Facilities and Arena discussion

[GMU_Polevaulter]

The beer garden is open to all and going across the street is always an option before games. Im all for making a pregame culture across the street.

I'm curious to see what they call the beer garden - I hope it's not 3 tables and Small frig/stand selling cans or beer and seltzers. I'd highly recommend - Raymond and his magic Kegerators selling drafts along with that small frig/stand selling seltzers.....

 

[Patriot Blue]

Lots of emphasis on overpriced beer here.

 

[Old Man]

Lots of emphasis on overpriced beer here.

Are you new to this board?

 

[MarkDD214]

I have been a season ticket holder for 10 plus years with 3 seats. The frustration with the new patriot club access, timing, and cost is a big disappointment. First the tickets pricing, patriot club donation, patriot club access, and parking should have been rolled out at the same time. That way I know what my total cost would be if I renewed. I had a strong feeling there was going to be an increase to access the gold room but the 2500 per year 12500 5 year commitment was a shock. Not only the price but then it states, you get 2 drinks before the game and 1 at half time. I can buy a lot of food for 2500 a year at a local restaurant before the game. While the roll out stated how well the program has done the past 3 years, the success is padded by non conference teams GMU plays. The changes this year are a huge step in the wrong direction. You will lose season ticket holder, lose team interest, and turn away fans who have support this team for years. Bottonline the new system is BAD.

 

[Patriot Blue]

I have been a season ticket holder for 10 plus years with 3 seats. The frustration with the new patriot club access, timing, and cost is a big disappointment. First the tickets pricing, patriot club donation, patriot club access, and parking should have been rolled out at the same time. That way I know what my total cost would be if I renewed. I had a strong feeling there was going to be an increase to access the gold room but the 2500 per year 12500 5 year commitment was a shock. Not only the price but then it states, you get 2 drinks before the game and 1 at half time. I can buy a lot of food for 2500 a year at a local restaurant before the game. While the roll out stated how well the program has done the past 3 years, the success is padded by non conference teams GMU plays. The changes this year are a huge step in the wrong direction. You will lose season ticket holder, lose team interest, and turn away fans who have support this team for years. Bottonline the new system is BAD.

Luckily, it's not that many fans

 

[jkh1978]

Luckily, it's not that many fans

This. The current experience needs to be better. Loyalty is a great value but things need to change.

 

[DRK331]

Here are some ideas that I thought of when I heard the recent announcement to the EBA game experience.

Patriot Lounge and Beer garden
Add TVs/monitors that show first half highlights, live stats, and highlights from the previous game

Have a clock counting down to show how much time is left at pregame/halftime so fans know when to get to their seats

Merch store
Sell Mason Basketball jerseys in Adult and kids sizes

Have an area for fans to personalize their jersey with their own last name

It would be cool if fans can also buy Tony Skinn and Lamar Butler jerseys, also in kids sizes

Family Zone
Have a branded photo wall area (like the ones recruits take photoshoots on when they are on a campus visit) where fans/kids can take pictures for Instagram/social media. Have a replica prop trophy of the 2006 Final Four for fans to hold and other props too

Hopefully the Mason Athletics department reads this and can consider these ideas.

 

[NewPatriot]

I have been a season ticket holder for 10 plus years with 3 seats. The frustration with the new patriot club access, timing, and cost is a big disappointment. First the tickets pricing, patriot club donation, patriot club access, and parking should have been rolled out at the same time. That way I know what my total cost would be if I renewed. I had a strong feeling there was going to be an increase to access the gold room but the 2500 per year 12500 5 year commitment was a shock. Not only the price but then it states, you get 2 drinks before the game and 1 at half time. I can buy a lot of food for 2500 a year at a local restaurant before the game. While the roll out stated how well the program has done the past 3 years, the success is padded by non conference teams GMU plays. The changes this year are a huge step in the wrong direction. You will lose season ticket holder, lose team interest, and turn away fans who have support this team for years. Bottonline the new system is BAD.

Well, then be satisfied with an NIT ceiling. The fans have to pay in order for Mason to play for national relevance or settle for annual systemic roster and coaching turnover and middle of the A10 finishes.

 

[Ben Chwarmer]

I have been a season ticket holder for 10 plus years with 3 seats. The frustration with the new patriot club access, timing, and cost is a big disappointment. First the tickets pricing, patriot club donation, patriot club access, and parking should have been rolled out at the same time. That way I know what my total cost would be if I renewed. I had a strong feeling there was going to be an increase to access the gold room but the 2500 per year 12500 5 year commitment was a shock. Not only the price but then it states, you get 2 drinks before the game and 1 at half time. I can buy a lot of food for 2500 a year at a local restaurant before the game. While the roll out stated how well the program has done the past 3 years, the success is padded by non conference teams GMU plays. The changes this year are a huge step in the wrong direction. You will lose season ticket holder, lose team interest, and turn away fans who have support this team for years. Bottonline the new system is BAD.

To be honest I think that’s the plan. Big donors and single game day tickets are the priority

 

[jkh1978]

Patriot Lounge and Beer garden
Add TVs/monitors that show first half highlights, live stats, and highlights from the previous game

This would be a cost to edit. Stats would be easy.

Have a clock counting down to show how much time is left at pregame/halftime so fans know when to get to their seats

I assumed this was there. This has to get done. Is that why people are slow to get back to their seats?

Merch store
Sell Mason Basketball jerseys in Adult and kids sizes

Have an area for fans to personalize their jersey with their own last name

It would be cool if fans can also buy Tony Skinn and Lamar Butler jerseys, also in kids sizes

How's the new bookstore? My kid would love a jersey. There should be old school jerseys, or at least the ones they wore last year.

Family Zone
Have a branded photo wall area (like the ones recruits take photoshoots on when they are on a campus visit) where fans/kids can take pictures for Instagram/social media. Have a replica prop trophy of the 2006 Final Four for fans to hold and other props too

There is the inflatable chair and the Patriot statue.

 

[Old Man]

This would be a cost to edit. Stats would be easy.

I assumed this was there. This has to get done. Is that why people are slow to get back to their seats?


How's the new bookstore? My kid would love a jersey. There should be old school jerseys, or at least the ones they wore last year.


There is the inflatable chair and the Patriot statue.

The countdown clock has been in the Gold Room for a few years now, thanks to Patriots81. Hopefully they keep it in the social area.

 

[NewPatriot]

To be honest I think that’s the plan. Big donors and single game day tickets are the priority

That would work if this were a smaller market place like Richmond with no competition for the sports dollar. But Mason has to compete with all major sports and two power conference teams for the bottom dollar. Especially now with AJ Dybantsa on the wizards and rumors LeBron coming into the team. Mason is not going to compete with all that for the sports dollar in this town.

!! The University should lease the arena naming rights to Capital One. Call it Capital One field house then solicit the Ted Leonsis to the wizards hold training camp on campus and let season ticket holders have dinner with AJ Dybantsa, Anthony Davis, Trae Young and LeBron James.

 

[jessej]

Well, then be satisfied with an NIT ceiling. The fans have to pay in order for Mason to play for national relevance or settle for annual systemic roster and coaching turnover and middle of the A10 finishes.

there are no guarantees that a $10M to $20M NIL budget will produce National Championship runs. This is because most other programs are also increasing their NIL budgets. And the NIL minimums are being raised.

What it does guarantee is that NOT increasing the NIL budget will result in lesser quality teams as GMU will be unable to recruit proven and known talent and will have to rely on buying "hidden gem" talent - for a season.

And it also guarantees that the average good to great players will be paid more and some players will be overpaid - paid more than their marginal revenue value as a result of multiple teams with a lot of money bidding for their services.

As an example, suppose every team in the A-10 has a $10M NIL budget. The best team will be the one that can assemble the best team winning talent with those funds. But one team will finish in first place and another team will finish in last place - with both having the same NIL budget

 

[Patriot Blue]

That would work if this were a smaller market place like Richmond with no competition for the sports dollar. But Mason has to compete with all major sports and two power conference teams for the bottom dollar. Especially now with AJ Dybantsa on the wizards and rumors LeBron coming into the team. Mason is not going to compete with all that for the sports dollar in this town.

!! The University should lease the arena naming rights to Capital One. Call it Capital One field house then solicit the Ted Leonsis to the wizards hold training camp on campus and let season ticket holders have dinner with AJ Dybantsa, Anthony Davis, Trae Young and LeBron James.

Ha. Lebron.

 

[MarkDD214]

Here are some ideas that I thought of when I heard the recent announcement to the EBA game experience.

Patriot Lounge and Beer garden
Add TVs/monitors that show first half highlights, live stats, and highlights from the previous game

Have a clock counting down to show how much time is left at pregame/halftime so fans know when to get to their seats

Merch store
Sell Mason Basketball jerseys in Adult and kids sizes

Have an area for fans to personalize their jersey with their own last name

It would be cool if fans can also buy Tony Skinn and Lamar Butler jerseys, also in kids sizes

Family Zone
Have a branded photo wall area (like the ones recruits take photoshoots on when they are on a campus visit) where fans/kids can take pictures for Instagram/social media. Have a replica prop trophy of the 2006 Final Four for fans to hold and other props too

Hopefully the Mason Athletics department reads this and can consider these ideas.

For years I could not figure out why GMU does not sell game worn or game replica jerseys, every time I watch college basketball the stands are filled with young and old in game jerseys. It is even hard to find a hat that says GMU basketball.

 

[MarkDD214]

The think tank that came up with the the new pricing plan is not a think tank but just figuring out how to tank attendance.

 

[GMUgemini]

I did do a little bit of digging on season ticket pricing (since we are in a competition for entertainment dollars).

Georgetown doesn’t make it easy for their ticketing information but this is what I found on them.

Floor seats will run you about 6,600 a seat.
Cheapest I could find were 450 a seat.
Average for the 200 sections were about 1,600 a seat.

UMD I will just post their link because it’s really easy to compare tiers for pricing (what I noticed: their cheapest seats are 250, their most expensive are about 1,600 but also notice the students take the best seats in all the sections. Their season ticket page: https://umterps.com/sports/2026/4/24/maryland-mens-basketballl-season-ticket-information

Mason’s floor seats are $3,500 a seat. Cheapest are 125. If you want to be center court, that’s $1,000 (675 per sear less than UMD) The corners (which some of you seem to like) are 550 if you want to be close to the court (500 less per seat than UMD).

I should look at GW and probably American or something to compare in-conference and the lower tier. But comparatively speaking Mason basketball is still a value compared to Gtown and UMD.

Ok, without understanding if there are donation requirements for GW’s seats. Their prices are dirt cheap for season tickets compared to the three above: https://gwsports.com/sports/2025/8/25/mens-basketball-ticket

 

[tblack33]

I did do a little bit of digging on season ticket pricing (since we are in a competition for entertainment dollars).

Georgetown doesn’t make it easy for their ticketing information but this is what I found on them.

Floor seats will run you about 6,600 a seat.
Cheapest I could find were 450 a seat.
Average for the 200 sections were about 1,600 a seat.

UMD I will just post their link because it’s really easy to compare tiers for pricing (what I noticed: their cheapest seats are 250, their most expensive are about 1,600 but also notice the students take the best seats in all the sections. Their season ticket page: https://umterps.com/sports/2026/4/24/maryland-mens-basketballl-season-ticket-information

Mason’s floor seats are $3,500 a seat. Cheapest are 125. If you want to be center court, that’s $1,000 (675 per sear less than UMD) The corners (which some of you seem to like) are 550 if you want to be close to the court (500 less per seat than UMD).

I should look at GW and probably American or something to compare in-conference and the lower tier. But comparatively speaking Mason basketball is still a value compared to Gtown and UMD.

Ok, without understanding if there are donation requirements for GW’s seats. Their prices are dirt cheap for season tickets compared to the three above: https://gwsports.com/sports/2025/8/25/mens-basketball-ticket

This is helpful, good on you for pulling this together.

I think there’s a story here about everything is more expensive, Mason basketball held out a long time and maybe should have raised prices iteratively over the years, and there’s some sticker shock for making a decades worth of pricing changes at once. That sticker shock is probably going to have an effect on attendance.

 

[NewPatriot]

there are no guarantees that a $10M to $20M NIL budget will produce National Championship runs. This is because most other programs are also increasing their NIL budgets. And the NIL minimums are being raised.

What it does guarantee is that NOT increasing the NIL budget will result in lesser quality teams as GMU will be unable to recruit proven and known talent and will have to rely on buying "hidden gem" talent - for a season.

And it also guarantees that the average good to great players will be paid more and some players will be overpaid - paid more than their marginal revenue value as a result of multiple teams with a lot of money bidding for their services.

As an example, suppose every team in the A-10 has a $10M NIL budget. The best team will be the one that can assemble the best team winning talent with those funds. But one team will finish in first place and another team will finish in last place - with both having the same NIL budget

Go look at vcu and SLU. vcu will spend about 6.5 million up from 5 million last year and retained 59.2 percent of its scoring from a team that 28-8 and best blue blood. SLU spent 10 million and return almost the entire roster from a team that also went to the NCAA and won opening round game against s power conference team.


Meanwhile Mason got gutted once again losing its entire core and had rebuild from scratch. That puts the patriots a step behind both above teams.

vcu and SLU can build on last season success.because their players already know their respective systems while Mason's coaching staff once again have to teach entirely new team from scratch and figure out rotations.

Mason will never get go over the hump if they have to start over every year. The program needs continuity to get back to the NCAA and the fans need to pay to play.

 

[GSII]

Not sure both haven't lost entire rosters and rebuilt. Lots of big programs lose a big chunk and have to rebuild bc the guys they lose, are difference makers. Everyone has to reload nowadays. This year may be an exception to vcu and Slu.