UT bothered by bowl bid

Casualobserver · Post by **Casualobserver** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:40 am

It does make me laugh that people on this board think that you guys have such a great fan base of support. You couldn't sell out last year when you had two ranked teams on a Saturday afternoon. It was only like four years ago that you guys had been lucky to draw 8,500 fans a game. Even this year, with MAC Championship posibilities, you only draw about 17,400 fans a game. The fan base at BG is not that great. Yes, you had a good showing at MCB last year. But you have no idea how many people actually went because it was BG and how many went because it was a bowl game and a "local" team was there. All the UAW guys get tickets and they are going to root for the MAC school.

The overall attendance at the MCB has increased every year, regardless of who was playing. It is not like Toledo or BG are the main reason for the yearly increases in attendance.

Not trying to flame, but it is kind of ignorant to be talking about this amazing fan base when it is not really that good at all.

For the record, there is not one person in the Toledo community that wishes we were going to any bowl other than the MCB. The dumbass was talking out of his ass about not knowing ahead of time. He is arrogant and thinks that the MCB should have picked Toledo ahead of time. Nobody here wants to be at any other bowl.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:48 am

casual:

Thanks for pointing out that he doesn't speak for all UT fans. Honestly, I have a hard time believing that the Rocket faithful are unhappy with the situation.

I can't speak for everyone, obviously, but I would never say that BG has an amazing fan base. In fact, the regulars here are constantly griping about our attendance for the reasons you cite - how ridiculous is is that we weren't selling out more often!

Falcon52 · Post by **Falcon52** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:49 am

Casual you must not have attended the MCB last year. It was a sea of orange. I agree with your comments about our fan base, however the MCB last year was special. An anomaly if you will. Anyone who went, got a glimpse of what BG should be and wishes it was on a week in and week out basis. We tasted it, and want it to be like that all the time. My Christmas wish would be for at least half that attendance at the GMACC.

I wish we could do the MCB again sometime. I think everyone who went would go again and bring at least two friends. BG friends that is!

Dayons_Den · Post by **Dayons_Den** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 11:52 am

I see where casual is coming from about the game increasing in attendance each year.

I was at the 2002 TU-BC endzone brawl errr football game.

I was at the 2003 BG-Northwestern game.

There was more orange at the BG game than midnight blew at the BC whooping.

BGSUfanatUT · Post by **BGSUfanatUT** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:37 pm

It does make me laugh that people on this board think that you guys have such a great fan base of support.

As 87 said, we gripe about that all the time, but as I point out EVERY TIME people try to slam us with a "you have poor attendence" rips, here is the argument:

BG including students; ~36,000
toledo EXCLUDING students and suburbs: 300,000
C-bus EXCLUDING students and suburbs: 810,000

considering the population we have to work with, even a down year of 17k/game isnt that bad. if toledo doesnt sell out in a city that size (in a smaller stadium thatn BG's) then it is sad. we draw over 50% of the local population. Heck, with the lack of students at game, its probably a lot higher of a % of locals there too.

You couldn't sell out last year when you had two ranked teams on a Saturday afternoon.

If you are talking abotu NIU/gameday, you are grossly mistaken.

It was only like four years ago that you guys had been lucky to draw 8,500 fans a game.

touche. but we also won 2-3 games a season then, hard to draw fans that way chief.

For the record, there is not one person in the Toledo community that wishes we were going to any bowl other than the MCB. The dumbass was talking out of his ass about not knowing ahead of time. He is arrogant and thinks that the MCB should have picked Toledo ahead of time. Nobody here wants to be at any other bowl.

glad this post wasnt a total loss. But I think we knew this, while most of T town are fools, to think they are upset about getting their first bowl choice is rediculous. Everyone involved with this article needs a good punch to the stomache. But in reality, it DOES mean they think we are a better draw than toledo, or else they would have selected toledo. the bowl makes their own choice, they decide who comes.

Casualobserver · Post by **Casualobserver** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:05 pm

If you have a great fan base, you should still be able to draw a crowd. What does the record have to do with it if the fan base is so great, as you claim. In addition, if the fan base is so tremendous, what does it matter that you live in a small town? Look at the Toledo attendance and you will see that the attendance has never been below 17,000 fans a game since the 50's.

I am not saying our fan support is good, but it is much better and they are more consistent. Even in down years, we still have good crowds.

Yes, we live in a huge metropolitan area. But, so do you guys. BG is only 20-minutes from Toledo and is practically a suburb. Perrysburg is definitely considered a suburb and that is what, nine miles from BG? That 700,000 people stretches down to Wood County and up into Monroe County.

I think your attendance has gotten better, but to categorically say your fan base is better than Toledo is not accurate. We outdraw you in every sport. Not saying we can't do better, but we do average about 90-95% capacity on the season in football. BG fans are too fair-weather, including the students.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:13 pm

We do not have a great fan base, sizewise. Period. I've said it before, I'm saying it now, I'll say it again.

BG does not have a great fan base, sizewise.

See, I told you I was going to say it again.

I love our fan base. The people are great. They really love the team. But there just aren't enough of them. Forget statistical MSAs, etc. BG's had a good team for four years running. They play an exciting brand of football. We should have more people in the stands for every game.

Every game.

Regardless of the opponent.

Regardless of whether the game is on TV.

Regardless of when Ohio State or Michigan are playing.

Regardless of the weather.

Regardless of whether or not Bancroft Correctional Facility can fill the Noclass Bowl.

Should we sellout against SEMO State? Not necessarily. But we must do a better job of hitting that 20K mark on a regular basis.

BG does not have a great fan base.

83falcon · Post by **83falcon** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:22 pm

Casual...............you miss the point(why would I expect anything different from a TU fan?).BGSU grads leave the area.........far away............they get jobs where "Welcome to(insert establishment here),how may I help you?"Isn't the corporate slogan!!!Coming back for a game usually involves a flight!!For TU grads you take off the apron and walk a couple of blocks(if you don't get shot).
Plus.............a major brawl at the last bowl game you played in doesn't exactly make you real attractive in light of recent events.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:24 pm

83falcon wrote:Casual...............you miss the point(why would I expect anything different from a TU fan?).BGSU grads leave the area.........far away............they get jobs where "Welcome to(insert establishment here),how may I help you?"Isn't the corporate slogan!!!Coming back for a game usually involves a flight!!For TU grads you take off the apron and walk a couple of blocks(if you don't get shot).
Plus.............a major brawl at the last bowl game you played in doesn't exactly make you real attractive in light of recent events.

83:

Let's not get carried away.

If I'm not mistaken a large number (

60%-plus) of BG grads live in or around the Cleveland area. Not exactly a far-flung location.

BGSUfanatUT · Post by **BGSUfanatUT** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:30 pm

Casualobserver wrote:If you have a great fan base, you should still be able to draw a crowd. What does the record have to do with it if the fan base is so great, as you claim. In addition, if the fan base is so tremendous, what does it matter that you live in a small town? Look at the Toledo attendance and you will see that the attendance has never been below 17,000 fans a game since the 50's.

I am not saying our fan support is good, but it is much better and they are more consistent. Even in down years, we still have good crowds.

Yes, we live in a huge metropolitan area. But, so do you guys. BG is only 20-minutes from Toledo and is practically a suburb. Perrysburg is definitely considered a suburb and that is what, nine miles from BG? That 700,000 people stretches down to Wood County and up into Monroe County.

I think your attendance has gotten better, but to categorically say your fan base is better than Toledo is not accurate. We outdraw you in every sport. Not saying we can't do better, but we do average about 90-95% capacity on the season in football. BG fans are too fair-weather, including the students.

No where did I say our fan base is "so great" I mearly said percentage wise it is good statistically. And we cannot really draw from toleod as tOLEDO IS OUR RIVAL. Thats like drawing michigan fans in large quantity from c-bus, its not going to happen.

check your stats man, i think you will find a few toledo games under 17k attendance in the not so distant past.

83falcon · Post by **83falcon** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:33 pm

Maybe a little carried away 87......but it's still not a "Let's jump in the car and go to the game" type of trip.Throw in a couple of kids at the age where they are involved in their own athletics,and I have trouble making games from less than an hour away.(although I have not missed a home game in MANY years)

BGDrew · Post by **BGDrew** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:46 pm

Am I the only one who sees that UT is filling in Marshall's role as the A-Holes of the MAC who thinks that the world stops with them and they should play in every MAC bowl?

It's very simple: BG's population makes it very difficult to get a sell-out. Toledo should sell out everytime. Your right, our attendance wasn't great this year. But, the GMAC Bowl wanted us, not UT.

Flipper · Post by **Flipper** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 2:58 pm

I think there's enough of a population base within driving distance for us to put 25,000-30,000 people in the seats every week.

The university needs to do a few things to make that happen. They need to find out what fans within a reasonable driving distance aren't coming out to the games and why. Cleveland isn't too far. My brother lives in Broadview Heights and he drives to Ann Arbor to see the Wolverines five or six times a year.

There's MILLIONS of people within a two hour drive of Bowling Green. If we haven't been able to find 30,000 of them to come out to the Doyt each week we either haven't identified who and where they are or we aren't talking to them in a way that's getting them interested.

1987alum · Post by **1987alum** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:01 pm

Flip:

Spot on. BG is in a rural location surrounded by suburbia. No reason we can make 20K the norm.

Not to beat a dead horse, but the athletic department really needs to create a comprehensive marketing plan (beyond "hey, let's put up a billboard" "hey, let's do a mailing") that addressess all aspects of the issue.

Falcon52 · Post by **Falcon52** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 3:13 pm

I live in Avon just 17 miles west of Cleveland. I try to bring my family to football games every chance I can. I have purchased season tickets for the last 3 years now and have made a personal commitment to buy them every year going forward no matter what.

I do feel that the University needs to develop or change their marketing plan when it comes to Cleveland. From the westside it only takes about an hour and 35 minutes to BG. Focus on marketing the westside. Run football billboards with schedules, radio, maybe even a full page color add in the Plain Dealer before the season starts. I could brain strom for hours on this. Create a buzz, and a presence in the market. A good plan could really have an impact and draw people from the Cleveland area. As it stands right now, I'm not sure if anyone even thinks about it. There are tons of BG people in Cleveland. We just have to market them.