Attendance Woes for Saturday

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 12:16 pm

I think the powers that be have figured out they have a general sweet spot for attendance, and target it more than they used too. NW Ohio hasn't grown much over the years, the historic norms are about the same now as they have been for 40 years. What is changing is the obvious increase in overall alumni, students, and the basic sports culture. There is room to grow and improve, but not dramatically I don't think.

daspollak · Post by **daspollak** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:05 pm

SicSic80 wrote:
ZiggyZoomba wrote:
BGorDeath wrote:Why is attendance so important to everyone?
I believe it's because attendance means revenue and revenue means sustainability. Increased attendance = increased revenue stream = progress for the athletic department and programs.

Plus empty stadiums on homecoming (or any other time) just look silly.
In addition, it truly helps recruiting as well. Future Falcons will look at the butts in the seats and say to themselves - "There must be something to what all the coaches and current players are telling me."

Recruiting is about selling what you've got, and a full stadium does help. The other reason attendance is important, is the new 15,000 average attendence rule. If a school fails to make they lose schollies, and the program may never recover. We shall see what our attendance will be on Sat., but the school could do a little more to nudge alumni into attending.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:19 pm

This thread is very innovative..it allows us to complain about something before it even happens....wonderful!!!

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:22 pm

Flipper wrote:This thread is very innovative..it allows us to complain about something before it even happens....wonderful!!!

It saves time, people are too busy either working on the beatification of, or seeking to fire the coaches after the game.

Post by **ZiggyZoomba** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:31 pm

NWLB wrote:
Flipper wrote:This thread is very innovative..it allows us to complain about something before it even happens....wonderful!!!
It saves time, people are too busy either working on the beatification of, or seeking to fire the coaches after the game.

They should have plenty of time on Saturday though... as they won't be at the game!

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 1:37 pm

ZiggyZoomba wrote:
NWLB wrote:
Flipper wrote:This thread is very innovative..it allows us to complain about something before it even happens....wonderful!!!
It saves time, people are too busy either working on the beatification of, or seeking to fire the coaches after the game.
They should have plenty of time on Saturday though... as they won't be at the game!

The coaches!

Wait, now, I'm not that lucky.

BGTIMMY · Post by **BGTIMMY** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:09 pm

SIMPLY PUT: LOYALTY LASTS A LIFETIME

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:27 pm

Thankfully coaches contracts don't.

dwm1285 · Post by **dwm1285** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 2:41 pm

This will be my first H.C. as an alum and i'm leaving as soon as i get off work to come back to BG!

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:15 pm

NWLB wrote:Who here said they don't want to go?

And supporting the team is fine, who here doesn't, but not all equate that with having to attend every single game, nor feel it is required.

I'm not speaking to FF90, let me make that clear up-front. But I long ago grew tired of people that attend every single game, that lord it over the rest of the world, particularly those who can't do the same, and among that group those who aren't happy or satisfied with aspects of a program.

Similarly, I grew tired of the Pollyanna set that regardless of attendance record, hated any less than positive comment about anything, on the grounds that the only true path was to be positive at all times about all things.

Likewise, I dislike the purely, and occasionally vindictively negative set about as much.

People have their reasons and motivations for attending all, some, or none of the games. So be it, go in peace, follow your bliss. I don't care.

Myself? I consider myself a pragmatic realist, with positive aspirations. I want to see the teams do as well as BGSU at a whole, and want the achievements and game experiences to be as special as my attending the University was.

Nathan,
That wasn't directed at you...it was directed to the general population and not those on this board. I know not everyone can go to every game. I happen to be a lucky one and do.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 3:18 pm

Falconfreak90 wrote: Nathan,
That wasn't directed at you...it was directed to the general population and not those on this board. I know not everyone can go to every game. I happen to be a lucky one and do.

Understood, and likewise, I wasn't speaking of you, as I noted.

Globetrotter · Post by **Globetrotter** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 4:18 pm

Class of 61 wrote:
Falconfreak90 wrote:I can't tell you how tired I am of this. You don't want to go to the game? Don't go. I don't care.

We'll be there....just like every home game. Doesn't matter who the opponent is or how good/bad they seem to be.

It's all about supporting the Falcons. Period.

GO BG!~
Mike,
Agree strongly with your comments on this...I'm damn tired of hearing excuses from people, ESPECIALLY alums, who don't go back to BG especially for HC. You guys know that I'd be there if at all possible...but my stepdaughter's wedding has to take precedence in this situation. Looking forward to seeing everyone on the 18th for the Miami game.

In the meantime,,,,,,, GO FALCONS!!!!!!

I wont be going back to BG for homecoming. It is a less than compelling game and I have no real reason to go back. Non of my core friends from my time at BG will be returning either. I have no idea what other things go on at homecoming that I might be interested in.

I am not sure why I am wrong for being disinterested. I graduated in 2003 and have never been back for homecoming. In fact homecoming was not a big deal when I was there. The only homecomings I have ever been to were U of Daytons when they had huge parties and a race. I had a blast every time I went there.

Nevertheless, I hope we win.

Class of 61 · Post by **Class of 61** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:19 pm

Globetrotter wrote:!

I wont be going back to BG for homecoming. It is a less than compelling game and I have no real reason to go back. Non of my core friends from my time at BG will be returning either. I have no idea what other things go on at homecoming that I might be interested in.

I am not sure why I am wrong for being disinterested. I graduated in 2003 and have never been back for homecoming. In fact homecoming was not a big deal when I was there. The only homecomings I have ever been to were U of Daytons when they had huge parties and a race. I had a blast every time I went there.

Nevertheless, I hope we win.[/quote]

It's a GREAT question to ask yourself...why do you /don't you feel a "pull" back to BG, at least once a year? I mentioned my stepdaughter's wedding tomorrow, which will keep me from coming to the game...but she AND her future husban are BOTH BG alums, who don't seem to have any great "feel" for the school either..they're more recent grads than you (2 yrs out), but I honestly don't know the answer to your question asked of yourself. I do think it's sad that you could spend 4 yrs or more at a school and not feel some kind of attachment to it after you leave. But then, I'm just an old coot who had a great 4yrs back when...and still enjoy going back, seeing AZZ friends (not many of MY classmates either), tailgating, and watching football, no matter WHO we're playing.

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 5:34 pm

Hard to pin it down, but it starts with alumni, new and old, not connecting their love for having been there to sports. Plus, you can basically "do BG" in a couple of hours, unless you had a deep and abiding love for every little nook. Makes for a hard sell if you live a few hours away. Then, to compare, folks living nearby never feel like they really left, so its the same issue in reverse.

Alums love BG, that isn't in question. Just no inbred urge to go back all the time.

It doesn't help that there remains no serious online community, aside from this one, which has an outwardly sports focused purpose.

I've seen efforts since the latter 90s to create an "online community," and to date they haven't stuck. They have some nice tools up there now, but still, nothing easy to find or use. It is cumbersome to navigate.

always a falcon · Post by **always a falcon** » Fri Oct 03, 2008 8:30 pm

Class of 61 wrote:
Globetrotter wrote:!

Nevertheless, I hope we win.

It's a GREAT question to ask yourself...why do you /don't you feel a "pull" back to BG, at least once a year? I mentioned my stepdaughter's wedding tomorrow, which will keep me from coming to the game...but she AND her future husband are BOTH BG alums, who don't seem to have any great "feel" for the school either..they're more recent grads than you (2 yrs out), but I honestly don't know the answer to your question asked of yourself. I do think it's sad that you could spend 4 yrs or more at a school and not feel some kind of attachment to it after you leave. But then, I'm just an old coot who had a great 4yrs back when...and still enjoy going back, seeing AZZ friends (not many of MY classmates either), tailgating, and watching football, no matter WHO we're playing.[/quote]

My time at BGSU made me who I am. BGSU is such a part of me that it is like breathing. It is just with me at all times. It would take pages to explain what all it means to me.
I met my husband there. We were SO PROUD when our sons chose our alma mater. We brought them to campus as small children and they learned their way around all of the nooks and crannies.

I don't see a lot of people that I graduated with when I go. That isn't a needed part of the experience. I think it is the fact that BGSU has never left us. We have never stopped going. As the years have gone by, we make new friends and the experiences grow.

And no, I am not wearing the ORANGE colored glasses. Some of the experiences- sports and otherwise have been painful- but our family isn't always the Waltons either,and we don't forsake them. We don't run from BGSU when they face problems. Someone supported our endeavors and it is our generation's turn to support those in Orange and Brown today. It doesn't matter if they are athletes or sports reporters or French majors.

I don't need Homecoming to bring me back to BGSU. I've never left it. But Homecoming is what brings many of our friends back and so we celebrate it.

Go Falcons!