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Date Posted: 03:04:12 02/16/03 Sun
Author: Menzies
Subject: Gonna Go Off On The Arena Here
Season ticket holder here, have been, will be.
First, we probably have to give an opportunity to build a reasonable sized following through a winning cycle that we seem to be starting, BUT
1. The cold we had to endure was (and may be again) f***ing ridiculous. It changed after the worst case, don't remember which game but a bunch of season ticket holders bitched. I am warm blooded, had my coat on and was not close to comfortable. My wife had coat zipped, gloves on and was so cold she damn near left. This was the worst but NOT THE FIRST TIME. I know this is the cynical view but mgmt knows how long it takes to heat that building at various outdoor temperatures. Don't try to blow smoke up our a**. Though, come to think of it, it may help warm us.
2. Open enough concessions and stock them so you have a reasonable chance to get what you want without walking MORE THAN HALF WAY AROUND THE ARENA. Most of the food is cooked who knows how early anyway. Why not walk some of those cooling fries down to the next station and they can sit under a heat lamp there.
3. Watching 6 workers try to serve 3 customers and not being able to do it in an efficient amount of time is ago-fricking-nizing. I shudder as I write this and I'm on vacation and haven't been to a game in a week. You give your order to one person. They mumble some crap to the next person. He can't understand and says "whut?", mumble again, maybe next time they communicate, on and on and on. Gawd!!!!!!!!!!!! Train them or hire people with at least minimal skills. Argh...
I haven't even gotten to the new usher guy who in trying to seat someone questions the four guys sitting in front of us, during the game, whether they are sitting in the right seats. THEY HAVE BEEN THERE FOR TWO YEARS. Maybe the usher should know which section is which. Come on you'd have to pay a premium wage for that. Man alive!!!!
4. Moving the security check OUTSIDE once the weather got really cold was a nice touch. There won't be any terrorist attack on the Arena. The terrorists would go freaking nuts while they were trying to "case the joint" and go elsewhere.
In conclusion, and I reiterate my opening premise that we probably need to provide an opportunity to grow into the Arena, but maybe in 2 years we find out we are NOT big time. We are just a MAAC team and have too many things competing for entertainment attention and can't be Siena. The atmosphere at the Arena is not close to what it was at Alumni Hall. Personally, I'd rather have the 1500-2000 hard core fans at Alumni Hall than 2500-3000 at the Arena. I have long thought that the REAL fans are abused in the chase for the marginal fan. And when you lose a real fan, you really lose something.
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I'm Right With You - Additional Comments -- Stag 92, 07:22:45 02/16/03 Sun
Right on about the arena, their staff, and the games where it was so goddamn cold that you left sick. The problem that we have is that it is probably bringing us better players. All the things you mention above can be fixed, but we still may never get to 5,000 a game. Why not? One, the student support absolutely, 100% sucks, sucks, sucks, sucks. I sat during the 2nd half with two buddies from 92 who couldn't believe that their was minimal student support. It has been that way for two years now, regardless of our success. Students, what the f else are you doing at 3:30 on Saturday? Get on the bus, hammered if you may, and go to the game. Beer prices shouldn't impact you, as you couldn't drink in Alumni Hall (just got hammered before hand - as I recall).
These alumni I sat with had no idea that or who you could buy season tickets. With all due respect Bridgesports, I am judging you on results, and you are not getting it done. No advertising, promotions, etc. Do you expect people to merely read about this team, inquire about how they can spend $16 (average) per game for a season ticket, buy two for over $400, and then freeze their ass off in the arena!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Let's get to the root causes of why we have bad support. Historical product (certainly improving), Student type has become freakish, that is, they don't even know what sport is, MARKETING is insufficient (are we paying you guys enough to care - I have never seen nor heard any advertisements), management of the arena provides terrible service (Menzies is right on about the concessions - one customer with a basic order requires 3 workers and a half hour), and pricing.
Pricing and Marketing - Basic concepts. What will your target customer base pay for the product(s)? It obviously is not 18 or 12 (although nobody should pay 18 as they can pay 12 and move into the 18 section). Why do I pay for season tickets? I can pay 12, go when I want, and sit where I want.
Fairfield hoops is providing a pretty good product this year. If this continues, the Arena and the marketing geniuses will need to adjust their plans to get more people in. WE DON'T, I REPEAT DON'T, HAVE ANY HOMECOURT ADVANTAGE IN THAT PLACE. I love going to watch a game their, when I am in my seat (not at the concession stand) and the heat is on. However, our one homecourt advantage is that bandplayer yelling behind the basket, through is tuba, for the opponent to miss. God that's awful.
Go Fairfield, and shame on the Arena and Bridgesports.
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Comments -- STAGAL, 08:52:33 02/16/03 Sun
I personally did not find the Arena to be as cold as in other games. The checked the thermostat and it read 70 degrees. In other games, it has read as low as 61-62, and with the fans blowing on high, the wind chill had to be in the 50's! The coldest games seem to come after Sound Tiger games, and seeing that there is one late today, wear you long johns for tomorrow afternoon's game. That being said, I have come to learn that you wear your sweatshirt to the games and remove it as is necessary, which I did yesterday. In other games, I've actually had to wear my jacket and had a cold nose.
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Re: Comments -- JoeStag, 09:20:01 02/16/03 Sun
There is no excuse for long consession lines, or for it being cold.... but I have to agree that I did not feel cold yesterday, and I wore my same clothes as usual.
As far as Marketing, I don't think we could have got any better Marketing this week with the great Articles by the CT Post and all other CT papers, along with the WFAN Interview and all other exposure from Media Outlets. Along with just winning is great marketing. If people did not know about what was going on, they had to be in a Cave.
However, I do think that we are missing out on a tremendous opportunity by not marketing our Alumni. They already have some connection to the University, and a good percentage of them probably went to hoop games as a student. IMO, the Alumni has to be asked to buy season tickets 3-4 times a year..... with even Father Kelly taking an active role of trying to relate how important this venture is to the Promotion of Fairfield University.
33,000 Alumni
10,000 in CT
4,000 in NY
3,000 in NJ
2,000 in MA
Homecoming crowd was dissapointing this year.
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Re: Comments -- bridgeport, 09:59:19 02/16/03 Sun
Bitching Whiners Listen Up
Yes it was cold once or twice .
But check out the following----
Without this arena you would not have the talent this team has, you would lose games and be in Alumni H all with 1000 people . The people running the show want to win and move up and move on.
The team ( and the school ) received huge exposure beating the jaspers last week. They are an exciting fun team that is WINNING.
If you want to stay warm, keep your butt on the couch, and have your wife serve beer on demand----Stay home and shut up .
The rest of us are enjoying the journey thru a really great Stag season and perhaps the start of the program on the rise
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Re: Comments -- Stag 92, 10:11:35 02/16/03 Sun
So Bridgeport, you want people supporting this team and venting on this board to not show up? Did you read any of the concerns as stated above? Do you not believe that the Arena should be accomodating? Do you not believe that with 10,000 alumni in CT, we should get better crowds? Do you believe that the student support is sufficient? These are issues we are talking about. Stay home and shut up? That's the best you have for the above comments? Who's the rest of us? I love this season and the job TOT is doing - answer this question, what the hell does that have to do with our lack of crowd support and the arena issues? My wife doesn't serve me beer, I get it myself. If they would let me bring my own beer in the game, or perhaps if the games were on television, I would get my own beer. I gotta tell you, it is my opinion that you completely missed the essence of what was being asserted. I believe it has been said that this Arena helps get talent - we didn't miss that. Please exhibit basic reading comprehension skills before responding.
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Re: Comments -- Sharpfan, 11:00:07 02/16/03 Sun
STAG 92- Your bitching and negativity, especially after two outstanding wins, are a DISGRACE! Maybe you should teach your wife how to pour the beer - and stay home.
Comprehend??????
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Re: Comments -- Stag 92, 20:14:35 02/16/03 Sun
Sharpfan - Comprehend this - blow me
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Let's keep this civil, profanities unnecessary -- STAGAL, 20:53:23 02/16/03 Sun
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Well said Stagal. Please discuss without profanity. -- JoeStag, 08:16:31 02/17/03 Mon
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Re: Comments -- Rave, 12:52:32 02/16/03 Sun
You people that are insinuating that we would be better off by going back to Alumni Hall, are crazy. We were drawing 1000 people to games when we played there most recently. You are selfish and only thinking of yourself, not the good of the program. Do you think we would ever get a decent opponent to play us there? Do you think we would be getting the quality recruits we are now getting if we were playing in Alumni Hall? Sure there are things at the Arena that need to be corrected, and they will be. I believe that as our team continues to improve, we will be averaging 5000+ per game, even without the nerds they call students. But talking about or even thinking about going back to Alumni Hall is assinine and short sighted. Have some vision and get your head out of the sand.....
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Re: Comments -- SonofDoc, 09:33:54 02/17/03 Mon
Very shortsighted response from bridgeport. It doesn't matter how many games you win, there are areas in the arena in need of improvement, and season ticket holders (or any ticket purchaser) have a right to some very basic and expected ammenities. Points made above are very good and legitimate.
Winning is not the only part of putting together a good package for fans and supporters.
If anything, commenting while you are winning adds more credibility than complaining while you are losing.
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nicely said, sod -- STAGAL, 09:38:31 02/17/03 Mon
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