USM Ticket Sales

[shox1989]

that actually might mean something except it counts for the NCAA as Home game.

8845 tickets left.

That means they have sold a little over 6000 tickets. While that isn't great, they still have almost a month before the game and they haven't even started promoting the game yet.

I remain cautiously optimistic that this game will sell out. If it does not, I will be extremely disappointed in the Shocker fan base.

[Steeleshocker]

As others have mentioned, discounts last year have really hurt attendance numbers this year. Everyone holding out for those $8 groupon tickets. Man, and I was making fun of Creighton fans for doing this...

The majority of the seats are cheaper than a Koch game. It's not part of the season ticket package and put on by a 3rd party promoter. The turnout for these games affects future "neutral" games for WSU at IBA. Keep these numbers up and games with Tennessee at IBA (next year) will go out the window. USM is a decent team. They're undefeated right now. You'd figure the lure of WSU basketball would be more than enough of a sell for your typical "greatest fanbase in the world" fan, but maybe not.. All I know is that Marshall likes it and WANTS it. EVERY year. You can voice your pleasure against the head hauncho if you want to, but wouldn't recommend it. It's these types of games 10 minutes away from Koch and their turnouts that determine how "big time" fanbases are. I guess we'll know the answer to that in a few weeks.

P.S. If you can't afford to go, you are not part of the blame. There's no embarrassment for that. If you're choosing not to go, just because, well then that's on you.

I'm sure Marshall and the players would love to be sent off for Christmas in front of 7,000 WSU fans in Wichita. That's a hell of a way to say Merry Christmas!

I'm not familiar with the specifics of the Tennessee arrangement, but if it is purely a home and home deal I sure hope we don't put it in IBA. I'm all for a game there every year, but if we start putting the biggest name opponent there every year just because, then it really is a disservice to season ticket holders. We need to use IBA as a tool to get the one-off games against schools we otherwise wouldn't get to Wichita. Honestly, if we make it to another couple of dances in the next few years is actually expect scheduling to start getting easier.

Use IBA as leverage to get better programs we can't schedule otherwise. USM is a step up from UAB, and as long as this trend continues, we should support the Shockers if possible.

The whole IBA as a season ticket was done before, and it was a fiasco for seating. The third party option is the way to go. It's not that the university is trying to exclude season ticket holders. They tried, everybody hated it, so now they are doing something else.

[ShockerPrez]

The ultimate prize would be to get matchups with KU or K State, obviously. One at IBA one at Sprint.

KU would be a long shot, I know, but at some point perhaps they would do it as a show of appreciation to KU fans in Wichita.

KSU, I could see happening more likely.

[pinstripers]

Capitalisim IS BOSS !!!! ,, contrary to recent election babble, Profit is NOT EVIL , It's what made this country GREAT!!

that

[ShockerFever]

The Tennessee series doesn't happen without IBA. They weren't coming to Koch and IBA was used as a trade off.

Some people apparently don't like SEC schools coming to Wichita..

[ShockerFever]

that

Great rebuttal, pa.

[pinstripers]

We're really not gonna do this again, are we?

[martymoose]

Gregg uses IBA as a recruiting tool. Wasn't it Early who posted his schedule online for his visit to WSU during recruitment? I remember seeing something like a 2 hours blocked out to tour IBA. Not only is it a selling point to get programs to come to Wichita, but it helps get better recruits as well...if it didn't, Marshall wouldn't be wasting his time showcasing it to potentials. If the IBA game is thrown into the season ticket package, that would be taking a rather large bite out of season ticket income...the money used to fly the team on private jets, Marshall's salary, Carl Hall's salary (according to VCU), and so on.

Hopefully the demand for Shocker basketball will rise over the next couple of weeks. We need to keep winning and start selling out CKA on a consistent basis...that'll up demand for IBA.

[pinstripers]

Exactly. I completely understand it.

[ShockerFever]

We're really not gonna do this again, are we?

You're the one who fired the first, weak, off topic, redundant, softball lob.

I bet you don't have the balls to call in to the radio show and tell Marshall the IBA game is a "money grab".

[ShockerFever]

Well stated Marty.

[ShockTalk]

That means they have sold a little over 6000 tickets. While that isn't great, they still have almost a month before the game and they haven't even started promoting the game yet.

I remain cautiously optimistic that this game will sell out. If it does not, I will be extremely disappointed in the Shocker fan base.

Didn't you say the same exact thing last year? We didn't sell out the first year against Tulsa. IBA was new with many people having not been in it and the game was part of the season package. What makes USM more attractive? The fact they're projected to be a top 50 RPI team doesn't help that much because the fans you need to sell out IBA don't recognize them.

Yes, the Shocks are on a roll, so it should attract a few more fair weather fans. However, for me, Tennessee, should be a better draw and put more butts in the seats. Bigger named opponent who, at least currently this year, is also a projected near top 50 RPI team.

If USM is undefeated coming in, that will help a bunch. However, don't hold your breath. They've played no one with a projected RPI over 100. I think W. Kentucky at home and Georgia on the road are their best wins, both in overtime, with #125 and #130 projected RPIs respectvely.

[pinstripers]

You're the one who fired the first, weak, off topic, redundant, softball lob.

I bet you don't have the balls to call in to the radio show and tell Marshall the IBA game is a "money grab".

I didn't call it a money grab. I agreed that it was capitalism at it's finest, and I support that.

[Rocky Mountain Shock]

Money grab or not, IBA is recruiting tool and a great chance for the kids to play a game in a NBA style arena that's not in Omaha. Marshall loves these games, the kids love these games. Why the fans are so slow to warm up to them defies logic to me. Poor leg room or poor visibility?--whatever, get real.

[1972Shocker]

Money grab or not, IBA is recruiting tool and a great chance for the kids to play a game in a NBA style arena that's not in Omaha. Marshall loves these games, the kids love these games. Why the fans are so slow to warm up to them defies logic to me. Poor leg room or poor visibility?--whatever, get real.

I think there are a lot of issues that will vary from fan to fan. Some consider a game at IBA inconvenient. Especially those that are used to the next to arena parking. For some it is simply a money issue. They are tapped out with their current season ticket and SASO commitment and Christmas. Some can afford it, but simply dislike the location of where the tickets in their price range are. And the late disconting last year, like most retailers do anymore, has conditioned fans to wait for a deal. Some fans simply are not fond of IBA as a venue or have had a bad experience there and refuse to give it another shot. Some fans don't like hunting for parking in an area of town they are not real familiar or comfortable with. Maybe some fans think the concessions prices are too high. I doubt that there is any one overall reason that covers every situation.

We will have some Koch regulars that won't attend the games at IBA including a lot of the so-called "corporate" seats and we will pick up a lot of fans who rarely get a chance to see the Shockers in live action. It will probably work itself out by game time.