I've mentioned this for years both on here and to the powers that be and it's been posted again in this thread, but there is exactly zero excitement in going to a game. By that I mean, when I leave my home on the east side to make the 7 minute drive to the Convo and come down the exit ramp toward the roundabout and look over at the Convo, the only reason I know there is a game is because I have a ticket in my hand. It's dark, there are no banners, nothing. That 4 x 8 foot sign hanging between two poles facing southeast at the corner announcing "basketball game tonight" just isn't getting it. When you do get to the Convo and walk in the front door, again, no excitement. When they redid the lobby and the hall of fame, the consulting firm missed the target. No music, no banners, nothing. I could go on and on but for those who've been to a game lately, you know exactly what I mean.
Is that in itself going to get people to come to the games? Absolutely not but how many of us have walked into a restaurant or bar for the first time and said to ourseleves, "this place is happening?"
I agree 100%, and know exactly what you mean. For the Iona game a couple weeks ago, the damn building was dark on the outside, and the atmosphere going in was very much "meh".
Conversely, when I went to Hinkle Fieldhouse for the first time (and only time so far), the minute you walked in - music, and the smell of popcorn permeated the building everywhere. It FELT and smelled like a basketball building.
In my end of season survey, I think the last two years, but I know for certain last year, I mentioned that it would REALLY benefit Ohio Basketball to send a small team of people to venues outside of their own, and outside the MAC to watch & learn about their game day experiences. Go to UD, Butler, Xavier, Cincinnati, Pitt, etc., and see what they're doing that you're not. Take away 2-3 things that are affordable to improve the excitement and feel. Green Paint, posters, better signage outside, better light outside, and music in the concourses. None of that over a couple seasons would cost much. Firing up the popcorn machines and keeping them going all game is cheap, and makes the place smell good, and smell like basketball (in my opinion).
It's not that hard, and it's what we all do in daily life. I look and see ideas from buddies, family and co-workers about how I could be doing things on the job, or around the house, or in relationships better.