How to get more students at basketball games?

[Ranger Dan]

I just read that Penn State is going to give students free tickets for non-confrence games... I really think they should be free for non conference and for BIG games. Since we can't likely change the adminstration's position at this point, what can we do to get more students to the games? I would have season tickets myself if I wasn't so far away. Is there a way that we can set up a fund, maybe managed through the basketball booster club, where alumni/fans can pay for student tickets?

Having students at games will help this year, but will also influence those students to support the basketball program after they are graduated.

Free tickets for non-conference games

 

[lattydaddy]

to answer your question in the subject line: win. stop sucking. it's a simple formula.

 

[lattydaddy]

good grief it has nothing to do with ticket prices. student tickets this year i think i saw were like $24. price isn't the issue. product is.


if Indiana Football made its student tickets free, do you think they'd suddenly start showing up to games in meaningfully increased numbers? No, they're still Indiana football.

 

[Ranger Dan]

You can't be this dumb...

You really don't see the benefit of having more students at the games? What I'm proposing is students being able to just show up to the games as opposed to committing to a season ticket package.

 

[dwiz]

Indiana football student tickets ARE free, at least they were in 2002

Show up at the gate, show your id and you get in. Also, while using comped tickets from PSU, they didn't even check ID to see if you were the person the tickets were reserved for.

 

[91Joe95]

Make it easier to get a football ticket if you also purchase a basketball ticket.

 

[PSUSignore]

Bingo. Win and they will come *

nm

 

[bkmtnittany1]

Re: Bingo. Win and they will come *

free beer...woulda worked for me!

 

[PSUSignore]

That would work too! Might be a more realistic plan, lol *

nm

 

[fairgambit]

Originally posted by Ranger Dan:
I just read that Penn State is going to give students free tickets for non-confrence games... I really think they should be free for non conference and for BIG games. Since we can't likely change the adminstration's position at this point, what can we do to get more students to the games? I would have season tickets myself if I wasn't so far away. Is there a way that we can set up a fund, maybe managed through the basketball booster club, where alumni/fans can pay for student tickets?

Having students at games will help this year, but will also influence those students to support the basketball program after they are graduated.

Dan, there is no way I would give a dime to a fund to pay for tickets. It has been my experience (and perhaps only that) that college kids generally have no problem paying for things they value...electronics, shoes, music, food. They don't go to games because they don't value the product. As others have said, win and the games become a hot ticket. Besides, the Penn State Administration pisses away more money in a week than it would take to let every student in free for a year. I know you are sincere, and I don't doubt more students would make for a better atmosphere, but win and they will show up.

 

[dwiz]

Could also put them on the side where they would show up on tv

then they would be more inclined to show up and be rowdy/hilarious

 

[nits74]

I don't know, maybe free bags to wear over their heads?

This post was edited on 4/10 6:22 PM by nits74

 

[NorCalcLion]

You can't be this dumb Maybe you are. He didn't say he didn't see the value

of having a large student contingent at the games. Back in the stone age when I was on campus , students got in the games for free.. They still didn't show up for a piss poor team and they won't now You could offer to pay students $ 10 a game to attend and they still wouldn't turn out for a bottom feeder team , regardless of how close they are to what ever
the coach seems to think they are. 7 wins maybe ?

 

[dawgduice]

I like the "free" ticket idea. Getting more bodies at games can help make a difference. Winning is part of the formula, the biggest part. BUT, given the "current " team putting fans in the stands helps encourage the home team. This year's team was OK, not good but OK. The team "should" be better next year with the addition of a couple of highly ranked (for PSU) players. Fans can help the youngsters feel better about their college choice. AND it can help recruiting. I know, but one can hope. What else do we have?

 

[spud358]

I know this is the obvious response and others have already made the joke multiple times, but the answer really is to provide a better product. Free tickets for non-con is a good idea because PSU will win more of those games and hopefully get some better student crowds who have fun and come back for the rest of the season. I like that they are trying to something... anything. At the end of the day though, until it's worth a student's time to walk to the BJC, pay $5, and spend 2 hours watching a game not much is going to make a difference.

 

[jp3272]

Yes, free beer!

 

[Cosmos]

Nickel beer w/ student i.d. might work. nfm

X

 

[Bkn_Psu]

Originally posted by lattydaddy:
to answer your question in the subject line: win. stop sucking. it's a simple formula.

This is really all it comes down to. PSU will support a winning program.

 

[UncleLar]

One problem with that idea

We tried it for 3-4 years and they didn't show up then either.

 

[UncleLar]

Duh - we won all of our home non-conference games this year

Originally posted by spud358:
Free tickets for non-con is a good idea because PSU will win more of those games and hopefully get some better student crowds who have fun and come back for the rest of the season.

It didn't make a damn bit of difference in either the student crowds that showed up once Big Ten play started nor in our ability to win those B10 games.

 

[novaclassof90]

Re: Duh - we won all of our home non-conference games this year

Price equates to value and quality for many consumers. Tell them something is free and the first reaction of many is: "if it is free, it must suck so why would I want it?"

 

[UncleLar]

Exactly - very much agree ***

nfm

 

[beagleman122]

It is not only a problem at PSU, but across the country with few exceptions. Blame some of that on the ESPN, Big 10
Chanel, etc. Why would a student want to leave his/her room or bar when they can view multiple games on the tube in HD? It is also a problem in football. Winning does help but it is not the final answer.

 

[bmusser24]

Basketball is difficult to watch anymore. No flow to the game with all the timeouts and such.
Of course, winning would help too.

 

[lattydaddy]

Win. Hire a real coach

 

[lattydaddy]

Re: You can't be this dumb...

Youre smarter than this ranger. If they want to buy a single tick the past few years it's what like 4 dollars? The OSU game was open to students for free and how many students showed up? Attendance has nothing to do with price. Nothing.