Improve Mason home game experience discussion

[psyclone]

Forgot to mention that El Fresco was also open! We got some dank chicken nachos. Whoever heard my complaint earlier this season and opened El Fresco I tip my hat to you. Only decent food outside the Gold Room.

Doesn't sound very appetizing!

 

[GunstonsGhost]

Doesn't sound very appetizing!

Sorry, my 90's skateboard vernacular took over out of excitement. In boomer talk that might translate to something like "better than cc snuff" lol

 

[jkh1978]

https://x.com/masonmbb/status/2001036570103554171?s=46&t=VcbSGKfebPmgfYZUhHyHew

Mason Nation, we want your opinion on our game day experience! Fill out our survey and receive two free tickets to the Jan. 3 A-10 opener vs. Rhode Island #NOVAsTeam https://bit.ly/4aly7gG

 

[Mason2006Patriot]

Some ideas I had to get more students and fans to men's and women's basketball games:

Tailgate Parties/Pre-Game Events: Set up a tailgating experience before home games, complete with food, music, games, and giveaways (not just the Homecoming game)

Student Discounts: Offer discounted tickets to students, or even free admission to some games. Work with sponsors to fund free giveaways or other incentives for students who attend.

Campus-wide Promotions: Collaborate with clubs, academic departments, greek life, and other student groups to promote games and organize group attendance.

Social Media Challenges: Run fan engagement campaigns through Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. Encourage fans to post videos or photos supporting the team with hashtags, offering prizes like tickets or team swag for the best content.

Media Partnerships: Work with local newspapers, radio stations, and TV outlets to get more game previews, player profiles, and team highlights. The more coverage your team gets, the more it will generate awareness.

Fan-Created Jerseys or Merchandise: Let fans submit their own designs for jerseys, t-shirts, or hats to be sold at the arena. This not only gets the fanbase involved but also supports local artists and creates unique items that fans feel proud to wear.

Gourmet or Local Food Pop-Ups: Work with local food trucks or restaurants to set up gourmet food or unique snack stands at the games. Offer fans unique or fun food options (like team-themed snacks or limited-time items) that aren't available at other sporting events.

 

[MasonFanatic]

Student Discounts: Offer discounted tickets to students, or even free admission to some games. Work with sponsors to fund free giveaways or other incentives for students who attend.

Students already receive free tickets to all games, and can also claim a second free ticket to bring a friend or family member for games during holiday breaks.

 

[NewPatriot]

Still, there is a big difference between non-athletic events at EBA versus the Siegel Center

What is the difference?

 

[GMUgemini]

What is the difference?

Siegel Center doesn’t have any.

 

[hoops10]

Congrats to Tyler Kolek who helped the N Y Knicks win the NBA cup against the San Antonio Spurs. Kolek played 20 minutes, 14 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists. Terrific all around performance from our former Patriot.

 

[GM Logo Guy]

Stop arresting freshman!

 

[GMU79]

Stop arresting freshman!

Which freshman?

 

[pm57WOW]

I was curious to see how we compare to A10 schools in attendance so I posted the chart above. That in turn made me do some quick research and math to see how we rank in regard to percent of seats filled based on capacity. I discovered we're 13th out of the 14 teams, ahead of only Fordham. Discuss.

Disclaimer: The capacity of each arena varied, in some cases, according to the source. So this may not be 100% accurate but it's pretty damn close and it continues to paint an ugly picture for an apathetic fan base and student body.

Dayton (Dayton Arena) - 13,407/13,409 = 99.98%
vcu (Siegel Center) - 7558/7,637 = 98.96%
La Salle (Glaser Arena) - 2,070/3000 = 69.0%
St. Bonaventure (Reilly Center) - 3,384/5,480 = 61.75%
Richmond (Robins Center) - 4,329/7,201 = 60.1%
Loyola Chicago (Gentile Arena) - 2,407/4,381 = 54.9%
St Joe's (Hagan Arena) - 2,053/3,800 = 54.02%
Duquesne (Cooper Field House) - 2,075/3,500 + 48.14%
Davidson (Belk Arena) - 2,429/5,295 = 45.8%
St. Louis (Chaifetz Arena) - 4,826/10,600 = 45.5%
Rhode Island (Ryan Center) - 3,409/7,657 = 44.5%
GW (Smith Center) - 2002/5000 = 40.04%
GMU (EBA) - 3,354/9,840 = 34.1%
Fordham (Rose Hill Gymnasium) - 873/3470 = 25.1%

This has always been this way and always will. Comparing Mason to G.W., not an exact match,( because the G.W. is a true "City School"/Urban Campus whereas George Mason is a Suburban Campus/Commuter) but its close enough. Students Mason faces many of the same obstacles as G.W. students. In essence, the Constant Horrible D.C, traffic: Neither Foggy Bottom nor a 'Suburban Commuter School' located just off Capital Beltway with no direct access to a main thoroughfare, provides the optimal environment in which build school spirit. Also, social environment of both of both G.W. and Mason is dominated by the myriad of alternative presented by Metro D.C.. Its interesting to note that the only school that Mason is above "in game day attendance" is located in Downtown Manhattan, arguably the only place in the A-10 with "worse game day traffic" than D.C.. Richmond and Dayton are not true comparisons because of their "semi-real redneck environments. vcu is also not truly analogous to Mason, in that as the City of Richmond's social environment often makes a vcu student's weekend choice 1. A road trip back home to Northern Virginia to do their laundry, 2. .Doing their laundry in one of the Dorm Laundromats or 3. Attendance at a vcu Basketball game. Which would you chose?

 

[GM Logo Guy]

Which freshman?

Every year, Mason police crack down on parties during the first week of school, and it sets the tone for the entire year. From that point on, students are afraid to let loose or have fun.

I knew a guy who was arrested for ripping down a sign from an RA bulletin board. I don’t condone what he did, but an arrest was an extreme and unnecessary response.

 

[Mason2006Patriot]

Mason fans should be able to customize their own Mason jerseys at the gear trailer.

 

[Patriot Blue]

Every year, Mason police crack down on parties during the first week of school, and it sets the tone for the entire year. From that point on, students are afraid to let loose or have fun.

I knew a guy who was arrested for ripping down a sign from an RA bulletin board. I don’t condone what he did, but an arrest was an extreme and unnecessary response.

If its a commuter school are the parties at their parents houses?

 

[GMU79]

Every year, Mason police crack down on parties during the first week of school, and it sets the tone for the entire year. From that point on, students are afraid to let loose or have fun.

I knew a guy who was arrested for ripping down a sign from an RA bulletin board. I don’t condone what he did, but an arrest was an extreme and unnecessary response.

Actually, you said freshman, not freshmen. That was what I was referring to.

 

[mkaufman1]

So lets get back to complaining / giving ideas on how mason home games can improve experience wise...

 

[GMU1983]

Mason is not a commuter school anymore over 6,000 beds on campus and 40 dormitories...

 

[Portlandian]

My parents won free tickets to the Rhody game for filling out a survey about their experiences at Mason games. That's a nice prize and hopefully feedback from these surveys are taken into consideration as much as possible.

 

[GMU79]

So lets get back to complaining / giving ideas on how mason home games can improve experience wise...

Wrong thread, but I hate that no one picked up on my correction of the "freshman" mistake. I thought it was pretty funny.
But then my wit is sometimes mistaken for half that.

 

[MasonFanatic]

Wrong thread, but I hate that no one picked up on my correction of the "freshman" mistake. I thought it was pretty funny.

I picked up on it!