Look In The Mirror

[Bootsthemonkey]

I'm sure price in some way has an impact although I can't complain about ticket prices. A buddy of mine works at Penn State and he told me the cheapest single game tix there started at $78. Then again PSU doesn't have much competition from pro sports either.

As far as scheduling goes its not always about how good the opponent is but is there interest in the game, is it a traditional rival or does the visiting team travel well? UMass had a good turnout because they're a traditional rival and they brought a lot of fans. Temple has some bad blood with UConn and isn't a far drive to travel. WVU has a loyal following that travelled well. NC State is a good team but they didn't bring in a ton of fans and there's not much interest. The Cincy game I think drew little because there wasn't much on the line for UConn. Yes bowl eligibility but that doesn't get you a bid and getting to 6-6 isn't something that wows anyone.

I think it's a combo of opponent as well as success on the field. The 2008 season may have drawn well given the context of what expectations were. After beating South Carolina, WVU, Notre Dame and getting to a BCS game the expectations for this team rose dramatically.

 

[Bootsthemonkey]

As far as night games go if they're Saturday night I'm all for em. But this Thursday and Friday nonsense just kills me. They might be good for TV but for me personally it usually translates to 5 hours of driving in gridlock, getting to the game late with zero tailgate which means spending $$$$ on concessions. I have no problem with ticket prices but concessions are highway robbery IMO.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Can't argue with the pricing problems, promotion problems and scheduling/competition issues. But UConn is not UCF. Students at UCF all wanted to go to UF, FSU or Miami. Almost all of them are fans of those teams or other SEC teams before they show up on campus. Just as lots of UConn fans went to Southern or Central or UHart etc. UConn's problems are very different than those at UCF or USF. They face overwhelming, entrenched competition. UConn does not. UConn's problems are made worse by ticket prices, scheduling etc., but I think they mostly stem from a culture where football, if it is part of your weekly family ritual, is a Sunday event, not a Saturday event. Most of CT has the Giants or Pats (except for approximately 9 people in New London who are Jets fans) on TV on Sunday or are going to the games. Will they give up their Saturdays as well? Can they if their kids have soccer games, basketball games etc.?

I think we forget that in places like Ann Arbor, PSU, Bama, LSU etc., the whole area shuts down. Schools schedule kids sporting events around the home schedule. Everything is made easier. In CT, most HS football is still on Saturday isn't it? Changing that would be a start. Across the south and midwest it is Friday night. If you want to go bigtime, big changes are needed.

 

[CTMike]

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.

There's just no excuse for that. Not to get all MBA-ey on everyone, but for most folks that's the only personal interaction with UConn Athletics - It's a make or break interaction. It should be an interaction that makes people want to experience it again, not tell others what a bad experience it was... sigh.

 

[SubbaBub]

Pricing, schedule, promotion, product, winning, and just the age of the program all affect attendance and all should be addressed.

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

 

[ibleedhuskyblue]

There are maybe a dozen +/- schools out there whose attendance wouldnt be effected by a sub-par product on the field. We, of course, are not one of them.

This is so simple. WIN, AND PEOPLE WILL COME !!!

People will overlook many things to see their team win (weather, idiot ticket office, prices, etc...). But they wont overlook those other things to see a P & D team lose to wmu, temple, and rutgers.

WIN, and the seats will be filled.

 

[BlueDogs]

There's just no excuse for that. Not to get all MBA-ey on everyone, but for most folks that's the only personal interaction with UConn Athletics - It's a make or break interaction. It should be an interaction that makes people want to experience it again, not tell others what a bad experience it was... sigh.

It is a by-product of an institution that not required to compete like a business. They expect dollars to come their way, beit the state, Feds, donors, etc.. They are an entitlement culture, and have no DNA which is based on a competitive for profit mentality where the customer comes first. It's fairly standard and in keeping with most state agencies that think the taxpayer is there to serve them money, and you get the privilege of being served if you follow their rules between the hours of 8:00 and 4:00 most weekdays, excluding holidays, paid leave days, vacation and personal days, subsidized leave for schooling days, trade and professional conferences, moral building conferences and outings, mandated union rest periods .

So, why would you expect anything different.