Brandon complains about attendance in Blade

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 1:17 pm

NWLB wrote:Figure another 1,900 at Firelands...

I just had what I think is an original idea.

What BGSU started running a shuttle from Firelands College on game day?

It would send the message to Firelands College, the city of Huron and Erie County that BGSU is your team (and this could help us get more radio coverage there; WLEC in Sandusky isn't taking many of our games).

It also might be converted into a way for Cleveland-area alumni to have an easy, fun way to get to games. The sell: Instead of driving the whole way, just drive to Huron and relax for the next few hours.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 1:57 pm

Great, low-cost idea!

NWLB · Post by **NWLB** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 2:30 pm

Logistically tricky. Most of the campus shuttles are booked for in-town routes, and football recruits. You'd need RSVPs to know how many would use it, and then have to charter at least one bus, which is pricy. With a two hour round-trip, its not possible to bring more than one load if you also have to take them back to Firelands.

More effective maybe, to sponsor a charter bus in Cleveland, that becomes a fixture. Folks know it will be there, charge them slightly more than a reserve ticket (which pays for the bus) and don't worry about the lost ticket revenue. As popularity grows, expand the fleet of bus'.

You'd have to be able to do some market research, figure how many folks would use it, and promote it. But I've heard of stranger things working.

Expand the idea to Columbus, Cinncy, Dayton, Lima. Maybe attach an identity to it, sell it as part of the season ticket package. Heck, sell a road-trip package that way.

Schadenfreude · Post by **Schadenfreude** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:38 pm

NWLB wrote:More effective maybe, to sponsor a charter bus in Cleveland, that becomes a fixture.

I meant shuttle in the generic sense, meaning a vehicle that goes to and from a certain place.

The bus/whatever could make a stop at Huron on its way from Cleveland.

redskins4ever · Post by **redskins4ever** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:57 pm

How about this... Highschool football players get in for free if they bring their parents and their parents pay for two GA tickets.

dstubb · Post by **dstubb** » Tue Oct 19, 2004 11:33 pm

redskins4ever wrote:How about this... Highschool football players get in for free if they bring their parents and their parents pay for two GA tickets.

Or how about kids get in free with a paying adult?

kdog27 · Post by **kdog27** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 12:40 am

No need to harp anymore on how bad 17,000 is. I am really happy that we can draw 5,000 students to a game in bad weather. People on this board complain about how we can not get the alumni interested in the program. Here is what I think. The reason why our recent success over the past 3.5 seasons has not lead to huge influctuations of alumni attendence is because the students who attended games between 2001 and now are either still students or they have just graduated and have loans and bills up the rear. That is the case for me. I attended 9-10 games a year when I went to BG. Right now I am still in school and have loans to me. Financially it is impossible for me to go to 9-10 games a year. I will probably attend 3-4 this year, but bet your ass I will be attending ten games again when I can afford to make a trip every weekend. Granted most students do not go to ten games a year like myself but the students who experienced the 8-3, 9-3, 11-3 seasons and great games like UT in 2001, Gameday, WMU overtime are much more likely to attend games then students who watched 2-9, 5-6 seasons with games consisting of Ricky scneider being sacked five times and Godfry Lewis constantly running it up the middle. We need to face the facts that we have lost the alumni from the late 90s. We are never going get them back and the reason is quite simple. We never had them. They never cared about BGSU football while they went to school there so they never will. They could careless that BGSU is winning, the teams they have been cheering for all their life (ND, OSU, MICH) win too. BGSU football will always be a joke to them even if we are better than those teams. The recent success of our team has had a postive impact on student attendance. I rememb attending a game against EMU in 2000 where there were probably 100 students there in the 4th quarter. We have come along way to have 5000 through the gates on a horrible aftternoon of weather. Being ranked in both polls last season, beating Purdue and playing OSU made it impossible for current students to ignore the fact that we have a good team. The numbers will increase but you cannot expect to make fans of people who were never fans when they had an easy chance to be. They didn't attend games when it was a ten minute walk, they sure as hell will not attend games when it is 2+ hour drive.

dstubb · Post by **dstubb** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 1:01 am

It's all about the opponent. The average Joe is not going to get excited about a team we know we're gonna shallack by 40 points - and in the bitter cold and rain as well? If it were NIU or Marshall or Toledo I'm sure the numbers would have been higher.

Plus - didn't OSU play a 3:30 game last Saturday? I'm sure that contributed to the lower numbers. We need to avoid playing when OSU and UM are on. We installed lights for a reason.

Warthog · Post by **Warthog** » Wed Oct 20, 2004 9:09 am

dstubb wrote:Or how about kids get in free with a paying adult?

Already do that one. For the Western game, kids 12 and under are admitted free.

BGSU99 · Post by **BGSU99** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 1:22 am

Freak -- I hear you on those "fans" (if they can even be called that) that set on the other side of you! You called it ... they complain about everything, set and don't even hardly clap or anything, then they leave at the half (or before). I just wish they would give up their seats and then you could get them! Those people are obnoxious.

As for Coach Brandon's comment in the Blade, I agree that the attendance wasn't good for a homecoming game, but maybe he could have expressed his disappointment a little differently. On the other hand, I continue to scratch my head that fans don't support this team and decide to stay home. Can't wait to get to Ohio this Saturday! OU has a decent defense. They may challenge us. Plus, the doggone weather forecast is calling for rain. Gosh, I don't want to set in the rain ... think I'll stay home ... NOT! Grab the ponchos and head to Athens Saturday folks! We need to keep this thing rolling! There's a lot of season left! GO FALCONS!

bgsufan67 · Post by **bgsufan67** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 2:04 am

Here's my honest opinion.. I know that we can win football games.. but Brandon needs to focus more about how his team is playing than worry about the fans... IMO...

factman · Post by **factman** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 5:17 am

I think he can do both rather easily. I know I don't have any complaints the past few weeks!!!

Dayons_Den · Post by **Dayons_Den** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:14 am

I stayed away from this thread for the most part, but I will get back into it. As for the BSU game I thought it was a decent turnout considering the weather, which was near the Kent game from last year- if it started later it would have been the same.

Now, my point on Coach Crying Wolf.-
Last year I thought it was really great, the week leading up to the NIU game when Brandon was all "we need to get fired up, crank it up, get everyone out for this game" It really got me going . My gripe is that now he continues to do this for EVERY game. I liked the quote about "It shouldn't matter who we are playing, only that the FALCONS are playing" But to turn in to the WWF style crazy person and try and get us ESPN gameday pumped for lackluster opponents is losing its charm on this die hard.

cowboyjoe · Post by **cowboyjoe** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:24 am

Why is it all about the opponent? I'll see us in any weather beat a team by 50 points...that's half the fun. If it's all about the opponent then Duke would almost never have a crowd at their basketball games because they kill everyone at home. What about the concept where we sell out because everyone wants to see BG play and not who they play.[/quote]

factman · Post by **factman** » Thu Oct 21, 2004 9:46 am

Ridem cowboy!!!! I agree completely, and it is nice to see you back on the board.

Brandon complains about attendance in Blade

Coach Crying Wolf (not NIU's)