New Student Section?

[zippy5]

Akron Zips posted the following picture, which in the bottom left corner shows a seating chart and says students will now sit in sections N, O, P and 11. I like the idea of putting everyone together, hopefully they enforce it and make all students sit together. But I don't like moving half the section to the top level. The best way to do it would be courtside like Duke, Pitt, etc...but it looks like the students will have to show up and be loud and hopefully force that change.

[Zipmeister]

Why are there NO RW points for the rifle match against Morehead? This is an important early season match and student/fan support is critical. Just because a few spectators got winged last year is no reason to penalize the team.

Go Zips.

[zippy5]

That's a great question

[akzipper]

I've always said the student sections should be along the I-J-K-L side.

...but at the end of the day it comes down to money. Hopefully they decide to build a new arena that allows for a more unified/larger student section.

[LZIp]

There is nothing new about that student section. Was the exact same last year.

[ZachTheZip]

There is nothing new about that student section. Was the exact same last year.

No, it wasn't. It's very different than last year.

Last year down low, both sections behind the basket were students, with half of the south side (or more, depending on how many dozens of trombone players the band felt they needed in a small indoor environment) dedicated to the band. This year, students will only sit on the south side, while the band will be in the northwest corner behind the basket, perforating the eardrums of the players' families and some of the most dedicated season ticket holders, and drowning out coach Dambrot during timeouts. What little space they don't take up will be given to recruits to sit near the Zips home bench, although I don't think we'll ever be able to win over a recruit if we sit them next to the band. The upper student section has completely switched sides, and they'll now be sitting on the south end, the section nearest the main entrance, but opposite the student entrance, forcing the GA crowd and students to push past each other when trying to get to their seats.

This whole arrangement was poorly planned.

[LZIp]

No, it wasn't. It's very different than last year.

Last year down low, both sections behind the basket were students, with half of the south side (or more, depending on how many dozens of trombone players the band felt they needed in a small indoor environment) dedicated to the band. This year, students will only sit on the south side, while the band will be in the northwest corner behind the basket, perforating the eardrums of the players' families and some of the most dedicated season ticket holders, and drowning out coach Dambrot during timeouts. What little space they don't take up will be given to recruits to sit near the Zips home bench, although I don't think we'll ever be able to win over a recruit if we sit them next to the band. The upper student section has completely switched sides, and they'll now be sitting on the south end, the section nearest the main entrance, but opposite the student entrance, forcing the GA crowd and students to push past each other when trying to get to their seats.

This whole arrangement was poorly planned.

Guess I should have looked at it a little better. So basically, its essentially exact same thing, just on opposite sides, and taking one section of behind the basket seating away from the Rowdies/students (extremely dumb). However, something tells me Rowdies will end up sitting next to the band and recruits will be sitting right behind the bench, like it should be. We will see how well the enforce students to sit in section 11, rather than let them sit on either side at the top.

Extremely poor planning by the University, creating very little home court (advantage), also hurting attendance because it stops students from feeling involved in the game.

I can only blame the University so much, though, due to the poor design of the JAR

[RootforRoo44]

Guess I should have looked at it a little better. So basically, its essentially exact same thing, just on opposite sides, and taking one section of behind the basket seating away from the Rowdies/students (extremely dumb). However, something tells me Rowdies will end up sitting next to the band and recruits will be sitting right behind the bench, like it should be. We will see how well the enforce students to sit in section 11, rather than let them sit on either side at the top.

Extremely poor planning by the University, creating very little home court (advantage), also hurting attendance because it stops students from feeling involved in the game.

I can only blame the University so much, though, due to the poor design of the JAR

It is stupid. The North side being the band is about as stupid as the south side having them. The band should be up top in the band section.

Really though, the fact that the lower level west or east side doesn't have a student section is just plain stupidity. Do they not want students to attend? Do they not want the atmosphere to snowball into an electric nuthouse?!

Money is understandable, but when there are PLENTY of open blue seats, there's no reason not to move a few people over. I don't care if they've been in their seats for years, give them a box or two of those leftover Zippy bobbleheads and get on with it.

[Sean]

Does the team defend the basket by their bench in the first or the second half? Its been too long since Ive been to a game and I guess I have never paid attention to that before. If they are defending in the second I guess it makes since to have all of the student over on that side of the court. I guess we will see how it goes when the band comes next Monday.

[ZZZips]

R4R44 -

I want to argue with this sentence...."Money is understandable, but when there are PLENTY of open blue seats, there's no reason not to move a few people over.".

There are not "PLENTY" of open blue seats for sale. Some are available in the west level upper sections but you seem to believe that the lower bowl has not sold well. Totally wrong. Some isolated seats are unsold and you are welcome to join the paying customers in buying yours and enjoying it for years to come. Moving a "few people over" to the few unsold seats would have no atmospheric change at the JAR. While you are at it, why not try and fill the unused seats on the club level at Infocision Stadium with students?

[Dr Z]

What was the average attendance for students at home games last season?

[LZIp]

R4R44 -

I want to argue with this sentence...."Money is understandable, but when there are PLENTY of open blue seats, there's no reason not to move a few people over.".

There are not "PLENTY" of open blue seats for sale. Some are available in the west level upper sections but you seem to believe that the lower bowl has not sold well. Totally wrong. Some isolated seats are unsold and you are welcome to join the paying customers in buying yours and enjoying it for years to come. Moving a "few people over" to the few unsold seats would have no atmospheric change at the JAR. While you are at it, why not try and fill the unused seats on the club level at Infocision Stadium with students?

I understand your point of view, but students pay for their seats too, just indirectly.

Like I said though, only so much blame can be put on the powers above due to the poor design of the JAR. Its just kind of..sad that they put students in the shittiest seats possible in the arena.

[ZachTheZip]

R4R44 -

I want to argue with this sentence...."Money is understandable, but when there are PLENTY of open blue seats, there's no reason not to move a few people over.".

There are not "PLENTY" of open blue seats for sale. Some are available in the west level upper sections but you seem to believe that the lower bowl has not sold well. Totally wrong. Some isolated seats are unsold and you are welcome to join the paying customers in buying yours and enjoying it for years to come. Moving a "few people over" to the few unsold seats would have no atmospheric change at the JAR. While you are at it, why not try and fill the unused seats on the club level at Infocision Stadium with students?

Moving the students opens up the section they were previously sitting in, which is over 100 seats that are closer to the court than the ones on the sideline. It's not a one-sided exchange.

[bobbyake]

it's sad that visiting students get better seats than the Rowdies.

[OU Dude]

wow, guys, that's horrible. I feel for ya. I agree with those that say the students should be lower level in the middle. That way they are right on the court and can influence play on both ends. And the band needs to be straight across from the visiting bench. and loud. that's why they call it a home field advantage.

regardless, Zips students are fools if they don't pack the JAR this year.

[ZZZips]

it's sad that visiting students get better seats than the Rowdies.

A combination of maximizing revenue from the lower bowl, a poorly designed facility and a wise rule in the MAC leads to our unfortunate student seating situation. You can't blame the university from trying to maximize the revenue from our outdated facility. The rule that the seating behind the visitors bench is designated as the visitors seating area is a good rule in my opinion. Very dangerous to seat the home team fans behind the visitors bench. Except for the Convo at OU, every home team student section in the MAC east is end zone seating. At every venue in the MAC the visiting team fans are located behind the visiting team bench. The Rowdies are one of many MAC student sections on the baseline.

Let's get a new downtown arena that solves the problem so this issue fades into a bad memory.

[zippy5]

A combination of maximizing revenue from the lower bowl, a poorly designed facility and a wise rule in the MAC leads to our unfortunate student seating situation. You can't blame the university from trying to maximize the revenue from our outdated facility. The rule that the seating behind the visitors bench is designated as the visitors seating area is a good rule in my opinion. Very dangerous to seat the home team fans behind the visitors bench. Except for the Convo at OU, every home team student section in the MAC east is end zone seating. At every venue in the MAC the visiting team fans are located behind the visiting team bench. The Rowdies are one of many MAC student sections on the baseline.

Let's get a new downtown arena that solves the problem so this issue fades into a bad memory.

Do you see a pattern there? There's only one student section that I would say does a great job. OU. Student sections make a difference. On a score? perhaps. Excitement, atmosphere, and experience for the rest of the fans? Absolutely.

[akzipper]

Comparing the club level at Infocision to the lower bowl at the JAR is ridiculous. Students should be close to the floor, in a unified section. Honestly I'd rather thousands of students siting packed into those sections, than a few hundred random people that sit on their hands for most of the game. Do schools like Duke, UNC, and Pitt shove the students into tiny sections in the end? Students at those schools get the best seats in the house.

[RootforRoo44]

Comparing the club level at Infocision to the lower bowl at the JAR is ridiculous. Students should be close to the floor, in a unified section. Honestly I'd rather thousands of students siting packed into those sections, than a few hundred random people that sit on their hands for most of the game. Do schools like Duke, UNC, and Pitt shove the students into tiny sections in the end? Students at those schools get the best seats in the house.

Exactly. If we allowed an atmosphere like that to develop, people would be THROWING money at the University to get the lower level seats and/or fund a new arena. The U can only blame the JAR so much. At some point they gotta stop thinking small and start figuring these easy things out.

[Hilltopper]

I think you could give the students the best seats in the house and they still wouldn't come.

[GP1]

I think you could give the students the best seats in the house and they still wouldn't come.

This makes me sad. When I was in school, we were always looking for something to do that would entertain us. The basketball team wasn't very good, so it wasn't a good form of entertainment and we didn't go. If they were good, I know lots of people who would have gone. It bothers me that the students have such a great form of entertainment within walking distance from where they live and don't go. I still don't understand why every game isn't sold out. It's great entertainment. These students are creating the next generation of empty seats. Other than school or work obligations, there is no reason for them to not go.

Go to the games kids. You'll have fun.

[Dr Z]

I think you could give the students the best seats in the house and they still wouldn't come.

Agreed. A few times last year, I actually counted them on my hands and toes (not during break.)

You have to ask yourself why students don't come to a game, not enough entertainment? They go to soccer games.

[Captain Kangaroo]

You have to ask yourself why students don't come to a game...

Thad Matta isn't coaching.

[taxpayer]

What is needed is some creativity and boldness. OU gets it and UA doesn't.

OU's students and band and ADMINISTRATION create a homecourt ADVANTAGE for their basketball team. If you don't belive that, venture down for our next Athens game and see.

The current student seating design and student interest in attending isn't a coincidence. The students feel like second class citizens and this "plan" reinforces that perception. Does UA still require them to enter the JAR at via the BACK DOOR?

There are options to be considered, but apparently having a boisterous student section working in conjunction with the band to make the JAR a tough place to play for our opponents doesn't fit the current plan. UA has completely missed the boat as far as engaging the students to produce a challenging enviroment for a Zip opponent. What should have been a priority appears to be an after thought.

Why not inform the students they can have all the end zone seats, move the media tables (across from the benches) upstairs to the track, in one of the four corners and have the band sit opposite the opponent bench (just like OU) and have the boosters on the floor sit by the Zip bench thereby allowing students to take over the sidelines opposite the benches. Think some students would show up for those seats? Have the band meet with the Rowdies and cooridinate. Obviously, the admin will oversee but some event management can make sure all planned activities are coordinated and acceptable.

I think the program KD is building is worth throwing away previous years methods.

Worth a try?

[LZIp]

What is needed is some creativity and boldness. OU gets it and UA doesn't.

OU's students and band and ADMINISTRATION create a homecourt ADVANTAGE for their basketball team. If you don't belive that, venture down for our next Athens game and see.

The current student seating design and student interest in attending isn't a coincidence. The students feel like second class citizens and this "plan" reinforces that perception. Does UA still require them to enter the JAR at via the BACK DOOR?

There are options to be considered, but apparently having a boisterous student section working in conjunction with the band to make the JAR a tough place to play for our opponents doesn't fit the current plan. UA has completely missed the boat as far as engaging the students to produce a challenging enviroment for a Zip opponent. What should have been a priority appears to be an after thought.

Why not inform the students they can have all the end zone seats, move the media tables (across from the benches) upstairs to the track, in one of the four corners and have the band sit opposite the opponent bench (just like OU) and have the boosters on the floor sit by the Zip bench thereby allowing students to take over the sidelines opposite the benches. Think some students would show up for those seats? Have the band meet with the Rowdies and cooridinate. Obviously, the admin will oversee but some event management can make sure all planned activities are coordinated and acceptable.

I think the program KD is building is worth throwing away previous years methods.

Worth a try?

I agree with all of this..

I guess people would rather just say "it wouldnt help" than give it a shot, though. Think Bigger Akron....the "powers that be" need to take their own marketing advice.