ZiggyZoomba wrote:On February 4, I'm going to have the opportunity to sit down with BGSU athletic director, Paul Krebs and ask him some questions. I'd like to use this thread to collect questions from the Ay-Ziggy-Zoomba.com membership to present to Mr. Krebs.
Please post your questions, concerns and praises here.
A word of caution: If this thread breaks down like so many others do, I'll just delete it and go with my own questions.
Thanks! Myself and Mr. Krebs look forward to getting some of your questions answered!
I would love to see a large electronic message board over at the ice arena that would state/show who the hockey team is playing against that weekend (and for other events too). Something with the BGSU logo on the top and then the messages can be displayed at the bottom. I would think that would be one way to help improve attendance. I don't believe that would cost that much and adds a touch of class to the facility. I would be curious as to Krebs thoughts on that.
What about trying to schedule more than one sport at a time? For example, schedule a hockey game against Western the same day as a football game against them. This would be possible at Western and Miami. This would be a good situation to get more fans to travel with the teams.
pdt1081 wrote:What about trying to schedule more than one sport at a time? For example, schedule a hockey game against Western the same day as a football game against them. This would be possible at Western and Miami. This would be a good situation to get more fans to travel with the teams.
They did this a couple of times when I went there. It never increased the hockey attendance (which I think was the goal) and just caused staffing problems (students wanted to work football then go home).
I have a question, but I can't think of a PC way to phrase it, so I'll get back to that one once the right words come to me.
There's been some minor 'battles' recently between the students (who perfer to stand throughout the game) and the locals (who perfer to sit). It seems to me that there ought to be a way to accomodate everyone.
Why not make one entire side students/general admission, and make the other side all reserved? Western Michigan, Northern Michigan, Michigan and Notre Dame all seperate their fans this way. Also make the lower section of the north end zone reserved, and the upper parts general admission. This way everyone gets what they want.
While we're on the subject, who is responsible for 'training and/or supervision of the ushers? They are, for the most part, virtually worthless. Those of us with reserved seats near an entryway routinely have to ask the USHERS THEMSELVES to stand down and not block our view. It's normal to see guests who are unfamiliar with the section/rows standing at the top of the stairways for several minutes at a time, staring at their tickets and looking around, while two ushers stand, oblivious, six feet away...munching on their nachos or engrossed in their own conversations.
On a related topic, we are in desperate need of an improved traffic flow plan to the ice arena lot. The present system works OK when we draw 1800 fans, but funnelling all incoming traffic in to one lane is a joke when the crowds are decent. I was selling 50/50 tickets for the recent Michigan and OSU games, and I can tell you there were lots of unhappy customers who spent a good portion of the first period qued up on Mercer Rd.
Maybe if we'd put a dozen Krispy Kremes in the middle of the intersection, we could lure someone out of his car to direct traffic.
Not to mention the car parkers who should have those paying $ to drive down another couple hundred feet near the lot where they park, and collect the bucks down there. This would allow cars with permits to get in easier. 1-1/2 hours before faceoff, Stadium Drive from Mercer should be both lanes in to the Ice Arena - after the game, both lanes out to Mercer. Anybody else can drive around the stadium.
Would it be possible to build a pedestrian bridge over Mercer to accomodate Commuters who park there and students after games (football and hockey). This would speed up traffic too.
BGDrew wrote:Would it be possible to build a pedestrian bridge over Mercer to accomodate Commuters who park there and students after games (football and hockey). This would speed up traffic too.
bgbill wrote:Maybe if we'd put a dozen Krispy Kremes in the middle of the intersection, we could lure someone out of his car to direct traffic.
Not to mention the car parkers who should have those paying $ to drive down another couple hundred feet near the lot where they park, and collect the bucks down there. This would allow cars with permits to get in easier. 1-1/2 hours before faceoff, Stadium Drive from Mercer should be both lanes in to the Ice Arena - after the game, both lanes out to Mercer. Anybody else can drive around the stadium.
I deleted a donut reference from my original post for fear of retribution...I believe I have an unpaid parking ticket from 1975 What purpose he serves sitting there in his cruiser while pedestrians and cars jockey for position has always been a mystery to us. You're right on!...Stadium Drive should be ONE WAY (East) from Mercer to the entry lots, with two lanes feeding in. There should be two guys taking money from each lane, each seperated by about two car lengths, alternating cars.
BGDrew wrote:Would it be possible to build a pedestrian bridge over Mercer to accomodate Commuters who park there and students after games (football and hockey). This would speed up traffic too.
Sorry BGDrew, but you could spend a million bucks on that pedestrian bridge and no one would use it. The average college student would rather crawl across Mercer Rd in shorts and flip-flops than climb up and down 15-20 stairs in the wind and snow. A traffic cop actually directing traffic at the Ridge St intersection is a more workable solution.
Since we are discussing bottlenecks : The concession stands.
That is probably not Paul Krebs department, but someone needs to look at this situation.
Suggestion : money only; no student cards.
The North end concessions: wind the line north/south and around the corner to east/west .
Get people that can count.
If people want to give you money, figure out a way to take it - quickly
Parking suggestiong:
People that have parking stickers enter off Mercer to Stadium Drive.
Money parkers enter off of Mercer at the south entrance to the parking lot.
Puckhead wrote:Since we are discussing bottlenecks : The concession stands.
That is probably not Paul Krebs department, but someone needs to look at this situation.
Suggestion : money only; no student cards.
The North end concessions: wind the line north/south and around the corner to east/west .
Get people that can count.
If people want to give you money, figure out a way to take it - quickly
Parking suggestiong:
People that have parking stickers enter off Mercer to Stadium Drive.
Money parkers enter off of Mercer at the south entrance to the parking lot.
I thought taking the student cards was supposed to be quicker than taking cash...plus it's designed to make the place kinder and gentler for the students. I think they only honor them at the north end concession stands. We avoid these stands because the lines are always so long.
I suppose the real question for the AD is "who is responsible for the management of: concession stands, parking and ushers?" and "How can we address our suggestions/concerns to that/those person(s)"
What purpose he serves sitting there in his cruiser while pedestrians and cars jockey for position has always been a mystery to us. You're right on!...Stadium Drive should be ONE WAY (East) from Mercer to the entry lots, with two lanes feeding in. There should be two guys taking money from each lane, each seperated by about two car lengths, alternating cars.
