Gator Country

gatorbogey · 10-29-2012, 12:34 PM

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 · 10-29-2012, 01:00 PM

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_bask...ttend/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 · 10-29-2012, 01:08 PM

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** · 10-29-2012, 01:47 PM

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

Singaporegator · 10-29-2012, 03:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ThePlayer

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 · 10-29-2012, 04:09 PM

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** · 10-29-2012, 09:03 PM

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 · 10-29-2012, 09:19 PM

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 · 10-30-2012, 09:12 AM

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 · 10-30-2012, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

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 · 10-30-2012, 07:06 PM

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 · 10-30-2012, 08:14 PM

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 · 10-30-2012, 10:42 PM

Haha I would love that, wherever it is!

gogators73 · 10-31-2012, 11:32 AM

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

gatorbogey · 10-31-2012, 09:45 PM

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

**runswithbulls** · 11-01-2012, 09:39 PM

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 · 11-01-2012, 10:24 PM

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 · 11-01-2012, 11:48 PM

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** · 11-01-2012, 11:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

Really like your idea.

insuragator · 11-01-2012, 11:56 PM

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.