Black and Yellow Gala

[WstateU]

[wichshock65]

Surprised how quiet this thread is. Not a single review.

[WuDrWu]

I thought the event went off nicely. Good crowd, maybe 500-600, set up was nice, mostly went off without a hitch.

One thing I did notice is that for the most part, drink coverage was excellent. If you didn't have a drink, even water, you were trying not to have one. And with the outside temp around 105+, it's hard to think you could have enough water. I was concerned about the heat with all those people in one place, but kudos to facilities for making sure the AC was in top shape for this event.

I didn't have the opportunity to peruse the silent auction much at all so I can't comment much on what was and wasn't available. They had a station for each sport on the concourse which kept the main room open for more tables and general space. Probably a good thing but if you were the sport on the opposite side of the arena you were certainly at a disadvantage. I do think they made every effort to accommodate the guests with plenty of watering stations (and a few snack stations perhaps) around the concourse.

You were greeted by the spirit squad on the way in and check in was effortless. I think the set up was as good as it's ever been. The auction run by Reece Nichols kept a good pace (John Rupp does a fantastic job here) and I hope that crew does all of them going forward.

There were 20 auction items. My very rough total was around $170K but that included 2 items purchased by one bidder that was clearly set up. Those 2 items went for 60K (and don't misunderstand me, THANK YOU to the donor that so graciously gave to cause) and skewed the total quite a bit.

I don't have any idea about the silent auction stuff. But there was a lot of it and I assume most was purchased.

Mike interviewed some of the coaches prior to the auction (Paul, Lambo, Kristi & Bolt for sure....I think Terry and Brian too) which was ok. Brent kept it moving along. B and C BBQ, huge supporters of Shocker Athletics, did a great job with the food and there was plenty. Saw pretty much all the volleyball team and some basketball and baseball guys. Heard Addison was manning the softball silent auction.

It was well done.

Was it over the moon? No. Should it have been? I don't know. Does it replace the other events? I guess only time will tell. As someone that will on a rare occasion bid in the auction, and usually find a silent item or 2 to get, I felt a little pushed out (certainly could be my problem, not theirs) but again, it's the first time and it will take time to see the results.

Pretty cool to see Tom Kosich back at an event like this. He certainly doesn't have to but he's been extremely generous with his giving and this fan is more than appreciative.

Lots of Shocker royalty there. I saw Evan Wessel, Anthony Capra, Brandon Hall, Mike Pelfrey among others. Good times.


The golf car went for just around 10K. Brazil trip with Volleyball for 9K. Locker room pool table for $3500. KU game $4500. Myrtle Beach tourney $7000 times 2. I was surprised that hunting trip with HCPM and ADKS went for less that 3K. Champions Room dinner for 6 with all coaches for less than 5K also surprised me.

Musical group at the end was really good (for my taste) but man, most everyone bolted once the auction was over. I felt bad for them.

[MikeKennedyRulZ]

Hotel and suite tickets to BNP Paribas Open in Indian Wells, California plus tickets and dinner with women’s team.

That is a fantastic event. Went with my wife’s work on a client event a few years ago. The field is usually stacked with a lot of the top men’s and women’s players.

[wsu789]

I believe the live auction raised roughly $190,000. There were quite a few silent auction items, with each team having their own area. I'd guess each team had 15 or so items and many of them were dinner with the team, coach for a day, etc. I didn't get a good feel for how much those items were going for. We made a few bids and were ultimately outbid, so that's a good thing. There were almost too many items for us to get around to. The crowd was good, with lots of familiar faces. The food was decent. I've never seen an event successfully pull off the "band at the end of the night" approach, and this was no exception. I was a bit skeptical on whether this would raise as much as the individual events, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did.

[WstateU]

I believe the live auction raised roughly $190,000. There were quite a few silent auction items, with each team having their own area. I'd guess each team had 15 or so items and many of them were dinner with the team, coach for a day, etc. I didn't get a good feel for how much those items were going for. We made a few bids and were ultimately outbid, so that's a good thing. There were almost too many items for us to get around to. The crowd was good, with lots of familiar faces. The food was decent. I've never seen an event successfully pull off the "band at the end of the night" approach, and this was no exception. I was a bit skeptical on whether this would raise as much as the individual events, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did.

As a local business owner, I prefer making one donation to athletics, versus multiple donations (items) to various team fundraisers. I don’t really care how they divvy it up as long as it helps athletics in general. My support is for all WSU programs from A-Z; women’s rowing to bowling, I’m a diehard all-sports Shocker fan. I realize men’s basketball drives the bus, so I trust that they are always taken care of.

[1972Shocker]

I believe the live auction raised roughly $190,000. There were quite a few silent auction items, with each team having their own area. I'd guess each team had 15 or so items and many of them were dinner with the team, coach for a day, etc. I didn't get a good feel for how much those items were going for. We made a few bids and were ultimately outbid, so that's a good thing. There were almost too many items for us to get around to. The crowd was good, with lots of familiar faces. The food was decent. I've never seen an event successfully pull off the "band at the end of the night" approach, and this was no exception. I was a bit skeptical on whether this would raise as much as the individual events, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did.

You didn't happen to see this item in the silent auctions did you?

Shocker Quilt - Finished.jpeg

My wife and I donated this handmade, one-of-a-kind quilt. I was unable to attend. Just curious what kind of bids it might have drawn. I don't know if the University will report that information to me or not, although I can probably request that.

[WuDrWu]

As a local business owner, I prefer making one donation to athletics, versus multiple donations (items) to various team fundraisers. I don’t really care how they divvy it up as long as it helps athletics in general. My support is for all WSU programs from A-Z; women’s rowing to bowling, I’m a diehard all-sports Shocker fan. I realize men’s basketball drives the bus, so I trust that they are always taken care of.

I think it's generous folks like you, and your valued opinion, that have driven the decision to where we are now.

[1972Shocker]

I've never seen an event successfully pull off the "band at the end of the night" approach, and this was no exception. I was a bit skeptical on whether this would raise as much as the individual events, but it wouldn't surprise me if it did.

After an hour or so of perusing the silent auctions, followed by a meal and coaches presentations, followed by a 20 item live auction most folks are ready to call it an event and get back home at a reasonable hour.

The Volleyball Dinner initially was the VB101 dinner with the VB101 stuff at the end of the program. But as that event grew in size and scope most of the attendees began to skip the VB101 after dinner stuff and headed home. So that morphed into the VB Dinner & Auction. And it was a full evening without the VB 101 stuff, which was getting kind of repetitive anyway to the point they were just doing a little intra-squad scrimmaging before deciding to just forego that. A good decision.

I think they could drop the post event concert with no impact on attendance or support. But you try things and you see what works and what doesn't and go from there. If all we did was raise an amount equal to the multiple sport specific events the Gala replace than that was a success. One and done. Now the coaches and staffs can concentrate on getting their teams ready for the upcoming seasons.

[hoopsnut]

You didn't happen to see this item in the silent auctions did you?

Shocker Quilt - Finished.jpeg

My wife and I donated this handmade, one-of-a-kind quilt. I was unable to attend. Just curious what kind of bids it might have drawn. I don't know if the University will report that information to me or not, although I can probably request that.

I did see the quilt. Thank you for your generous donation and please tell your wife she did a very nice job. Early in the evening, I saw a bid of $200 on it, but I did not see what the final amount was.

[1972Shocker]

I did see the quilt. Thank you for your generous donation and please tell your wife she did a very nice job. Early in the evening, I saw a bid of $200 on it, but I did not see what the final amount was.

Thank you. That's a decent early bid. Hopefully, it attracted a few more bids.

[pogo]

I always enjoyed the Rockin the Roundhouse and VB 101. Putting on multiple events to raise money was a labor intensive effort by the athletic staff so I really believe that this will be the model with improvements in the coming years. In all of the silent auction events I attended the one thing that I failed to win was the WSU propeller either getting beat out at the end or failing to keep tabs on it. Oh well such is life. Go Shocks

[1972Shocker]

I always enjoyed the Rockin the Roundhouse and VB 101. Putting on multiple events to raise money was a labor intensive effort by the athletic staff so I really believe that this will be the model with improvements in the coming years. In all of the silent auction events I attended the one thing that I failed to win was the WSU propeller either getting beat out at the end or failing to keep tabs on it. Oh well such is life. Go Shocks

I thought Rockin' the Roundhouse was an Alumni Association fund raiser, not an athletic department fund raiser.

[wsu789]

I actually think Rockin the Roundhouse was a joint effort between Alumni and Athletics. I used to know all the history (Shocker Auction (Alumni Ass'n and the OG Wichita charity auction), Shocktacular (Athletics event created by Jim Schaus), Rockin the Roundhouse, etc. I think RtR was a 'negotiated' truce that combined similar Alumni and Athletic events because the two groups were really poaching off each other and leading to donor fatigue. My memory may be faulty, though. The quilt is very cool. My wife said she saw it but couldn't remember how much it was priced at. Thanks for your support.

[Downtown Shocker Brown]

Jim Schaus. A man who would look you in the eye, shake your hand, and when he told you something, you knew it was true. Miss those days.