Facilities and Arena discussion

[ProfessorCFK]

Drink tickets? DRINK TICKETS?!?! Their solution to the problem was DRINK TICKETS?!

 

[DRK331]

2 Brand new articles on the GMU Basketball home court changes here:

Tickets - NOVA's Home Court. Designed For Every Fan

NOVA's Home Court. Designed For Every Fan for George Mason University Patriots Tickets

gomason.com

Link #2:

Northern Virginia’s Home Court. Designed For Every Fan. - George Mason University Athletics

As George Mason Basketball continues to establish itself as NOVA's Team, the athletics department is evolving the EagleBank Arena gameday experience to match the

gomason.com

 

[GMU1983]

About time with students the green musicians positioned next to the students will help coordinate the atmosphere

 

[Patriotsince81]

Well, as I feared they have priced most fans out. No Gold Room whatsoever.

 

[Patriotsince81]

It's going to be interesting to see what happens to attendance this year. Increases in ticket prices and a minimum of $2,500 for hospitality. I have some serious thinking to do.

 

[mkaufman1]

Well, as I feared they have priced most fans out. No Gold Room whatsoever.

No but there will be a beer garden and social space there for what it’s worth. So still space to socialize it sounds like

 

[p8triotfan4life]

it's back to Fats Fairfax for me, pregame!

 

[Mason2006Patriot]

The prices reflect the NIL era of college basketball we are in. I'm sure the money will go to facilities and recruiting

 

[EXpatriot13]

No but there will be a beer garden and social space there for what it’s worth. So still space to socialize it sounds like

This is a great idea.

 

[DRK331]

It is great to hear that the GMU Athletics department is listening to the community, making changes to modernize EBA, and is trying to improve the game day experience for everyone.

Great job Athletics department!!

 

[jkh1978]

Looks like they are trying, so positive about that.
I never understood why we let vcu have a whole corner of the arena. So glad that students are moving down to sections 104-109. Is that still the Green Machine in 109?
Is the Patriot club 50 a game for a guest pass? Yes I know the total is expensive, but that's kinda a donation to the team. To bring a third or fourth person is going to be crazy.
I'm thinking about to their experiment over the holiday break last season. Is the Baseline Loge VIP near the court, putting the Courtside Club behind? So not far to walk but no other advantage to have the club so close?

 

[Stoolguy]

from someone not paying directly (student fees are enough) I love this. This is has been in the making for awhile and from a student perspective I love it. We will have more pressure to build up the atmosphere AND be by the visitors.

 

[Stoolguy]

So glad that students are moving down to sections 104-109. Is that still the Green Machine in 109?

Yes students will be right next to the green machine in 109. With the elimination of the bottom of 123/124 it will look more filled in EBA too which is another plus.

 

[Where's the party?]

Mason clearly have a really unrealistic view of the value of their product. After the downgrade of food in the Gold Room last year, the raising of ticket prices, and now raising the cost of "concession grade" hospitality, they better expect a lot of folks to reassess their entertainment dollars.

Folks may say "Welcome to the NIL world" and while that may be true, fans do get a say in the matter - it's called walking away. The amount of entertainment dollars in the country isn't going to grow just because college sports wants to pay it's players.

I just got off a group text with our group of season tix/Gold Room folks and the consensus is we are out on hospitality. Nobody wants to drink our three drink ticket drinks and eat crap food down in the cave. At $125/per game for two folks, we can easily meet up and eat better food at a close by restaurant, and still have enough for a couple drinks during the game.

It's sad because we've been using the Gold Room to meet old friends and introduce new folks to Mason basketball for 20 years. All good things must come to an end.

 

[sigmanorm]

I don't hate the new hospitality offerings in full, but drink tickets and limit of 2 passes is crap. Might just be beer garden and seats for me...if I do that

 

[sigmanorm]

The guy driving this came from ODU...football school. He doesn't get that it isn't the right time to drive up the cost. I tried explaining that to him, but it looks like they are pushing forward. I am still on the fence as to if I get seats or not

 

[Jack Strop]

This is a great idea.

Meh... the beer will probably cost $12–$15 per 12 oz. cup. That's about the cost of most premium-beer six packs. Does anyone really NEED one beer at that price?

I hope the food concessions on the concourse will see improvement. But, for the from-the-masses fans (like me), we'll probably have to eat cake... as usual.

Honestly, it looks like we'll have fewer fans at games. Will those who pay higher prices for amenities eclipse the expected revenue loss from, for lack of a better term, "lower-class" fans?

 

[Krug92]

Mason clearly have a really unrealistic view of the value of their product. After the downgrade of food in the Gold Room last year, the raising of ticket prices, and now raising the cost of "concession grade" hospitality, they better expect a lot of folks to reassess their entertainment dollars.

Folks may say "Welcome to the NIL world" and while that may be true, fans do get a say in the matter - it's called walking away. The amount of entertainment dollars in the country isn't going to grow just because college sports wants to pay it's players.

I just got off a group text with our group of season tix/Gold Room folks and the consensus is we are out on hospitality. Nobody wants to drink our three drink ticket drinks and eat crap food down in the cave. At $125/per game for two folks, we can easily meet up and eat better food at a close by restaurant, and still have enough for a couple drinks during the game.

It's sad because we've been using the gold room to meet old friends and introduce new folks to Mason basketball for 20 years. All good things must come to an end.

Well said!

 

[Krug92]

The guy driving this came from ODU...football school. He doesn't get that it isn't the right time to drive up the cost. I tried explaining that to him, but it looks like they are pushing forward. I am still on the fence as to if I get seats or not

Our collective of 10 seats will be moving out of the seat fee zone.

 

[jkh1978]

I am not a season ticket holder so I get that loyal people here may feel like that loyalty is no longer going both ways. But I think about the future of the Wizards. For so many years they tried to play that middle ground and try to make the playoffs. Then they came up with a better plan, to sacrifice those wins and tank, and hopefully their future is going to be better. The current EBA plan wasn't working. There should be many more butts in seats and more money coming in. I am glad that they are trying to appeal to families. If that works out that can be more butts. If they give more VIP experiences, that could be more money. The VIP needs to be quality not quantity.
I know its not exclusive, but I like that there's a GM beer. I'll pay a premium for that when I'm not driving.
I still think the seats are too expensive most games (should be half what they are, the A10 isn't that special when not against vcu/St Louis/Dayton). And concessions suck and too expensive. But I'm seeing attempts at progress!