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Ohio Basketball Topic
Topic: Rest in Peace Ozone, 2001 - 2017
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OhioCatFan
12/11/2017 11:33 AM
Just a question, nothing more: What do you think the attendance would have been if instead of playing WKU on Sunday, we'd have been playing Wisconsin?
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doubledribble
12/11/2017 11:35 AM
bshot44...Amen !

OCF...I think the problem is more than just name recognition and quality of opponent.
Last Edited: 12/11/2017 11:39:38 AM by doubledribble
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Alan Swank
12/11/2017 11:37 AM
And lest we forget, the courtside black seats don't help matters.
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rpbobcat
12/11/2017 11:37 AM
I agree about the "tarps" for the upper level seats.

The Izod Arena in the Meadowlands used to use curtains to "screen" the upper deck for certain events.

They used it to create a more "intimate" environment so they could use Izod for acts that couldn't sell more then the lower tier.

It did give the appearance of the place being full.
Last Edited: 12/11/2017 11:40:50 AM by rpbobcat
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bshot44
12/11/2017 11:55 AM
OhioCatFan wrote:expand_more
Just a question, nothing more: What do you think the attendance would have been if instead of playing WKU on Sunday, we'd have been playing Wisconsin?
Would have been a bit more lively ... I'm guessing there would have been a little more buzz around the game leading up to it because we rarely, if ever, get a P5 team to come play in the Convo.

The marketing for the WKU game (which I agree is a decent home game) is no different than it was for Coppin State, Marietta or that powerhouse coming in December ... Mighty NW Ohio.

Wash. Rinse. Repeat. No deviation from the norm with this group.
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bshot44
12/11/2017 11:57 AM
rpbobcat wrote:expand_more
I agree about the "tarps" for the upper level seats.

The Izod Arena in the Meadowlands used to use curtains to "screen" the upper deck for certain events.

They used it to create a more "intimate" environment so they could use Izod for acts that couldn't sell more then the lower tier.

It did give the appearance of the place being full.
Three Rivers Stadium used to do it back in the 90s for Pirates games and it made a big difference.

They could some cool promotional material on the tarps ... MAC Titles ... NCAA Tourney appearances ... etc. I think it could really actually add some much-needed life to the aesthetics of the Convo .... and push folks closer to the court giving it that more intimate feeling.

A lively 6000 person crowd that is all closer to the court is much better than a 6000 person crowd that is sparsely spread all over the place.
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Jim G
12/11/2017 12:10 PM
Black seats need to go away. The students need to be court side. Students > $
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greencat
12/11/2017 12:20 PM
Obc2 wrote:expand_more
my son attend HS in NKY and they have "crazies" in student section, usually numbering 100+. sometimes 2-3x that.

granted they just won 5a state football title and basketball has two D1 signees (Xavier, Iowa).

i find it hard to understand why ozone cant find a couple hundred fanatics. lord knows theyre aint THAT much to do in athens...
As long as NOT going to the games is something to brag about...

quote:
"I haven't even been to a football game, and I'm a junior."
http://www.thepostathens.com/article/2016/08/ohio-univers...

It's pretty much impossible to make people care about something they don't care about. You might have trouble getting their parents to attend a Bassnectar show for free. Different generations like different stuff. I don't think blaming MTV and video games is the answer either. This isn't 1990.
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GoCats105
12/11/2017 12:20 PM
If you guys seriously think that a row of black seats, which provide dollars to the athletic department by the way, are a reason for students not being more involved with basketball games, you're out of your minds.

The students in the O-Zone are still closer to the action than some other places I've seen. The Convo used to be unique in that regard having students actually right on the floor. Let's not act like that's a normal thing. But if the AD can generate a few more bucks for some people willing to pay, which there are, then sell those seats. We can't have it both ways, bitching about no money in the AD, but also bitching about those seats being there.

I told Country this yesterday: they need to start allowing folks to move down after the game has started. Say the under 12 timeout of the first half, maybe under 8, if those seats are still open down below, make an announcement that everyone can move down. Make the place "feel" more packed.
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Alan Swank
12/11/2017 12:34 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
If you guys seriously think that a row of black seats, which provide dollars to the athletic department by the way, are a reason for students not being more involved with basketball games, you're out of your minds.

The students in the O-Zone are still closer to the action than some other places I've seen. The Convo used to be unique in that regard having students actually right on the floor. Let's not act like that's a normal thing. But if the AD can generate a few more bucks for some people willing to pay, which there are, then sell those seats. We can't have it both ways, bitching about no money in the AD, but also bitching about those seats being there.

I told Country this yesterday: they need to start allowing folks to move down after the game has started. Say the under 12 timeout of the first half, maybe under 8, if those seats are still open down below, make an announcement that everyone can move down. Make the place "feel" more packed.
Talk about out of your mind, your last paragraph is a classic. Can you imagine the stampede that would ensue each and every game when the 12 minute mark occurred. The only place that I know of that encourages people to move down front is the Presbyterian Church.
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spongeBOB CATpants
12/11/2017 12:44 PM
greencat wrote:expand_more
my son attend HS in NKY and they have "crazies" in student section, usually numbering 100+. sometimes 2-3x that.

granted they just won 5a state football title and basketball has two D1 signees (Xavier, Iowa).

i find it hard to understand why ozone cant find a couple hundred fanatics. lord knows theyre aint THAT much to do in athens...
As long as NOT going to the games is something to brag about...

quote:
"I haven't even been to a football game, and I'm a junior."
http://www.thepostathens.com/article/2016/08/ohio-univers...

It's pretty much impossible to make people care about something they don't care about. You might have trouble getting their parents to attend a Bassnectar show for free. Different generations like different stuff. I don't think blaming MTV and video games is the answer either. This isn't 1990.
As ridiculous as it sounds, video games could honestly take partial blame. You'd be shocked to walk through a dorm on west green on any given home game night. I'm speaking from a male perspective but almost every single open room has multiple guys in the room crowded around an xbox...
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BillyTheCat
12/11/2017 12:45 PM
GoCats105 wrote:expand_more
If you guys seriously think that a row of black seats, which provide dollars to the athletic department by the way, are a reason for students not being more involved with basketball games, you're out of your minds.

The students in the O-Zone are still closer to the action than some other places I've seen. The Convo used to be unique in that regard having students actually right on the floor. Let's not act like that's a normal thing. But if the AD can generate a few more bucks for some people willing to pay, which there are, then sell those seats. We can't have it both ways, bitching about no money in the AD, but also bitching about those seats being there.

I told Country this yesterday: they need to start allowing folks to move down after the game has started. Say the under 12 timeout of the first half, maybe under 8, if those seats are still open down below, make an announcement that everyone can move down. Make the place "feel" more packed.
Yeah, that’s real motivation then to sell Platinum seats, why shell out $2k when the guy across from me can sit there at the price of a family pack.
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ShoreCat
12/11/2017 1:00 PM
My brother, minor league baseball executive, has told me that the game is now only 1 attraction. You have to have other events to keep people's attention. In Akron, they added a tiki bar, and greatly expanded activities for kids. The Cleveland Indians did the same thing. They downsized to add a bar in right field and it is always packed.

I'm not sure how this translates to collegiate athletics. I'd love to hear from students. On a game night (any sport), do you know about the game? If you do but choose not to go, why aren't you going?

As others on this thread have said, this sounds like a great idea for the marketing department to explore.
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DelBobcat
12/11/2017 1:05 PM
spongeBOB CATpants wrote:expand_more
my son attend HS in NKY and they have "crazies" in student section, usually numbering 100+. sometimes 2-3x that.

granted they just won 5a state football title and basketball has two D1 signees (Xavier, Iowa).

i find it hard to understand why ozone cant find a couple hundred fanatics. lord knows theyre aint THAT much to do in athens...
As long as NOT going to the games is something to brag about...

quote:
"I haven't even been to a football game, and I'm a junior."
http://www.thepostathens.com/article/2016/08/ohio-univers...

It's pretty much impossible to make people care about something they don't care about. You might have trouble getting their parents to attend a Bassnectar show for free. Different generations like different stuff. I don't think blaming MTV and video games is the answer either. This isn't 1990.
As ridiculous as it sounds, video games could honestly take partial blame. You'd be shocked to walk through a dorm on west green on any given home game night. I'm speaking from a male perspective but almost every single open room has multiple guys in the room crowded around an xbox...
I went to OHIO when the Ozone was still impressive, albeit probably on its last leg. Students showed up for basketball games, especially for big games. There was also a large student contingent at Volleyball games. We had video games and they were just as popular then as they are now. I spent many nights playing FIFA, Madden, Mario Kart, and Rock Band/Guitar Hero. I also went to basketball games. I'm not sure what the reason is that students aren't interested in the games, but I don't think it's video games.
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Andrew Ruck
12/11/2017 1:18 PM
Many solid points have been brought up about marketing, the convo, and gameday experience. Some improvements could be made here, but...

The real issue is the students just don't care. I'm not even real interested in a crowd that was gimmicked into coming, I want our students to give a crap. To know our players and care about their success. Outside of being a perennial nationally dominant program, I'm not sure what can be done. It's just a sad reality of how these kids choose to spend their time.
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OU_Country
12/11/2017 1:21 PM
BayCat wrote:expand_more
My brother, minor league baseball executive, has told me that the game is now only 1 attraction. You have to have other events to keep people's attention. In Akron, they added a tiki bar, and greatly expanded activities for kids. The Cleveland Indians did the same thing. They downsized to add a bar in right field and it is always packed.

I'm not sure how this translates to collegiate athletics. I'd love to hear from students. On a game night (any sport), do you know about the game? If you do but choose not to go, why aren't you going?

As others on this thread have said, this sounds like a great idea for the marketing department to explore.
Exactly the kind of questions that should be worked on during move in day the next semester, and it would be a great project for students aspiring for the sports marketing and sales professions after graduation.
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greencat
12/11/2017 1:22 PM
The apathy starts in high school.

School throws a big rowdy pep rally the day of the game. Students act like they have school spirit but mostly are overjoyed about getting out of 3rd period biology class. Night of the game: a scant fraction of them show up to pull for their classmates on the court. Maybe some are bagging groceries at a Kroger at night or working at Sonic. That's legit. But lots have no reason for not going.

A large college on the other hand should have the resources to bribe the students to show up. Get something going with _____________ mountain bike company and draw for one in the second half of every big game when the students are not home for holidays. On a new Xbox or Toshiba HandiBook (LOL!) giveaway sponsored by (whoever). Plenty of t-shirts and pizza to giveaway too. People like free stuff and they like contests to try and win free stuff. Basketball can't annoy them so bad that they against free stuff.
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OU_Country
12/11/2017 1:24 PM
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
If you guys seriously think that a row of black seats, which provide dollars to the athletic department by the way, are a reason for students not being more involved with basketball games, you're out of your minds.

The students in the O-Zone are still closer to the action than some other places I've seen. The Convo used to be unique in that regard having students actually right on the floor. Let's not act like that's a normal thing. But if the AD can generate a few more bucks for some people willing to pay, which there are, then sell those seats. We can't have it both ways, bitching about no money in the AD, but also bitching about those seats being there.

I told Country this yesterday: they need to start allowing folks to move down after the game has started. Say the under 12 timeout of the first half, maybe under 8, if those seats are still open down below, make an announcement that everyone can move down. Make the place "feel" more packed.
Talk about out of your mind, your last paragraph is a classic. Can you imagine the stampede that would ensue each and every game when the 12 minute mark occurred. The only place that I know of that encourages people to move down front is the Presbyterian Church.
They could at least start selling the empty seats as single game tickets. There's no way every seat below the concourse is sold.
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Alan Swank
12/11/2017 1:26 PM
Anybody consider these two things - no one has an obligation to attend anything and going to a game just doesn't float a lot of folks boats just like some students never attend a play, performance, or other activity that the kid next door is a star in. Not sure why we - a bunch of aging white men who enjoyed the games back in the day - worry about it. Yes, I've commented on it but it doesn't keep me up at night.
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ShoreCat
12/11/2017 1:27 PM
So why don't students care? Have entertainment options in Athens (actual, physical places to do things, not social media) increased that much so that going to games isn't a big deal?
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greencat
12/11/2017 1:30 PM
And for games when the students are gone like the dud game coming up against "Northwest Ohio" (?) put stacks of free tickets out at stores townies go to. Like Tractor Supply. Some farmer might enjoy free basketball tickets when they to go to stock up on chicken feed. It's better than playing in front of a totally empty arena.
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OhioCatFan
12/11/2017 1:30 PM
Alan Swank wrote:expand_more
Anybody consider these two things - no one has an obligation to attend anything and going to a game just doesn't float a lot of folks boats just like some students never attend a play, performance, or other activity that the kid next door is a star in. Not sure why we - a bunch of aging white men who enjoyed the games back in the day - worry about it. Yes, I've commented on it but it doesn't keep me up at night.
Watch it Alan, there are at least two -- and maybe more -- aging black men on this board.
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bigtillyoopsupsideurhead
12/11/2017 1:30 PM
BayCat wrote:expand_more
So why don't students care? Have entertainment options in Athens (actual, physical places to do things, not social media) increased that much so that going to games isn't a big deal?
I still think lack of NCAA appearances is a bigger factor than activities. Video Games and Bars existed 6 years ago, yet the O Zone was mhch bigger then.
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shabamon
12/11/2017 1:36 PM
Another thing to consider: right or wrong, is Saul ball really all that exciting for a casual basketball viewer to watch? I mean, it's efficient in the way that the Spurs or the Grizzlies of recent years is efficient. But are there any can't-miss players? There's no DJ Cooper or Maurice Ndour or even a Devaughn Washington that does flashy things. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather win than be flashy (both would be great), but truth be told, I'd like to see amazing athleticism every once in a while too.
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GoCats105
12/11/2017 1:41 PM
bigtillyoopsupsideurhead wrote:expand_more
So why don't students care? Have entertainment options in Athens (actual, physical places to do things, not social media) increased that much so that going to games isn't a big deal?
I still think lack of NCAA appearances is a bigger factor than activities. Video Games and Bars existed 6 years ago, yet the O Zone was mhch bigger then.
We had amazing O-Zone crowds in the TOS era, even before he took us to the NCAA tournament.
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