Look In The Mirror

[Nostical]

During the recent ACC selection of Louisville, the issue was hotly debated as to whether UConn was/is as serious about it’s athletic programs as the Cardinals---especially its football program. From stadium size to on field performance, coaching staff to attendance, it all comprised a significant roadblock for us to overcome. And for all our chest thumping that we deserve a better conference fate, sadly, the view many around the nation have of UConn football is a lot more like the programs we love to demean. More even than we care to admit. Here are some comments from an article a few years back about UCF football attendance and notice how similar it is to the complaints we on this board have about our own fan base.

Student Support for UCF Remains Abysmal

"....UCF fans, as a whole, just don't care. Do you think there would be any available seats if our still unsold-out home game were in Austin, Texas? Absolutely not. Just wait until next year, when the game is in Texas, and the entire stadium will be filled. And color coordinated. It turns out that UCF fans can't even seem to decide what color to wear to the game.
Penn State can get 100,000 fans to "white out" Beaver Stadium, but UCF fans can't even decide what color to wear to a student section that they can't even fill. UCF now has an impressive on-campus stadium, but I don't know if it needs one. Please prove me wrong.
Show up for Memphis; show up for Louisiana-Lafayette. Or Tulsa, Marshall, or UTEP. It doesn't matter what color you wear, just show up. This is the beginning of a new era of UCF athletics.
We have a competitive football team, a streaking volleyball team, some of the best soccer teams in Conference USA, if not in the country, and a men's basketball team that was a shot away from reaching the semifinals of the C-USA Championship.There is no reason that there should be an empty seat at any event, let alone the biggest football game ever held on campus."

UCF touts its volleyball and just missing C-USA semi-finals as reasons to show up. Meanwhile, UConn has multiple NCAA Basketball Championships, NCAA Soccer and Field Hockey titles, Big East Football Championships, a BCS Bowl-----and yet, alas, we cant seem to fill our stadium either. Whether it's a product of the economy, lack of vigorous promotion and marketing--- or merely the need to win--- until we and the university leadership get serious about our respective responsibilities to fix it, we will continue to be depicted as less worthy. Hopefully, when all shakes out, we’ll land softly. Perhaps our potential to provide eyeballs to enhance regional cable rates and enrich conference networks will serve us well. In the meantime, we all need to take a long hard look in the mirror. It’s not a very pretty picture.

 

[CTMike]

If you are on the Boneyard reading this, you are probably not the problem.

We're not playing top-flight teams regularly, and we aren't winning against who we do play. The last two years of football, save for the defense, has been insanely boring. I mentioned elsewhere, but fans are being charged steak prices for a turd sandwich. That's not on the fans. Give them a little credit here, they know when they are being had. PROVIDE VALUE, and fans will show. Play interesting teams (I think next fall's schedule will be fun). Win (that's a problem). If you can't win, be exciting and give hope (an even bigger problem). Rethink the process of milking folks for all they are worth at the games. And market the hell out of the program even though our chips our down... not just tv/radio, but grass-roots, high-school football level... even marketing on campus. Engage folks.

Football wise - we let our foot off the pedal after the Fiesta. We've gone backwards, not forwards. Marketing wise, we've never maxed our potential. Fix those and the fan base will be a ton more supportive. We are too young and too fickle to expect fans to just show without any effort.

 

[uconndogs]

Edsall's departure and the new regime could not have come at a worse time. Many here had no use for Edsall, but he did a very good job managing the program and getting the best out of his talent. P has shown nothing of these traits and we may very well pay a heavy price for his hire. I truly fear that he will have GDL as the OC again next season and as a HC I can't for the life of me figure out how he justifies that.

Our running game without Masters and Bennett and relying on McCombs to handle the bulk of the carries terrifies me. Without that running game we'll need a platoon of QBs as one after another gets carted off the field. I don't see how it's more than a 2 or 3 win season without major changes to the offense.

 

[Dann]

Ill put 50k in the place for a game vs umass non issue. We have fans but no leadersip/creative minds/balls

 

[Nostical]

This quote in an article about possible fallout if Head Coach Chip Kelly leaves Oregon should give us all pause----""But recruiting analysts say the status of assistant coaches is more vital to most players,......

 

[jackl]

Edsall's departure and the new regime could not have come at a worse time. Many here had no use for Edsall, but he did a very good job managing the program and getting the best out of his talent. P has shown nothing of these traits and we may very well pay a heavy price for his hire. I truly fear that he will have GDL as the OC again next season and as a HC I can't for the life of me figure out how he justifies that.

Our running game without Masters and Bennett and relying on McCombs to handle the bulk of the carries terrifies me. Without that running game we'll need a platoon of QBs as one after another gets carted off the field. I don't see how it's more than a 2 or 3 win season without major changes to the offense.

Not sure why that terrified you, I bet McCombs was even more terrified when Friend and Bennett were in the lineup. As far as I could see both especially Friend were too good at the so called "LOOKOUT BLOCK". Bennett looked like a football player with bad pins which he was. People ran around both of them like they wore concrete spikes. Maybe GDL's blocking scheme was too tough to grasp. What is wrong with straight ahead stuff with a bigger running back.

 

[UConnDan97]

If you are on the Boneyard reading this, you are probably not the problem.

We're not playing top-flight teams regularly, and we aren't winning against who we do play. The last two years of football, save for the defense, has been insanely boring. I mentioned elsewhere, but fans are being charged steak prices for a turd sandwich. That's not on the fans. Give them a little credit here, they know when they are being had. PROVIDE VALUE, and fans will show. Play interesting teams (I think next fall's schedule will be fun). Win (that's a problem). If you can't win, be exciting and give hope (an even bigger problem). Rethink the process of milking folks for all they are worth at the games. And market the hell out of the program even though our chips our down... not just tv/radio, but grass-roots, high-school football level... even marketing on campus. Engage folks.

Football wise - we let our foot off the pedal after the Fiesta. We've gone backwards, not forwards. Marketing wise, we've never maxed our potential. Fix those and the fan base will be a ton more supportive. We are too young and too fickle to expect fans to just show without any effort.

I'll go one step further (or actually, many steps less far); the amounts that they are charging for season tickets, plus the ridiculous "donation" part of the equation, are pretty high. In fact, I think they are unreasonably high (although I hear that they have lowered the pricing for this coming year), regardless of the competition. When your ticket prices start at $30 per person for the cheapest seats (if I'm not mistaken for the season ticket packages), that's too much. A family of 4 is going to have a tough time dropping $120 + concessions to see a college game. If they truly want to pack the house, drop the prices a little.

Does anyone know if the 3-game deals are any cheaper than $30 per game? Just curious. Also, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong about the lowest season ticket pricing...

 

[hexlub]

I now consider myself a fan of UCF's streaking volleyball team.

 

[Nostical]

Most CT citizens are simply not big fans of the football program. True, we don't need them all, but getting and retaining just a chunk will take winning, exciting games, and compelling personalities. We're in competetion for the entertainment dollar. Headliner concerts draw the most fans and can charge the highest prices. The back of the playbill types may be good musically, but they dont have the reputation nor do they create that "must see buzz". When we came back from The Fiesta Bowl, my wife's brother (like so many others, he's not a football fan) didn't say, "Did you have a good time?" he said, "Hey, that game cost me money!" as he held up an article trumpeting how UConn went into debt for what was to be a big payday. Like many other citizens, its all about keeping their taxes low, not helping build our football program.

 

[Excalibur]

Remember that UL had 10,000 plus empty seats for their game against us in a year where they are going to the BCS.

 

[BlueDogs]

Guys, the stadium was a regular sell out or close to from day one with Indiana. The drop off started with a Big East imploding and a crappy schedule. This year's schedule was terrible, only to be out done by our even more terrible performance. You just can't expect to get fans jacked up for Buffalo, Temple, Western Michigan, etc.

Compare this to the years with West Virginia and Pitt playing televised night games at the Rent.

There are numerous factors forming a deadly confluence. If you want loyal fanatics you have to earn them. Just showing up and pepperingbflames and DJ Dogpound at 12:00 Saturday sleeper is not going to get folks out in droves.

Improve scheduling, get mid afternoon and might games, build some tradition, and get a new staff.

 

[UConnDan97]

Guys, the stadium was a regular sell out or close to from day one with Indiana. The drop off started with a Big East imploding and a crappy schedule. This year's schedule was terrible, only to be out done by our even more terrible performance. You just can't expect to get fans jacked up for Buffalo, Temple, Western Michigan, etc.

I don't buy that at all. Let's take 2007, for example (before the economy hit the crapper). We averaged 38,205 people that year, which was pretty steadily our average over a 6 year period (based on UConnJim's numbers in another thread). That year, we had seven home games, and the home slate for 2007 was:

Maine, Temple, Akron, Louisville, South Florida, Syracuse, and Rutgers.

Yes, that's right. We averaged over 38k in a year that we got to watch Maine, Temple, and Akron as our OOC home schedule. I believe the answer is pretty simple. There are two factors at play; price and wins. We happened to finish 9-4 that year. All the arguments about the fact that we can't find 40k fans to go to the games if we aren't playing against Michigan is simply outrageous. It's more likely that people aren't willing to drop over $120 nowadays for their family to see a game, and certainly not when the team is not doing that well...

 

[Hoophound]

I don't buy that at all. Let's take 2007, for example (before the economy hit the crapper). We averaged 38,205 people that year, which was pretty steadily our average over a 6 year period (based on UConnJim's numbers in another thread). That year, we had seven home games, and the home slate for 2007 was:

Maine, Temple, Akron, Louisville, South Florida, Syracuse, and Rutgers.

Yes, that's right. We averaged over 38k in a year that we got to watch Maine, Temple, and Akron as our OOC home schedule. I believe the answer is pretty simple. There are two factors at play; price and wins. We happened to finish 9-4 that year. All the arguments about the fact that we can't find 40k fans to go to the games if we aren't playing against Michigan is simply outrageous. It's more likely that people aren't willing to drop over $120 nowadays for their family to see a game, and certainly not when the team is not doing that well...

That really is it. We have been spoiled in basketball so fans hate being served too many garbage games. We prefer to play tough games and take the chance of losing. We have learned that tough opponent or not, we win most of our basketball games. We are apathetic basketball fans when the opponent sucks.

In football, we fill the seats by winning. We would have no problem selling out the Rent for Akron if we were entering the game 5-0. We have fan apathy in football when WE suck. When we only have empty seats in football because of our schedule, we'll know we are a pretty successful football program. Right now, fans don't want to see us play, it isn't the opponent's fault.

Different issues.

 

[whaler11]

For the record there are season tickets that were $120 this year and they didn't sell them out so it's not all prices.

The seat donations have to come down though, those are clearly too high.

The athletic department has no long term vision for ticket sales. They keep season tickets high and then discount the out of games after the season starts in desperation. Then they do stupid things like lower the basketball tickets for single games and sell the mini packs at full price at the same time.

It's frigging amateur hour.

 

[noeynox]

I've shared my nightmare experience with the ticket office on the board. Was told by some here "who cares". I'll tell you who cares, the casual fan who gets the same treatment I did says " this", and spends their entertainment money somewhere else.

Whaler is right, it is amateur hour with the ticket people. From pricing to customer service they suck. They have taken the portion of the fan base that buys tickets no matter what for granted, and in a down economy, and a product that is lacking, they're going to pay for it big time.

 

[UConnDan97]

I've shared my nightmare experience with the ticket office on the board. Was told by some here "who cares". I'll tell you who cares, the casual fan who gets the same treatment I did says " this", and spends their entertainment money somewhere else.

Whaler is right, it is amateur hour with the ticket people. From pricing to customer service they suck. They have taken the portion of the fan base that buys tickets no matter what for granted, and in a down economy, and a product that is lacking, they're going to pay for it big time.

Do you think that maybe the situation would improve if we took over running the Rent? Although that wouldn't explain how we are screwing with the basketball tickets. I'm just wondering if the situation would get better if we begin to remove some of these "middle-men" interests...

 

[whaler11]

Do you think that maybe the situation would improve if we took over running the Rent? Although that wouldn't explain how we are screwing with the basketball tickets. I'm just wondering if the situation would get better if we begin to remove some of these "middle-men" interests...

No the people that run the building have no part in the pricing strategy.

 

[UConnDan97]

No the people that run the building have no part in the pricing strategy.

Is the pricing solely set by the university, or is there a third party somewhere along the line? (i.e., TicketMaster)

 

[BlueDogs]

I don't buy that at all. Let's take 2007, for example (before the economy hit the crapper). We averaged 38,205 people that year, which was pretty steadily our average over a 6 year period (based on UConnJim's numbers in another thread). That year, we had seven home games, and the home slate for 2007 was:

Maine, Temple, Akron, Louisville, South Florida, Syracuse, and Rutgers.

Yes, that's right. We averaged over 38k in a year that we got to watch Maine, Temple, and Akron as our OOC home schedule. I believe the answer is pretty simple. There are two factors at play; price and wins. We happened to finish 9-4 that year. All the arguments about the fact that we can't find 40k fans to go to the games if we aren't playing against Michigan is simply outrageous. It's more likely that people aren't willing to drop over $120 nowadays for their family to see a game, and certainly not when the team is not doing that well...

Good point. I remember the year, and the home schedule stunk but we were still in a power conference with Away games that meant something. I'd don't think you mind if you know the flip side in the following year if you're in for the long haul. But, scheduling weak (or uninteresting opponents) will catch up with you if you are not winning, and even if winning if the outcome is not major bowl consideration.

I think people would pay up for high quality competition. Our problem is declining competition in conference and OCC, coupled with pitiful play. Bring the big time forum and fans will show. We are going backwards in every key area. It is imperative they clean house, get aggressive in marketing, and build with a big vision. It's a crying shame to see what's happening. We have the exact wrong folks at every level at the worst time possible. Why am I watching Western Kentucky and Central Michigan post Christmas, and UConn is sitting home. Just tragic.

 

[UConnDan97]

Good point. I remember the year, and the home schedule stunk but we were still in a power conference with Away games that meant something. I'd don't think you mind if you know the flip side in the following year if you're in for the long haul. But, scheduling weak (or uninteresting opponents) will catch up with you if you are not winning, and even if winning if the outcome is not major bowl consideration.

I think people would pay up for high quality competition. Our problem is declining competition in conference and OCC, coupled with pitiful play. Bring the big time forum and fans will show. We are going backwards in every key area. It is imperative they clean house, get aggressive in marketing, and build with a big vision. It's a crying shame to see what's happening. We have the exact wrong folks at every level at the worst time possible. Why am I watching Western Kentucky and Central Michigan post Christmas, and UConn is sitting home. Just tragic.

Well, next year, there isn't much excuse for not having good attendances (unless we find ourselves getting crushed along the way). Our home slate next year is:

OOC: Towson, Maryland, Michigan
Big East: Louisville, Rutgers, San Diego State, USF

There's a lot of good stuff going on in that home schedule. The issue will be 2014, where they have yet to announce an OOC game!!! Incredible...

 

[BlueDogs]

Well, next year, there isn't much excuse for not having good attendances (unless we find ourselves getting crushed along the way). Our home slate next year is:

OOC: Towson, Maryland, Michigan
Big East: Louisville, Rutgers, San Diego State, USF

There's a lot of good stuff going on in that home schedule. The issue will be 2014, where they have yet to announce an OOC game!!! Incredible...

Yup. Great schedule and the last hurrah, then our own version of the cliff.

 

[noeynox]

Do you think that maybe the situation would improve if we took over running the Rent? Although that wouldn't explain how we are screwing with the basketball tickets. I'm just wondering if the situation would get better if we begin to remove some of these "middle-men" interests...

I don't enough about any of this stuff to give you a knowledgeable answer Dan, though my instinct tells me that Whaler is correct.

What I do know, is that customer service isn't just about being pleasant on the phone. You have to offer some sort of resolution to appease your fans when you them over because of YOUR mistake. They didn't do that with me. Just a "call back next year and we will try to acomodate you". I feel they have really screwed the pooch on their loyal season ticket holders. Ask around in your section next year and your likely to hear stories about personal experience or those of former season ticket holders.

In this regard, the school has to look in the mirror just as much as the fan base.

 

[uconNYC]

I think its our style of play more than the opponents that has led to decreased attendances. When the Rent first opened we had a high flying offense with Dan O. Then it gradually started getting worse with terrible QBs and predictable play calling.

I don't have the numbers in front of me but if I remember correctly our attendance is actually not very tied to the opponent. The Temple game drew more fans than NCState. The Buffalo game drew more fans than Pitt and Cincy. I remember the Duke game a few years back being sold-out, while the UNC game was not.

With the central location of the stadium and the great tailgating environment, if we play attractive football I feel the crowds will come.

 

[UConnDan97]

I think its our style of play more than the opponents that has led to decreased attendances. When the Rent first opened we had a high flying offense with Dan O. Then it gradually started getting worse with terrible QBs and predictable play calling.

I don't have the numbers in front of me but if I remember correctly our attendance is actually not very tied to the opponent. The Temple game drew more fans than NCState. The Buffalo game drew more fans than Pitt and Cincy. I remember the Duke game a few years back being sold-out, while the UNC game was not.

With the central location of the stadium and the great tailgating environment, if we play attractive football I feel the crowds will come.

Based on the numbers that UConnJim put up, it seems like 2008 was one of our best years in terms of attendance. And if I recall correctly, our QB's weren't exactly lighting it up. We had a mixture of Lorenzen, Frazer, and Endres, whereby none of them had a QB rating higher than 103 (significantly lower than what Chandler Whitmer had this year). We were a hefty dose of "student body left" with Donald Brown and company, with a young Jordan Todman getting his feet wet also. We had the Sherman tank blocking in front of them, clearing the way.

So in my humble opinion, even the style of the play doesn't account for much of the attendance woes. 8-5, with home wins that year over Virginia, Baylor, Cincy, and Hofstra. I'm sticking with my price and wins theory....

 

[whaler11]

Is the pricing solely set by the university, or is there a third party somewhere along the line? (i.e., TicketMaster)

The tickets the school. They negotiate the tack on fees w Ticketmaster.