ramster wrote:
Ramtastico,
Attendance for Davidson was 7,743
Ryan Center Capacity is 7,657 so we were 86 people over capacity
Not sure at what time you saw the empty seats but to me there are several issues:
- Late arrivals. Many people are still coming to their seats 10 minutes or more after the start of the game. As VCU does every game (and they have now been sold out well over 100 consecutive games) URI should open the turnstiles 90 minutes before game time. 60 minutes is not enough to get 7700 fans into their seats. They do let the Rhody Ruckus in 75 minutes before game time - so why not let everyone in 75 minutes before game time? The Lobby is jammed with people 60 minutes before game time - and they sometimes allow people thru the turnstiles 3-5 minutes early just to relieve the pressure in the lobby. I do not know what is so magical about the 60 minutes. Wanding everyone who enters for security is also different from the past - has slowed entry into the Ryan Center as compared to the past - but the 60 minutes as stayed the same. URI needs to make adjustments to these sell out crowds to get people quickly from the Entry Doors, to the Concession Stands and to their seats before Tip Off..
- Long lines for Concessions. Many people have given up even trying to get drinks, food and popcorn - but that could be why you see empty seats in the arena too - especially early in the game or at the start of the 2nd half. URI needs to make adjustments to fix this
- Long Lines in the Rhody Pub - have been mentioned many, many times here.URI needs to make adjustments to fix this
I said it early in the season, this is a Management issue. Not much has changed.
But it is also up to the URI fans. They know they only have 60 minutes max to get to their seats before tip off. They know concessions and the Pub are slow. They know the wanding takes place. They know that traffic is going to be difficult because parking has been reduced and the roads in are 2 lane and back up. So the fans need to allow more time to get to their seats.
I agree with you that people need to just suck it up and get to these games. URI now with the 2nd longest winning streak in the Nation behind Cincinnati at 16 straight games.
This is History in the Making right before our eyes. Only 3 Home Games Left.
No excuses as the team would say.
Ramster...I have been to every home game the last 2 years. I normally get to the Ryan Center doors around 30-35 minutes before game time. I have NEVER waited in line. There may be a handful of people in front of me in the ticket line. I could probably count the number of people in the arena. Opening the doors 90 minutes early is not going to make an ounce of difference in getting people to their seats quicker. The problem is most people don't show up until 20 minutes before game time. That's why things get clogged up. They don't need to open the doors earlier. People need to show up earlier.
and how many of those the last two years were sellouts? Dayton and St Joseph's Will be Sell Out just like PC is. If it doesn't matter then why do doors open 90 minutes early for PC every time we play them at home?
Plus the Ruckus gets in 75 minutes early - why not everyone them?
While you may not wait at the door, for sure there is waiting for concessions.
yes...there are certainly lines at concessions. not necessarily very long. they are just very slow. I probably got there a little early for the PC game this year, but no earlier for Duquesne or Davidson. Same with last years games vs. Dayton and VCU. The ruckus section is filled by the time I've gotten there, but that isn't the issue. I'm willing to bet that when I get in the arena at 6:30 after not having waited in line, there are less than 1000 people in the stands not counting the ruckus section. And it doesn't matter if it's a noon, 4pm or 7pm tip. No explanation as to why they opened the doors 90 minutes early for the PC game. The place was not packed for the tip. I am always disappointed that more people aren't in their seats for the anthem or starting lineups, but opening the doors earlier is DEFINITELY NOT the solution. I'm in section 205. Their is a group of about 8 sitting near me that has never been in their seats at tip. Same group for 2 years. I can understand why people might have trouble getting there at 7 on a weeknight, but no explanation for the same issues on a Saturday game.
Will be interesting to see what happens tonight. Sellout or not, I can almost assure you that the same people that get there at 7:05 for a 7pm tip will get there at 8:35 tonight.
Count me among those excited about the late start tonight...enough time to watch my kid's HS hoop game then make the trek south, with what should be plenty of time to spare and actually get into my seat before the tip off. I wouldn't want 830tip every weeknight, but 7pm is difficult for those coming from outside Boston area. I know several hoops fans of mine that will be watching the game tonight because it's on a bit later. Late night drive home after the game/win tonight no problem, just another night in the life of MARhody and family coming off a late drive home from last night's Beanpot win!!
does help playing Richmond immediately after Davidson in terms of defense prep. Get the 2 Princeton style back door cut loving teams in a row means they were planning for that offensive style before this game.
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He was a snake oil salesman...just like the rest of em
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Obadiah wrote:You have to have a healthy respect for the Richmond Spiders given their youth how they started the season. Their recent performance versus the Bonnies before a sold-out, hostile crowd was noteworthy, especially how they quickly wiped out a nine point halftime deficit and then took a lead late in the game.
I thought Dan had a good take on Richmond and their season so far in his quotes from yesterday-
Golden worries me, could be a tough matchup. Would be nice to get him in foul trouble early. Feed Berry early a little and see what happens and then turn Cyril loose. Should be a good test for him.
I mean no disrespect to Richmond here - I think they're going to be better next year and good in a couple years - but I'm not worried about any part of this game. Even against Richmond's best effort, if URI plays well, they will win easily; if they play decent they will win decisively; and if they play poorly they should still have a good chance of winning.
Every conference game in college basketball is losable, so I'm not writing this one off. But i do think this one will be relatively stress free.
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011
Richmond is actually playing well. I think this is what makes URI so good this year - we just wear people down. We've had games we didn't play well and won, and we have had games where the opponent plays well and stays in it for 10 minutes, 20 minutes, even 30 minutes, but eventually we just wear you down. Relentless.
"If you build it, they will come." --Us, circa 2011