Gameday Experience

[NewPatriot]

Things to consider...

1.) I've run across 20 somethings who get absolutely gassed hoofing it up two flights of stairs. Need to promote exercise. Walking and biking are the better options over Uber-ing half a mile across campus. It's also a bit less expensive.

2.) Why not promote the basketball team at the Loudoun campus? Does the Loudoun campus offer every class that a Mason student has to take—are they stuck in Loudoun? Do they never find themselves in Fairfax? Loudoun is not South Korea (hell, I'd promote the basketball team there, too—South Korea is one the most wired-for-Internet countries in the world). Does a Loudoun Campus student not find themselves moving to live in a place that happens to be closer to campus after graduation, and hence be more inclined to attend a game? That is, promotion today has long-lasting effects with recall extending into the long-term. If one can't attend a game then isn't there a thing called a "streaming live event" (or replay)? Eyes on screens is the next best thing to live attendance (also refer to the South Korea reference above). Viewership drives ratings which increases future potential media revenue, generates interest and fandom, and may entice fans to attend a game or two.

1. I agree with you on 1.
2. Streaming is important but I thought the goal of this discussion was to increase in-game attendance as opposed to streaming revenue. You will get increase attendance by concentrating your efforts to get students on campus to attend games instead of students off campus on satellite campuses.

Off satellite students are mostly continuing education adults already in the workforce with more important priorities than Basketball games.

If you want families to then promoted the team within the immediate community around campus. For example, Have Robinson, Lake Braddock, South County, Chantilly and Oakton High school game day or even a NOVA coco day. We have 16 homes games a year..that covers 6 or 7 games right there.

 

[mkaufman1]

Moving student attendance posts here from the other thread

 

[NewPatriot]

Moving student attendance posts here from the other thread

Thanks. Its easy to get lost in the weeds. Keep up the good work monitoring the forum.

 

[GMUgemini]

Hosting watch parties on the satellite campuses doesn’t sound like a bad idea. At least for the bigger games (maybe the MTE games every year too).

The gameday atmosphere is geared toward families right now. It should be focused on the student experience.

 

[mkaufman1]

Thanks. Its easy to get lost in the weeds. Keep up the good work monitoring the forum.

aw thanks I try. I mean I don’t get many complaints so I guess I do something right

 

[Jack Strop]

1. I agree with you on 1.
2. Streaming is important but I thought the goal of this discussion was to increase in-game attendance as opposed to streaming revenue. You will get increase attendance by concentrating your efforts to get students on campus to attend games instead of students off campus on satellite campuses.

Off satellite students are mostly continuing education adults already in the workforce with more important priorities than Basketball games.

If you want families to then promoted the team within the immediate community around campus. For example, Have Robinson, Lake Braddock, South County, Chantilly and Oakton High school game day or even a NOVA coco day. We have 16 homes games a year..that covers 6 or 7 games right there.

Who's you to say whose priorities are what? Do you have any backup market research? I certainly don't.

And, to be fair, you stated in your original post on the subject, "student involvement and increasing game attendance." I believe a student watching a game in any form is involvement.

 

[NewPatriot]

Who's you to say whose priorities are what? Do you have any backup market research? I certainly don't.

And, to be fair, you stated in your original post on the subject, "student involvement and increasing game attendance." I believe a student watching a game in any form is involvement.

Fair enough.

 

[2011WinOverVillanova]

How much would it cost to put up one of those screens that were often outdoors for World Cup games? That might work for the Arlington or London campuses

 

[psyclone]

How much would it cost to put up one of those screens that were often outdoors for World Cup games? That might work for the Arlington or London campuses

Just for the record, unless I missed something the last 2 years, Mason no longer offers courses in Loudoun County. Their Science and Tech campus is in Prince William.

Mason moves Loudoun instructional site program offerings to Fairfax and Mason Square for increased efficiencies

George Mason University will consolidate programs and activities currently offered at the Loudoun instructional site, colocated with Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA), to Fairfax and Mason Square.

www.gmu.edu

 

[mkaufman1]

Guys - I'm always a lets try this idea or lets try that idea type of person.

That said, watch parties unless Mason Men / Women bball are playing in the championship game of the A10 tournament or in the NCAA tournament just dont get the attendance. The athletic department and alumni association do some watch parties for some A10 conference games (usually the rivalry ones) just at a local restaurant in Fairfax. Depending on how much they advertise, they may or may not get a turnout. I know @Verdad has attended a bunch of them.

I know we are all big fans and want people to love Mason basketball as much as we do. All we can hope for is that continued winning (when it matters) helps create an improved atmosphere for home games. Expect the early season games to mostly be snoozefests with 3000 or less people most of the time.

This issue starts all the way at the top and goes back to getting the administration to make the students buy in all the way from the minute they step foot on campus.

 

[tblack33]

We can’t fill a third of our arena and we’re thinking setting up watch parties at satellite campuses populated by 45 year olds taking night classes is a good idea?

 

[TweederGMU]

This issue starts all the way at the top and goes back to getting the administration to make the students buy in all the way from the minute they step foot on campus.

BINGO

It should happen Day 1 when a freshman signs their letter of intent to enroll at Mason.

The school should send them a standard welcome package, same for each male or female student, of a green GM t-shirt, GM decals or stickers for their car, other GM tidbits/wearables, green and gold facepaint, GM Stickers (for face or laptop), green and gold maniak hair wigs, GM Water bottle/tumbler, a Green and Gold foam finger, etc. to get them started and excited about being a Patriot. (Marketing 101...This is how you brand your school and build a brand).

Next... in this welcome package you send them a brochure on the history of our men's basketball and women's basketball teams and let them know we are a bball school and AUTOMATICALLY enroll them into the Mason Maniaks and tell them we want to see them in the Bank for each game wearing their green and gold faceprint/stickers and wigs.

 

[Patriotsince81]

Just trying to inject a little humor into life, not poking fun at anyone in particular. This off-season seems to be the longest in memory.

MasonHoops off-season topics for discussion 2026: We're 90% there!!!!!
1. NIL - Check
2. The Portal - Check
3. Fan involvement or lack thereof - Check
4. When should we have Homecoming? - Check
5. Attendance - Check
6. Facilities in comparison to other universities - Check
7. The Logo - Check
8. When will construction begin - Check
9. Recruiting - Check
10. Will Mason ever get football? - Nope, we have not addressed this issue this offseason!!!! We'd better get to it!

Have I left anything off the list?

 

[jessej]

Just trying to inject a little humor into life, not poking fun at anyone in particular. This off-season seems to be the longest in memory.

MasonHoops off-season topics for discussion 2026: We're 90% there!!!!!
1. NIL - Check
2. The Portal - Check
3. Fan involvement or lack thereof - Check
4. When should we have Homecoming? - Check
5. Attendance - Check
6. Facilities in comparison to other universities - Check
7. The Logo - Check
8. When will construction begin - Check
9. Recruiting - Check
10. Will Mason ever get football? - Nope, we have not addressed this issue this offseason!!!! We'd better get to it!

Have I left anything off the list?

A-10 Schedule Release Date?

 

[Jack Strop]

We can’t fill a third of our arena and we’re thinking setting up watch parties at satellite campuses populated by 45 year olds taking night classes is a good idea?

Yes, watch parties are for special games played away from EBA. However, there's nothing wrong or impractical about promoting the team at satellite campi. Students and staff can do what they want with it—be it an enticement or a reminder to watch a game at EBA or on rheir own TV or computer screens.

 

[mkaufman1]

Just trying to inject a little humor into life, not poking fun at anyone in particular. This off-season seems to be the longest in memory.

MasonHoops off-season topics for discussion 2026: We're 90% there!!!!!
1. NIL - Check
2. The Portal - Check
3. Fan involvement or lack thereof - Check
4. When should we have Homecoming? - Check
5. Attendance - Check
6. Facilities in comparison to other universities - Check
7. The Logo - Check
8. When will construction begin - Check
9. Recruiting - Check
10. Will Mason ever get football? - Nope, we have not addressed this issue this offseason!!!! We'd better get to it!

Have I left anything off the list?

I bumped number 10 back in the spring lol

Also hall of fame

 

[DRK331]

The watch party back from Tony Skinn's second season for the road game at Davidson had a lot of people. Mason fans were chanting "Let's go Mason!!" after the win.

The watch party from this past season for the road game at Virginia Tech had even more people.

Just trying to inject a little humor into life, not poking fun at anyone in particular. This off-season seems to be the longest in memory.

MasonHoops off-season topics for discussion 2026: We're 90% there!!!!!
1. NIL - Check
2. The Portal - Check
3. Fan involvement or lack thereof - Check
4. When should we have Homecoming? - Check
5. Attendance - Check
6. Facilities in comparison to other universities - Check
7. The Logo - Check
8. When will construction begin - Check
9. Recruiting - Check
10. Will Mason ever get football? - Nope, we have not addressed this issue this offseason!!!! We'd better get to it!

Have I left anything off the list?

Keyshawn Hall

 

[GMUgemini]

I bumped number 10 back in the spring lol

Also hall of fame

Yep. Hall of fame.
We also talked about merch

Also cutting sports

And then randomly we would talk about how we should add lacrosse.

 

[Portlandian]

And women's field hockey.

 

[Old Ram]

Just trying to inject a little humor into life, not poking fun at anyone in particular. This off-season seems to be the longest in memory.

MasonHoops off-season topics for discussion 2026: We're 90% there!!!!!
1. NIL - Check
2. The Portal - Check
3. Fan involvement or lack thereof - Check
4. When should we have Homecoming? - Check
5. Attendance - Check
6. Facilities in comparison to other universities - Check
7. The Logo - Check
8. When will construction begin - Check
9. Recruiting - Check
10. Will Mason ever get football? - Nope, we have not addressed this issue this offseason!!!! We'd better get to it!

Have I left anything off the list?

Why can’t we schedule any better in the non-conference?