Shockers vs UAB Ticket Special

[im4wsu]

I often don't agree with SF and don't choose to use my words like he does, and have been attending games for more than 40 years. However, I will agree with him in this instance. I will say that a significant portion (how much can be of debate) of the Shocker fan base is of an age where they are set in their ways and change is very hard for them and sometimes they care more about how they feel than what is best for the program. In my opinion, this game and other future games at IBA fit into this category. Often, age and wisdom fit together nicely but in my opinion, not in this instance.

Did you just call me old?

I buy four season tickets and have preferred parking. I can't get anybody to go with me to this game and I don't particularly enjoy the parking situation, the seating situation, the price or the opponent. Yes, i guess that means I am set in my ways = old.

[shockmonster]

I don't think that I mentioned the word old at all. Some people may have a good reason to miss the game and you may be one of those. I still hope that the game is close to a sell out but I must admit that I'm not optimistic at this time. I can't afford preferred parking and always walk a distance, so I can't empathize with your difficulty. I hope I see many Shocker fans at the game.

[ShockTalk]

I often don't agree with SF and don't choose to use my words like he does, and have been attending games for more than 40 years. However, I will agree with him in this instance. I will say that a significant portion (how much can be of debate) of the Shocker fan base is of an age where they are set in their ways and change is very hard for them and sometimes they care more about how they feel than what is best for the program. In my opinion, this game and other future games at IBA fit into this category. Often, age and wisdom fit together nicely but in my opinion, not in this instance.

As you mention, balance is an important thing. However, if what you say is true (and I'm not saying it isn't), the WSU athletic department should be equally aware of this. To promote, (or worse, to poorly promote), games at IBA while ignoring those dynamics is there fault. The fans are who they are and the athletic department is taking on the responsibilty and potential risks for their own decisions. Also, do you really expect most people "in that category" to put the WSU basketball program ahead of how they feel? To expect good results "just because" is short sighted. I find it hard to have as many potential negatives to a great turnout and then to expect to get that great turnout. I believe that is called risky. I truly hope the fans turn out strong for this game, and, if they do, I hope the athletic department realize this might have been somewhat of a tight rope they just walked and not abuse their fans with continued risky moves to future success.

[DUShock]

Lets get back to the subject matter which is the UAB game.

[ShockTalk]

Lets get back to the subject matter which is the UAB game.

I've never had reason to disagree with you on your posts, but nothing regarding this thread had to do with the actual future game with UAB, but with new special ticket prices and possibly why.

[SubGod22]

I'll be shocked if this game has as many as the Tulsa game did. I'd guess a couple thousand less will be there.

[1979Shocker]

I'll be shocked if this game has as many as the Tulsa game did. I'd guess a couple thousand less will be there.

I think a lot will depend on our record leading up to the UAB game. If we go into the game undefeated, then it could be more.

[RoyalShock]

I'm sorry but I have to agree with ShockTalk that this game does not define WSU's fan base, especially when compared to KSU and their game at IBA. How much money are Wichita area WSU fans shelling out every year to watch their team vs. Wichita-area KSU fams? A few of them may have season tix in Manhattan but I bet most of them only get to a game or two. So of course they are going to pay to see their team in a local arena. In a depressed economy where we're already spending hundreds to thousands of dollars annually to watch the Shocks, and some of them travelling to places like Hawaii and Puerto Rico to follow WSU, you can't blame people for drawing a line with their discretionary spending.

Now if you want to use this to say that perhaps WSU fans aren't as affluent as other fan bases, fine. But that's all it says. Are you really going to call a fan who may scrimp and save to afforde season tickets and bad fan because they aren't going to dip into their Christmas funds to go to one stinking game?

I wasn't even considering going until they started rolling out the special deals. Am I a bad fan?

Perspective, people. Perspective.

[WuShock Reaper]

1979Shocker is right. Depending how we do up to the UAB game will drive ticket sales for the remaining tickets. But not me, we have had our 10 ticketes since the first week they went on sale.

[SubGod22]

It will drive ticket sales, but I still don't think it'll top Tulsa. UAB doens't do much for the average fan. Even if we're undefeated, I don't see this game selling out. I'm guessing 11k to 12k right now.

[ShockTalk]

It will drive ticket sales, but I still don't think it'll top Tulsa. UAB doens't do much for the average fan. Even if we're undefeated, I don't see this game selling out. I'm guessing 11k to 12k right now.

And that's my point. I think 11-12k would be a great crowd....for this type of game. Just because it may not sell out doesn't not mean that our fan base has suddenly turn for the worse or that promoters won't give Wichita another chance. I think it says WSU fans do turnout great and if I, the promoter, can bring in a bigger game or a game of more interest, a sell out or near sell out is likely even if the game is not part of the season package.

[ShockerFever]

Who called anybody "bad fans" for not going? I certainly didn't and haven't seen anybody mention that term at all in this thread.

The comparisons may not be fair, but it's not gonna look good for the supposed "hometown" team to be outdrawn by the Mancrappy Kittens, and likely by a 2 to 1 ratio. Unless there is an incredible last-minute walkup, the totals aren't likely to reach 5 digits. It's pretty bad right now. Trust me.

I guess I don't quite understand. If this game was apart of the season ticket package, would we have less than 10k at Koch for the game on the same date? Doubt it. People complained about the IBA game being included in the package last year. This time we drop it from the season tix. We're actually paying more per game this year than last year. That's a WSU thing. But to think that a game that is priced cheaper than a game at Koch (yes upper-level) in Wichita, Kansas isn't gonna have a good showing because why? It's at IBA? Piss poor excuse. Because it's the day after Thanksgiving? We've played on Thanksgiving in tournaments where hundreds of fans flew thousands of miles to watch WSU play and we're blaming "Black Friday"? Really? The opponent? UAB is going to be the second toughest opponent on our home non-con slate. Are we really collectively blaming the opponent on the lack of turnout? UAB will easily be a Top 100 RPI team, maybe Top 50 when it's all said and done. Are we coming to watch the opponent or the Shocks? UAB could very well beat us in that one. It's not even close to a "gimme".

I guess I am just amazed that we have a chance to go to a game 5 miles from campus, set up by an outside promoter, and we're gonna be lucky to crack 8 or 9k for a WSU basketball game. The economy has been bad for a while now. If you can't make it, that's fine. But to act like it's not a golden opportunity to show off to outside promoters what we're capable of bringing in is just plain dumb.

IBA can be used as a great tool to help lure BCS opponents to town because they certainly aren't gonna go to Koch for games. And we're gonna show we're about 50% capacity's worth. Now, I agree the prices may be a tad overpriced for this particular game. But there are PLENTY of $17 tickets left and you will be able to see Wichita State basketball in Wichita.

Again, Marshall should be thrilled.

If you wanna act like a BCS program, be like one. If not, step aside.

[The Mad Hatter]

People are missing the difference between perception and reality. Let's put it this way, if someone were to have an interaction with a Shocker fan who was a complete jerk to them, their perception of the WSU fan base would be of a bunch of jerks. Does that mean that most WSU fans are actually jerks? No, but the perception would be formed based on that person's small sample size. In the same way, if a promoter sets up a game and the WSU fans don't show up in large numbers, their perception will of the WSU fan base will be of one that isn't a safe bet to buy lots of tickets. That doesn't mean that WSU fans aren't highly supportive of their team, but the promoter is going off a small sample set of personal experience.

If WSU fans don't show up to this game in large numbers it does not mean that the fans aren't supporting the program. It does mean that it will be a lost opportunity to demonstrate that level of support to promoters who might consider scheduling WSU in the future based on their perceptions of the fan support the team has.

[ShockTalk]

Tisk, tisk, tisk. Rant, rant, rant.

SF, no one may have called someone a bad fan, but who said we want to be like a BCS program? We already out draw half of the BCS teams and a lot of BCS basketball programs don't draw squat given their traditional student body and big money.

And your comparison isn't fair. IBA would sell out if Huggy and WV came to play WSU, even if it wasn't included in the season ticket package. So throw that arguement out.

Let see. WSU renews play with #1 rival Tulsa and the game is at IBA, it's part of the season ticket package, and it's close to 1,000 short of being a sell out. After the game, it well known that at least a small portion of fans were not happy with the IBA set up (doesn't matter if they're right or wrong, it is what it is) and WSU's athletic department knows it. Jump to this year and WSU asks it's season ticket holders to now pay for a game at IBA of which there is no comparison as to the level of fan interest. Add to this not one, but several more hurdles, each of which will take their share of reducing the attendance, even if some small. Lastly, we add that fans don't have to committ to purchasing tickets until near game time and, yes, a poor showing by the team to that point could negatively affect late sales, particularly given when the game is being played. On the plus, a good performance by the team, could make for better than expected attendance. Also, just being a quality mid major opponent is not as important as the "sizzle". Lesser quality opponents can out draw some if the fan has a real interest in seeing the team. Please don't take each item that could hurt attendance by itself, but all of them collectively. The athletic program certainly should have. If Marshall isn't thrilled with the turn out, perhaps he should talk to them about attendance expectations and what could affect them.

Not trying to convince anyone of anything, just looking to understanding what may be impacting a potential low attendance. If the numbers are as low as you believe they will be, I too, believe that's not a good thing. However, given WSU's fandom history, if such an oddity happens, not all blame should be left on their doorstep.

[ShockerEngr]

They also just recently got the time set. a TBA time is going to keep some people from buying early.