Hey yall, brand new to the board so if this has been discussed ad nauseam I apologize.

So, if you were BG or Fox, what would you do to create a better basketball culture at App? I've batted around ideas but none really stood out to me.

TheArmantiShow wrote:Hey yall, brand new to the board so if this has been discussed ad nauseam I apologize.

So, if you were BG or Fox, what would you do to create a better basketball culture at App? I've batted around ideas but none really stood out to me.

Win.

ditto

It's been discussed from time to time. From what I recall, the usual suggestions (besides winning more) include better promotions, targeting students more than locals, better home scheduling... and I'm blanking after that.

You can do all the coolest marketing, promos, etc. but unless you are the Chicago Cubs with a goat story, you aren't going to get consistent and sustained attendance/support until you start winning.

I know it's impossible in our situation but I wish we were able to play in Varsity every now and again. I feel like being somewhat more centrally located on campus could help.

I honestly disagree with the winning is the only thing to put butts in seats argument. The first positive our program has is venue on campus, that's huge. Second the promotions department needs to get involved with student housing, because who has more unchecked school pride than freshman? Running competitions to see what dorm can get the most people there. It should be that hard. Little things like that could create a fun fan culture, and you show that to recruits winning will come.

Winning games is obviously the best thing.

Aside from that:

Students want a high energy atmosphere they can enjoy. Tailgating during Football season adds to that fun, which is why we always have such strong support from students during football season. Basketball doesn't really have tailgating, so the only draw is the game itself. The new videoboard will help make the games a little more engaging, with slow-mo replays and other shenanigans.

Promoting the games to students could also use some work. The primary way students find out about games (short of looking up the schedule) are small signs on Sanford Mall and an email in their inbox.

Alumni want fun, but also good matchups with teams they care about. We should be scheduling the likes of: JMU, Davidson, ECU, Wilmington and Charlotte. If we can get an ACC team in Holmes, that would also be great. We haven't been in the Sun Belt long enough to form basketball rivalries that many alums care about.

Close down all ski resorts, disable all UNC and Duke games from airing anywhere in Watauga County, change the climate in Boone to be favorable for those on campus that walk to games, shut down the football program, oh and win.

Do all those things and we might break the 5k average attendance.

SayYesToTheRock wrote:Winning games is obviously the best thing.

Aside from that:

Students want a high energy atmosphere they can enjoy. Tailgating during Football season adds to that fun, which is why we always have such strong support from students during football season. Basketball doesn't really have tailgating, so the only draw is the game itself. The new videoboard will help make the games a little more engaging, with slow-mo replays and other shenanigans.

Promoting the games to students could also use some work. The primary way students find out about games (short of looking up the schedule) are small signs on Sanford Mall and an email in their inbox.

Alumni want fun, but also good matchups with teams they care about. We should be scheduling the likes of: JMU, Davidson, ECU, Wilmington and Charlotte. If we can get an ACC team in Holmes, that would also be great. We haven't been in the Sun Belt long enough to form basketball rivalries that many alums care about.

Sorry but I have to chuckle here. Yeah... an ACC team in Holmes would be nice. Maybe Duke? UNC? Maybe dip into the Big East with Villanova?

We got power conference teams into Varsity. There are other teams in the ACC besides Duke and UNC. Why couldn't someone like Clemson or Va. Tech be persuaded to visit?

Georgia Tech women are playing in Holmes on Friday after our Thursday night game. Be careful about making disparaging words about WBB, they are close to my heart.

Would you go see the Washington Nationals/Generals if they weren't playing the Globetrotters? I'm on the "win" bandwagon. Win and folks come.

You have to show me the place that has good attendance without winning. When I see that then I will believe you can do it by means other than winning.

APPARJ wrote:Sorry but I have to chuckle here. Yeah... an ACC team in Holmes would be nice. Maybe Duke? UNC? Maybe dip into the Big East with Villanova?

Contrary to popular belief, there are teams in the ACC that are not located on Tobacco Road. Wake Forest, for example, played away at Richmond and UNC-G last season.

SayYesToTheRock wrote:

APPARJ wrote:Sorry but I have to chuckle here. Yeah... an ACC team in Holmes would be nice. Maybe Duke? UNC? Maybe dip into the Big East with Villanova?

Contrary to popular belief, there are teams in the ACC that are not located on Tobacco Road. Wake Forest, for example, played away at Richmond and UNC-G last season.

And Richmond and UNC-G, for example, were 22-13 and 25-10 respectively.

I still say you get teams in here that you have a shot at beating. You need wins at home if you want to build a following. Before someone starts I don't mean Div3. I am talking about teams on our level who we can compete with. Get some wins, and get the program built first. We moan and groan about the students wanting to watch unc instead of us and then we bring unc to our house? I guess I just don't get it.

APPARJ wrote:

SayYesToTheRock wrote:

APPARJ wrote:Sorry but I have to chuckle here. Yeah... an ACC team in Holmes would be nice. Maybe Duke? UNC? Maybe dip into the Big East with Villanova?

Contrary to popular belief, there are teams in the ACC that are not located on Tobacco Road. Wake Forest, for example, played away at Richmond and UNC-G last season.

And Richmond and UNC-G, for example, were 22-13 and 25-10 respectively.

That was UNCG's first winning season in nearly a decade. Amazing foresight by Wake to schedule them in what turned out to be their breakout year.

/\PP ST/\TE GRAD 09 wrote:Close down all ski resorts, disable all UNC and Duke games from airing anywhere in Watauga County, change the climate in Boone to be favorable for those on campus that walk to games, shut down the football program, oh and win.

Do all those things and we might break the 5k average attendance.

Even though I attend a majority of the Men's games and am a big supporter of Fox...I'm absolutely guilty of bailing on basketball games when a good snow rolls in. You caught me

bcoach wrote:I still say you get teams in here that you have a shot at beating. You need wins at home if you want to build a following. Before someone starts I don't mean Div3. I am talking about teams on our level who we can compete with. Get some wins, and get the program built first. We moan and groan about the students wanting to watch unc instead of us and then we bring unc to our house? I guess I just don't get it.

Our home games last year included Montreat, Warren Wilson, Western Carolina, James Madison and Hampton. I'm not sure how opponents could get more beatable and still have a pulse.

UNC is not coming to Boone, so no need rehash that old debate. The point is scheduling teams people have actually heard of. Davidson coming in this year is a good start, as is the occasional UNCC game.