Ideas to "Fill the Bill"

rayers · Post by **rayers** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:13 pm

That's a great idea about a ticket exchange/sale mechanism online. Can't the school coordinate this somehow? I remember a few years back I went to a SF Giants game and ordered a ticket from the Giants website on the day of the game. It was a season ticket holder's ticket who apparently had turned the ticket over to the Giants for resell at the normal price. It was an awesome deal and I picked up the ticket at the ticket window.

SFL89 · Post by **SFL89** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 2:50 pm

I know I'd LOVE to have a reliable on-line means to purchase tickets from afar. That was something that frustrated me way back in the Bruiser years. One time I was in the area over Christmas, and wanted to go to a game. The ONLY way to buy tickets was walkup to the window within an hour or two of the game. Now, I had no trouble getting in, but for an out-of-towner I wanted to be SURE I'd get in! Now that traveling to a home game would require a plane ticket, I'd definitely want to be sure I could have the game tickets purchased ahead of time. I haven't tried to go to a home game in years, so maybe I'm worried about something that has already been fixed.

Marty Peretz · Post by **Marty Peretz** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 3:07 pm

The Athletic Department should promote the hell out of season ticket packages, including partial packages. Increased sales in the season ticket domain will generate more advanced purchases for single game seats and create the perception of demand. I think one more marquee opponent would be a plus. One big win against a quality opponent early in the year would keep the fans coming back for a good portion of the season. It'd be especially nice to bring in a good team durign winter break, so as to keep the momentum going when the students are on break. I also think the ticket office needs to expand its scope of operations on game day. Walk up sales can take 25 minutes even when the arena is half full.

pierpont93 · Post by **pierpont93** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:00 pm

1. Win (we are a bandwagon school like no other).
2. Scheduling. Someone said go back to any team, any time, any place. Exactly, even if that means doing two for ones. If we have to go to Durham twice to get Duke to come once, then do it. Same with other big name schools. During intersession, play "home" games in other parts of the state, i.e. Springfield, Worcester, and Boston (unless Kentucky f*ck's us again). Get's alumni throughout the state to the games and interested.

AGAWAM28 · Post by **AGAWAM28** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 5:17 pm

Though it would never happen here is my idea.........BEER!!!! We need that type of crowd near the opposing bench...haha. I guess that was a typical student response to any question.

Online ticket exchange sounds like an idea for the marketing department at the school. I understand that in order for us to get on TV as much as possible we need to start games at less convenient times, i.e Xavier, Fordham and NIT games, but I think we need to have more games on Friday's and Saturday's. And that Xavier home game this year was a terrible time considering (noon) it was move in day.

Overall the best way to fill the bill is to present a winning product. Umass has the advantage of ending the season with much improved fan support, and like Ford said hopefully that carries over into next year. In terms of thrilling games, Syracuse and Florida might have been the best back-to-back stretch I've ever seen as a fan.

I'd also like to share this with all of you since at the time I thought it was a sign of good things to come (although I might have said it in an earlier post). After the Florida game I stayed to watch the beginning of the OSU vs. Miss game. Most Umass students and fans had left, but a couple of 90's grads came over and we talked about the 90's and now. Having grown up watching Camby, Roe, Travieso (My favorite), dare I say Monty Mack as well even if it was a little later, its great to talk to those people who were on campus back then. We had a great conversation about the past, present, and the direction of this program. Call me stupid, or dramatic, but I thought it was a sign of great things to come when students and alumni are this excited about the future of this program. I'm careful not to have unreasonable expectations, but what the hell I'd like to see them make the tourney while I'm here!!

krkess · Post by **krkess** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 6:25 pm

pierpont93 wrote: During intersession, play "home" games in other parts of the state, i.e. Springfield, Worcester, and Boston

Excellent idea!

hm minuteman · Post by **hm minuteman** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 7:40 pm

In terms of thrilling games Syracuse & Florida........
Boy- that is a FACT! Having been AT both games you could not ask for more as a fan.

xlgman · Post by **xlgman** » Tue Apr 15, 2008 9:39 pm

Short of filling the Bill, they need to make the crowd more concentrated. By that, I mean they should make a much more concerted effort to put all of the fans as close to the court as possible. Every time I have walked up on game day and bought a ticket 15 minutes before game time, I've been given two seats in the last row of the top section. Give me a break - the place is half full and you're putting me in the nosebleeds? Granted, I immediately move down knowing it won't fill up but PLENTY of people are not so bold and tend to stay up there.

Think about the atmosphere we had at the Cage with what 4500? And the noise that 3500-4000 made at MSG. When you get energetic fans packed in tight, the sum is more than the parts because they feed off of each other. The players don't look up to the top row - they want noisy fans waving arms and standing within their line of sight.

Maybe a halftime announcement that encourages everyone to move down? Ushers could take note of open seats and try to fill them by going to the rafters and bringing people down? Non season tickets as general admission? I don't know - there must be a way to do it.

Post by **MikeUMA** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:29 pm

xlgman wrote:Maybe a halftime announcement that encourages everyone to move down?

The US Open tennis does this in the early rounds of night matches, when the night gets late and the die-hard fans stick around in the 300 level. Ushers won't let you into the lower level normally, but once they make the announcement all bets are off and people can fill the lower bowl.

But I disagree that ushers should be the ones to do it. Make one announcement over the PA and be done with it.

The question would be on timing. Maybe do it at the under 16 break in the 2nd half, so that people who stood in food lines at halftime don't come back to find someone else in their seat, causing further disruption.

78 · Post by 78 » Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:40 pm

I guess idea number 1 right now is to find a coach who can continue the success that Travis began to build here. A coach who can market the program to the students.

InnervisionsUMASS · Post by **InnervisionsUMASS** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 12:42 pm

How about a "Fuck Travis Ford Night"?

UMass'96 · Post by **UMass'96** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:08 pm

InnervisionsUMASS wrote:How about a "Fuck Travis Ford Night"?

I think they tried this at his last school....

Used to be VOR · Post by **Used to be VOR** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:10 pm

InnervisionsUMASS wrote:How about a "Fuck Travis Ford Night"?

How about the have a contest and offer free tuition to anyone who can find Travis Ford's character and integrity?

78 · Post by 78 » Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:14 pm

Used to be VOR wrote:
InnervisionsUMASS wrote:How about a "Fuck Travis Ford Night"?
How about the have a contest and offer free tuition to anyone who can find Travis Ford's character and integrity?

Bingo. That way the University will not be risking losing any money, since the character and integrity will be nowhere to be found.

bharms08 · Post by **bharms08** » Wed Apr 16, 2008 1:27 pm

Lappas has been dubbed for a while here as "He Who Shall Not Be Named"

I cant wait to see what some posters come up with in terms of dubbing Ford