Improve Mason home game experience discussion

[FullyChargedPatriot]

My suggestions (some have been said) would be to have The Green Machine play more. They have to work the hype man, band, and loud music in I understand, but it has to be timed better. Also, would be nice a few times a year to have a former player as player of the game at one of the timeouts at some point in the first half. Someone who played an important part in the Mason program.

My other three suggestions might not be easy, but prices for food are outrageous for what you get. A hot dog and soda for $16 is a lot of money IMO. More affordable for families with more choices. The apparel truck is a great idea, but they really need to see if they can have that inside. With a narrow concourse it won't be easy but maybe have 2-3 around the arena. Perhaps they could be located right inside the main entrances on the side. More quality Mason gear is a must. And lastly, it would be nice for Mason to print way more paper rosters and gameday information as they are nearly impossible to get.

 

[Masonman]

Is it just me, I have not seen the Patriot Man at games recently?

 

[Jack Strop]

Is it just me, I have not seen the Patriot Man at games recently?

No... it's not just you. Haven't seen 'im in weeks.

 

[Stoolguy]

Is it just me, I have not seen the Patriot Man at games recently?

I believe athletics is having trouble finding people wanting to be the patriot. Seems a lot easier than being the st joes hawk thats for sure

 

[jkh1978]

I believe athletics is having trouble finding people wanting to be the patriot. Seems a lot easier than being the st joes hawk thats for sure

retire him and get a fun mascot

 

[Tomatoman]

retire him and get a fun mascot

I'll do it!!! Do mascots get NIL?

 

[Portlandian]

Prime chance to name the team George Mason Killer Tomatoes.

 

[Stoolguy]

I'll do it!!! Do mascots get NIL?

They are paid!!!

 

[tblack33]

Maybe a hot take, but I think the DJ and hype man have been great. You can hate on his getting chants going all you want, but if it works 50% of the time it’s better than our atmosphere before. Biggest thing for people on this board to realize is if the DJ isn’t for you, understand that it’s not meant to be, and not everything has to be. This is for the younger generation, and they are the ones that we desperately need to start translating into fans and season ticket holders, because if we don’t our fanbase will quite literally die out.

Hottest take, the green machines set list desperately needs a refresh. Feels like forever since they’ve added recent music that would resonate with students.

 

[GMU1983]

Agree

 

[TweederGMU]

I believe athletics is having trouble finding people wanting to be the patriot. Seems a lot easier than being the st joes hawk thats for sure

If I remember correctly... the St. Joes Hawk gets a scholarship to be the hawk. They have tryouts for it. You have to show a ton of stamina cause you constantly have to flap the wings/your arms basically non-stop during a game - that is an actual requirement for the job. Andy Ruge told me this years ago.

At other major P4 schools being the mascot you get a scholarship as well.

 

[Tomatoman]

Hottest take, the green machines set list desperately needs a refresh. Feels like forever since they’ve added recent music that would resonate with students.

Ya mean like:
"Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish; or
"I Love It" by Icona Pop?

 

[Patriot Blue]

If I remember correctly... the St. Joes Hawk gets a scholarship to be the hawk. They have tryouts for it. You have to show a ton of stamina cause you constantly have to flap the wings/your arms basically non-stop during a game - that is an actual requirement for the job. Andy Ruge told me this years ago.

At other major P4 schools being the mascot you get a scholarship as well.

I heard somewhere that there are 5 or 6 hawks per year. They probably need every one of them due to the torn rotator cuffs suffered throughout the year.

 

[tblack33]

Ya mean like:
"Bad Guy" by Billie Eilish; or
"I Love It" by Icona Pop?

Bad guy came out when most of these kids were in middle school.

I love it predates most of them being in any kind of school whatsoever.

It’s 2026, something from the 2020s would be a solid move in the right direction.

 

[Tomatoman]

Bad guy came out when most of these kids were in middle school.

I love it predates most of them being in any kind of school whatsoever.

It’s 2026, something from the 2020s would be a solid move in the right direction.

And Living on a Prayer was playing on their Grandpa's boom box cassette deck. And don't get me started with Sweet Caroline (oh, oh, ooohhh)! But seriously, how about some suggestions?

 

[jkh1978]

But seriously, how about some suggestions?

APT. — Rosé & Bruno Mars
Beautiful Things — Benson Boone
Espresso — Sabrina Carpenter
Pink Pony Club — Chappell Roan
A Bar Song (Tipsy) — Shaboozey

 

[tblack33]

And Living on a Prayer was playing on their Grandpa's boom box cassette deck. And don't get me started with Sweet Caroline (oh, oh, ooohhh)! But seriously, how about some suggestions?

Fair. I won’t pretend to be particularly musically inclined or super in tune with what the youth of today listen to, just talking with a few undergrads in my old fraternity about the game day experience one thing they mentioned was “more modern songs”

I was at a USC football game earlier this year and their band had great covers of some recent Dua Lipa and Beyoncé songs that the kids seemed to love. They still mixed in plenty of classics that folks across every age group knew, but it def. had a fresh feel to it overall.

I have no idea what’s even in the realm of the possible when it comes to translating modern music into songs that a band can play, but I trust that if anyone in the DMV can do it it’s Doc Nix.

 

[Old Man]

APT. — Rosé & Bruno Mars
Beautiful Things — Benson Boone
Espresso — Sabrina Carpenter
Pink Pony Club — Chappell Roan
A Bar Song (Tipsy) — Shaboozey

How about Bodies by Drowning Pool.

 

[Jack Strop]

Fair. I won’t pretend to be particularly musically inclined or super in tune with what the youth of today listen to, just talking with a few undergrads in my old fraternity about the game day experience one thing they mentioned was “more modern songs”

I was at a USC football game earlier this year and their band had great covers of some recent Dua Lipa and Beyoncé songs that the kids seemed to love. They still mixed in plenty of classics that folks across every age group knew, but it def. had a fresh feel to it overall.

I have no idea what’s even in the realm of the possible when it comes to translating modern music into songs that a band can play, but I trust that if anyone in the DMV can do it it’s Doc Nix.

If the Green Machine can translate "Mike Tyson's Punch Out" into a pep band tune then they can do anything...
https://bit.ly/4r0UL3o

 

[GMUgemini]

Bad guy came out when most of these kids were in middle school.

I love it predates most of them being in any kind of school whatsoever.

It’s 2026, something from the 2020s would be a solid move in the right direction.

It does take time to orchestrate a pop song.

Of the above selections, APT would be the only one I’d be interested in. Those other wines (fun autocorrect: should be whines if we are talking Benson Boone) are too dour or slow tempo to be interesting to listen to at a sporting event. Although APT is based on a Korean drinking chant so who knows?