Letter in the Sentinel Tribune, but not from Dustin

[gmartin]

For once a letter in the Sentinel Tribune not from Dustin.


WRITTEN BY WAYNE THOMAS SATURDAY, 05 NOVEMBER 2011 07:31 On Tuesday, Oct. 25, I went to the new Stroh Center to buy four basketball tickets for the men's home opener. As I walked up to the ticket booth window, a young lady (obviously a student) asked if I needed help. She turned around and said to someone hidden in an adjacent office "Are we selling men's basketball tickets yet?" The answer was, of course, "yes." I then asked her how much tickets cost. Once again she turned around and said, "How much do they cost?" The answer was $14 each. I then asked how much senior tickets were (at Anderson Arena children and senior tickets were discounted). Again, a faceless body-less voice answered that all tickets were $14. Well, $14 per ticket, plus $4 for a soda and $3 for a box of popcorn (though it might be higher) is a rather steep fare for BGSU basketball. I mean let's face it folks, we haven't won a MAC championship in probably 10 years and we have not qualified for an appearance in the NCAA tournament for FORTY-THREE YEARS! You can buy a ticket to an Ohio State game (granted you are in the nosebleed section, but there really isn't a bad seat at the Schott) for less than $14 and virtually nobody would confuse MAC basketball with Big Ten basketball. Once the novelty of the new arena wears off, what makes the BGSU athletic department think the new arena will sell out on a regular basis when Anderson Arena (even with tickets priced, for the most part, much lower) had not had a full house since the days of Antonio Daniels and Anthony Stacey? I suspect, though I hope I am wrong, that the Stroh Center may became the "house that snores," rather than the "house that roars." I then asked the young lady to show me a seating chart. She handed me a chart with various sections shaded in. After a couple of false starts because of reserved sections, I said. "Show me what's available (I wanted to add for the "common people," but I showed great restraint)." She showed me a section at the end of the court, behind the backboards. "Fine," says I, "give me four tickets, first row in this section." Back to the computer. "Sorry," she says, "The first (can't remember the exact number) rows are reserved." Now I am getting exhausted and it's close to my naptime. "Just give me four thickets in the "whatever" section," I said, eager to get out of there before I went into a fetal position and began to speak in tongues. Now one would assume, I think, that if the Athletic Department wanted to put its' best foot forward and impress the public, they would: (1) train the people selling tickets to at least know that tickets were indeed being offered for sale (2) the price of tickets and (3) the various seating arrangements. I guess, rather than attend most Falcon basketball games this year, as I have in the past, many game days and nights will now be spent in my old recliner with the cat in my lap ­-listening to the game on radio, popping my own popcorn and raiding the frig for a soda. It doesn't get any better than that ­-"Ay Ziggy Zoomba." Wayne Thomas Bowling Green

[Falconboy]

I do not understand stuff like this. It's just bush league to not have BGSU employees that know what's going on or what they're doing. This kinda of grief is the kinda thing that turns off fans and might make them think twice about attending a game. It shouldn't be work buying tickets from a ticket office person.

[BGorDeath]

1. The "common people" can sit wherever they purchase a ticket to sit, except for the reserved sections, unless they want to pay reserved prices, because they are, you know, reserved. If I'm not mistaken, the vast majority of college arenas place people in a general admission section, unless they pay the "beautiful people" price.
2. Was the young lady assisting you holding up a huge line? Give her a break. She is probably a student trying to earn some extra bucks to pay off her student loans. Plus, maybe she just started. Cripes, no one can cut anyone some slack anymore. Didn't sound like she was rude or disrespectful, like the author.
3. That $14 dollor ticket at Ohio State may be in the nosebleed section and the seat is probably as wide as a 1040 movie theater seat at a 89 degree angle that terrifies you to lean over for fear of rolling over 10 rows of seats. Oh, and don't forget the extra "service fee" tOSU probably offers. Oh, and don't forget the $10 in parking (as opposed to $5). Oh, and don't forget the $4 popcorn and $4 sodas at the Schott. Oh, and don't forget your are driving two hours to get to Columbus.

You know, what irks me the most, is this guy has never seen a game in the new Stroh Center and he is already complaining. Sometimes I think most people write letters to the newspaper because its the only way they are going to see their names in it because they do not have the ability to do anything redeeming to get it in there in the first place.

If you don't like the prices, don't go. If you don't like the girl selling the tickets, don't go. If you would rather pay $14 to see OSU, go right ahead.

I went to the exhibition game today. I enjoyed myself, as did my son. That's all that matters to me.

[Falcon137]

$14 seems a little steep to me....especially to sit behind the basket and watch BG play Malone.

[Flipper]

I am so *****ing tired of people bitching, pissing and moaning about every damn thing that happens to them in life. Wow, Wayne you had to endure the torture of some kid asking questions to answer your questions....my God, you poor, poor man....$14 is steep, are you serious bro? I paid like $13 last spring to see frigging Rio in 3D...that was pure hell, but my kid had fun so I was good with it. It's what things cost nowadays...deal with it. Go bang and drum and defecate in a park and bitch about the 1% who control all the basketball tickets...you'll probably complain that the drums are too loud.

[factman]

Hey Flip.......at least he wants to go to a game, and it's not Adrian!

[AyZiggy97]

1. The "common people" can sit wherever they purchase a ticket to sit, except for the reserved sections, unless they want to pay reserved prices, because they are, you know, reserved. If I'm not mistaken, the vast majority of college arenas place people in a general admission section, unless they pay the "beautiful people" price.
2. Was the young lady assisting you holding up a huge line? Give her a break. She is probably a student trying to earn some extra bucks to pay off her student loans. Plus, maybe she just started. Cripes, no one can cut anyone some slack anymore. Didn't sound like she was rude or disrespectful, like the author.
3. That $14 dollor ticket at Ohio State may be in the nosebleed section and the seat is probably as wide as a 1040 movie theater seat at a 89 degree angle that terrifies you to lean over for fear of rolling over 10 rows of seats. Oh, and don't forget the extra "service fee" tOSU probably offers. Oh, and don't forget the $10 in parking (as opposed to $5). Oh, and don't forget the $4 popcorn and $4 sodas at the Schott. Oh, and don't forget your are driving two hours to get to Columbus.

You know, what irks me the most, is this guy has never seen a game in the new Stroh Center and he is already complaining. Sometimes I think most people write letters to the newspaper because its the only way they are going to see their names in it because they do not have the ability to do anything redeeming to get it in there in the first place.

If you don't like the prices, don't go. If you don't like the girl selling the tickets, don't go. If you would rather pay $14 to see OSU, go right ahead.

I went to the exhibition game today. I enjoyed myself, as did my son. That's all that matters to me.

+1 Also, nobody is forcing good 'ol Wayne to buy any food.

[Time4Church8]

to piss and moan about paying 14 bucks a ticket to see the first game in a brand new arena is ridiculous.

and 4 bucks for a soda or popcorn is pretty much standard procedure these days for college and pro games. if ya dont wanna pay it im sure you can go 2 hours without food.

im with most of you that it seems a little early to complain, when they should be celebrating and excited for the first game.

[Flipper]

factman...I would LOVE to go to our final two home football games....but they're on weeknights and I am not making the trip down for that. Definitley want to check out the new stadium at Siena Heights in Adrian...and I won't even bitch about the five bucks to park or the the ten bucks to see an NAIA game. I sure as hell won't write a letter to the editor of the Adrian paper....if they have one.

I'll just pony up the $$$ and STFU....

[NWLB]

Paying the ticket price isn't really a strain for me. Paying for the food isn't going to hurt my budget. But the prices are a culture shock for this fan base. And I think they may well keep some people away. However I think if they do get the food issues improved, deal with the car traffic better, they could attract a fair number of people not previously inclined to show.

The Stroh is a first class facility, without question. It feels right, it is comfortable, I know we have a real winner of a venue here. And indeed, the price might be spot-on, if they can in fact draw enough of us to lay-out the money, and show on a regular basis. I think the locals, the BGSU fans at large, will really take to this place. By design or luck, the design taps the things that I believe were at the heart of the old venue and fan culture. I think the place could become very much like a country club in this town. The quality of the game experience adds value to the ticket price too.

There isn't a bad seat anyplace in the building. You are immediately able to access food, restrooms, and frankly the very social walkways and standing-room space above. You miss nothing going on at any point in the entire building.

Now the food? It really is piss poor. I'm sorry, never mind the price, the quality just sucks donkey nads. There is an amazing lack of variety. What they do have is, with the exception of the Frack Cookie, rank lousy. Yes, without question, you can eat before or after the game. And as LOUSY as the food is, you should too. My son had more and better food left stuck to his face from lunch at Waffle House than we could get at the Stroh. I'm wondering if we are seeing what we are going to get at the Stroh in the long-term, or if they still are looking grow into what they do.

One suggestion would be to have the staff ready with some "clean-up" kits. I had some BG fans kick-over their jumbo Coke behind some Tiffin fans. No big deal, everybody was mid-west polite, but the coke spilled all over the next rows floor. The BG fan got the CRC kid on the row to help. Some towels did enough. But I can see this happening a lot, and I doubt the ushers expect to have to deal with that.

I think promoting Nov. 11 as the "first game" is a joke personally. I've been to a men and women's game already, and now we have a third "first" game coming next week. Maybe I will pay for the "really really first game" next week.

[FalconTurf]

Unless it's free the price is too high for some. I've sold tickets at HS games in the area and $6 draws complaints.

I also love the new arena and with an exciting and competitive team I will continue to buy a weekend package. Don't mind 6 games for 2 at about $130 if I remember correctly plus two Kids Club memberships for about $25 each. About $30 a game plus parking and concessions in a great venue that my kids can easily navigate although they felt more at home in Anderson than they do at the Stroh to this point - that'll change.

MY CONCERNS:

I did not have the Tiffin game as part of my package (didn't initially think I was going) so I had to buy a ticket this weekend - row B mid-Frack for $7 (no complaints about price or selection). The trouble was it took around 5 minutes to purchase this ticket and get my sons Kids Club ticket at the booth. How is this going to work when a large walk-up crowd shows. The ticket office needs some in-service and/or experience before this happens.

The concessions have not improved PERIOD. Moms and Dads all over NW Ohio make popcorn one weekend a year in their kid's HS concession stand much better than this catering catastrophe we have hired. Additionally the lids don't fit the cups properly.

The security force they have hired for games goes from looking military to looking like punks in the mall. Some are sharply dressed in their uniforms while others have pants hanging down to near the bottom of their shirts without a belt. Bottoms of pants are dragging on ground with grungy shoes. It looks like two different crews - one recruited from ROTC and the other from a local skate park.

Attention to detail in the arena was good from the design aspect. They seem to have gotten the best they could afford. The management of the arena (and the Doyt) are lacking. They have attempted to push for professionalism but they haven't achieved it yet. Hopefully those in the department that read this board will be able to make some improvement in these areas because I think they have gotten closer to a DI atmosphere in so many other areas. The dance team, cheerleaders and band (at football) this year seem to be better integrated into the game day experience and manage their appearance and performance better than ever.

[FalconTurf]

By the way the 5 minutes to purchase the ticket did not include waiting for someone in front of me. I walked right to the window and was immediately greeted. I said as close to the floor as possible and he had tickets selected for me immediately but the computer selection and printing took the time.

[factman]

The security (gestapo) needs to change a little too. I had friends, that this was their first experience at the Stroh and were denied entrance because she had one of those small round key chains that have a small clasp on to attach your keys, because "it could be used as BRASS KNUCKLES"! Mind you she is a 60 or so year old retired school principal. What's next? Are they going to deny entrance to any male that is 25 and works out everyday, because he might hurt someone if he gets in a fight? Having security is fine, but they also need a little common sense.

[NWLB]

Unless it's free the price is too high for some. I've sold tickets at HS games in the area and $6 draws complaints.

I also love the new arena and with an exciting and competitive team I will continue to buy a weekend package. Don't mind 6 games for 2 at about $130 if I remember correctly plus two Kids Club memberships for about $25 each. About $30 a game plus parking and concessions in a great venue that my kids can easily navigate although they felt more at home in Anderson than they do at the Stroh to this point - that'll change.

MY CONCERNS:

I did not have the Tiffin game as part of my package (didn't initially think I was going) so I had to buy a ticket this weekend - row B mid-Frack for $7 (no complaints about price or selection). The trouble was it took around 5 minutes to purchase this ticket and get my sons Kids Club ticket at the booth. How is this going to work when a large walk-up crowd shows. The ticket office needs some in-service and/or experience before this happens.

The concessions have not improved PERIOD. Moms and Dads all over NW Ohio make popcorn one weekend a year in their kid's HS concession stand much better than this catering catastrophe we have hired. Additionally the lids don't fit the cups properly.

The security force they have hired for games goes from looking military to looking like punks in the mall. Some are sharply dressed in their uniforms while others have pants hanging down to near the bottom of their shirts without a belt. Bottoms of pants are dragging on ground with grungy shoes. It looks like two different crews - one recruited from ROTC and the other from a local skate park.

Attention to detail in the arena was good from the design aspect. They seem to have gotten the best they could afford. The management of the arena (and the Doyt) are lacking. They have attempted to push for professionalism but they haven't achieved it yet. Hopefully those in the department that read this board will be able to make some improvement in these areas because I think they have gotten closer to a DI atmosphere in so many other areas. The dance team, cheerleaders and band (at football) this year seem to be better integrated into the game day experience and manage their appearance and performance better than ever.

I wasn't going to say it, but the dance team has....upgraded. Better actual dancers, among other things.

They need to work on the replay a bit. Hard to get up for an ally-oop when the replay starts after the ball is in the hoop. The south side sideline board is glitchy too. Some volleyball player from EMU took a dive into it and its been blinking ever since.

But above all else, the darned food issue just needs to be hammered. Darn near embarrassing to have a nice building like that, and such wretched food service.

And again with the prices? Yeah, people complain around here no matter how cheap things get. I did think charging for Tiffin was silly, but at least it wasn't $14. I would think they would want to get people in the door and hook them on the pricier tickets. The crowd wasn't exactly huge.

[AyZiggy97]

Unless it's free the price is too high for some. I've sold tickets at HS games in the area and $6 draws complaints.

I also love the new arena and with an exciting and competitive team I will continue to buy a weekend package. Don't mind 6 games for 2 at about $130 if I remember correctly plus two Kids Club memberships for about $25 each. About $30 a game plus parking and concessions in a great venue that my kids can easily navigate although they felt more at home in Anderson than they do at the Stroh to this point - that'll change.

MY CONCERNS:

I did not have the Tiffin game as part of my package (didn't initially think I was going) so I had to buy a ticket this weekend - row B mid-Frack for $7 (no complaints about price or selection). The trouble was it took around 5 minutes to purchase this ticket and get my sons Kids Club ticket at the booth. How is this going to work when a large walk-up crowd shows. The ticket office needs some in-service and/or experience before this happens.

The concessions have not improved PERIOD. Moms and Dads all over NW Ohio make popcorn one weekend a year in their kid's HS concession stand much better than this catering catastrophe we have hired. Additionally the lids don't fit the cups properly.

The security force they have hired for games goes from looking military to looking like punks in the mall. Some are sharply dressed in their uniforms while others have pants hanging down to near the bottom of their shirts without a belt. Bottoms of pants are dragging on ground with grungy shoes. It looks like two different crews - one recruited from ROTC and the other from a local skate park.

Attention to detail in the arena was good from the design aspect. They seem to have gotten the best they could afford. The management of the arena (and the Doyt) are lacking. They have attempted to push for professionalism but they haven't achieved it yet. Hopefully those in the department that read this board will be able to make some improvement in these areas because I think they have gotten closer to a DI atmosphere in so many other areas. The dance team, cheerleaders and band (at football) this year seem to be better integrated into the game day experience and manage their appearance and performance better than ever.

I wasn't going to say it, but the dance team has....upgraded. Better actual dancers, among other things.

They need to work on the replay a bit. Hard to get up for an ally-oop when the replay starts after the ball is in the hoop. The south side sideline board is glitchy too. Some volleyball player from EMU took a dive into it and its been blinking ever since.

But above all else, the darned food issue just needs to be hammered. Darn near embarrassing to have a nice building like that, and such wretched food service.

And again with the prices? Yeah, people complain around here no matter how cheap things get. I did think charging for Tiffin was silly, but at least it wasn't $14. I would think they would want to get people in the door and hook them on the pricier tickets. The crowd wasn't exactly huge.

I'm unable to make heads or tails about what happened for season ticket holders and whether some had to pay to get in to the Tiffin game. That would be unfortunate.

The concessions selection is disappointing.

I don't know where the rest of these criticisms are coming from. For instance, I had no problems finding a lid for my cup. *I can't actually believe I just wrote that* It was a great first experience at The Stroh.

On a sports note, the team looked kinda good.