and willing to spend the money that is required to get a beer at the Ryan Center? Students may like their alcohol, but they like cheap alcohol. There are no cheap drinks at the Ryan Center. My guess is that they will continue to do what they do now - drink before games and sneak in nips to add to soft drinks. Even with a small number of students in the house on Sunday, I came across empty nip bottles on the stairs.

[RhodyRams916]

I think the URI administration has hemmed themselves up by catering to the season ticket holding crowd, the majority of which are long-removed from their student days at URI. Very conservative, older crowd translates into very conservative (nervous) administration. As in, nervous that they will lose season ticket holders if the students are allowed some leeway (beers in seats, 100 level seats ringing the floor for students, more rowdiness, etc.). That has to have something to do with it.

It should be no surprise that the market that provides the direct money is targeted. It actually makes the best business sense.

This is not to say that the students should be forgotten. There does seem a need to make the games more attractive for students. Must make it a better experience for them.

I myself am not sure that allowing beer back to seats will necessarily be a big draw for students. How many of them are going to be able and willing to spend the money that is required to get a beer at the Ryan Center? Students may like their alcohol, but they like cheap alcohol. There are no cheap drinks at the Ryan Center. My guess is that they will continue to do what they do now - drink before games and sneak in nips to add to soft drinks. Even with a small number of students in the house on Sunday, I came across empty nip bottles on the stairs.

I wish it was easy to move some students into section 110 to at least give them some court side seats. I know that they put away fans there right now so that's why I think it would be tough.

[LoveThoseRams]

I think the URI administration has hemmed themselves up by catering to the season ticket holding crowd, the majority of which are long-removed from their student days at URI. Very conservative, older crowd translates into very conservative (nervous) administration. As in, nervous that they will lose season ticket holders if the students are allowed some leeway (beers in seats, 100 level seats ringing the floor for students, more rowdiness, etc.). That has to have something to do with it.

It should be no surprise that the market that provides the direct money is targeted. It actually makes the best business sense.

This is not to say that the students should be forgotten. There does seem a need to make the games more attractive for students. Must make it a better experience for them.

I myself am not sure that allowing beer back to seats will necessarily be a big draw for students. How many of them are going to be able and willing to spend the money that is required to get a beer at the Ryan Center? Students may like their alcohol, but they like cheap alcohol. There are no cheap drinks at the Ryan Center. My guess is that they will continue to do what they do now - drink before games and sneak in nips to add to soft drinks. Even with a small number of students in the house on Sunday, I came across empty nip bottles on the stairs.

I wish it was easy to move some students into section 110 to at least give them some court side seats. I know that they put away fans there right now so that's why I think it would be tough.

The student section at Pee Cee is behind the basket as well. That doesn’t seem to stop them from attending. I really don’t think that moving them to the 100’s behind the benches is what will bring them to the games. Do you really think any of them are saying “I’m not going because we don’t get good seats”?

Perhaps more “themed” games...for example, the one game I want to at the Dump, the students were dressed in Hawaiian shirts for the promo of the Hawaiian classic and the student section was decorated with inflatable palm trees, surf boards and beach balls.

[RI_Bred]

I wish it was easy to move some students into section 110 to at least give them some court side seats. I know that they put away fans there right now so that's why I think it would be tough.

This used to be the case. I'm assuming the administration had a problem with the students getting on the visiting bench too much?

[RhodyRams916]

It should be no surprise that the market that provides the direct money is targeted. It actually makes the best business sense.

This is not to say that the students should be forgotten. There does seem a need to make the games more attractive for students. Must make it a better experience for them.

I myself am not sure that allowing beer back to seats will necessarily be a big draw for students. How many of them are going to be able and willing to spend the money that is required to get a beer at the Ryan Center? Students may like their alcohol, but they like cheap alcohol. There are no cheap drinks at the Ryan Center. My guess is that they will continue to do what they do now - drink before games and sneak in nips to add to soft drinks. Even with a small number of students in the house on Sunday, I came across empty nip bottles on the stairs.

I wish it was easy to move some students into section 110 to at least give them some court side seats. I know that they put away fans there right now so that's why I think it would be tough.

The student section at Pee Cee is behind the basket as well. That doesn’t seem to stop them from attending. I really don’t think that moving them to the 100’s behind the benches is what will bring the, to the games. Do you really think any of them are saying “I’m not going because we don’t get good seats”?

Perhaps more “themed” games...for examp,e, the one game I want to at the Dump, the students were dressed in Hawaiian shirts for the promo of the Hawaiian classic and the student section was decorated with inflatable palm trees, surf boards and beach balls.

Themed games would be really fun. Also I agree with you on the seats. That's definitely not the reason they aren't showing. I was suggesting it just because it would be fun to be behind the away bench and mock the other team.

[RhodyRams916]

I wish it was easy to move some students into section 110 to at least give them some court side seats. I know that they put away fans there right now so that's why I think it would be tough.

This used to be the case. I'm assuming the administration had a problem with the students getting on the visiting bench too much?

Yeah probably.

[LoveThoseRams]

I wish it was easy to move some students into section 110 to at least give them some court side seats. I know that they put away fans there right now so that's why I think it would be tough.

The student section at Pee Cee is behind the basket as well. That doesn’t seem to stop them from attending. I really don’t think that moving them to the 100’s behind the benches is what will bring the, to the games. Do you really think any of them are saying “I’m not going because we don’t get good seats”?

Perhaps more “themed” games...for examp,e, the one game I want to at the Dump, the students were dressed in Hawaiian shirts for the promo of the Hawaiian classic and the student section was decorated with inflatable palm trees, surf boards and beach balls.

Themed games would be really fun. Also I agree with you on the seats. That's definitely not the reason they aren't showing. I was suggesting it just because it would be fun to be behind the away bench and mock the other team.

Maybe instead of some of the timeout competitions with little kids in the audience, if they did one Dorm vs another Dorm to engage on campus students, or even Clubs. Prizes can be the Pizzas they give away to the rows in the rest of the Ryan Center, etc.

[RhodyRams916]

The student section at Pee Cee is behind the basket as well. That doesn’t seem to stop them from attending. I really don’t think that moving them to the 100’s behind the benches is what will bring the, to the games. Do you really think any of them are saying “I’m not going because we don’t get good seats”?

Perhaps more “themed” games...for examp,e, the one game I want to at the Dump, the students were dressed in Hawaiian shirts for the promo of the Hawaiian classic and the student section was decorated with inflatable palm trees, surf boards and beach balls.

Themed games would be really fun. Also I agree with you on the seats. That's definitely not the reason they aren't showing. I was suggesting it just because it would be fun to be behind the away bench and mock the other team.

Maybe instead of some of the timeout competitions with little kids in the audience, if they did one Dorm vs another Dorm to engage on campus students, or even Clubs. Prizes can be the Pizzas they give away to the rows in the rest of the Ryan Center, etc.

Yeah stuff like that might help

[Taylor Swift]

I would definitely enter a contest for free pizza.

[RhowdyRam02]

I think the URI administration has hemmed themselves up by catering to the season ticket holding crowd, the majority of which are long-removed from their student days at URI. Very conservative, older crowd translates into very conservative (nervous) administration. As in, nervous that they will lose season ticket holders if the students are allowed some leeway (beers in seats, 100 level seats ringing the floor for students, more rowdiness, etc.). That has to have something to do with it.

It should be no surprise that the market that provides the direct money is targeted. It actually makes the best business sense.

Direct money like almost $400 a year? Students are paying a higher rate than loge season ticket holders for some of the worst seats in the house

[Blue Man]

I think the URI administration has hemmed themselves up by catering to the season ticket holding crowd, the majority of which are long-removed from their student days at URI. Very conservative, older crowd translates into very conservative (nervous) administration. As in, nervous that they will lose season ticket holders if the students are allowed some leeway (beers in seats, 100 level seats ringing the floor for students, more rowdiness, etc.). That has to have something to do with it.

It should be no surprise that the market that provides the direct money is targeted. It actually makes the best business sense.

This is not to say that the students should be forgotten. There does seem a need to make the games more attractive for students. Must make it a better experience for them.

I myself am not sure that allowing beer back to seats will necessarily be a big draw for students. How many of them are going to be able and willing to spend the money that is required to get a beer at the Ryan Center? Students may like their alcohol, but they like cheap alcohol. There are no cheap drinks at the Ryan Center. My guess is that they will continue to do what they do now - drink before games and sneak in nips to add to soft drinks. Even with a small number of students in the house on Sunday, I came across empty nip bottles on the stairs.

RF1 I agree - kids for the most part aren't going to be doing most of the boozing because they already are. Which just confounds me as to why we're not letting the rest of the adult population who would like to enjoy a beer or two from their seats. It's just an unnecessary restriction that negatively affects our game-day experience.

Here's my problem with the business argument, beyond the fact that the students pay far more in athletics fees than season ticket holders do, because I agree with you that this is probably where they're coming from.

What makes more money for the school in the long term? is it several hundred old people who are quiet and might buy a soda and popcorn?

Or is it a winning team that goes to the NCAA tournament and just by setting foot on the floor they make the school a few million over several years?

What do you need to get to that tournament? Good players. Good wins.

How do you get good players? Is it playing in front of a bunch of white haired people who show up 5 mins late and leave 5 mins early? Or is it playing in front of a raucous bunch of loud, boozed up college kids?

How do you get good wins? is it an environment with polite clapping? Or is it an environment with a raucous bunch of loud, boozed up college kids?

The booze in the seats argument is a microcasm of the BS that has thrived on clamping down on excited fans. Plenty on this board have lived it or experienced it.

No other arena that I've ever been to has had the issues with language or behavior that the Ryan Center does. If you're a 20 year old kid - why the hell would you want to subject yourself to that on a non-big game night?

Set up family friendly sections on the opposite side of the arena from the students. Sell all the beer at concession stands and a north end zone pub AWAY from the family sections in the south end...if you're seriously that concerned about it.

But once again...EVERY ARENA IN THE COUNTRY HAS PEOPLE WHO DRINK. Pats game. Celts game. Sox game. Bruins game. Revs game. College games. Literally every pearl-clutching boring-body who is seriously concerned about a "booze-infested" atmosphere at the Ryan Center has been to an arena with their family, steeped in booze, and survived. Probably had a good time even.

Every single person on here - regardless of their personal opinion of alcohol - should be rooting for 2000 boozed up students every single night. That helps the team. That helps us all.

[RF1]

I think the URI administration has hemmed themselves up by catering to the season ticket holding crowd, the majority of which are long-removed from their student days at URI. Very conservative, older crowd translates into very conservative (nervous) administration. As in, nervous that they will lose season ticket holders if the students are allowed some leeway (beers in seats, 100 level seats ringing the floor for students, more rowdiness, etc.). That has to have something to do with it.

It should be no surprise that the market that provides the direct money is targeted. It actually makes the best business sense.

Direct money like almost $400 a year? Students are paying a higher rate than loge season ticket holders for some of the worst seats in the house

This student fee does not go directly to men's basketball as it covers ALL athletics.

The URI basketball program gets very little more dollars if students attend or not. The only new money they bring in is likely tied just to concession purchases. The students actually hurt the program the last two games as the school could have probably sold the general public many of the unused tickets held in reserve for them.

[RhowdyRam02]

It should be no surprise that the market that provides the direct money is targeted. It actually makes the best business sense.

Direct money like almost $400 a year? Students are paying a higher rate than loge season ticket holders for some of the worst seats in the house

This student fee does not go directly to men's basketball as it covers ALL athletics.

The URI basketball program gets very little more dollars if students attend or not. The only new money they bring in is likely tied just to concession purchases. The students actually hurt the program the last two games as the school could have probably sold the general public many of the unused tickets held in reserve for them.

The students are paying almost $400 for courtside seats with that money going directly toward paying off the Ryan Center. Note that this is in addition to the fee they're paying athletics. They've already been screwed out of the courtside seats they were promised as part of the Ryan Center financing and now we're bitching that they're not doing enough. They're doing more than almost every other fan of the program