Fan Commitment to Gator Hoops

[gatorbogey]

I'm curious on how to fill the o'dome for gator hoops. do you think it will be an issue this season? need fan commitment to do it.

need continued commitment to the men's program - which should be easy given back2back elite eights and a renewed enthusiasm for BD and gator hoops.

need to cultivate fan commitment and enthusiasm for the gator women's hoops program.

for those on this board, how many gator men's games do you [normally] attend? and how many women's games do you attend.

what primarily is the reason you attend a game - or not? [fan of the team, fan of BD, want to see a good game, support all gator sports, can't get enough of gator hoops]

what prevents you from attending? [interest or economics or time?]

what can the gators, UAA, team, coaches, etc do to get you to attend more games?

i think, if we can commit to attending 2 more or extra games of each - men and women - we can build the fanbase. one thing that can really help, is 'bring a friend' [or two] to a game - especially to a woman's game.

[InstiGATOR1]

Since UF listed attendance, ie tickets sold last year was 10,434 out of 12,000 or about 87% of capacity, the issue is how do you get more of the ticket holder to attend. Here is a link to NCAA attendance:

http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/attend/2012.pdf

So why don't UF season ticket holder make it to every game? My guesses include:

1. distance from Gainesville to Miami, West Palm Beach, Pensacola etc. Nothing can be done about that.

2. some games during student breaks reducing student turnout. This can be adjusted and certainly the lack of students turnout during breaks might explain a lot of the unsold 13% along with ticket holders not attending.

3. football competition with basketball until January. Sometime like this week the exhibition is Thursday night and football is Friday. Think of this as an economic issue or time issue along with the distance issue in point 1.

Still I am not trying to say it is hopeless. I think the UAA has set up a mechanism for season ticket holders who can not attend to donate their tickets to students who want to go. That is a step towards filling the seat not just selling the tickets.

[Brewski]

I live in town and have season tix, so I go to them all. I dunno why more don't come, but it would be great to fill the place. I hear if/when they redo the Odome, they may shrink capacity.

[ThePlayer]

I live in California and I'd sure love to go.
It's nonstop excitement watching live basketball.

[Singaporegator]

I live in California and I'd sure love to go.
It's nonstop excitement watching live basketball.

Ditto. I'm in Vermont (waiting for sandy). Even watching football on TV requires a book to read during all the stoppages, but never basketball. If I were in Gainesville, I'd be at every game!

[jhsgator]

Current grad student. Attended about 10 games last year. Went to all the SEC games I just missed a few of the early games against bad teams. Its really hard to get motivated to attend those games. Students have no excuse for not going to SEC games.

[runswithbulls]

I am new to Gainesville and gator sports. Bought season tickets to football just like I have for my alma mater the illini. I went to all but a handful of games over my life in champaign so I plan on attending all the gator hoops games.

[gatorbogey]

welcome to the gator nation;

maybe you can bring an idea or two from champaign on cultivating the fan base (particularly for women's hoops); any ideas are appreciated.

[your_perfect_enemy]

I rarely attend in person but almost never miss watching a game because honestly I'd rather just watch the game on my big screen. I live 3.5 miles from the o'dome and could walk there if I wanted, but I'd rather have a better view on my couch, get to see replays and drink a cold adult beverage.

For the students I think the whole signing up thing is ridiculous and big part of why I didnt get when I was in school. I definitely agree with rewarding the kids that show up all the time but there are some serious tweaks that need to be made to the system

as to the Lady Gators, I hope they win every game, but I just can't take women's basketball seriously

[gatorbogey]

I rarely attend in person but almost never miss watching a game because honestly I'd rather just watch the game on my big screen. I live 3.5 miles from the o'dome and could walk there if I wanted, but I'd rather have a better view on my couch, get to see replays and drink a cold adult beverage.

For the students I think the whole signing up thing is ridiculous and big part of why I didnt get when I was in school. I definitely agree with rewarding the kids that show up all the time but there are some serious tweaks that need to be made to the system

as to the Lady Gators, I hope they win every game, but I just can't take women's basketball seriously

you sound like the perfect fan to make a committment to attend a 'live' gator women's basketball game. just one for this season. optional to attend more, of course.

[jcp]

Since I can't go as a student anymore that means that if I go I have to seat in the alumni section.

I did that once and was bored to death.

When I go to the games I actually like doing all the cheers and stand up. Basically I like being in the Rowdy Reptile section. :( Since I can't it is better for me to watch from home.

[gatorbogey]

need to suggest to the UAA a 'rowdy alumni reptile section'....hmmmm, i think that would be fun. especially, now that many [young] alums have recently been rowdies, and still have the desire to actually cheer during a game [imagine that?! ;) ]. [i wasn't a rowdy, but love cheering at games...amazed that so many don't participate, you know]....i think that's a good idea. let's email the UAA w/ that idea! want it under the basket(s) - to harass the rival free throw shooters?

[jcp]

Haha I would love that, wherever it is! :D

[gogators73]

Just need to do a better job creating enthusiasm. A lot of enthusiasm is manufactured by press/advertising/events.

[gatorbogey]

do the gator women do anything like a 'frat/sorority' day for some of the games?

[runswithbulls]

I don't know how to create more buzz here for basketball. It is different here. Illinois is more of a basketball school, but Florida is football clearly. Florida's basketball program is better, but has less support. I am kind of baffled by this. I would think Florida fans would be very excited by the basketball team and be crazy. It's funny that billy D took over after Illinois stole Lon Kruger. Look at the coaches that have come and gone in champaign. Kruger left for the nba, the self came in, brought some success and bolted for kansas. Bruce weber was a good coach, but lost his way and was fired. Now illinois and the incompetent athletic director hire John groce who could possibly be successful. He was the 3rd choice per reports though. I don't know why gators take the success and Donovan for granted. He is a great coach, one of the best and will bring even more success to Florida. I am excited to cheer for the gators and enjoy the success to come.
Go gators

[tilly]

We are still in the early stages of our passion for hoops compared to the blue bloods. 10 years from now if the program remains strong we will not be having this discussion.

I am lucky to go to one game per year...I live out of state.

One thing that would help is to have games at night of football Saturday's. A few years ago we played Florida Atlantic in football at noon and played Rutgers in hoops that night. The Odome was sold out for Rutgers...because a lot of football folks stuck around for hoops. It worked great for me because it was one trip of two that I made to Gainesville that season.

Seems you could do it at least twice in the early non-con schedule.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tablet using Gator Country

[gatordavisl]

Runs - welcome to the 'Net board and welcome to Hogtown. I lived in Illinois as a kid, before moving to Florida and becoming a Gator. I still have family in Ill, some who graduated from Champaign, so the Illini have always been my second faves. While you have arrived, I've left Hogtown for much colder environs. I look forward to your contributions to the board this year. Go Gators!

[fubar1]

We are still in the early stages of our passion for hoops compared to the blue bloods. 10 years from now if the program remains strong we will not be having this discussion.

I am lucky to go to one game per year...I live out of state.

One thing that would help is to have games at night of football Saturday's. A few years ago we played Florida Atlantic in football at noon and played Rutgers in hoops that night. The Odome was sold out for Rutgers...because a lot of football folks stuck around for hoops. It worked great for me because it was one trip of two that I made to Gainesville that season.

Seems you could do it at least twice in the early non-con schedule.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tablet using Gator Country

Really like your idea.

[insuragator]

Love to go to the games and we are only an hour away. That being said, weekday nights are out for me because I can't bring the kids. Their school is more important. They will need a 15.0 GPA to get in soon and must study.

[giantgator09]

As a student who loves going to basketball games - often times your freshman and sophomore years you'll have exams on nights where there are games. Going to non-SEC games(small schools) is boring as hell and it's expected on campus we win those.

When big games come to town a lot more students want to go but another issue that I consistently have with going to the games is that if you aren't in the rowdy reptile section the seating sucks IMO. I feel so detached from the game that I will almost always walk to the bars across the street to watch the second half or go home and watch it there.

[gatorbogey]

We are still in the early stages of our passion for hoops compared to the blue bloods. 10 years from now if the program remains strong we will not be having this discussion.

I am lucky to go to one game per year...I live out of state.

One thing that would help is to have games at night of football Saturday's. A few years ago we played Florida Atlantic in football at noon and played Rutgers in hoops that night. The Odome was sold out for Rutgers...because a lot of football folks stuck around for hoops. It worked great for me because it was one trip of two that I made to Gainesville that season.

Seems you could do it at least twice in the early non-con schedule.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tablet using Gator Country

yeah, i remember that. i did the 'double' that weekend too. i try to do that during the spring - taking in a hoops game and a baseball game or two...and tennis match, or now, lacrosse. i do wish they'd do more of that, particularly w/ the spring sports and stagger start times so we can take in multiple sports.

i took my dad to that rutgers game. his first live gator hoops game since his days at the old alligator alley. he loved it. was really impressed w/ the rowdy reptiles and the whole atmosphere.

[gatorbogey]

I don't know how to create more buzz here for basketball. It is different here. Illinois is more of a basketball school, but Florida is football clearly. Florida's basketball program is better, but has less support. I am kind of baffled by this. I would think Florida fans would be very excited by the basketball team and be crazy. It's funny that billy D took over after Illinois stole Lon Kruger. Look at the coaches that have come and gone in champaign. Kruger left for the nba, the self came in, brought some success and bolted for kansas. Bruce weber was a good coach, but lost his way and was fired. Now illinois and the incompetent athletic director hire John groce who could possibly be successful. He was the 3rd choice per reports though. I don't know why gators take the success and Donovan for granted. He is a great coach, one of the best and will bring even more success to Florida. I am excited to cheer for the gators and enjoy the success to come.
Go gators

had a golfing buddy that played hoops briefly at illinois [actually think he was just at a junior college and rode the pine after being a star in streater, he ended up just playing golf]...anyway, due to him, i've always had my eye on illinois basketball...we share the colors, at least. yeah, i think illinois would have to build a rupp style arena if they had donovan and won a few natty titles along the way...

i will say BD has turned me into a gator hoops fanatic, but i still don't make many games - 5 hour drive is too much. do make the game down here in sunrise florida. and a few weekend games that i can also catch a gator baseball game, etc. to make the travel worthwhile.

[gatorbogey]

As a student who loves going to basketball games - often times your freshman and sophomore years you'll have exams on nights where there are games. Going to non-SEC games(small schools) is boring as hell and it's expected on campus we win those.

When big games come to town a lot more students want to go but another issue that I consistently have with going to the games is that if you aren't in the rowdy reptile section the seating sucks IMO. I feel so detached from the game that I will almost always walk to the bars across the street to watch the second half or go home and watch it there.

love the rowdies. i can see how that can make you 'spoiled'. can also see how that can make you a rabid fan for life too. can also see how that can cause you to be disappointed in how the more sedate alumni few a game. rowdy alumni need their own section! email the UAA with that idea!!

i don't get down low for games, except in sunrise, or now, if i go to a women's hoops game. i can see how if you get used to that view of the game will ruin it for you, especially if regulated to level 3 seats.

[dalwood13]

We are still in the early stages of our passion for hoops compared to the blue bloods. 10 years from now if the program remains strong we will not be having this discussion.

I am lucky to go to one game per year...I live out of state.

One thing that would help is to have games at night of football Saturday's. A few years ago we played Florida Atlantic in football at noon and played Rutgers in hoops that night. The Odome was sold out for Rutgers...because a lot of football folks stuck around for hoops. It worked great for me because it was one trip of two that I made to Gainesville that season.

Seems you could do it at least twice in the early non-con schedule.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy Tablet using Gator Country

UF doesn't control the kickoff times for football games though. There's no way to ensure that the games wouldn't overlap. I mean, if you're playing a cupcake in football, a noon kickoff is likely, but if UF is a highly ranked team and there aren't many other big games in the SEC, they may get picked up for a night game. Especially these days when ESPN has night games broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.

[tilly]

UF doesn't control the kickoff times for football games though. There's no way to ensure that the games wouldn't overlap. I mean, if you're playing a cupcake in football, a noon kickoff is likely, but if UF is a highly ranked team and there aren't many other big games in the SEC, they may get picked up for a night game. Especially these days when ESPN has night games broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU.


Yeah, I thought about that....

Once the football kickoff is decided, hoops tip-off would coincide. Its no more difficult to have the hoops tip-off TBD, than it is to have the football kickoff TBD.

Furthermore, I'd like to see a BIG time hoops opponent follow the late season football cupcake that day, so theoretically the Hoops team would have the spotlight.

I think this needs to be done once a season, and they need to call it something cool. Call it "SlamDown 2012" taking Slam dunk and touchdown and squashing them together. In whichever game is played first you should have some ticket giveaways to the second game...join them together. Bring the two cultures into one. It would start to put hoops into the football culture, and keep it less separated. If you could blend the hoops culture into the rabid football base...you'd have something.

Its called GatorNation for a reason.

I mean why couldn't ESPN get involved? They could televise both games. Noon kickoff, and a 7:30 tip. Or vise versa.

Just sayin' that would be one awesome Saturday. It was a couple years ago.

[gatorev12]

I usually make it to 2-3 (men's) games per year--but watch every game on tv.

Think our program is in the upper tier of well-supported basketball programs--but unlike most of the traditional basketball powers, Florida is very good in football. Kentucky, Kansas, UNC, Duke, most all the Big East schools, etc--all they have to look forward to every year is basketball.

Additionally, most of the aforementioned basketball schools are located in or near a sizable metropolitan area. Duke and UNC are in the Raleigh area; Kansas is about 45 minutes from downtown Kansas City (less from the affluent suburbs in Overland Park area); Cincinnati, Louisville, and Syracuse are all in metro areas of around 1 million (or more); same with Arizona and UCLA.

Really, only Kentucky is similar to Florida in that they're located in a college town with the nearest city about 90 minutes away--and they certainly have decades worth of tradition.

Taking all those factors in account, Florida's basketball program does pretty well for itself considering the O'Dome fills up to about 87% capacity on most games.

[gatorbogey]

first game - exhibition results, particularly with the play of the newcomers/ freshmen, i sense alot of excitement w/ the gator fans ; back2back elite eights and perhaps a return to that form. on the heels of bradley beal taken 3rd in the nba draft. and a freshman w/ a 'beal-like' game (?!) bodes well from the excitement level.

[Apeman]

I always thought the support would improve as people who were in school during Billy D's reign got out in the real world and had more means to travel. So far, I've been mistaken. I hope the support for the program improves.

[hopngator]

We live in Jax and come down to 4-5 games a year, as many as we can get to. One thing that needs to be looked into, is the empty seats at big games. The tickets are sold, and ticket holders just don't show up. There are some games, like Kentucky or Vandy, where we can't get tix, or have to get them in level 3. But when you get inside the ODome, there are literally a thousand or more empty seats in lower levels. And in games against lesser competition, it is worse.
I am sure these are season ticket holders from outta town, who can't make it. Maybe the UAA should look into getting these tickets, so they can be made available to other boosters.
I know a lot of friends who would go to more games if they could get decent seats.

It is always a great atmosphere and a great time going to live games! Everyone should try to get to at least 1 or 2 a year. It would be that much better if every game had 11-12,000 Gators there cheering the team on!!:yes:

[ibdgator]

Because of the days that the games are mostly played on, coming from out of town is difficult. We used to have better crowds before our back to back championships because a lot of the long time season ticket holders were Alachua County residents. Foley raised the price of everything basketball with the intent of driving off these ticket holders so that the tickets could be sold to wealthier "new boosters" for more money. This appeared to be effective as I saw about 75 percent of the long time group that sat around me disappear, to be replaced with new people that only come to a few games a year and usually don't find people to fill their seats. Many of us can remember when the Dome used to rock. I don't think that will ever happen again because of the above reason.
go gators

[gatorbogey]

yeah, a better ticket exchange system is needed. apparently, now, for some football games as well (for students, in particular). or, for those of us, out of town - maybe set up split season tickets as it's doubtful we can make weeknight games and can only make weekend games. have a weekend/weekday game exchange.

[tupacbiff]

When in doubt raise prices even more.

[Singaporegator]

Because of the days that the games are mostly played on, coming from out of town is difficult. We used to have better crowds before our back to back championships because a lot of the long time season ticket holders were Alachua County residents. Foley raised the price of everything basketball with the intent of driving off these ticket holders so that the tickets could be sold to wealthier "new boosters" for more money. This appeared to be effective as I saw about 75 percent of the long time group that sat around me disappear, to be replaced with new people that only come to a few games a year and usually don't find people to fill their seats. Many of us can remember when the Dome used to rock. I don't think that will ever happen again because of the above reason.
go gators

This rings true to me. Great example of the "Law of Unintended Consequences" at work!