Great job students!

[SoMuchDramaInTheLNC]

So tell us how you would do it?

Don't shut down the flow of foot traffic, for one. I'm telling you, all the upper aisles and student entrance were backed way up. I'm sure people were holding handfuls of concessions, etc. Pain. in. the. ass. The overall goal here is efficiency. As it stands now, the LNC is inefficient and a pain to get around. This can't be good for attendance.

While I'm here, this is what else I would do:

1. Simplify student ticket distribution. As the system is set up, there are 4 or 5 ticket distribution times, each with 4-5 games. To claim them online, you have to 1. login to soonersports and click on the distribution, 2. click on the individual game you're getting tickets for, 3. check the "I agree" box on the ticket policy, 4. click "Accept" when the policy pops up, 4. (sometimes) enter one of those "not a robot" codes, 5. click ticket delivery method, 6. click "print-at-home" (the only option), 7. click "checkout," 8. click "confirm." Then, you have to click back through all this to get back to the games in your distribution, and repeat 3-4 times.

Terribly inefficient. I know several people who don't go through this trouble. When they want to go, they go to the student entrance and get them printed off anyway--unless it's OSU, Texas, or Kansas, where the walkup sales sell out. I guarantee yesterday's good student turnout was off walkup sales/distribution. (In fact, my friend didn't claim his, but the person at the table told him to walk in, no ticket required, so they may have been letting people in free anyway).

What I would do: mail physical tickets, or email all the tickets at once right before the season starts. Promote an exchange system for when students can't go/are out of town for Christmas.

2. Don't treat the lower level like the suites. By this I mean, encourage free movement throughout the arena. Most fans enter up top. Fans sitting low already have to go up top to get most concessions. Don't turn it into a hassle of carrying your drink and hotdog, then having to show your ticket to get back down. Will people sit in seats that aren't theirs? Yes. But that's already happening and not really a problem in sparse crowds anyway.

Remember, the name of the game is fan friendliness. I think these inefficiencies hurt attendance more than the arena itself. Make it a more logistical experience, and fans won't choose to stay at home, which is easy to do when all games are on an ESPN network.

 

[Sooner04]

The amount of energy inside the LNC was surprising, and I believe it was 100% tied to the very raucous student section. Great, GREAT job by those matriculators last night.

 

[DenverSooner]

The amount of energy inside the LNC was surprising, and I believe it was 100% tied to the very raucous student section. Great, GREAT job by those matriculators last night.

In my opinion it always is. When they are rowdy everyone feeds off their energy and is more energetic themselves.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

Don't shut down the flow of foot traffic, for one. I'm telling you, all the upper aisles and student entrance were backed way up. I'm sure people were holding handfuls of concessions, etc. Pain. in. the. ass. The overall goal here is efficiency. As it stands now, the LNC is inefficient and a pain to get around. This can't be good for attendance.

Seriously? If backed up lines in aisles is causing attendence problems then backed up aisles isn't the problem.

1. Simplify student ticket distribution. As the system is set up, there are 4 or 5 ticket distribution times, each with 4-5 games. To claim them online, you have to 1. login to soonersports and click on the distribution, 2. click on the individual game you're getting tickets for, 3. check the "I agree" box on the ticket policy, 4. click "Accept" when the policy pops up, 4. (sometimes) enter one of those "not a robot" codes, 5. click ticket delivery method, 6. click "print-at-home" (the only option), 7. click "checkout," 8. click "confirm." Then, you have to click back through all this to get back to the games in your distribution, and repeat 3-4 times.

Terribly inefficient. I know several people who don't go through this trouble. When they want to go, they go to the student entrance and get them printed off anyway--unless it's OSU, Texas, or Kansas, where the walkup sales sell out. I guarantee yesterday's good student turnout was off walkup sales/distribution. (In fact, my friend didn't claim his, but the person at the table told him to walk in, no ticket required, so they may have been letting people in free anyway).

how old are you? complaining about making a few clicks on the computer to get tickets? You are either very computer illiterate, not very intelligent, or just lazy. Kids spend hours and hours on their phones and laptops everyday and they are complaining about a few clicks to get tickets to a bball game? i don't buy it. If this is a reason students don't go to games then the process isn't the problem.

2. Don't treat the lower level like the suites. By this I mean, encourage free movement throughout the arena. Most fans enter up top. Fans sitting low already have to go up top to get most concessions. Don't turn it into a hassle of carrying your drink and hotdog, then having to show your ticket to get back down. Will people sit in seats that aren't theirs? Yes. But that's already happening and not really a problem in sparse crowds anyway.

Remember, the name of the game is fan friendliness. I think these inefficiencies hurt attendance more than the arena itself. Make it a more logistical experience, and fans won't choose to stay at home, which is easy to do when all games are on an ESPN network.

Free movement is encouraged at the arena. I believe they even make an announcement after the first media timeout.

You seem like someone that would complain about what kind of car you won on the price is right

 

[MsProudSooner]

I agree that we need more concessions and restrooms on the lower level.

I don't think they ask to see tickets when entering the lower level after the 1st media timeout.

 

[WaymanFan]

I agree that is the oddest chant. If the opponent is overrated the win is not as important. It is completely illogical but that is the nerd coming out in me.

I'm not necessarily disagreeing. However, the few times I've heard the OU fans saying this loud and clear coincided with the fans having an impact on the game and inspiring the players. Whatever that takes, I'm all for. I wouldn't necessarily be in favor of fans throwing anything on the court, either. However, when they did that 26 years ago, we have arguably OU's most famous basketball quote (and technical foul call) of all time.

 

[IndySooner]

I'm not necessarily disagreeing. However, the few times I've heard the OU fans saying this loud and clear coincided with the fans having an impact on the game and inspiring the players. Whatever that takes, I'm all for. I wouldn't necessarily be in favor of fans throwing anything on the court, either. However, when they did that 26 years ago, we have arguably OU's most famous basketball quote (and technical foul call) of all time.

I completely agree with this post, by the way. If overrated is something the student section wants to chant after a game they've had a direct impact on, so be it. Chant away.

 

[Zimwillett]

So tell us how you would do it?

Honestly, I tend to agree that they should eliminate the flags being run around the middle of the arena at the start of the game. It is a bell/whistle that adds very little (if anything) to the overall game atmosphere. And in my opinion, if it is impeding our fans entry into the arena, it actually detracts.

On the original topic---I agree---kudos students. Let's build on that and make it even more raucous for ISU on Monday. Hopefully the other sections will start to follow your lead.

 

[Chiefdaddy]

Great job students!! There is no doubt that when the students are there and loud, it makes a difference in the other fans cheering. You guys sounded loud on TV. I couldn't make it down for this game due to working late but I liked the energy the students brought on TV. Thanks and Keep it Up!!!

 

[StatGeek]

The new name is boom town, and yes there were awesome tonight

Boom Town sounds pretty good.

 

[thewez]

They are already having people vote on a new name. So Boomtown might be short lived.

 

[SoonerBounce13]

They are already having people vote on a new name. So Boomtown might be short lived.

we need to stop with changing the name every year imo.

I can see Boomtown growing into a longterm name. it isn't dependent on the times or the coach.