Improve Mason home game experience discussion

[GMUMiked]

I want to give props to the Athletic department for a second. I was unsure about getting full season tickets this year because I won't be able to make a number of the game but was swayed by the "value ball" option that they are now offering. For $125/seat for the season with no fees and no donation required I was able to pick out my seats and pay right on ticketmaster. I'm sure I'll make an extra game or two this year (and bring a guest) because I got the full season package. Also, Daniel Frank in the athletics sales office was very helpful when I wanted to change seat locations after the Wofford game.

If anyone was on the fence about getting season tickets it"s not too late and I would highly recommend the value ball tickets. You can't beat the price (about $7/game) and the seats/view is much better than I thought.

Value Ball tickets available here:

https://am.ticketmaster.com/gmu/buy?filterType=15&_gl=1*9iwb38*_ga*MTMzNDUwMDY2OS4xNzU5MDY1Mzg4*_ga_QQ07WCZL0D*czE3NjI3ODYyODAkbzE4JGcwJHQxNzYyNzg2MjgwJGo2MCRsMCRoMA..

 

[MasonSAE4]

Wow. Interesting. No excuse then, get your butts out to EBA. LOL

Lmao yes there is, it’s called rush hour. I live in DC and I can tell you there ain’t no way I’m driving for an hour to watch them play against Chumbawamba tomorrow

 

[MasonFanatic]

Lmao yes there is, it’s called rush hour. I live in DC and I can tell you there ain’t no way I’m driving for an hour to watch them play against Chumbawamba tomorrow

See here's the thing. Some of us drive an hour in rush hour because we are Mason fans and want to watch our team play, no matter who the opponent is.

Edit: I should also point out that it's a Federal holiday, so traffic should be significantly less of an issue.

 

[GMU79]

See here's the thing. Some of us drive an hour in rush hour because we are Mason fans and want to watch our team play, no matter who the opponent is.

Edit: I should also point out that it's a Federal holiday, so traffic should be significantly less of an issue.

Oh for the days when I lived in Vienna and could scoot around the back way around Fairfax Circle to the campus!

 

[Old Man]

See here's the thing. Some of us drive an hour in rush hour because we are Mason fans and want to watch our team play, no matter who the opponent is.

Edit: I should also point out that it's a Federal holiday, so traffic should be significantly less of an issue.

There are those of us who drive 4 hours to get to a Mason game. I'm not trying get an 'attaboy', I'm just saying drive time, solely by itself, is a weak excuse. Couple that with can't get out of work in time, gotta get the kids to practice, etc., cool, I get those issues. But just not wanting to drive 1 hour or so, that I don't understand.

 

[mkaufman1]

Lmao yes there is, it’s called rush hour. I live in DC and I can tell you there ain’t no way I’m driving for an hour to watch them play against Chumbawamba tomorrow

I trekked an hour on 50 west between 2012-2017 for many games against blind sisters and had to also survive Hewitt-ball / Paulsen-ball. No excuses!! lol.

 

[DRK331]

"If we win, people will come"

We won the A10 regular season last year (with 27 overall wins), there should be more people at the games.

If you live within 1 hour of EBA, please come to the games! Watch Kory Mincy takeover the game!

 

[MasonSAE4]

See here's the thing. Some of us drive an hour in rush hour because we are Mason fans and want to watch our team play, no matter who the opponent is.

Edit: I should also point out that it's a Federal holiday, so traffic should be significantly less of an issue.

What? I didn’t say anything about people who do go to every game. Good for those who do. What I’m saying is the idea that we have a lot of alum “in the area” doesn’t guarantee attendance.

I’ve gone to or watched every game for 15 years, give or take a game, but there are Tuesday nights where I just don’t want to sit in NoVa traffic. If it’s JMU or ODU or whoever? Sure. But our OOC slate for 15 years has left me watching a fair few midweek games on ESPN+

 

[Patriotsince81]

See here's the thing. Some of us drive an hour in rush hour because we are Mason fans and want to watch our team play, no matter who the opponent is.

This times 1000!!!!!!

 

[MasonSAE4]

There are those of us who drive 4 hours to get to a Mason game. I'm not trying get an 'attaboy', I'm just saying drive time, solely by itself, is a weak excuse. Couple that with can't get out of work in time, gotta get the kids to practice, etc., cool, I get those issues. But just not wanting to drive 1 hour or so, that I don't understand.

If you live in DC, a Mason game is *conservatively* a 3.5 hour commitment on a weeknight. I don’t understand not getting to a few games a year, but again, this idea that alum “in the area” equates to “are close by” isn’t true.

 

[NewPatriot]

I am down with anything that encourages go-go dancing.

Schwing!

 

[EXpatriot13]

We won the A10 regular season last year (with 27 overall wins), there should be more people at the games.

I don't disagree. But we obviously have a much larger "casual" fanbase vs. "avid", so I don't think winning the A10 Regular Season (and not making the tournament) is the needle mover we might think it is.

Add to that an uninspiring OOC schedule and tough economic climate, and you've got an empty arena.

 

[MasonFanatic]

tough economic climate

This is probably more of a factor than some of us realize.

 

[Jack Strop]

This is probably more of a factor than some of us realize.

Well, there are certainly ways to enjoy a game economically—you know, like, smuggling in a bag of peanuts in one's pocket or stuffing a roasted chicken down one's pants. Works for me?

 

[FreeGunston12]

Fan Engagement Idea:

Host a Greek Night game. Have two fraternities face off in a halftime competition and feature different fraternities and sororities on the Jumbotron throughout the night.

Frat guys bring loud energy—and it’s contagious. The crowd will feed off it. End with a fun moment where the Jumbotron pans to a random fan labeled “GDI (God-Damn Individual)” for a laugh.

Seems like versions of this have been tried many, many times and never work. They all leave at halftime / are not there for the basketball.

Honestly, it feels like we are trying too many different things during each game that end up killing the energy and detracting from the basketball. With the green machine and a DJ, it doesn’t feel like there is room for things like videos of GMU athletes playing “don’t forget the lyrics” or random fan dance competitions. Just keep the energy up. Play the hits. Keep it about the basketball that we all came to watch and be a part of.

 

[Mason2005]

Seems like versions of this have been tried many, many times and never work. They all leave at halftime / are not there for the basketball.

Honestly, it feels like we are trying too many different things during each game that end up killing the energy and detracting from the basketball. With the green machine and a DJ, it doesn’t feel like there is room for things like videos of GMU athletes playing “don’t forget the lyrics” or random fan dance competitions. Just keep the energy up. Play the hits. Keep it about the basketball that we all came to watch and be a part of.

I like your suggestion of just focusing on the basketball. Trying to do a little of everything is a clear sign of panic. I don't blame them for panicking though, the arena is 30% full and numbers keep declining.

 

[TweederGMU]

Saw my buddy this weekend who is a Maryland men's bball season ticket holder. I watched a bit of the UMD-Gtown game and noticed they implemented premium seating behind one of the hoops - looks like black lazy-boys but they call them "cushioned seating" with side tables you can eat on and rest your drinks on.

Premium Seating | umterps.com

They looked half full on the TV for that game but pretty interesting concept - can't think of another stadium doing this for basketball.

He did say they have not been selling well from what he has heard. I asked him if was thinking about doing it in the future but he laughed and said No... out of his price range and alcohol not included.

 

[MasonSAE4]

Saw my buddy this weekend who is a Maryland men's bball season ticket holder. I watched a bit of the UMD-Gtown game and noticed they implemented premium seating behind one of the hoops - looks like black lazy-boys but they call them "cushioned seating" with side tables you can eat on and rest your drinks on.

Premium Seating | umterps.com

They looked half full on the TV for that game but pretty interesting concept - can't think of another stadium doing this for basketball.

He did say they have not been selling well from what he has heard. I asked him if was thinking about doing it in the future but he laughed and said No... out of his price range and alcohol not included.

The Wizards do something similar, although I would suggest if you’re paying premium prices to watch the Wizards to go and get your head examined