vs. Texas State (11/3)

[mbenecke]

On Monday, November 3, our Falcons will open their 2025-2026 campaign with a home MAC-Sun Belt Challenge game vs. the Texas State Bobcats. The game will begin at 7:00pm and will be available to watch on ESPN+. General admission tickets are just $5, so you can get in cheap for this one if you're local and on the fence about going or not.

Texas State is notably in their final season in the Sun Belt, as they will be leaving to join the new PAC 12 after this year.

This Texas State team was 16-16 last year, and they're ranked 177 in the preseason Kenpom, while BG sits at 193, so it seems like it could be a pretty even matchup. I don't know anything about their roster turnover, but if it's anything like ours, I have no idea what to expect from them on Monday. Hoping BG starts off the year on the right foot and gets the win to open the season.

Go Falcons! Beat the Bobcats.

[hammb]

Got an email that it is also "bring a friend" day where any season ticket holders can request additional tickets for free in the number of their season tickets.

That, with the cheap GA tix, makes me think that ticket sales for the year aren't in a good place, not that I'm surprised. We dropped our season tickets down to 2 with the kiddo just planning to use the Kids Club ticket. I doubt we'll run into many issues where he can't just sit with us anyhow.

Like you said, I have zero clue what to think about this team. Like it is every year in this new era, if one of the new guys comes in and can play at an All-MAC level we could be pretty good. If they don't then we won't. If the newbies are of the mindset of last year's new guys (Here to get some numbers, zero defense, zero effort, etc), it'll be another ugly year.

[jpfalcon09]

Got an email that it is also "bring a friend" day where any season ticket holders can request additional tickets for free in the number of their season tickets.

That, with the cheap GA tix, makes me think that ticket sales for the year aren't in a good place, not that I'm surprised. We dropped our season tickets down to 2 with the kiddo just planning to use the Kids Club ticket. I doubt we'll run into many issues where he can't just sit with us anyhow.

Like you said, I have zero clue what to think about this team. Like it is every year in this new era, if one of the new guys comes in and can play at an All-MAC level we could be pretty good. If they don't then we won't. If the newbies are of the mindset of last year's new guys (Here to get some numbers, zero defense, zero effort, etc), it'll be another ugly year.

They're doing the bring a friend promotion for the football game against Buffalo. Not sure it's indictative of poor ticket sales or simply a way to try and boost the attendance number. They're one in the same I suppose. Apparently they are also celebrating Pudge's birthday at the game.

Fan interest is likely suffering with the extreme roster turnover year over year. People can't build any sort of relationships with the players.

[guest44]

It's suffering for sure. I know several who gave up season tickets this year. Garbage non conference, any good MAC games flexed to Friday nights, just easier and much cheaper to consume on ESPN+. If all else fails, bring on the cat.

[hammb]

It's suffering for sure. I know several who gave up season tickets this year. Garbage non conference, any good MAC games flexed to Friday nights, just easier and much cheaper to consume on ESPN+. If all else fails, bring on the cat.

Yeah, I may be in the minority but I actually like the Friday night games. Especially if we get months of notice like we did for the Akron game. Fridays are typically more open in the world of youth sports so easier for me to plan around.

But the OOC schedule sucks. Having only 2-3 players that we know who they are sucks; moreso when it's the same story every single year. I re-upped my ticket more out of duty than desire. It's just what we always do in the winter months, go to BG basketball games.

If the program(s) wanted to better improve attendance whatnot they should look over to what Coach Nichols is doing behind the Ice Arena. The soccer games are by far the most fun fan experiences for families. From the coach/players embracing the local youth leagues, to the fact that you can bring your own food in hang out and watch the games. They do fun halftime games, the team's poster autograph thing is amazing...Friday night they're doing a costume parade at halftime for the kids.

Obviously as a "non-revenue" sport they have a lot more leeway to try things, but there's a lot of stuff they do over there that would translate to other sports (hoops especially) as well.

[guest44]

I’m the opposite on the Friday games. Makes alot of people pick between hockey and basketball and generally always less attended. If you have people coming from out of town it makes it hard to plan weekends around the best opponents.

Ive always believed in earlier start times for the weeknight games. 6 or 6:30 is more doable for people with kids and gets the teams home earlier in a primarily bus league. Most importantly to me is just the lack of environment. If you watched games in Anderson you parked a mile away and found a way to get there for as much the environment as the game. You get 1 maybe 2 games a year that have any feel to it at all. That is not just a BG problem either. It makes ESPN+ a very easy option.

[Flipper]

Pudge Party!

https://www.instagram.com/p/DQW3UKTETrP ... Y2cDk0MA==

[jpfalcon09]

Things must be bad, I got a phone call and email today about buying basketball tickets. Mind you, the last BG basketball game I attended was my senior year in 2009.

Reaching out to those with zero history of buying tickets certainly feels like a stretch.

[guest44]

A huge focus on student attendance with the idea of using those figures for massive student fee hikes down the road. It’s the simplest, easiest to hide form of revenue.

[mbenecke]

To be fair, isn't student attendance something fans have harped on for years? Like, the key to a great atmosphere is to have a ton of students in the stands, no? The Stroh has lacked in atmosphere because students didn't come to games for the longest time. If they can get that back, they can build on that and get the "regular" fans back in the seats, with the idea being that a better atmosphere will keep them coming back. Obviously winning cures everything, but you're more likely to win when you have a real home court advantage, etc. Kinda just feeds into itself.

Even if there is an ulterior motive (and as a business model, I don't really consider "making money" to be an ulterior motive), I kinda don't care if we;re all pulling in the same direction.

[Bgsu2016]

To be fair, isn't student attendance something fans have harped on for years? Like, the key to a great atmosphere is to have a ton of students in the stands, no? The Stroh has lacked in atmosphere because students didn't come to games for the longest time. If they can get that back, they can build on that and get the "regular" fans back in the seats, with the idea being that a better atmosphere will keep them coming back. Obviously winning cures everything, but you're more likely to win when you have a real home court advantage, etc. Kinda just feeds into itself.

Even if there is an ulterior motive (and as a business model, I don't really consider "making money" to be an ulterior motive), I kinda don't care if we;re all pulling in the same direction.

Anderson Arena definitely had a location advantage over the Stroh Center.

[BillyLP]

To be fair, isn't student attendance something fans have harped on for years? Like, the key to a great atmosphere is to have a ton of students in the stands, no? The Stroh has lacked in atmosphere because students didn't come to games for the longest time. If they can get that back, they can build on that and get the "regular" fans back in the seats, with the idea being that a better atmosphere will keep them coming back. Obviously winning cures everything, but you're more likely to win when you have a real home court advantage, etc. Kinda just feeds into itself.

Even if there is an ulterior motive (and as a business model, I don't really consider "making money" to be an ulterior motive), I kinda don't care if we;re all pulling in the same direction.

Anderson Arena definitely had a location advantage over the Stroh Center.

It did, but I went to BG during AA's last few years and I would usually be one of about 12 students at those games. Half of the "student section" was made up of people who were just local supporters, not students. The student atmosphere at the Stroh has been miles better than those days.

[mbenecke]

Site was down for a while, so unfortunately no activity in the game thread until the game just ended.

But man… what a win! Falcons take it easily 83-48. We defended SO hard and played with a ton of energy. That was an awesome game to watch. This team is totally different from last year.

[Bgsu2016]

That was damn impressive! Wol and Ruffin were absolute studs. Glover played very well down low and Campbell was his All-MAC self. I am very up on this basketball team, they’re going to make some noise

[BillyLP]

That was a whuppin’. Either Texas State is just awful or we might have a decent squad this year.