Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com

An email that BGSU students received from the athletic department:

"...after many conversations with fans and staff, the time has come to review our current placement of the team, band, and student body in order to provide a more unified and accurate representation of the excitement and pageantry of game day at Doyt Perry Stadium.

This concept would move the team, band, and student seating to the east side of the stadium and allow for greater student and band interaction, while also providing greater visibility for both groups to our television audience. Important efficiencies will also be gained by the sideline switch - faster access to sports medicine area, proximity to equipment room, improvement to layout of coaches booths, etc - but the primary goal will be to positively impact the brand of BGSU by showcasing the strong student and fan support previously missed by the east-facing television cameras. "

They basically want to move the student section, band, and home sideline to the east sideline to make the stadium look more full on TV... I'm not sure how I feel about that. Anyone else have thoughts?

Well considering we rarely have any Saturday afternoon games the sun setting in the west would no longer be a problem. Students already complain about walking too far. Now they need to walk another 500 feet.

So those of us who currently have good seats on the west side will have the visiting team in front of us. I'm not impressed.

This has been talked a out even since I was around. How many times have we seen a game on tv played in front of an empty stadium? Since the MAC is already bending over backwards for TV dollars, might as well adjust the game experience too in order to look better on TV.
My question is what to do with the band's seating. They have a nice dedicated spot in the end zone in front of the Sebo Center. What happens there?
I've never before sat on the other side for a game. It will feel weird but I suppose that will become a thing.

They tried this when I was a student I believe in 2005 or 06 and it was a massive flop. Predominant wind direction is out of the west throughout the year and it can be miserable on that side of the stands on those type of days, not to mention glare from the sun in September games.

Even when we have decent crowds, the crowds look small on TV because most people are on the same side as the cameras. This should have been addressed years ago, honestly.

If moving the cameras to the east side isn't an option, then I support encouraging most fans to sit on the east side, in front of the cameras.

Schadenfreude wrote:Even when we have decent crowds, the crowds look small on TV because most people are on the same side as the cameras. This should have been addressed years ago, honestly.

If moving the cameras to the east side isn't an option, then I support encouraging most fans to sit on the east side, in front of the cameras.

Cameras won't be moved to the east side unless the press box is relocated there.

jpfalcon09 wrote:Cameras won't be moved to the east side unless the press box is relocated there.

I wonder if the sun is a consideration as well. But I'm speculating.

Schadenfreude wrote:

jpfalcon09 wrote:Cameras won't be moved to the east side unless the press box is relocated there.

I wonder if the sun is a consideration as well. But I'm speculating.

Cameras are always on the same side as broadcasters. Moving the press box would be an unnecessary expense.

We received this email as season ticket holders. The survey closes on the 8th so I pulled the link.

A MESSAGE FROM BGSU ATHLETICS


Falcon Football season ticket holders,

I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving surrounded by family and friends. Best wishes for a great Holiday season!

Thank you for your support of Falcon football through your purchase of season tickets. While we are not where we want to be as a program, I can assure you that the coaches, staff and student-athletes are working together to get better every day in all aspects – on the field, in the classroom and socially. A season ticket base of loyal fans is critical to our success and we appreciate your continued support.

As our thoughts turn to fall 2018, the BGSU Athletics Department is currently reviewing a series of updates to our standard football game day operations and your feedback is needed.

There are many ways in which we can improve the game day experience for our student-athletes, fans, alumni, and season ticket holders, thus, we wanted to gather your thoughts on one significant proposed adjustment for next fall. Specifically, after many conversations with fans and staff, the time has come to review our current placement of the team, band, and student body in order to provide a more unified and accurate representation of the excitement and pageantry of game day at Doyt Perry Stadium.

This concept would move the team, band, and student seating to the east side of the stadium and allow for greater student and band interaction, while also providing greater visibility for both groups to our television audience. Important efficiencies will also be gained by the sideline switch - faster access to sports medicine area, proximity to equipment room, improvement to layout of coaches booths, etc - but the primary goal will be to positively impact the brand of BGSU by showcasing the strong student and fan support previously missed by the east-facing television cameras.

At no time would any Falcon season ticket holder be required to move their seats as a result of this adjustment. Based on that brief description, I would ask that you take a few minutes to share your immediate thoughts related to this potential change. What are your questions and concerns? If you currently sit on the west side behind the team would you desire a move to the east? Do you consider availability of chairbacks an important issue? We value the input of our most loyal and committed Falcon fans - YOU - our football season ticket holders!

Thank you in advance for taking the time to share your feedback. By completing this survey you will be entered for a chance to win four tickets to an upcoming BGSU Athletic event of your choice. We look forward to receiving your thoughts on this potential improvement to game days at the Doyt.

All the best and GO FALCONS!

Bob Moosbrugger '94
Director of Athletics

Team and Band on the East Side--- "THAT'S HOW IT ALWAYS WAS!!!!!!"

For the great majority of our time playing at our current stadium the team was ALWAYS on the East side. I believe it was during the Urban Meyer years in which the Falcons moved to the West sideline.

East Sideline: If it was good enough for Brian McClure it's good enough for me!

We have been sitting on the east side for all 50 years and love the east side Sun not much of a problem if you wear a hat, and it sure feels good on those chilly days versus sitting in the shade on the west side . A lot of our bad weather comes from the northeast, off the lake so it is also an advantage then. I would prefer to leave the band in the spot that was MADE for them. I don’t really care how it looks on TV, but a full house would look nice so the department should put their efforts into getting 10,000 students to EVERY game!

So as I read this, the change does not affect the "home" side. We will still be able to sit where we do and the band will still play to the West side for halftime. I think most of this proposal is a no brainer. Why would we not want the team to have immediate access to our locker room and training facilities? Why would we not want a full section of BG fans cheering behind the team? I don't believe it is worth moving the press, TV, and game operations/replay to the East side. However, it did seem like the coaches boxes would be relocated. That makes sense to me. It was always odd to have them need to run to the other side of the stadium to get to the locker rooms at halftime. I do have a problem with moving the band. If I remember correctly, the Sebo seating was designed specifically for the band and funded by a private donation. The seats are wider apart and allow for larger instruments. The area also helps naturally amplify the band. I am not sure how the "improved interaction" between the band and students will work out then the band will have to turn to the side, away from the West stands, to play to the students. I also think there will be issues getting them on and off the field for pre-game and half time.

So in short, I would say yes to everything except moving the band.

Why would we not want to look better on TV? If we can't put the cameras on the East side facing the more full West side we should make the East side look artificially full.

To the point of the students having to walk a longer distance, actually I don't think that is an issue at all. Most students currently tailgate in the paved lots which are directly south of the stadium so instead of walking left to get into the stadium they now walk right. On top of that, now if they use the grass lots by the golf hill it's actually closer for them. Why wouldn't we want to have our sideline on camera? Instead, you currently have the visiting sideline on camera which has a smaller travel party and no benefit to us, being in the background. Why does it matter if the visiting team is on the West side of the stadium? It's not like there is really a benefit to sitting behind our bench and if it's that big of a deal breaker, I guess I'm at a loss for words.

I have always thought it would be great to put the student section on the East side of the stadium all across the bottom portion and we could leave the visiting team on the East side to create a home field advantage. The noise created behind their bench could be disrupting and get into whatever team we are playing. Football is a mental game, you get em distracted chances are they don't execute. Advantage BG.

I think it's worth a shot to try something different, we have complained about so many things in the past, why not try something different. Besides, moving the students to the West side will spread the crowd out now, so those of you that already hate concessions stand waiting might not have to wait as long since a mass of the west side crowd is being moved to the East side.

Sometimes I really feel like people on here complain simply for the sake of complaining instead of actual legitimate claims.

factman wrote:I would prefer to leave the band in the spot that was MADE for them.

I hear you on this. If they can come up with something better for that spot, great. But that's a pretty great spot for the band.

Overall, though, getting more people to sit on the East side is a good idea.