Attendance

[LZIp]

The student attendance issue isn't all that puzzling. The average student has a wealth of entertainment options available to them on any given night. You can get 100s of channels of cable television in almost every dorm, apartment or house around campus. Pretty well everyone has an X-box, Wii, or Playstation. The internet and sites like facebook and twitter provide seemingly endless entertainment options. Combine that with the more traditional, out of house entertainment options such as bars, concerts, professional sports, parties, etc. and there are more entertainment options for todays student than at any time in history.

The challenge of any marketing department is to find a way to rise above all of the other options and attract students to these games. It isn't an easy task by any stretch of the imagination, and I'm not sure that anyone in the college landscape has truly figured it out yet. Having a team like this years squad that plays fast and above the rim and is winning a lot of games is a good start.

I attend as many games as I can because I'm a huge basketball, and sports fan in general. The issue I have is that its hard to find people to go with. Most of my friends arent into sports all that much. I think promotions like free food/t-shirts will get your average student in the game. They do it for football, why not basketball(where the product is actually decent)?

When cheerleaders or dance team throw out shirts and the taylor made jewelry whatever, they throw it to the sides 95% of the time, like the average fan is more important than the students. Do some stuff for the students that make them feel wanted and have fun and more of the average fans will come.

Something I notice is that there is not much support from the other student athletes.

[taxpayer]

As a relatively new ZIP booster/fan I submit the following and invite constructive criticism to better our gameday:

How many big boosters sit on the floor opposite the team benches? Could they be accomodated with 1st row mid court seats? Move the balance of "media" to the endzone corners to perform their job? No one sits there now and they wouldn't block any fans views. Or relocate them (TV)to the officials table between the benches. Lots of other schools don't provide 1st row/midcourt seating to the media, in fact most put them in the endzones or up high in peanut heaven.

Then bring in some risers, chairs or bleachers and make them student/AK rowdies only. If it takes some free t-shirts, hot dog/drinks, towels, etc to the 1st arriving students who want to sit/stand there than so be it. I think the boosters would go along with such a move. It would increase student/rowdie activity/noise, give us an improved home court advantage and they still get prime seats in the midst of the craziness. The students would feel "involved" and part of the game just like they do at the soccer games.

This seems like a cheap and easy to accomplish way to address all the above stated excuses for lack of student attendance/involvement. Based upon student performance vs Cant I think the students will show up and confirm the teams/Coach D's comments concerning their effect on their play. If not, go back to the current lousy arrangements.

What say you?

[AKSportsFan]

I don't think many people notice but there is 2 rows that are pushed in to make room for the Press sitting on the floor. IDK if those could actually be utalized by relocating those sitting on the floor or not. Also Instead of making the one section just for "Rowdies Only" (I understand you can get there if you aren't a Rowdie but the perception is that its an exclusive click of friends not a representation of the student body itself...) Make a ton of room in the lower ring and seat student there first. any other students will then have to "overflow" in the nosebleed behind the stupid black handrail. Get a section of students down low that encourages student participation (including standing, cheering, chanting, harassing, ect..) Also, Its annoying the students have to walk behind the JAR to get in and in doing so lose out on a lot of possible concession sales. Thats my .02

Bottom line is get students together, and down on the floor more than just the 50 Rowdies.

[AKSportsFan]

...I just think the current expectation is "students sit in the ends in the upper bowl" and thats what you get.

Gotta get us sitting down low.

[taxpayer]

AKSportsFan - is it true students have to go to the rear of the JAR to enter for a game? If that is correct, why in the world would the powers that be not have students entering the front of JAR as well?

[RowdyZip]

AKSportsFan - is it true students have to go to the rear of the JAR to enter for a game? If that is correct, why in the world would the powers that be not have students entering the front of JAR as well?

I'll jump in here, as I just noticed the topic. Students are required to enter through the back entrance by Bierce Library/Olin Hall. It's a pain in the arse. I'm taking a couple classes this semester so I didn't get season tickets...so my wife enters the main gate and I hike all the way around the building. Also, I'd just like to throw it out there, that as a student I have not once been offered a wrist band to sit in the (mostly empty) lower seats. I likely wouldn't accept, unless my wife could come with me, but that's just the principle. If it's open to all students, why aren't all students being offered the seats?

[jem101]

I'll jump in here, as I just noticed the topic. Students are required to enter through the back entrance by Bierce Library/Olin Hall. It's a pain in the arse. I'm taking a couple classes this semester so I didn't get season tickets...so my wife enters the main gate and I hike all the way around the building. Also, I'd just like to throw it out there, that as a student I have not once been offered a wrist band to sit in the (mostly empty) lower seats. I likely wouldn't accept, unless my wife could come with me, but that's just the principle. If it's open to all students, why aren't all students being offered the seats?

I'm a member of the ROWDIES and I'm never "offered" a wrist band. I just have to ask for one from the students handing them out.

Also, can regular tickets enter the student entrance? I feel like I've noticed that happening this year. I want to take my 7 year old brother to a game, but don't know how to handle the idea that we have entrances on opposite sides of the arena. Obviously, I don't feel confortable leaving him on his own at the main entrance.

[ZachTheZip]

Also, can regular tickets enter the student entrance?

I'm almost certain that you can.

[RowdyZip]

I'm a member of the ROWDIES and I'm never "offered" a wrist band. I just have to ask for one from the students handing them out.

Also, can regular tickets enter the student entrance? I feel like I've noticed that happening this year. I want to take my 7 year old brother to a game, but don't know how to handle the idea that we have entrances on opposite sides of the arena. Obviously, I don't feel confortable leaving him on his own at the main entrance.

Well, not to be rude, but that's asinine, don't you think? There's a half dozen kids sitting in that lobby waiting to scan IDs, etc. Why wouldn't they offer wrist bands to everyone with a valid ID? I've yet to see those sections filled to capacity other than the Can't game. Ohio and VCU were at least close. I think there were about 15 kids in the end opposite the band for EMU.

[JeffQ78]

I don't think many people notice but there is 2 rows that are pushed in to make room for the Press sitting on the floor. IDK if those could actually be utalized by relocating those sitting on the floor or not. Also Instead of making the one section just for "Rowdies Only" (I understand you can get there if you aren't a Rowdie but the perception is that its an exclusive click of friends not a representation of the student body itself...) Make a ton of room in the lower ring and seat student there first. any other students will then have to "overflow" in the nosebleed behind the stupid black handrail. Get a section of students down low that encourages student participation (including standing, cheering, chanting, harassing, ect..) Also, Its annoying the students have to walk behind the JAR to get in and in doing so lose out on a lot of possible concession sales. Thats my .02

Bottom line is get students together, and down on the floor more than just the 50 Rowdies.

+1

Plus a side note: As a current student I wouldn't want to go sit down with the rowdies. They are an awful representation of the intelligence of the student body.

[WinZip]

Well, not to be rude, but that's asinine, don't you think? There's a half dozen kids sitting in that lobby waiting to scan IDs, etc. Why wouldn't they offer wrist bands to everyone with a valid ID? I've yet to see those sections filled to capacity other than the Can't game. Ohio and VCU were at least close. I think there were about 15 kids in the end opposite the band for EMU.

I agree. At about this time every year we have this discussion. Looking back, I felt as though the Rowdies had a frat mentality where they (for some reason) were perfectly content to goof around among themselves rather than try to draw others into the fun. The demand just isn't there, so why not be more proactive. Sure, some could point out that the number of members is on the rise, but quality doesn't seem to be correlated.

A unified student section could really take things to another level. The emotion is contagious. Catch the fever.

I love the rowdies and the zips..time to kick it up a notch.

[BirdZip]

For the life of me, I don't know why our Saturday games don't sell out with the quality team we have. What are people in Akron and the surrounding area doing on a Saturday night in early February?

Umm....

[Zip_ME87]

Well, not to be rude, but that's asinine, don't you think? There's a half dozen kids sitting in that lobby waiting to scan IDs, etc. Why wouldn't they offer wrist bands to everyone with a valid ID? I've yet to see those sections filled to capacity other than the Can't game. Ohio and VCU were at least close. I think there were about 15 kids in the end opposite the band for EMU.

I believe the point is ASK for a wristband and you will receive one. Try it. If you ask and are denied, then perhaps you should send an e-mail to Tom Wistrcill, Dan Satter, or Dr. Proenza (or all 3).

[plowerman78]

i said it before ill say it again, u dont have to be a ROWDIE to get on the floor. Its as simple as going through the student gate and asking for a wristband. Its seriously that simple, just ask.

[plowerman78]

if ur denied let me know, it either means u go to Can't or ur not a real person. we want both ends full of Akron students ROWDIE or non ROWDIE as long as u root for Akron its fine with me.

[RowdyZip]

We're all missing the point here. I don't want to sit there (At 31, I'm a bit past my best heckling/screaming/insulting days). My point is, shouldn't the students running the organization be proactive toward filling these seats? I'm not sure why we're sitting back and expecting kids to ask for a wrist band, when some (or most?) probably don't know what's involved in getting those seats.

Or we could just let it go and see how it works out (since it has so far...)

[Captain Kangaroo]

Regarding attendance - If it is low this Saturday night vs. NIU, it's because The Zips Coaches Show promoted the game about 8 times...with a noon start time. Gheez....hope to see at least a couple of you around 7:30pm.

[zippy5]

They should just make the first 200 or however many ppl fit, sit down low.

[CincyZip]

Every game I have attended I have sat in the student section. I must be a miracle worker or something.

[CincyZip]

It's really, really hard

1) go to the person handing out wristbands

2) ask for a wristband

3)answer the question "Band side or home side"

4) put on wristband and find a seat.

However, even with the complexity of the situation, students are able to use that college education to figure it out.

[AKZ]

Come on. Students aren't driving an hour to Cleveland because the arena is better designed than the JAR. They are driving there because they want to be a part of a possible championship.

I'm suggesting that the student section is louder and more unified at the Q, and that is absolutely a result of arena design.

The design of the JAR kills the student section atmosphere. The Rowdies who sit court-level are not the average student. The current seating arrangement basically forces the students to scatter across the GA seating, because unfortunately, not everyone is as devoted as headaviatorrowdie. Many people are just looking for something fun to do during a study break.

This isn't the Rowdies fault. Rather, it's the ridiculous design of the arena that's at fault. I have no short term solutions, just hope for the mid to long term. Once again, if a new arena isn't in the cards, I really hope they just get rid of the track and run the seats all the way down to the floor(I'm picturing chairbacks from where the Rowdies sit to where the bleachers are).

[AKZ]

However, even with the complexity of the situation, students are able to use that college education to figure it out.

I think you're missing the point. Not everyone is outgoing enough or cares enough to sit with the Rowdies. It's great what you guys do, but I think it would be to your advantage to remember that some people have ridiculously heavy course loads. It just isn't possible to head down to the court-side every game and learn all the chants. Not everyone has the time/cares enough.

The Rowdies do a pretty good job with things. This has more to do with the design of the JAR. The casual student fan is what's at stake here. We all know that the same 50 students will show up to every single game.

[LZIp]

It's really, really hard

1) go to the person handing out wristbands

2) ask for a wristband

3)answer the question "Band side or home side"

4) put on wristband and find a seat.

However, even with the complexity of the situation, students are able to use that college education to figure it out.

lol. you are making more of it than what it is.

The issue here is that the students dont know. I was a rowdy last year, was intending to this year, but i just never got around to signing up. I still attend many games though, and have never sat down low. Why? because the first I've heard about getting a wristband to sit down low is on this forum, yesterday.

If somebody who attends a majority of the games doesnt know how to be able to sit down low, how do you expect the casual student fan to know?

[WinZip]

Really don't understand why people aren't getting this...

There is obviously a problem if most (and I think it's significant) students would rather sit in the nose bleeds than right on the floor where there's the best view. Sure we can just assume they don't want a wristband and end the discussion there. My question is why don't most student want better seats at the game?

I think making the floor seats mandatory to the first 200 student would be messy...but I like the idea. I think people would want wristbands to the GA seating sadly.

Now about moving the band...

Only Kidding

[LZIp]

My question is why don't most student want better seats at the game?

what makes you think they dont?