I'm, sorry, but that game was not at all within reach for us. I also got back to Des Moines quicker, so I made the correct decision.
What's with the attendance?
- Thread starter drh1150
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If it's not happening on their phones, it's not happening.
Beer in the arena will have almost zero effect on student attendance.
Most students are underage.
Arena beer is overpriced, students are poor.
There will be some student beer purchases, but mostly from those who would have attended regardless. Because those that would have changed their decision to attend based on alcohol already have their spot were they watch the the game on tv while drinking more cheaply. that's probably for the best because those are the heavier drinkers and alcohol and travel don't mix.
Just let the students in for free and they'll be able to afford buying a few more beers than they normally could. The increased beer sales will help recoup the loss in ticket revenue created by the free tickets. And a better student section will create a better atmosphere. Which can increase public ticket sales. And increase the value of the program, as good atmosphere is free marketing. Repeat customers, apparel sales, more big tv games. And maybe an occasional bigger recruit, which would further raise the value of the program. Just a thought.
But also a disclaimer. Even if you let the students in for free, many of them just won't come. Sports and dedicated fandom just aren't that important to kids anymore. Unless a good student section and winning ball is already an established part of that culture, community, and campus, such as Purdue, or MSU, it just isn't important enough to them. The student body at Iowa these days is, for lack of a better word, a bit "softer" than at many other schools
Most students are underage.
Arena beer is overpriced, students are poor.
There will be some student beer purchases, but mostly from those who would have attended regardless. Because those that would have changed their decision to attend based on alcohol already have their spot were they watch the the game on tv while drinking more cheaply. that's probably for the best because those are the heavier drinkers and alcohol and travel don't mix.
Just let the students in for free and they'll be able to afford buying a few more beers than they normally could. The increased beer sales will help recoup the loss in ticket revenue created by the free tickets. And a better student section will create a better atmosphere. Which can increase public ticket sales. And increase the value of the program, as good atmosphere is free marketing. Repeat customers, apparel sales, more big tv games. And maybe an occasional bigger recruit, which would further raise the value of the program. Just a thought.
But also a disclaimer. Even if you let the students in for free, many of them just won't come. Sports and dedicated fandom just aren't that important to kids anymore. Unless a good student section and winning ball is already an established part of that culture, community, and campus, such as Purdue, or MSU, it just isn't important enough to them. The student body at Iowa these days is, for lack of a better word, a bit "softer" than at many other schools
This is why we don't go to a lot of the games. I mean, we'll be there tonight, and a few other games. But, the late starts are killer when it's almost 2 hours home and the game doesn't end until 10 or after. Figure in trying to get out of CHA, waiting for traffic at either Hawkins and Hwy 6 or Melrose, then 2 hours once traffic clears. We wouldn't be in bed until 1am or after.
And FTR, I try to go to as many weekend games and 6pm starts as I can.
Free tickets for students and better transportation to the games? Not sure if that would increase student attendance or not, but why the hell not?
There's multiple free bus routes that already service Carver from the dorms or downtown, I think students are just apathetic towards a late night basketball game especially when there's no buzz about Iowa basketball. So I don't think additional bus service would help student numbers. The athletic department just needs to concede that Iowa students don't care that much at this point, but free tickets could at least be a start at moderately improving attendance and atmosphere. Winning consistently would above all help everything.
Also for reference, see the current Cambus map- https://transportation.uiowa.edu/si...u/files/2021-08/FY 22 System Map 20210803.pdf
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I noticed that last night Indiana had a late game and their arena was jam packed and rocking. The University needs to do all it can to get students into Carver. It’s really fun to go to games and I really think more could be done to promote the experience.
Two toads jumping over an elephant has more to do with low student attendance then that........ try harder next time
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anon_b29nm7v7dwp6r
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Carver sucks, that’s all. The only time I have ever been in Carver when the arena didn’t drain the life from your soul was that NIT game with Dayton….it was ROWDY. But pretty sure they made it free to get in?
That’s a good point. Maybe Iowa should play 3–4 home games in Des Moines every year.
If Eastern Iowans won’t attend, let’s give other parts of the state a shot!
Ive had a game to coach on 3 of the nights we have played. The other was US/Mexico. I'm planning on going to the game next Friday.
I’m missing the joke about being free to get into the Dayton game, right?
the interest in Iowa basketball didn't fade over a year, and neither will it be built back in a year. You are comparing it to Indiana, where their fan base and students grow up thinking that IU hoops is a big deal and when they become students they clamor for the chance to get a student tickets because it's the place to be. Not the case at Iowa. As you mentioned, IU fills their arena even for late night games against bad teams.
But even in the "down" years Indiana has had since Knight left, they will have Big 10 titles, Sweet 16 and Final 4 appearances in that time (through Mike Davis, Tom Crean, Sampson, etc.). Iowa has none of that spanning the lifetimes of the students who are on campus now. The last time Iowa won the conference was long enough ego that current students' parents were kids when it happened. It will be 23 years in March since Iowa made it out of the first weekend of the NCAA tournament. Yes, there have been some nice moments and players in the ensuing time period, but the program as a whole's biggest moments since then were winning 2 Big 10 conference tournament titles under a coach the fans would just as soon forget. No gimmicks or other things are going to fill up Carver consistently until Iowa wins something.
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anon_b29nm7v7dwp6r
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I’m just saying a lot more of us fun people prioritized going.The upper class folks who sit on their hands the entire game are not exactly loud….any time you remove barriers to entry it will be better….but I realize it can’t be free, that was sort of a perfect storm environment…
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anon_b29nm7v7dwp6r
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The nationwide decline in attendance was happening before smartphones even existed.
From a non scientific sample of three relatively recent UI attendees/grads(my kids), there is little interest in men's basketball or any of the other teams.
I don't think that is a factor with most. Students seem to prioritize their entertainment.
We had split-season student tickets my freshman year, there was so much demand
Id like to know the average age of the fan that currently follows Iowa hoops religiously. Im a man, Im 40 and that's probably on the younger scale of Iowa hoops fans.
Probably correct Epenesa. I'm older than you. You have to be at least 40 to really remember any of the glory times of the 80s, and even then that's a stretch. Iowa basketball fans are not terrible. I would argue the support given to the program has been good given the overall level of play since 2000.
I just checked our schedule. This years B1G games. Iowa has 1, that right ONE, game on a Saturday. 4 on Sundays - two home and two away. So for 20 games there are 3 games that are potentially good for local people to see if you live more than 50 miles away. There are several Friday games, but if you work- getting there may be a problem too and people attend high school games on Fridays. Used to be it was just understood - no college games of BB or FB on Friday nights.
Oh well, times are changing and not in a good way for local fans. I admit, I live in AZ now and can watch every game. Used to watch a few on network, but went to a sports bar for almost all Saturday games.
Oh well, times are changing and not in a good way for local fans. I admit, I live in AZ now and can watch every game. Used to watch a few on network, but went to a sports bar for almost all Saturday games.
When I first starting attending games you had to be a season ticket holder and to be a season ticket holder you had to have contributed to the arena campaign. Nowadays anyone can just buy a ticket the night of the game. I really don’t understand what happened. My interest certainly has not diminished. I understand the world has changed and their are more games televised etc. The crowd has gotten much older and the University does a very poor job of marketing, thinking they can repeat the same tired old tricks that they have used for more than 10 years. I really don’t know what the answer is.
I know the Pierre Pierce deal turned thousands of people off from Iowa Basketball and many have not returned. Some will disagree but I don't really care for Carver Hawkeye Arena, I never have. The parking sucks and the overall ambiance sucks. UNLESS THE STUDENTS ARE THERE. It will never improve until the students come back. Never. Let them in for free for God's sake. There is nothing but empty seats. Seats near the court for students? Duh.
I've been to quite a few arenas in the Midwest. CHA is neither worst nor best. Not anywhere near the class of the best arenas, but when Carver is full and team is good the old lady can rock. As I've stated elsewhere in this post, my belief is there's very little the administration can do at this point. It is going to take sustained success to make it must-see again. The crowd at the first NIT game against Dayton was fantastic in Fran's early years, so it shows it can be done. "Just do that all the time," people say. That was a one-off event, fans were thirsting to cheer after the desert of the Lickliter years.
Basically the product on the floor needs to get better. As it is, there will be good crowds for the Big 10 games, and those will grow if the team is good.
$8.50 for a regular beer is ridiculous and for God sake, get another ice cream maker or two! If attendance is wanted, maybe schedule a few live ones. There - fixed it.
I see nothing wrong with having the students behind the opposing bench. But damn, they’d have to show up first. It would look pretty silly with all of those empty seats (not that they’re full now).
Flip I, J, K over to B, C, D and leave the pep band and the other part of student section alone (H G F E lower section). One issue with this would be a few empty rows behind the standing students near the top of B C D.
This may not be the best idea, but I’d think it’s worth at least trying something/anything at this point.
I wonder if the athletic department put any thought to moving some of these early lesser non-con men's and women's games to Xtream Arena. I'd like to see what the atmosphere would be in a more intimate setting. I think it'd be worth testing out for even just a couple games. Plus, there are a lot better options for restaurants/bars around Xtream Arena. Carver is great when full, but is an awful empty cave when less than 1/2 full. Carver is also out there on an island when it comes to no nearby bars/restaurants.
Agreed it's hard to get excited for glorified exhibitions. I think support will ramp up eventually, but the B1G didn't help Iowa out with scheduling at all. There are at least 4 B1G home games on weeknights and come January/February, the appeal to drive even an hour each way just isn't there.
I doubt that will happen when they’re selling 9,500-11,000 tickets at CHA for Longwood, NCCU, Alabama St, and UMKC.
Also, I’d assume that season ticket holders would get the tickets (5,000 capacity) or at worst first dibs to them, and it would be a similar atmosphere. ***No offense to season ticket holders intended.
I do agree though, a game there would be cool. But why I could never see Iowa downsizing below 12,000 capacity when they’re selling that for +300 type games.
