The Future of Alabama Basketball and Anthony Grant

[BigA]

Truthfully, reading some of these posts as a season ticket holder are humorous. Sure, you can complain about the arena...sure you can complain about where the students sit, etc. The bottom line is you put a exciting brand of basketball on the court that wins, and nobody cares about a 3-4 hour drive, the lighting in the arena, where the students sit,etc.

Our program is faced with much bigger issues...such as losing 18 games for the third time in 100 years and, god forbid, losing 20 games for the second time ever.

 

[bama579]

Truthfully, reading some of these posts as a season ticket holder are humorous. Sure, you can complain about the arena...sure you can complain about where the students sit, etc. The bottom line is you put a exciting brand of basketball on the court that wins, and nobody cares about a 3-4 hour drive, the lighting in the arena, where the students sit,etc.

Our program is faced with much bigger issues...such as losing 18 games for the third time in 100 years and, god forbid, losing 20 games for the second time ever.

hammer . . . nail . . BAM!

 

[Ldlane]

Glad I'm not a season ticket holder. I'm not sure if I could go on with life if we lose 18 games.

 

[BamaMoon]

Truthfully, reading some of these posts as a season ticket holder are humorous. Sure, you can complain about the arena...sure you can complain about where the students sit, etc. The bottom line is you put a exciting brand of basketball on the court that wins, and nobody cares about a 3-4 hour drive, the lighting in the arena, where the students sit,etc.

Our program is faced with much bigger issues...such as losing 18 games for the third time in 100 years and, god forbid, losing 20 games for the second time ever.

Don't disagree with you at all. The product is more important than the package.

I even said that a new arena wouldn't change what is happening now (see the Barn).

However, the environment of the arena certainly has been a reason for concern and, when things aren't going well, certainly is even more noticeable.

But right now, it really is about the product. I was offered some free tickets recently to a game and I decided it wasn't worth the 1 hour drive from B'ham to T-town. Some might say "I'm the problem" but the team and coach has to generate some excitement and that's where it begins IMO and not the other way around.

 

[RTR91]

Truthfully, reading some of these posts as a season ticket holder are humorous. Sure, you can complain about the arena...sure you can complain about where the students sit, etc. The bottom line is you put a exciting brand of basketball on the court that wins, and nobody cares about a 3-4 hour drive, the lighting in the arena, where the students sit,etc.

Our program is faced with much bigger issues...such as losing 18 games for the third time in 100 years and, god forbid, losing 20 games for the second time ever.

No one is saying the arena is the only issue. The team's performance does only magnify the arena problems, though.

Bad team --- no one shows up.
No one shows up --- arena is empty.
Arena is empty --- program looks even worse on TV.

The issues with Coleman are simple, and I'm going to guess as a season ticket holder you know them.

The structure of the gym is horrible. In Grant's first year, I went to the Florida game and sat in the student section. I had to stand a particular way to see around a pipe hanging down.

The lighting leaves the impression on TV we're watching a candlelight memorial service, which some will say is accurate if we're discussing CAG's tenure.

The student section is not an ideal location.

 

[BAMARICH]

But right now, it really is about the product. I was offered some free tickets recently to a game and I decided it wasn't worth the 1 hour drive from B'ham to T-town. Some might say "I'm the problem" but the team and coach has to generate some excitement and that's where it begins IMO and not the other way around.

There's another thing that isn't being mentioned in this thread that is a contributing factor. You're not going to sell out Coleman on a Tuesday night when the game begins at 8:00 p.m. unless you do some SUPER promotions. I listen to radio in town and I never hear any promotionals being run on air regarding UA basketball - and I never see anything on local television either. On late-night games, UA is going to have to reply upon people in this town to put rear ends in the seats - even if they don't get a lot of revenue doing it. Right now, when you see the seats on national TV on Tuesday nights, it's flat-out embarrassing to see how many are empty - seats in the lower level at that! I realize the TV thing is a plus - but you've got to have a marketing strategy to compensate.

 

[yesitsmed23]

Coleman is a terrible arena and we need to demo that thing big time! need a smaller venue more on the scale of Illinois's new arena that was based off of butler's gym. that's just my personal opinion. even when we've had crowds, it doesn't seem all that loud because of the way the arena is and please put the student sections behind both goals, as well as behind the opposing team's bench.

 

[RTR91]

There's another thing that isn't being mentioned in this thread that is a contributing factor. You're not going to sell out Coleman on a Tuesday night when the game begins at 8:00 p.m. unless you do some SUPER promotions. I listen to radio in town and I never hear any promotionals being run on air regarding UA basketball - and I never see anything on local television either. On late-night games, UA is going to have to reply upon people in this town to put rear ends in the seats - even if they don't get a lot of revenue doing it. Right now, when you see the seats on national TV on Tuesday nights, it's flat-out embarrassing to see how many are empty - seats in the lower level at that! I realize the TV thing is a plus - but you've got to have a marketing strategy to compensate.

John Solomon had an article last week discussing how the SEC has asked ESPN to do something about scheduling during the week. There are several things about this that need to be changed. I could ramble about it, but that's probably best for another thread rather than this one.

 

[Jref]

That is one reason Wimp was so successful. His personality made it fun to go to games.

In addition to putting a quality product on the court, Wimp allowed the Sports Info Dept to "market" him personally. Even the non-conference games drew well due to Wimp's personality.

 

[Rama Jama]

In addition to putting a quality product on the court, Wimp allowed the Sports Info Dept to "market" him personally. Even the non-conference games drew well due to Wimp's personality.

We still did not draw particularly well for out of conference games even when Wimp was the coach. Winning cures all ills and I still suspect he gets one more year even as the wheels fall off this year. He is widely respected among his peers and we should not change coaches unless we have a big name plan B waiting in the wings. Change for the sake of change rarely works. We could have trouble attracting a coach if we get rid of Grant without the prospect of picking up at least a really good up and coming coach or one who is already established.

 

[RTR91]

Bama hosts Mizzou this Saturday. There's a promotion similar to what Rich suggests. For $25, fans get a ticket, hot dog, and t-shirt. Link This is the type stuff SEC schools need to do to get more fans at games.

 

[CrimsonProf]

There's another thing that isn't being mentioned in this thread that is a contributing factor. You're not going to sell out Coleman on a Tuesday night when the game begins at 8:00 p.m. unless you do some SUPER promotions. I listen to radio in town and I never hear any promotionals being run on air regarding UA basketball - and I never see anything on local television either. On late-night games, UA is going to have to reply upon people in this town to put rear ends in the seats - even if they don't get a lot of revenue doing it. Right now, when you see the seats on national TV on Tuesday nights, it's flat-out embarrassing to see how many are empty - seats in the lower level at that! I realize the TV thing is a plus - but you've got to have a marketing strategy to compensate.

Can't emphasize this enough.

 

[Ldlane]

So you're telling me that students don't stay up later than 10pm on weeknights? Weak!!!

 

[RTR91]

So you're telling me that students don't stay up later than 10pm on weeknights? Weak!!!

Because the student section is the only section that is empty, right? If anything, the lack of attendance by students shows where Grant could promote the program more. Go buy pizzas and give students some lunch one day. Do something to get them interested.


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[BigA]

Bama hosts Mizzou this Saturday. There's a promotion similar to what Rich suggests. For $25, fans get a ticket, hot dog, and t-shirt. Link This is the type stuff SEC schools need to do to get more fans at games.

Quite honestly, not very enticing since the regular price ticket cost $20 already. I think we are going to get a little more creative to put fannies in the seats. $5 extra for a hot dog and cheap tshirt is not going to get it. Heck, we gave out free tshirts on every seat for the TN game and there were people walking out with handfuls of tshirts due to the dismal crowd.

Maybe really get aggressive and have a family fun night w/4 tickets for $75 and a $10 voucher for concessions,etc. A seat that is empty is of no value and generates no revenue.

 

[RTR91]

Quite honestly, not very enticing since the regular price ticket cost $20 already. I think we are going to get a little more creative to put fannies in the seats. $5 extra for a hot dog and cheap tshirt is not going to get it. Heck, we gave out free tshirts on every seat for the TN game and there were people walking out with handfuls of tshirts due to the dismal crowd.

Maybe really get aggressive and have a family fun night w/4 tickets for $75 and a $10 voucher for concessions,etc. A seat that is empty is of no value and generates no revenue.

I agree. That's not much of a deal. It's only a hotdog. Doesn't include chips or a drink. Hopefully, the athletic department uses this as a starting point and begins to do more promotions.

 

[Ldlane]

 

[AlexD]

The problem is the students have given up on CAG and the way the team plays offense because it is just such a bad product. When we were winning home games the students packed the student section and were in regular seats too. The year we won every home game the student section was always full at least half an hour before game time.

 

[BamaMoon]

So a regular basketball ticket is $20??? Is this a standard price or are there differing levels because there are some seats in the rafters that are a mile away!

No wonder our crowds are so dismal if we are playing boring, losing ball and it would cost a family of four $80 bucks just to get in and that doesn't count concessions.

 

[BigA]

Yeah, SEC games are $20. Pre-SEC games vary in price ...$10, $12 maybe can't recall. They are cheaper but most games the competition is inferior (charleston, Robert Morris) except for Xavier and Wichita St this year which were good games.

Typically, crowds pick up when football ends/SEC schedule kicks in...but not this year. Good crowd for FL...but others has been dismal. But, announced attendance will always be 10,000 because season tickets are sold, but season ticket holders don't attend...especially if losing.

Also, the marketing creativity is needed and you would think with Coach Battle's background he would see this. Something as simple as free hot dogs for first 1000 students for 8 pm games to increase late game attendance. Something other than hit a fan hitting a free throw, top of the key and half court shot and win Jim n Nicks BBQ or a gift card...c'mon!