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Date Posted: 06:55:08 02/14/03 Fri
Author: Stag 92
Subject: Does Bridgeport Provide Us Homecourt Advantage????

Sort of caught in a catch 22 with this one. It is definitely helping us recruit (and probably other MAAC teams as well), but with zero noise (what, 2,500 fans in a 9-10,000 seat arena) and no distractions behind the hoop except for the one band member telling the opponent through his horn that he will miss, I find that we really aren't playing at home yet. The proof is in the results, many games are close, and we lose more at home than on the road. Do we practice there? Everytime I watch a game there, I find that the opponent is as comfortable as us on that court.

In the long-run, it may be an advantage from a home court perspective. But, except for the Manhattan game, what MAAC game has been loud enough for any player on the floor to even notice? Alumni Hall, a much inferior complex, was different. It was loud!! The Arena won't be loud until we draw between 5-6K.

I still am wondering if we get much practice time there, because we don't know those rims any better than our opponents.

Outstanding win last night. Outstanding.

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Replies:

[> Not right now..... But People create HomeCourt advantages -- JoeStag, 08:54:40 02/14/03 Fri

I am a big believer that PEOPLE create HomeCourt advantages, not buildings. The existing Fans need to start responding, But It will take time. Many Stags Fans always think the worse will happen, and thats natural after so many losing seasons in the last 20.

Agree the Bridgeport Arena is bigger and more vast, and will need the 5K to generate the same electricity of a normal 2K MAAC raod crowd, but thats still no excuse for people not getting out of their seat, yelling or clapping. Bottom line is that players respond to cheering. BTW I think we were well represented at Manhattan.

The move to the Bridgeport arena is still work in progress. and we might have won some of those losses (Harvard, Siena, Niagara) at Alumni Hall, but IMO, Bridgeport Arena is still the right investment in the long team of the Program, and in the short term it is bringing in quality players, and quality opponents...... which has led to win like UNCW, Manhattan, and a sweep over Iona.


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[> [> Re: Not right now..... But People create HomeCourt advantages -- STAGAL, 09:12:18 02/14/03 Fri

Well said, JS. Someday, hopefully soon, we'll be able to draw consistently 4-5K and make Harbor Yard feel more like a real home. However, we need to win more consistently in order for this to happen. Maybe then those apathetic students will get away from their computer games, TV's, and whatever else to come support their team like those at major colleges do. I also offered some suggestions to asst. AD to draw more fans to the Arena. As you said, it is a work in progress...


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[> [> [> Re: Not right now..... But People create HomeCourt advantages -- Champ, 13:03:53 02/14/03 Fri

I'll say it again. Mosey over to the other side and watch the season ticket holders during the game. It's like watching paint dry. Loosen up folks, you should be enjoying this.

Maybe you need to bring down the price of the beer.


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[> Re: Does Bridgeport Provide Us Homecourt Advantage???? -- DitchMitch, 09:48:03 02/14/03 Fri

The radio announcers brought up the "lack of home court advantage" last night, too. I don't know his name (not Huesler), but he noted, and I'm paraphrasing, that playing in front of at best a half full Harbor Yard arena, is not a home court advantage. They noted FU's 6-0 MAAC road record, and 4-3 MAAC home record.

I don't know that we've even had a half-full arena yet. What is the largest home attendance at Harbor Yard?

Say what you want about the fans' responsibility, but that Harbor Yard is not conducive to the raucous crowd you want as a home team. I just went to a Binghamton game at Vermont Wednesday night. Vermont has an old gym similar to Alumni. They only had about 1,500 fans, but the place was rocking. I've yet to see that at Harbor Yard.

BTW, Vermont has a really nice player in Taylor Coppenrath, a 6'9" red shirt soph averaging 21+ a game. He's from Vermont. Anyone know if Fairfield recruited him?


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[> [> Re: Does Bridgeport Provide Us Homecourt Advantage???? -- STAGAL, 09:59:07 02/14/03 Fri

ST. John's brought in c.5279 and MC brought in c.5250. The Arena holds about 9500, that includes c.8500 down below and c.1000 above in club seats, which rarely gets anyone. So, 5000+ represents about 60% full for the basic arena seating capacity.


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[> COULD NOT AGREE MORE -- Menzies, 03:29:12 02/16/03 Sun

And its an expensive, excruciatingly painful place to visit.


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