Home attendance

[dannyk]

Looking at home attendance we have had 12 dates during the first half. I believe the average is around 1,900 a game. Now considering the problems the tackle football team has putting butts in the seats when they are winning I think that the hockey attendance isnt too bad. I know we have had OSU, MSU, and BC which helps out a bit. The combination of multiple losing seasons and an aging facility are not easy to overcome. Buddy Powers has done his best at upgrading the rink.

Nationally it is going to be harder for teams like Ferris, LSSU, WMU and BG to compete for decent recruits with these arenas. If you look at the WCHA every rink besides Michigan Tech, is a quality rink.

Any comments?

[pdt1081]

Looking at home attendance we have had 12 dates during the first half. I believe the average is around 1,900 a game. Now considering the problems the tackle football team has putting butts in the seats when they are winning I think that the hockey attendance isnt too bad. I know we have had OSU, MSU, and BC which helps out a bit. The combination of multiple losing seasons and an aging facility are not easy to overcome. Buddy Powers has done his best at upgrading the rink.

Nationally it is going to be harder for teams like Ferris, LSSU, WMU and BG to compete for decent recruits with these arenas. If you look at the WCHA every rink besides Michigan Tech, is a quality rink.

Any comments?

Yeah. Averaging 1900 per game is absolutely horrible. Considering BG has over 18,000 students on the main campus (latest info I could find with definate numbers was Fall 2004).

[BGFan]

Dang, I wonder how Miami does it? Or St. Lawrence, or Clarkson, or ....

Have you ever been in UM's building? It's a hole compared to ours. It seats more, but that's about it.

The new addition to our facility has done a lot towards recruiting. The coach's offices are among the nicest in the country (just ask Jerry York), and the renovated locker room isn't too shabby either. The fact that all of the money for that addition was raised by the program with private donations says a lot about this community. They want the program to succeed. It also raised a lot of eyebrows among the board members who didn't think that the program could raise the money needed for the addition. As such there's a feasability study being done right now concerning upgrades to the rest of the arena. The new lighting has helped and it isn't even all up yet. The tennis courts are being moved opening up the area right behind the building for adding a second sheet of ice. Some of the other improvements being considered are a new skate shop, luxury box seating, more pliant boards, etc., etc. We don't need a larger arena, we just need to improve the one we've got.

[dannyk]

I agree we dont need more seats. New boards are a must as well. I didnt realize they were talking about a second sheet. Im guessing that it would be primarily for youth hockey practices and figure skating etc.

[BGDrew]

As far as attendance goes, there's a very dedicated student section, it's the townsfolk.

[BGFan]

The ice is WAY over booked. My son is a sophomore on the HS JV team and doesn't get home from practice until almost midnight at times. Even then the ice is booked after their practice. A second sheet, IMO, is a must. This town has needed one for years. Youth hockey shouldn't have to rent ice in Findlay for practices or even "home ice" games.

[BGFan]

As far as attendance goes, there's a very dedicated student section, it's the townsfolk.

One section is very dedicated....that's it. This program has ALWAYS thrived on the students. When we were winning in the '80's all 4 GA student sections were packed (this was when the arena only held 3000). After the expansion we were still nearly sold out every game.....my guess is that about 75% of that were students.

The townsfolk aren't to blame....they've only ever been, at most, half of the attendance and my guess is probably even less since the students tended to sit in open reserved areas. There are a lot of dedicated townies that come to games and some that would if the program was winning (and will when we are), but they've never in the history of this program outnumbered the students even in its prime.

[BGDrew]

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.

[BGFan]

Standing up at a hockey game is a huge problem for the reserved section seated right next to the student section. Try SITTING there and watching the game. Reserved seating isn't cheap and those who buy it actually want to SIT and watch the game. When you hit 30 and are paying $400.00 a year for a reseved seat you may understand.

Also, trust me, students have been getting kicked out for standing since they've been coming to the games. Who do you think carries more weight at the games, the person paying $400.00 for a reserved seat that wants to sit and watch a game, or the student who flashed his ID to get in (yes, I know that tuition includes $ for the sporting events but not near the price of a season ticket.) that's standing and blocking the view of the person in the reserved seat?

[Freddie]

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.

[Falconboy]

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.

A a one member the Anderson Animals Jacob Gill told me that the was nothing going at that hockey game except for the students were standing and cheering and whatnot.

In response to BGFan in the previous post, maybe you older people who pay $400 for season tix should try to get their reserved tix seats away from the students section , besides if it wasn't for the students at these games at Ice Arena and Anderson Arena there harldy be any crowd noise in those venues. Its a simple fact that the old geezers just aren't roudy people. They should make the entire student section go all the way up to the last row so there's no problem for non-students to see the game.

[dannyk]

If an older person asks a student to sit down then they should sit down. The main point is to try and get some people back into the building because on most nights it is more that half empty.

It seems to me that most students are not going to come unless the team is winning wether its football, hoops or hockey (which is a valid excuse). The problem for hockey is that many top 20 college hockey teams are not big time schools ie, St. Lawrence, etc. So if St. Lawrence is ranked #2 or #52 the attendance will probably not get over 2,000.

[BGFan]

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.

A a one member the Anderson Animals Jacob Gill told me that the was nothing going at that hockey game except for the students were standing and cheering and whatnot.

In response to BGFan in the previous post, maybe you older people who pay $400 for season tix should try to get their reserved tix seats away from the students section , besides if it wasn't for the students at these games at Ice Arena and Anderson Arena there harldy be any crowd noise in those venues. Its a simple fact that the old geezers just aren't roudy people. They should make the entire student section go all the way up to the last row so there's no problem for non-students to see the game.

And I suggest that you take a flying leap off of a very tall building. Hell, you can't even bring yourself to pay to get into a game so I suggest that you just run along and mind your own business.

Have you ever looked at where the reserved sections are in the ice arena? Gee, they're right smack in between the GA sections (aka student sections). Some of those patrons have owned those seats since the program has been in existence and you've got the gall to suggest they move so the students aren't in their way? The only place that the students wouldn't be in the way of the season ticket holders would be behind the north goal which would deaden the enthusiasm due to the high glass. I doubt that the students would go for that and it would end up being a disaster. Sitting when asked to is a much better solution.

One last thing, for your information, I'm not near the student section, and am quite happy about that. Some of the crap that comes out of there would make a sailor blush.

[Freddie]

A a one member the Anderson Animals Jacob Gill told me that the was nothing going at that hockey game except for the students were standing and cheering and whatnot.

Hey Falconboy, at the risk of being labeled a 'grammar nazi', I've got to ask you to, PLEASE translate this in to some intelligible language. Before I can decide whether to agree or argue with you, I've got to have some idea what you're saying. I pray to God that you're not an English or Education major.

[pdt1081]

A a one member the Anderson Animals Jacob Gill told me that the was nothing going at that hockey game except for the students were standing and cheering and whatnot.

In response to BGFan in the previous post, maybe you older people who pay $400 for season tix should try to get their reserved tix seats away from the students section , besides if it wasn't for the students at these games at Ice Arena and Anderson Arena there harldy be any crowd noise in those venues. Its a simple fact that the old geezers just aren't roudy people. They should make the entire student section go all the way up to the last row so there's no problem for non-students to see the game.

I remember when I was little and section A was packed with students there were times when my dad had to pick me up on his shoulders so I could see. This was a rare occurance and only near the end of really big games (Michigan, MSU, OSU, LSSU, etc).

There's nothing wrong with standing at games. Just be courteous and don't do it through the entire game. Stand to celebrate goals. Stand to get behind the team when it's crunch time. Don't stand just because you don't want to sit. If you're sitting on the aisle next to the "old people", start a conversation with them, you may just learn something about BG Hockey or life in general. Belive it or not, some of us do value the wisdom of those who have been there before.