College basketball: Shooting itself in the foot

[AdaSooner]

http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2012/02/07/college-basketball-shooting-itself-in-the-foot/

College basketball in general, Big 12 basketball in particular, does not really care about the ticket-buying fans. Officials at every school like to talk about it. They like to talk about ways to increase fan interest. But when it comes to really catering to customers, the truth is apparent. Fans are not a priority. Attendance is optional.

OUCH! Berry Tramel makes some very good points in explaining why attendance has declined at most college basketball venues, specifically at Big 12 schools like OU and OSU.

You can read the editorial for yourself, but the quote I posted above should be enough to get a discussion started.

Tramel goes on to say that 6:00 p.m. starts that make it difficult for fans to fight through evening traffic (he didn't mention the distance some fans have to drive) to get to games are scheduled to satisfy ESPN, not to make them attractive to fans.

He also points out that of the 14 non-conference games on OU and OSU's schedule this season (Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Stanford, Saint Louis, Virginia Tech twice, Arkansas, New Mexico, Alabama, Tulsa, SMU, Santa Clara, Washington State and Missouri State), only three were played in Norman or Stillwater. OSU hosted Va Tech and Tulsa; OU played host to Arkansas. Guess he forgot about ORU or figured that game was not key to improving attendance.

This is not a new topic, just a different slant from Tramel, with a few compelling facts that point to the real reason college basketball games, specifically those at OU, OSU and in the Big 12 conference are scheduled now: Television revenue.

 

[Sooner_In_MI]

I really don't see any reason for the Thanksgiving weekend tournaments (other than the Maui Invitational) to exist. They are the college basketball equivalent of late December bowl games in terms of atmosphere and how many people, other than fans of the schools involved, care about them.

Can anyone give me a good reason why schools shouldn't quit playing in these, and instead schedule 2 or 3 meaningful home/home series per year?

 

[MsProudSooner]

I can't find much to disagree with in Tramel's article.

We've all said for a long time that one reason attendance lagged was because most games are on TV. One solution posed by many was to black out the games locally. It never happens.

It only seems logical that Eastern times zone games should start at 7:00 Eastern/6:00 Central. It never happens.

Nothing will change unless all of the teams band together and tell ESPN, "This is the way it's going to be if you want to televise our games." I'm not going to hold my breath.

 

[WTSooner]

I don't think the 6pm start we had the other night was OU's choice. Isn't that a conference/tv decision?

 

[MsProudSooner]

I don't think the 6pm start we had the other night was OU's choice. Isn't that a conference/tv decision?

I think it's ESPN, not the conference.

 

[WTSooner]

I think it's ESPN, not the conference.

That is what I meant by the "tv" part. The Big 12 has that time slot, so somebody from the conference is going to play at that time every Monday.

 

[luckyc1423]

I can't find much to disagree with in Tramel's article.

We've all said for a long time that one reason attendance lagged was because most games are on TV. One solution posed by many was to black out the games locally. It never happens.

It only seems logical that Eastern times zone games should start at 7:00 Eastern/6:00 Central. It never happens.

Nothing will change unless all of the teams band together and tell ESPN, "This is the way it's going to be if you want to televise our games." I'm not going to hold my breath.

So you dont want to televise any games? lol that would really stink for me since I live in houston....

I dont think televising games has anything to do with it. But I do agree the early start times even if I lived in houston would prevent me from going to the games.
The fact is you win and more people will want to come its that simple....

I believe in some form we need to make the week night games cheaper. The weekend games can be slightly more expensive. Or create some type of compensation plan to were if they can prove you made it to two week night games you get the weekend game for free

 

[AdaSooner]

I don't think the 6pm start we had the other night was OU's choice. Isn't that a conference/tv decision?

Yes, it is, and Tramel points that out in his editorial. He blames the conferences and college basketball in general, not so much the schools, although all have a voice if they choose to use it.

I think it's ESPN, not the conference.

True. But the Big 12 is guilty of bowing to ESPN's demands.

 

[MsProudSooner]

So you dont want to televise any games? lol that would really stink for me since I live in houston....

I dont think televising games has anything to do with it. But I do agree the early start times even if I lived in houston would prevent me from going to the games.
The fact is you win and more people will want to come its that simple....

I believe in some form we need to make the week night games cheaper. The weekend games can be slightly more expensive. Or create some type of compensation plan to were if they can prove you made it to two week night games you get the weekend game for free

No, I would only black out some games locally. You could still see games in Houston. :woot

 

[Sooner_In_MI]

I believe in some form we need to make the week night games cheaper. The weekend games can be slightly more expensive. Or create some type of compensation plan to were if they can prove you made it to two week night games you get the weekend game for free

Yes. When I was in Michigan last summer, I went to several Detroit Tigers weeknight games, because every seat was about $5-$10 cheaper than for weekend games. Contrary to popular belief on this board, not every single one of the 1.2 million people in the OKC metro area has a job that requires them to work until 5 or 6 p.m. on weeknights. Make ticket prices slightly lower on weeknights, and more people will come to games.

Heck, let students in for free to all of the winter break games. I'm not in Oklahoma over winter break, but I'm sure a decent percentage of OU's student body lives within driving distance to the LNC. Kids get bored over break. If you let students in for free over break, maybe they'll show up, have a good time, and then pay $5 to attend games when school is back in session. ksSooner13 and I have a friend who was dead set on not going to any basketball games at the start of the season. We gave her an extra ticket that someone gave us for the Baylor game, and guess what...she enjoyed the game, and has come back for other games. Mindblowing, I know. But this is how you build a fanbase.

 

[Sawyer]

I really don't see any reason for the Thanksgiving weekend tournaments (other than the Maui Invitational) to exist. They are the college basketball equivalent of late December bowl games in terms of atmosphere and how many people, other than fans of the schools involved, care about them.

Can anyone give me a good reason why schools shouldn't quit playing in these, and instead schedule 2 or 3 meaningful home/home series per year?

I believe these tournaments count as one game on the schedule. You can't schedule 2-3 games in their place. That's why so many exist.

 

[Soonercuda]

I believe these tournaments count as one game on the schedule. You can't schedule 2-3 games in their place. That's why so many exist.

I think ESPN owns several of these tournaments...think of it as ESPN paying to produce a TV Show and college basketball "management" encourages it by producing rules that reinforce the tournaments. But that is part of Tramel's point; college basketball is more interested in TV ratings and TV money than fan's at the game. If college basketball wants to be more fan friendly it can...but it can't cater to the TV networks as much as it does now.

 

[p230]

I believe these tournaments count as one game on the schedule. You can't schedule 2-3 games in their place. That's why so many exist.

This is correct as far as I know. The All-College used to be two games and then the NCAA changed its rules on how many of these a team could play in so they dropped it to one (if memory serves). If the NCAA would change its rules again to make it 3 games whether in a tourny or at home you would see fewer tournaments and more other games.

 

[Smash Williams]

Contrary to popular belief on this board, not every single one of the 1.2 million people in the OKC metro area has a job that requires them to work until 5 or 6 p.m. on weeknights.

Enough of them do that even the ones who don't still have to deal with congested traffic from 4-6 PM. People that are big OU basketball fans deal with it. For casual fans, it's a hassle.

Make ticket prices slightly lower on weeknights, and more people will come to games.

Heck, let students in for free to all of the winter break games. I'm not in Oklahoma over winter break, but I'm sure a decent percentage of OU's student body lives within driving distance to the LNC. Kids get bored over break. If you let students in for free over break, maybe they'll show up, have a good time, and then pay $5 to attend games when school is back in session. ksSooner13 and I have a friend who was dead set on not going to any basketball games at the start of the season. We gave her an extra ticket that someone gave us for the Baylor game, and guess what...she enjoyed the game, and has come back for other games. Mindblowing, I know. But this is how you build a fanbase.

I don't think ticket pricing is one of the main culprits for poor attendance, at least as far as single-game tickets go. I don't know anyone who would like to go to OU basketball games but doesn't because of ticket pricing, whereas there are a lot of people who will watch OU football or Thunder games on TV because they consider it too expensive to buy tickets.

I think pricing has almost nothing to do with poor student attendance. I'm sure there are a lot of OU students who struggle to get by financially, but for the vast majority $140 for season tickets or $5 for a single game is little more than a drop in the bucket. Making tickets free may get a few more students in the door and convert them--and that's great--but, independent of winning a lot more games, I don't think you can get a significant increase in student support without a drastic change in culture, and that's incredibly difficult.

 

[skyvue]

I think pricing has almost nothing to do with poor student attendance.

I agree. Heck, five bucks was a relative pittance back when I was in school; it amounts to even less today.

 

[bocabull]

Times change. HDTV, DVR's, ESPN3, etc offer a better experience than going to the arena for most games. Especially basketball where there are so many games.

Football is a different animal due to the limited number of games mainly played on weekends where people make an entire day out of the event.

No harm, no foul. Who cares if the program is paid for from TV revenue or attendance?

 

[MsProudSooner]

No harm, no foul. Who cares if the program is paid for from TV revenue or attendance?

No one cares how it's paid for, but players, coaches and recruits care about the crowds that they get for their games.

 

[SoonerSpock]

Yes, it is, and Tramel points that out in his editorial. He blames the conferences and college basketball in general, not so much the schools, although all have a voice if they choose to use it.



True. But the Big 12 is guilty of bowing to ESPN's demands.

Unfortunately if the B12 does not accommodate ESPN another conference will and the TV revenue will be lost. Something ISU, Tech, KSU, OSU, KU and Baylor athletic programs which operate in the red can ill afford.

For certain ESPN carries the big stick but does not speak softly.

 

[AdaSooner]

[/B]

Unfortunately if the B12 does not accommodate ESPN another conference will and the TV revenue will be lost. Something ISU, Tech, KSU, OSU, KU and Baylor athletic programs which operate in the red can ill afford.

For certain ESPN carries the big stick but does not speak softly.

Very good points! There is no doubt that the driver to scheduling games with fan conveniece as a secondary (if that) consideration is revenue. I think we all know why the goofy time slots and tournaments that match the best teams available seem to increase every season.

But the point of Tramel's editorial is that, while school officials talk a good show about wanting to improve attendance, they're not willing to make the sacrifices necessary to schedule games that are more convenient as well as attractive to fans.

You're right that some schools can't afford it. I understand that, too. It's a tough situation with no one solution that can work for everyone

 

[MsProudSooner]

[/B]

Unfortunately if the B12 does not accommodate ESPN another conference will and the TV revenue will be lost. Something ISU, Tech, KSU, OSU, KU and Baylor athletic programs which operate in the red can ill afford.

For certain ESPN carries the big stick but does not speak softly.

That's why all of D1 baskeball, not just one conference, has to be willing to tell ESPN to change things. I don't see much chance of that happening, though.