We haven't had a Saturday night home game in years. I cant even remember the last one. Why this one? Is there something else at UA during the day?

(01-28-2013 12:39 PM)Flashboski Wrote:  We haven't had a Saturday night home game in years. I cant even remember the last one. Why this one? Is there something else at UA during the day?

Hawkins said he wants to see if a later start will bring the students out.

I believe Hawk explained it in his interview with Robin last game, either pre or post game.

Apparently the athletic dept. always asks Hawk if he has any ideas on they can increase student attendance at the games. Hawk stated that they haven't played a saturday night game and it might be worth a try.

*Personally, I don't think this will "help" get more students to the game. I think there will be 250 or so students just like every other game. It's not a matter of getting them to attend, it's a matter of getting them organized and the "right" ones to attend. What I mean by that is right now there is a really good following between athletic teams. Lots of hockey, football, baseball, softball, etc.. players attend the basketball games. I'm sorry, but those aren't the students that are going to be leading the student section. I'm very happy they are there and supporting WMU and their friends though. This has been a recent trend that has been increasing over the last few years.

Like I have said all along, you won't get a Lawson like atmosphere at UA with that split deck student section. Especially when if you stand up, it feels like you are going to fall to your untimely death.

(01-28-2013 01:55 PM)WMU_Flyboy Wrote:  Like I have said all along, you won't get a Lawson like atmosphere at UA with that split deck student section. Especially when if you stand up, it feels like you are going to fall to your untimely death.

Some of the best seats in the house though...right on top of the action.

(01-28-2013 01:55 PM)WMU_Flyboy Wrote:  Like I have said all along, you won't get a Lawson like atmosphere at UA with that split deck student section. Especially when if you stand up, it feels like you are going to fall to your untimely death.

Nah, atmosphere was really good when we were winning a lot.

Winning, that's the trick.

While a night game may or may not bring more students, I think the rest of the attendance will drop. Out of towners might not come since they would have to drive home later in the night or stay. Locals might also have other plans at night. Saturday afternoons seem more open on people's calendars then Saturday nights

I know none of my friends come because of where the student section is located

So is this a good time to start the....we need a new basketball arena thread? A full 15 years after we tore down the original Fieldhouse?

*I don't think WMU is going to do this anytime soon...nor do I think it would be a wise use of funds.

(01-28-2013 01:55 PM)WMU_Flyboy Wrote:  Like I have said all along, you won't get a Lawson like atmosphere at UA with that split deck student section. Especially when if you stand up, it feels like you are going to fall to your untimely death.

I think you are right on Flyboy. Sitting right behind the baskets in the lower level is terrible becuase with the cheerleaders in the way you cant see anything. And sitting up top doesnt feel like your into the action.

I wonder if the Athletic Dept wouldnt be smart to try and take the section directly behind Principal Dunn and Kathy B and make that the student section wouldnt make a difference. Watching the UofM games this year, I dont recall the students being in the lower bowl at Crisler like that until the last 5 or 6 years. And that makes a difference. I didnt go up to Mt P on Saturday due to the weather, but watching the news highlights, it looked like they had a decent turnout of students in the lower level as well. (again, that is just what it looked like on the news, the rest of the place may have been empty).

I just think that they need to figure out a way to create a Lawson Lunatics type atmosphere that will excite the students to come again. Maybe if this group of freshman can stick together and turn into a conference contender in the next few years the students will start to get on board.

But much like football, the University needs to find a way to make the game day experience just that and event and experience that students want to be a part of and dont want to miss. I beleive that is what hockey has become right now.

The student section used to be on the side of the court until students stopped showing up and the demand became higher for season ticket holders, etc.

The location of the student section does not make a difference in student attendance. Winning does. In 2003-2004, we had to get to UA at least 30-45 minutes before tip-off if we wanted a decent seat.

Just win baby.

Although in 97-98, there was never really a tough time getting a student ticket. As was mentioned, the seats were on the sideline, so maybe there were more of them then there are now.

The best part about those seats, was walking to the section and reaching down and grabbing a JJ sammy on the way past press row. That's why I got my season tickets after I graduated in that same place.

NIU game was changed to night game also.

Quote:Sat, Feb 16 Northern Illinois (Faculty/Staff Appreciation Night) * - Kalamazoo, Mich. 6:04 p.m.
SportsTime Ohio

there were slips of paper on the Lunatic seats at Lawson saturday with a letter from Hawk asking the lunatics to come out to UA for the game

NICE

Sucks they can't move the bleachers back up. Those end zone seats were awesome back when they were closer to the court.

(01-28-2013 09:19 PM)Flashboski Wrote:  Sucks they can't move the bleachers back up. Those end zone seats were awesome back when they were closer to the court.

+1

(01-28-2013 03:34 PM)thegeneral Wrote:  The best part about those seats, was walking to the section and reaching down and grabbing a JJ sammy on the way past press row. That's why I got my season tickets after I graduated in that same place.

The serve better subs in prison than those JJ sammies served by the WMU athletic department all those years.