Home attendance

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:38 am

The student I know that was escorted out was standing near an aisle closer to the "rounded" part of the student section. When the student asked for an explanation why he was being asked to leave he received a stern push and was given no explanation. Once he was being escorted he said a group of....to put it nicely....elderly citizens stood up and started applauding.

Needless to say, that student and his friends (around 6 at the game) are telling everyone they know not to go to the game based on this one occurance.

Here's what I ask: What is being done to draw students closer to the game? I remember last year when every other game had some type of giveaway for its students. You laugh, but you'd be amazed how much attendance free shirts bring in. Also, move the students over into the closed end of the arena to keep the older crowd happy.

You can only insult me and my fellow students so much before I'm going to start to get a little annoyed. I hate how all the "bad" students are assumed to be every student who goes to the game.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 2:59 am

BGDrew wrote:Here's what I ask: What is being done to draw students closer to the game? I remember last year when every other game had some type of giveaway for its students. You laugh, but you'd be amazed how much attendance free shirts bring in.

I really don't mean any offense by this, as freebies at the door are great, and there are some very dedicated students that make it to a large number of games/events...

...But what kind of a group of bitches are the students these days?!?!?! I don't know why it just dawned on me, or maybe it dawned on me in the past and I'm just remembering it, but why is everything "it's too far to walk", "free stuff would get me there", "blah, blah, blah"??? While not EVERYONE is into sports, for even those that can casually follow along, athletic events are probably the greatest way to break off some school spirit, yet all we hear is crap about how the students aren't catered to enough at the games. Yeah, some things suck, I was in the section at Wisconsin with the people whining about people standing (THAT was total bullshit, but I digress). It's shitty that kids got yanked from a hockey game "just for standing", but boycotting your school's games because of it? Or rather, telling "everyone they know" not to go?? Seriously. The University is experiencing it's largest student body ever, yet it's three main sports are hurting to reach even 60% capacity on a good day. Not that 5,000 students need to come out for hockey and basketball, because townies can, should and will be there, too, but this attitude of "it's not good enough" for the students strikes me as being crap.

Falcon Fanatic · Post by **Falcon Fanatic** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 7:26 am

TG1996 wrote:
BGDrew wrote:Here's what I ask: What is being done to draw students closer to the game? I remember last year when every other game had some type of giveaway for its students. You laugh, but you'd be amazed how much attendance free shirts bring in.
I really don't mean any offense by this, as freebies at the door are great, and there are some very dedicated students that make it to a large number of games/events...

...But what kind of a group of bitches are the students these days?!?!?! I don't know why it just dawned on me, or maybe it dawned on me in the past and I'm just remembering it, but why is everything "it's too far to walk", "free stuff would get me there", "blah, blah, blah"??? While not EVERYONE is into sports, for even those that can casually follow along, athletic events are probably the greatest way to break off some school spirit, yet all we hear is crap about how the students aren't catered to enough at the games. Yeah, some things suck, I was in the section at Wisconsin with the people whining about people standing (THAT was total bullshit, but I digress). It's shitty that kids got yanked from a hockey game "just for standing", but boycotting your school's games because of it? Or rather, telling "everyone they know" not to go?? Seriously. The University is experiencing it's largest student body ever, yet it's three main sports are hurting to reach even 60% capacity on a good day. Not that 5,000 students need to come out for hockey and basketball, because townies can, should and will be there, too, but this attitude of "it's not good enough" for the students strikes me as being crap.

Well done, TG, well done.

Now, before the students jump in here and yell foul, everyone take a deep breath.......

Falconfreak90 · Post by **Falconfreak90** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:00 am

I thought this thread had the potential to get a bit ugly.

GO HOCKEY!

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 11:21 am

Falconfreak90 wrote:I thought this thread had the potential to get a bit ugly.

Who you calling ugly?

And whoa, I must have been off my meds last night... not that I take any of it back, but... damn!

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:14 pm

Because I'm just getting pissed off, we'll agree to disagree.

TG1996 · Post by **TG1996** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 1:39 pm

BGDrew wrote:Because I'm just getting pissed off, we'll agree to disagree.

*shrug* fair enough.

Bleeding Orange · Post by **Bleeding Orange** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 3:26 pm

I hate to say it...well...no I don't - but TG is right. As someone who works in student affairs, it is amazing how the modern generation of students demands to be catered to. There is no such thing as inherent value in anything anymore amongst most of the modern student population. Most of them don't even see the inherent value in education itself, let alone in exuding school spirit. Most of them just want to get a degree, get out and earn the money that they feel they deserve because of their degree. This is a pretty synical attitude, I know, but it is the truth when you simply talk to some random students about why they are in college in the first place.

This is not a problem unique to BGSU, I assure you. I wish it would change, too, but until our cultural values don't revolve around video games, hip hop and reality TV anymore, I don't think it is going to. We are just conditioning children to be demanding and self-centered when they are adults, and we are now reaping what we began to sow in the 80's.

MACMAN · Post by **MACMAN** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 8:13 pm

I dont think recruits look to attendance numbers directly, but those number go hand in hand with hot teams. the drought BG had under the last years of powers has brought us down the list. the exceptional season we had last year has had to affect the views of some players who may have gone eles where with out proof of rebuilding. Some of our wins this year are still testiment to that, and should be positive. But overall I dont see minn, or BC etc...worried about us taking kids from thier hot lists. yet

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Tue Dec 20, 2005 9:45 pm

MACMAN wrote:I dont think recruits look to attendance numbers directly, but those number go hand in hand with hot teams. the drought BG had under the last years of powers has brought us down the list. the exceptional season we had last year has had to affect the views of some players who may have gone eles where with out proof of rebuilding. Some of our wins this year are still testiment to that, and should be positive. But overall I dont see minn, or BC etc...worried about us taking kids from thier hot lists. yet

The thing with recruits and attendance is most important during campus visits. We have a better chance of landing a potential recruit if he comes to a game and the house is packed and rocking. If it's fun for him to watch a game in the Ice Arena, it will be fun for him to play in the Ice Arena.

ialone82 · Post by **ialone82** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:21 am

Freddie wrote:
BGDrew wrote:Agree to disagree. Students have been treated as second class as of late, including some being escorted out of the arena for standing during the game.
This is at least the second reference I've seen this year to students 'being escorted out for standing'...quite frankly, I find it hard to believe. My instinct tells me that (if anyone was 'escorted out') it was for being rude, vulgar and physically confrontational in response to the requests of others whose views were being blocked. Standing throughout the game (as opposed to that instinctive 'rise' at a key moment, is classically selfish behavior, which is (sadly) all too common among teenagers and young adults (aka college students). That said, I doubt if STANDING is or ought to be grounds for being removed.

In my opinion, this is what is what is wrong with this program. Students are why the university is there. They pay WAY more to be there than the season ticket holders, and it keeps rising. If you don't like standing the entire game, don't go or, better yet, request seats NOT behind the student section. I've been to many hockey games....I know there are many seats to choose from.
You also have to work to get students there. If you piss off the students, they will stop coming, and I know this is what has been happening. You know what, I'm not trying to be rude, but the older folks need to learn to respect the students. I live in another, larger college town and it is much different. The towns people respect the students and the students respect the towns people, and hence, they get people to their games. This doesn't happen in BG, and it's not the students' fault. The hockey games represent what is happening in the community as a whole.

pdt1081 · Post by **pdt1081** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:03 am

ialone82 wrote: In my opinion, this is what is what is wrong with this program. Students are why the university is there. They pay WAY more to be there than the season ticket holders, and it keeps rising. If you don't like standing the entire game, don't go or, better yet, request seats NOT behind the student section. I've been to many hockey games....I know there are many seats to choose from.
You also have to work to get students there. If you piss off the students, they will stop coming, and I know this is what has been happening. You know what, I'm not trying to be rude, but the older folks need to learn to respect the students. I live in another, larger college town and it is much different. The towns people respect the students and the students respect the towns people, and hence, they get people to their games. This doesn't happen in BG, and it's not the students' fault. The hockey games represent what is happening in the community as a whole.

I don't see how asking a bunch of students to sit in seats at a sporting event is being disrepectful. There are bench seats there for a reason. Some of the older people have had the same seats since 1969 when the sport went varsity. If anything, asking these people to move is showing a complete lack of respect, not only for the people, but for the program in general. These people have supported this team regardless of their record. They've been there for Vivian, Mason, York, Powers, and now Paluch. They've seen us at the top of the nation and at the bottom too. They've been through the worst years and are still here. They are not the fair weather fans that show up only when the team is winning. They are the definition of true fans.

If the students want to stand, there is plenty of room for them to move and not block anybody's view. They can move over by the band if they want. There's plenty of room there and they won't block anybody's view.

FalconFiesta50 · Post by **FalconFiesta50** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 1:17 pm

I think theres something to be said about moving them to the end, although, it would be better if we had seats at the other end (harassing the goalie like in the old days. I can see both sides of this, if you're paying for season tickets you want to be able to see the game and enjoy it in comfort. Likewise, if you (or your parents) are paying for tuition, you want to enjoy the game in comfort.

The other thing I find sometimes amazing about living in the town is the way we are treated at times. It's a college town and at least to this student it feels like we're a burden on the lives of the townies. I don't want to stir up a muck, but without us you would be commuting to Toledo for your sports entertainment. I'm not saying everyone is guilty of this, there are plenty of fine people in this city that love the school and what it has done for the area. I've lived here for about 2-3 years now, and to be basically looked down upon because I'm younger, sucks.

Like I said, I can see a season ticket holders argument, and I will full heartedly agree. Maybe I'm missing some logistics here, but someone suggested putting them at the end of the rink. Obvioulsy you couldn't verbally abuse the other team as they were about to take the ice, but if the section was moved to the ends (solely for the purpose of standing up), I think it would help with the obstructed view of those with season tickets.

Regardless, talking with some people at this school, the attitudes of the townies towards students sometimes really grinds my gears.

Just my two cents, take it for what it's worth.

Freddie · Post by **Freddie** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 2:09 pm

ialone82 wrote: If you don't like standing the entire game, don't go or, better yet, request seats NOT behind the student section. I've been to many hockey games....I know there are many seats to choose from.

I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume that you just got caught up in an emotional, adolescent rant. I'm sure you did not REALLY mean to suggest that we (faculty, staff, alumni and townies) ought to stay away unless we want to stand throughout the entire game.

Your idea that we "request seats not behind the student section" shows a level of ignorance nearly equal to the arrogance of your suggestion that we stay away. There are NO reserved seats BEHIND any of the general admission/student sections...but there are many (in fact ALL of them) in the sections BESIDE the students. The 'standing' problem is kind of like a pyramid...one person stands up, the three people behind him must stand up to see, and so on.

Also, let's assume everyone in section A stands...when the action moves to that end of the ice, the people in the section B seats closest to section A are blocked out, and have to stand to see, as they stand those further down the line are also forced to stand. Within a matter of a few moments, one entire side of the arena is forced to comply with the wishes of those who stood up JUST BECAUSE THEY FELT LIKE IT. This is the epitome of selfish, immature and rude behavior...doing whatever you like, without regard for the rights of others.

I've been a regular at BG hockey for over 30 years. I'll bet I can count on one hand the number of home games I've missed in your LIFETIME. I remember 20-25 years ago when every seat was full every night, and there were people sitting in the aisles, and along the hand rails on the ends. We didn't have this problem then, and for the life of me, I can't understand why it's become a problem now.

I understand the desire to stand. I frequently spend part (or parts) of the game standing behind the glass at the open (west) end. I do this partly to get a little closer to the action, but mostly to give my legs a break from the 'close quarters' of the seats. I could accomplish this by just standing up at my place in the middle of section B, but that would be inconsiderate to those behind and around me.

It seems to me that there ought to be a way we could all learn to get along together. Here's a suggestion...why don't those of you who wish to stand move to the end zone section. This would solve the problem of blocking those beside you, as the sight lines are totally different on the ends than on the sides.

BGFan · Post by **BGFan** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 5:23 pm

BGDrew wrote:The student I know that was escorted out was standing near an aisle closer to the "rounded" part of the student section. When the student asked for an explanation why he was being asked to leave he received a stern push and was given no explanation. Once he was being escorted he said a group of....to put it nicely....elderly citizens stood up and started applauding.

Needless to say, that student and his friends (around 6 at the game) are telling everyone they know not to go to the game based on this one occurance.

BGDrew....I'm not writing this to piss you off but I'm curious about something. If there were people standing and applauding doesn't it stand to reason that they were doing something inappropriate at the game? They may not have been standing but they may have been yelling obscenities that caused these "elderly" people to complain. Given the applause I find it hard to believe that they were kicked out for nothing.