Student Section rebranded... again

[EXpatriot13]

Now at 837

Wow, it appears the students will be showing up! Hopefully they'll be standing, loud, etc...ya know, all the normal student section things haha.

 

[tblack33]

Wow, it appears the students will be showing up! Hopefully they'll be standing, loud, etc...ya know, all the normal student section things haha.

Showing up is half the battle, I’m happy to start there. They’ll figure out the rest when the product gets them going.

 

[TweederGMU]

Wow, it appears the students will be showing up! Hopefully they'll be standing, loud, etc...ya know, all the normal student section things haha.

Half of those will probably show up but it's a good start!

 

[EXpatriot13]

Now at 837

Over 1,100 now.

For those in attendance, would love to get a read on how many actually show up once the game starts. If it’s anywhere close to that number that’s really awesome for student turnout!

 

[bravesfan]

Offer a free slice of pizza to each student. They'll show up.

 

[GMU1983]

Student section just doesn’t know how to cheer

 

[illayin]

Offer a free slice of pizza to each student. They'll show up.

free alcohol. record attendance.

 

[GSII]

They just need someone and something to believe in.

 

[JC_FoodcourtBandit]

Hopefully the students will be more tuned up for a Friday night game.

 

[Mason2005]

Student section pretty weak tonight, give them pizza only if they cheer

 

[TweederGMU]

Student section just doesn’t know how to cheer

These kids come from the digital world.... if it's not on a screen they don't know how to act

 

[patriotchild]

There were more students than I expected to see tbh. And they were pretty engaged during the game. Eba got pretty loud at certain points. But they took out the sound meters so i can’t provide accurate data.

 

[GSII]

These kids come from the digital world.... if it's not on a screen they don't know how to act

But they took out the sound meters so i can’t provide accurate data.

So put in a screen that reads and portrays the crowds energy. If the crowd is quiet it shows images of a sleepy couch potato or some guy from the crowd being boring or emotionless....if crowd is at a medium level of noise energy, then a comparable video pops onto screen and so on and so on. Maybe it can run thru the jumbo tron or a separate screen just for students.

 

[Jack Strop]

So put in a screen that reads and portrays the crowds energy. If the crowd is quiet it shows images of a sleepy couch potato or some guy from the crowd being boring or emotionless....if crowd is at a medium level of noise energy, then a comparable video pops onto screen and so on and so on. Maybe it can run thru the jumbo tron or a separate screen just for students.

I gotta better idea... electric seats.

 

[smccart5]

Good grief can we also have a cheer class? The whole student section and Doc Nix does not work well. Yes, doc nix is great but there has to be some coordination. Cannot believe this cannot get synchronized. Just want to get back to the 2010 student section! Even if we win without coordination our crowd will still suck!

winning will fix this.

 

[GMUgemini]

winning will fix this.

Sort of. It really does take sustained effort and leadership from the diehards to amp up the students coming because it’s a social event. Winning should hopefully produce said diehards, but even then they’re going to need mentorship to create the kind of atmosphere all of us here are looking for.

 

[EXpatriot13]

Sort of. It really does take sustained effort and leadership from the diehards to amp up the students coming because it’s a social event. Winning should hopefully produce said diehards, but even then they’re going to need mentorship to create the kind of atmosphere all of us here are looking for.

The second part is where I think the student section rebrand needs more work/attention.

I love the rebrand itself, and its connectivity to a previous era. It just feels like they launched this and then sort of let go of the reigns, hoping the students would change their habits on their own. Giveaways are great, but that's not going to get students to stand up, cheer, or learn about traditions.

The students need their hands held to get to where we all want them to be. I'd love to see athletics do more from an education & engagement standpoint to really drive this home. Now, we're only a game in so they may yet do some of these things I just haven't seen them really commit to this point (or in the past).

Some of my high level ideas:
(please add to this list as I plan on sharing with Athletics)

- More engagement on social where we know students are active: share traditions, chant ideas, old videos
- Develop a Maniaks student ambassador group that takes lead on grassroots marketing & gameday
- Utilize videoboard & PA pre-game to show video of past student sections to drive excitement before tip
- Create in-game moments that encourage participation: "Maniak Mode" w/ shot clock under 10s, etc.
- Themed games like gold/green/white-outs, rally towel nights, etc. (shirts/towels on seats for fans)
- "Build" out the student section area w/ Maniaks branding/signage, props, etc. so it feels exclusive/unique

 

[GSII]

Every Idea possible has been discussed on these boards over the last 20 years. The answeer is here.

 

[EXpatriot13]

Every Idea possible has been discussed on these boards over the last 20 years. The answeer is here.

Super helpful, constructive response. Appreciate it.

 

[FreeGunston12]

I gotta better idea... electric seats.

Just don't put seats in the student section. It's pretty sad when the front row is sitting all game.