(11-15-2019 11:24 AM)jmuwyhamhgawd Wrote:  It's also not apples-to-apples to the opening new bridgeforth because half the stadium is still old bridgeforth, and even the new side opened in stages over the course of two seasons.

JMU certainly marketed it as a new stadium (25k Strong), even if less than half was existing. For me, it certainly felt like a new stadium.
If anything, there should be MORE excitement with the new arena due to 100% of it as new to everyone.
Another thing that makes them different is the reason for the new arena. Football needed more seating due to running out of room more than anything. The new arena cannot use that as a reason. While it absolutely benefits both men's and women's basketball, there are other reasons it was built (concerts, events, graduation[Bridgforth also] just to name a few).

(11-15-2019 11:36 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(11-15-2019 11:24 AM)jmuwyhamhgawd Wrote:  It's also not apples-to-apples to the opening new bridgeforth because half the stadium is still old bridgeforth, and even the new side opened in stages over the course of two seasons.

JMU certainly marketed it as a new stadium (25k Strong), even if less than half was existing. For me, it certainly felt like a new stadium.
If anything, there should be MORE excitement with the new arena due to 100% of it as new to everyone.
Another thing that makes them different is the reason for the new arena. Football needed more seating due to running out of room more than anything. The new arena cannot use that as a reason. While it absolutely benefits both men's and women's basketball, there are other reasons it was built (concerts, events, graduation[Bridgforth also] just to name a few).

I think there was more excitement for the football expansion due additionally to the success of the program.

I'm afraid the new Arena could end up being more of - let's check out the new place, but then once people have gone a couple times.....

By conference play I doubt most games will have more than low 3,000s. We'll see in about a year from now.

I think it's very possible we beat GMU and ODU at home next year. Will that create enough excitement in combination with a new arena? I'm not so sure.

I do think if we win at least 65% of our games we could average 1,000 students a game through conference play which would be a huge increase.

I wish we were all thinking - "with this team, going into the new arena next year, it's going to be an amazing season"

(11-15-2019 11:47 AM)Dukester Wrote:  

(11-15-2019 11:36 AM)JMad03 Wrote:  

(11-15-2019 11:24 AM)jmuwyhamhgawd Wrote:  It's also not apples-to-apples to the opening new bridgeforth because half the stadium is still old bridgeforth, and even the new side opened in stages over the course of two seasons.

JMU certainly marketed it as a new stadium (25k Strong), even if less than half was existing. For me, it certainly felt like a new stadium.
If anything, there should be MORE excitement with the new arena due to 100% of it as new to everyone.
Another thing that makes them different is the reason for the new arena. Football needed more seating due to running out of room more than anything. The new arena cannot use that as a reason. While it absolutely benefits both men's and women's basketball, there are other reasons it was built (concerts, events, graduation[Bridgforth also] just to name a few).

I think there was more excitement for the football expansion due additionally to the success of the program.

I'm afraid the new Arena could end up being more of - let's check out the new place, but then once people have gone a couple times.....

By conference play I doubt most games will have more than low 3,000s. We'll see in about a year from now.

I think it's very possible we beat GMU and ODU at home next year. Will that create enough excitement in combination with a new arena? I'm not so sure.

I do think if we win at least 65% of our games we could average 1,000 students a game through conference play which would be a huge increase.

I wish we were all thinking - "with this team, going into the new arena next year, it's going to be an amazing season"

I wish that were the case as well. There's always the possibility this team actually gets a lot better and would build excitement for next year.
If this year is like the last few (which I believe it will be) should lead to the firing of Coach Rowe. Then the admin would need to make a big time hire. I think there's a possibility that a big hire could bring some excitement back to the program after a bad year.
But if there is a more likely scenario, I think it's this one: We have an 'okay' year. A mediocre record that the admin sees as progress and not bad enough to fire Rowe. Then there will be more excitement to check out the new arena more than actually seeing the team. The team next year produces same results and attendance will plummet.
And the blame goes to the admin for completely botching what could have been a shot in the arm for the program. The result will be it will take even longer to bring the fans back to this program because the smell of the new arena will have worn off.

Maine played UVA tonight and scored less points than JMU did. They only scored 26 pts.

(11-27-2019 07:00 PM)hburg Wrote:  Maine played UVA tonight and scored less points than JMU did. They only scored 26 pts.

If Maine were a good basketball team I might take some solace in that. However Maine is 2-4 and their two wins were to D-II Merrimack and D-III Maine Maritime Academy.

Merrimack is on the football schedule '20.

I had not heard of Merrimack so I looked, dll football very recently moving to fcs, NEC.

(11-29-2019 11:45 AM)Purplehazed Wrote:  Merrimack is on the football schedule '20.

I had not heard of Merrimack so I looked, dll football very recently moving to fcs, NEC.

Yeah and for their first year they ended over .500. They were 6-5 but had some very weak programs on their schedule. They lost to St Francis 42-14 and lost to URI 42-14.
They did play playoff team Cent Conn State early in the season and only lost 40-37.
Side note: CCSU also played St Francis and won 38-31.