Heard Mike Irwin today say fans need to show up at BWA

[DeltaBoy]

Times  have changed and I remember folks taking off early and the next day off to drive to the Hill to see the Hogs play back in the day when the Bud Dome was Rocking !!!

[Inhogswetrust]

Times  have changed and I remember folks taking off early and the next day off to drive to the Hill to see the Hogs play back in the day when the Bud Dome was Rocking !!!

IF we were still that good they would do it again.

[kevinagee]

I like the idea of the upper deck seats behind the backboards. Those are the seats that don't sell anyways. Make them premium seating with beer and food. Have some that people can rent on a game-by-game basis for large groups, and some for season tickets. It would be a way to reduce seating that is rarely used, but increase revenue.

Behind the baskets on the upper deck of Bud Walton.

One side is the discounted seats. 20.00 per game no donation fees.

The other side is students side. As the students get one side of the lower basket on both sides of the bans. I would est. 500 students are allowed on the lower level. The over flow in the rare rare rare occasion you have this go to the upper deck above the basket.

So this being the case and looking at the crowds. You have 5 times adults paid showing up to the games compared to students. As even the students last night did not fill there lower level sections and they get in for a set 80 pass paid for at the beginning of the semester to allow them in for all games Football, Basketball. The other fall sports they get in for free with there ID. ( Volleyball,Soccer,Swimming ect.)

So this is not all the adult fans but the students are not coming to the games also.

As for suites premium seating with beer and food. They are available now and can be sold I'm sure on game by game or the remainder of the season. I counted at-least 12 around the arena that was vacant with lights out. But be honest. If the complaining is already about a 25.00 seat and ticket prices to high. Lower the prices.
Are you really going to pay a $1,000.00 to $5,000.00 plus for a suit for one game or a season. just to drink a beer you already buy with food also u have to furnish to have in the suite also.

All suites have move in dates for your stuff. Your purchase of a suite doesn't come with a fully free open bars and buffet of food.

I do not think they can make an outdoor club area as they have in football. Basketball would have to be all sections open to have beer sold. 

[Inhogswetrust]

Behind the baskets on the upper deck of Bud Walton.

One side is the discounted seats. 20.00 per game no donation fees.

The other side is students side. As the students get one side of the lower basket on both sides of the bans. I would est. 500 students are allowed on the lower level. The over flow in the rare rare rare occasion you have this go to the upper deck above the basket.

So this being the case and looking at the crowds. You have 5 times adults paid showing up to the games compared to students. As even the students last night did not fill there lower level sections and they get in for a set 80 pass paid for at the beginning of the semester to allow them in for all games Football, Basketball. The other fall sports they get in for free with there ID. ( Volleyball,Soccer,Swimming ect.)

So this is not all the adult fans but the students are not coming to the games also.

As for suites premium seating with beer and food. They are available now and can be sold I'm sure on game by game or the remainder of the season. I counted at-least 12 around the arena that was vacant with lights out. But be honest. If the complaining is already about a 25.00 seat and ticket prices to high. Lower the prices.
Are you really going to pay a $1,000.00 to $5,000.00 plus for a suit for one game or a season. just to drink a beer you already buy with food also u have to furnish to have in the suite also.

All suites have move in dates for your stuff. Your purchase of a suite doesn't come with a fully free open bars and buffet of food.

I do not think they can make an outdoor club area as they have in football. Basketball would have to be all sections open to have beer sold. 

Nice info.

[Breems]

One thing football and baseball have that basketball does not, and that is the alcohol element. I wonder how much that plays a role is it and if allowing $5 beer to be sold in BWA would help attendance.

It most definitely would. The world revolves around alcohol.

[The_Iceman]

It most definitely would. The world revolves around alcohol.

In the world of Sports Attendance, it is a major factor. Especially when the product isn't good, as it is now with our basketball program.

[kevinagee]

It most definitely would. The world revolves around alcohol.

First of all beer is Razorback Stadium is $8.00 a can not $5.00. Also it is not allowed outside the doors. As I seat in this area. Now it does appear outside. But most get smart enough to pour it into there coke cup and go outside.
Also according to the numbers Jeff Long posted last year the purchase of Beer in the outdoor club was maybe $1,200 an avg a game being about 150 cans of beer sold. So its not a big strong selling point thing to the outdoor club area.
So you statement The world revolves around alcohol. I have to disagree unless you going to a game and the golf course in Lt. Rock

As for Beer at Baseball at the U of A. Its allowed in the outfield only and not sold by the U of A so its not a revenue to the U of A. The outfield seats are mostly occupied by the students. And is a small percentage of the over all attendance to the game by game attendance at Baum Stadium.

I re state. You are paying 25 dollars a ticket for Basketball and complaining. So how many $8.00 beers you really going to buy if the U of A was to sell. In football to set in outdoor club you are paying $125.00 per game. Most games you don't stay but for 3.5 QRt's. You been drinking at your tail gate all day already. So honestly are you really going to buy more than maybe 2 or 3 beers at the game that 16.to $24.00 just on 2 to 3 beers. If you spending more and drinking more u are drunk and cannot pass a DUI breath test. going to cost u 2.5K for those 3 beers by the Po Poe

I just do not see the sell of Alcohol at U of A sporting events raising attendance. When you can drink at home way cheaper and safer than at a U of A sporting event and not have to drive to get there or endanger yourself or others driving home. 

 

[TrueBlue]

First of all beer is Razorback Stadium is $8.00 a can not $5.00. Also it is not allowed outside the doors. As I seat in this area. Now it does appear outside. But most get smart enough to pour it into there coke cup and go outside.
Also according to the numbers Jeff Long posted last year the purchase of Beer in the outdoor club was maybe $1,200 an avg a game being about 150 cans of beer sold. So its not a big strong selling point thing to the outdoor club area.
So you statement The world revolves around alcohol. I have to disagree unless you going to a game and the golf course in Lt. Rock

As for Beer at Baseball at the U of A. Its allowed in the outfield only and not sold by the U of A so its not a revenue to the U of A. The outfield seats are mostly occupied by the students. And is a small percentage of the over all attendance to the game by game attendance at Baum Stadium.

I re state. You are paying 25 dollars a ticket for Basketball and complaining. So how many $8.00 beers you really going to buy if the U of A was to sell. In football to set in outdoor club you are paying $125.00 per game. Most games you don't stay but for 3.5 QRt's. You been drinking at your tail gate all day already. So honestly are you really going to buy more than maybe 2 or 3 beers at the game that 16.to $24.00 just on 2 to 3 beers. If you spending more and drinking more u are drunk and cannot pass a DUI breath test. going to cost u 2.5K for those 3 beers by the Po Poe

I just do not see the sell of Alcohol at U of A sporting events raising attendance. When you can drink at home way cheaper and safer than at a U of A sporting event and not have to drive to get there or endanger yourself or others driving home. 

 

Went to the UALR game last night to see the UALR women play the LSU women and the beer was flowing freely in every corner....

[Inhogswetrust]

It most definitely would. The world revolves around alcohol.

In some parts of the world yes it actually does. Depends on the place and the local economy.

[william.lane123]

Who built this team that will end up finishing around .500 and miss the postseason?

Answer: Mike Anderson.

Its year 5 for Mike Anderson. He is supposed to build programs like Bielema by building depth around developing high-character, hard-working players instead of the hot prospects. The problem is he didn't do either. He has a depleted roster, couldn't keep Babb on the roster to develop him into the talent we needed last night, he lost a senior starting forward to legal trouble, lost his starting PG half the season to legal issues, lost a Top 50 recruit to grades that should have been foreseen. He had no solid backup plans to any of these issues, on top of seeming ill-prepared for the highly possible fact that Portis (and Qualls) were going to go pro.

This, plus the Monks played the backs and MA like a fiddle! I knew we weren't going to get MM. Why would he come to play for a team that hit the floor last night?  I will say though, Cal has ruined college BB and until the NCAA does something it will only get worse.  Basketball used to be the sport I loved.  Not anymore, it's all about beating Kentucky, North Carolina, or Duke.

[Inhogswetrust]

First of all beer is Razorback Stadium is $8.00 a can not $5.00. Also it is not allowed outside the doors. As I seat in this area. Now it does appear outside. But most get smart enough to pour it into there coke cup and go outside.
Also according to the numbers Jeff Long posted last year the purchase of Beer in the outdoor club was maybe $1,200 an avg a game being about 150 cans of beer sold. So its not a big strong selling point thing to the outdoor club area.
So you statement The world revolves around alcohol. I have to disagree unless you going to a game and the golf course in Lt. Rock

As for Beer at Baseball at the U of A. Its allowed in the outfield only and not sold by the U of A so its not a revenue to the U of A. The outfield seats are mostly occupied by the students. And is a small percentage of the over all attendance to the game by game attendance at Baum Stadium.

I re state. You are paying 25 dollars a ticket for Basketball and complaining. So how many $8.00 beers you really going to buy if the U of A was to sell. In football to set in outdoor club you are paying $125.00 per game. Most games you don't stay but for 3.5 QRt's. You been drinking at your tail gate all day already. So honestly are you really going to buy more than maybe 2 or 3 beers at the game that 16.to $24.00 just on 2 to 3 beers. If you spending more and drinking more u are drunk and cannot pass a DUI breath test. going to cost u 2.5K for those 3 beers by the Po Poe

I just do not see the sell of Alcohol at U of A sporting events raising attendance. When you can drink at home way cheaper and safer than at a U of A sporting event and not have to drive to get there or endanger yourself or others driving home. 

 

Will it raise attendance greatly, probably not. I bet it would make some consider going though for the price they want. But I sit in the SOC and I bet there is more than 150 beers sold there per game. IF Sodexo doesn't make money then they won't sell it. It costs them more to sell alcohol than soft drinks.

[BigoBoys]

I've always said we should re-design the upperdeck to look something like Tennessee:



I think you need more than just a basketball game to watch. Create a fun environment. And whether some like it or not, alcohol helps with that. The problem is, Walmart isn't going to want to lose seats in BWA because they need it large for the shareholders meetings, which is why I think maybe just putting a black curtain up to block it off until we actually need it. Keep everyone in the lower level.

Walmart has no control over this. 

[cmiller01]

$20/25 a ticket is unreasonable for a bad to mediocre product.  They need to restructure the pricing strategy.

This right here.  $50 for myself and my son is entirely too much money.  Add in food and drinks and that really hurts the wallet!

[nwahogfan1]

Thank you Frank Broyles for this mess.

Blaming Frank Broyles for this is like obama blaming Bush after 7 years in office.

We have a problem on the hill in bb quality which can be turned around in one year with a great recruiting class and then subsequent good recruiting from then on.  Lets hope the JUCO players signed can come in next year and get us back to where we want to go.   But CMA needs to sign one or two more highly ranked HS players in the spring  to restock the shelves. 

[FreshHog]

Why would any normal person want to go to this game with the product Mike assembled this 2015 offseason? I am a crazy loyal fan and go to games to matter what because I love Razorback basketball, but a normal fan?

Why would Malik want to come here after what he watched the last two nights.

You werent at the game last night just like a lot of us, you were just complaining and bitching in the game thread. I wish you were as big of a fan as you claim to be.

[FreshHog]

This right here.  $50 for myself and my son is entirely too much money.  Add in food and drinks and that really hurts the wallet!

LOL! You spend more than that to go to a movie with you and your son with a large popcorn and 1 soda...

[PolishPigPower]

If Portis and Qualls hadn't left, more butts would be in the seats.  The place was packed and rocking during SEC play last year, especially down the stretch.  You combine losing those guys with the forgery scandal, and that takes the wind out of the average fan's sails.  Add in playing an Akron on a Wednesday, and I'm not sure what Mike Irwin or anyone else is expecting.  You want to improve attendance?  Make the NCAA a regular thing again.  Build it and they will come.

[Inhogswetrust]

Walmart has no control over this. 

Maybe not. However I'd bet they take them into consideration due to all the stuff Wal-mart and it's employees have done for the UA and athletic department over the years. One of Bud's caveat's to give them the money to help build it was to let Wal-mart use it for their convention. I doubt the UA athletic department wants to even come close to upsetting any Wal-mart people especially big wigs.

[hogsanity]

LOL! You spend more than that to go to a movie with you and your son with a large popcorn and 1 soda...

Yea, and we may go to two or three movies a year, NOT 15 or so ( and no way we spend $50 per movie trip either ). And, we don't have to drive an hour both ways to go to a movie.

In the world of Sports Attendance, it is a major factor. Especially when the product isn't good, as it is now with our basketball program.

So now these guys are trying to tell us attendance is bad because they don't sell beer. I find it sad that so many people can't seem to enjoy sports without drinking. Plus, the argument is bogus, football and baseball have very limited beer sales, and restricted to only certain areas, yet attendance at those games is pretty good.

[The_Iceman]

You werent at the game last night just like a lot of us, you were just complaining and bitching in the game thread. I wish you were as big of a fan as you claim to be.

Wait, you are telling me the internets are only found on this machine. Hold on while I go find a pay phone to call and verify this.

[wheelspigharvey]

Let me start by saying I really like Bret Bielema.

...Bielema's team has rebounded tremendously but we were not even close to being ready to play. If we were ready to play in September this could have been a contender for the SEC title.
It is very early in the season and we lost to a MAC team at home, just like Bret Bielema's team.

Let's hope the basketball team can eventually put it together just like the football team has.

Yes, this is the hope that I'm hanging onto.  I really don't think Akron got our best game we are going to give this season.  Not to keep drawing this comparison out but at the start of the football season I told my friends I'd be really happy with 8-4 or 7-5 and they were like "ew no way," now we're the happiest 6-4 fan base in the country by far.  I think the basketball team can do a similar job, but I wonder how many people will be as happy about it.

[TomBigBeeHog]

Not to keep drawing this comparison out but at the start of the football season I told my friends I'd be really happy with 8-4 or 7-5 and they were like "ew no way," now we're the happiest 6-4 fan base in the country by far.  I think the basketball team can do a similar job, but I wonder how many people will be as happy about it.

Statewide or on Hogville?

[wheelspigharvey]

Statewide or on Hogville?

Good point, I was mostly meaning Hogville.

[Blutoblutarsky]

Bill Self 😔

[Inhogswetrust]

Yea, and we may go to two or three movies a year, NOT 15 or so ( and no way we spend $50 per movie trip either ). And, we don't have to drive an hour both ways to go to a movie.

So now these guys are trying to tell us attendance is bad because they don't sell beer. I find it sad that so many people can't seem to enjoy sports without drinking. Plus, the argument is bogus, football and baseball have very limited beer sales, and restricted to only certain areas, yet attendance at those games is pretty good.

I don't think we are saying that at all. What we are saying is attendance is down because of not winning at a high rate like we did before. Perhaps ONE way to help boost it is to do SOMETHING. Sitting on their behinds over there is not going to get people back into BWA for nonconference games IF we don't start to do SOMETHING. It's worth a try if it is cost effective for Sodexo.

[Inhogswetrust]

Bill Self 😔

We swung and missed....................

[kevinagee]

For Southern the Attendance:14158  Paid Estimated Actual Attendance: 6,603
For Akron the Attendance:14041 Paid Estimated Actual Attendance: 5902

I think some are still Missing the point. Its not about paid attendance or buying tickets so much as that the tickets that have been paid for people are not going to the games. ( putting there buts in the seats they paid for )

As Bud Walton Capacity Bud is 19,368 so just to estimate. Between season tick holders and walk up sales you are a little over 5K of a Paid sale out for the last two non conf. games.
I will probably estimate it will be this figure of 14K paid attendance as a bottom line all year. Once Conf. play starts or say the KY game I'm sure that will be close to a sell out in paid attendance.

The topic is basically the fans are paying for games but not coming to date. ( the last 2 games)

So the selling of Beer is a non issue or remedy as you constantly 14K paid with out Beer being sold at games. So why would someone that paid for a ticket not going to the game. Just say hey lets go to Bud Walton Arena and buy a beer.

As for ticket prices and the amount there of. The most un sold seats are the reduced $20.00 tickets. Not the $25.00 tickets. So I do not see price as the objective when 14K have already purchased tickets for the entire year.

There is the question the 5K unsold. Do you reduce those prices to say to $10 to $15 to $20 for walk up sales only. Thus not making season ticket and foundation members upset to the money they pay upfront for the season.
I'm defiantly not against this as a season ticket holder and foundation member that the 5K tickets you sell to walk ups on a reduced rate. Gets revenue for the U of A and can also boast your stats of PAID attendance to a sell out possible every game. Again I'm talking paid attendance.

But for actual attendance you get another 3k to 5k fans that really want to be at the game and do not need to hassell with bargain shopping season ticket holders outside the arena or the 3 scalpers roaming around every game trying to make profit of what they have bought of season tickets for the year with the only plan of re-selling to make profit. Those three guys you will never see at the game itself. Personally I would discourage purchasing from them unless its your last option. As they try to buy tickets for $5 and try to resale for $20 or face.

So to close again the topic is how to get the 14k that paid to show up for the games or give there tickets / re sale to people that will actually go to the game.

As for tonight's game against against Charleston Southern a team that is 1-2 this year and Arkansas really should have no problem with. I would hope coming out with fire after the Akron home lose.

I look for the same as attendance. 14k paid attendance and actual attendance to be 4k to maybe 6k range.

[Inhogswetrust]

This right here.  $50 for myself and my son is entirely too much money.  Add in food and drinks and that really hurts the wallet!

Good grief. IF $50 is too hurtful on your wallet then perhaps you need to save money and get dialup internet access.........................

[MountieDawg]

$20/25 a ticket is unreasonable for a bad to mediocre product.  They need to restructure the pricing strategy.

Non-con no names needs to be 15 for upper deck and 20+ for lower.  Then the conference games and top 25 teams can vary between 20/35 depending on location and opponent.  To think that the Kentucky game and Southwestern northern blue state is the same price or close is ridiculous.

I'll pay 50-75 to see Kentucky but Akron 20 is my ceiling unless I'm on the floor or behind the benches. 

Supply and Demand Jeff Long!  You may say the variable pricing affects the equity/integrity of the product. . Let the market decide and I guarantee that a full house making only $10 million in revenue looks better than a 1/2 filled stadium with the same $10 million.

On STUBHUB you can get tickets for $6 for tonights game.  They may want to come up with some Minor League baseball type promotions.  All kids under 12 get in free with an adult ticket for these non conf games.

[hogsanity]

Good grief. IF $50 is too hurtful on your wallet then perhaps you need to save money and get dialup internet access.........................

Way to be free with OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY. I spent $53 plus gas last week to watch theme play Southern. Got the tickets for $19.65 for the pair, then dropped 14 for pizza, a brat and a drink, then paid out $20 for a couple of items at Hog Heaven.  No, that did not break the bank, but I don't want to do it 15 times either. Team record, for me, has nothing to do with it. I just do not want to do it.

[Inhogswetrust]

Way to be free with OTHER PEOPLE'S MONEY. I spent $53 plus gas last week to watch theme play Southern. Got the tickets for $19.65 for the pair, then dropped 14 for pizza, a brat and a drink, then paid out $20 for a couple of items at Hog Heaven.  No, that did not break the bank, but I don't want to do it 15 times either. Team record, for me, has nothing to do with it. I just do not want to do it.

Lighten up Francis. I'm not free with other people's money. I'm not free with mine either. However someone complaining about one $50 event should not complain about that cost IF they attend other events that cost that much and I'd BET he does.  Like someone else said they could easily spend that much on a movie. what is it worth to a kid and his/her memories to go spend time with a parent anywhere. $50 is small change to most people for the memory that it might create for the kids. As parents we all have had to sacrifice for our kids enjoyment. I don't think its unreasonable for a parent to find a way to give up something else to take a kid to a game at least once when they obviously like the Hogs. I'm sure a HUGE majority of people on here (the internet) could somehow come up with a way to save $50 to take a kid to a game sometime. Th away things have been lately there are people giving away tickets anyway!

[Blutoblutarsky]

We swung and missed....................

Not the first time around. He was all Hog.

[Inhogswetrust]

Not the first time around. He was all Hog.

I've been told the same thing but ask yourself why didn't he become our coach?

[oldbooniehog]

I used to live and breathe Hog hoops. But the program has fallen so far and been down for so long.

Even if I still lived on NWA there is no chance I would spend any $ or time to go see a game in Bud Walton this season.

I sort of paid attention to the Akron game on Sling TV but turned it off when it became clear Arkansas was done.

I didn't know until I checked the board that Ark was playing Charleston or whoever tonight. I am not going to watch a second of that game either.

I just don't care this year because I am so tired of lousy basketball at Arkansas.