Attendance - Ideas to improve?

[KansasCityPanther]

This team is fighting hard to compete. What will it take for the fans to get behind this team? WSU had it's 44th straight sellout and they have two valley wins. So winning isn't the answer!

What's the real reason and what can be done.

I am sorry, everyone talks about the team's performance.....but the fans needs to be called out. I didn't think Panther fans were that fickel.

[unigriff]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

We (a handful or more of us) in the student section have been trying everything. For yesterdays game EVERY DORM had flyers up for the game. EVERY DORM. Emails were sent out for the promotion stuff. Like i said in another post, i really don't even think FREE BEER would be the answer. People see the Ls and thats all they see.

[unigriff]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

the cold hard truth:
The paid attendance of 4,454 was the Panthers' second-worst figure in league play. In fact, UNI hasn't drawn more than 5,229 fans in five Valley home tilts.

[JCPanthers]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

It's horrible really that literally nobody that drives home and gets to their home in Waterloo would dare go back out again and take in a live sporting event less than 10 miles from their homes. Waterloo is apathetic about UNI in general. I know that there are people who are avid UNI fans who live in Waterloo...but talk to their neighbors...do they care? Would they buy a ticket once in a while? They'll go to Young Arena and watch high school kids play hockey and drink beer, but ask them to come to a college hoops game and you think you'd just asked them to diddle the cat.

I live in Waterloo....I guess I need to stop going to UNI games and head over to Young Arena for cow bells and old time Hockey.

[Marc Wigim]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

I live in Waterloo....I guess I need to stop going to UNI games and head over to Young Arena for cow bells and old time Hockey.

"Like Eddie Shore!"

"Yeah, Old Time Hockey!"

[Newsbreaker]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

I live in Waterloo....I guess I need to stop going to UNI games and head over to Young Arena for cow bells and old time Hockey.

I've always made a similar joke, but honestly, the Black Hawks couldn't draw 5,000 if they were giving away free beer with a side of breasts.

I don't know what the answer is. Advertising is expensive (though they waste money by using an ad agency) for one. Wednesday night home games are tough because of "church night" for another.

I really think a more prolonged streak of winning...five, six, ten years, and you'd have a self-perpetuating atmosphere, but we've never gotten to that point.

[unigriff]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

my goal has always been to sit courtside just once before i graduate....the way the attendance is going...i just might one game

[Marc Wigim]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

I really think a more prolonged streak of winning...five, six, ten years, and you'd have a self-perpetuating atmosphere, but we've never gotten to that point.

This is very true... the thing is UNI has been and always will be a football school. For the love of Eldon, we're starting to get national recognition for our humble little FCS program. I don't think that it has to stay this way, though. I feel like Coach Jake is righting the ship and has a lot of talent returning next year, maybe we can get it rolling.

[Newsbreaker]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

This is very true... the thing is UNI has been and always will be a football school. For the love of Eldon, we're starting to get national recognition for our humble little FCS program. I don't think that it has to stay this way, though. I feel like Coach Jake is righting the ship and has a lot of talent returning next year, maybe we can get it rolling.

I agree completely. Selling 17,000 football seats is impressive, but with only 5-6 home dates, each game is a community "event." Basketball doesn't have that, and the tradition has to be built. We've given up a bit of ground in the past two years or so, but I think it can be recaptured quickly.

[WaterlooPantherToo]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

Well I too should apparently stop coming since I must not care. I suspect (but can't prove NB) that a lot of the 17,000 in the dome for football games didn't live in CF.

Waterloo is apathetic about UNI in general. I was a Hawkeye fan.

Part of the solution to this is consistently beating the Hawks in basketball and particularly in years when we should beat them. This loss I believe is part of the student apathy issue as well.

The town that has a larger population is somehow separated by an invisible curtain and no one in that town grows up a UNI fan.

Maybe this "invisible curtain", if it exists, is equally due to those who live in Cedar Falls.

[PantherChic]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

Unfortunately it is not a surprise to me that this community is showing some apathy toward UNI at this point. It's quite typical. Unfortunately the opening of the McLeod comes right at the time that attendance is going back down - though it is still WAY up from some of those old days in the Dome!

Did the huge push for attendance at football games take it out of everyone? Does the cost of season tickets do the same? Cold weeknights have never been good for attendance, let alone cold Wednesday nights - a big church night for the Cedar Valley. Who knows why - I can never seem to figure out why others just don't share my passion for the team!

However, I will continue to be happy for the crowd that does come and makes as much noise as we did last night! If only everyone else out there could just see what they are missing!

[kpanther]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

I'd like to see something done about recapturing the stadium seats for resale. As I understand it, all statium seats are sold out. At least that is what the ticket office told me the VERY day that single game tickets went on sale. I have tried to purchase single game tickets and they are only available on the ends of the court. They are still fine seats but when there are ALWAYS so many stadium seats, available, it is disappointing.

If those tickets are sold, it would sure be nice if the buyer would make a better attempt to find people to fill his/her seats. Remember the Southern Illinois TV last year - there was a great crowd but there were many great courtside empty seats on the East side. Personally I find that embarrassing. I can't believe that if the buyers were trying to find people to fill the seats that they couldn't find willing bodies. It results from a lack of effort on their part.

I also believe that when no stadium seats are available for reseal, it is also a deterrant for single game purchasers. Yes, we'll buy some and go the games but again I know my wife would be willing to go to more if there were stadium seats available.

[BtownPantherfan]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

Part of it, is that people are tired of leaving the McLeod Center with a loss. And that's not even the students not attending. The Iowa game this year and then the Creighton,WSU, and Missouri State games last year, all those games were packed with students and were disappointing to lose, especially the Iowa game this year, a game we should've won,because Iowa didn't have a good team at all.

There are a lot of other factors, the football hangover and the fact that it's been bitterly cold the last few homes games. I realize the latter is a lame excuse, but people see the games are on the CFU, ESPN or CSN and decide they'd rather stay in, than brave the cold weather.

I do, however, think that the next couple games will be better attendance-wise. Espeically the SIU game, even though they are having a down year. They still are THE team in the Valley that all the others want to be like. And of course the Drake game, if Drake is still ranked that'll be even better. BTW, are they doing that half-court shot giveaway this year? Because I made it last year at the Drake game, I want to see if someone else can do it.

[unigriff]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

# of 3s in 30 seconds is the contest for Saturday...ive been practicing

[unidizzle]

Re: Attendance - Ideas to improve?

Building off of what kpanther said... Before we can even get new attendees at the games, we need to have people who have purchased tickets to fill their own seats. I have held season tickets in the McLeod for the past two years. It is embarrassing to see the amount of empty seats left by season ticket holders. I bought tickets for a reason... to see the games. If I can't make it(which is very rare) I make sure that I give my tickets to someone else so they can fill the seats.

The start of the season was the worst. Fans had an opportunity to see 3 games over the course of 3 days in our tip-off tourney. I realize that NIU is not the greatest attraction, but the arena was practically empty most of the weekend (I don't want to hear about having football the same day.... most sports fans would relish in the opportunity to have a day like that)

It is the season ticket holder's responsibility to put a body in those seats. If you can't make, find someone who can. Give them your tickets.. it is already a sunk cost.

Also, make sure you go out to support your panthers if you are in the area.... tickets are NOT expensive. Staying home to watch the game on tv so you can Post about it does not fill the McLeod.