Student Attendance

[Clonehomer]

I know this subject had been brought up before but does it bother anyone else that the East upper deck was basically empty last night? We have a top 10 BB team coming off a Sweet 16 season and the students can’t seem to show up unless it’s a “big” game.

There were plenty that didn’t show last night. Look at all the tickets being given away free here. You weren’t going to get many more into Hilton that were already there.

I never want to reduce the student tickets. It’s already to the point that students that want season tickets can’t get them. Going to games is one of the greatest memories that I had as a student. To take that opportunity away from more students because there were some that didn’t want to walk to Hilton when it was -10 outside and watch a beat down is ridiculous.

 

[awd4cy]

real question, would the old heads fill those seats for the same game if given the opportunity? was it just the student section that was empty?

Student section was half full yesterday. General public was probably 80%. All Saturday games are usually packed for general public yet the student section usually has a sea of empty seats. I think it’s time to start reducing the student section. I wouldn’t get rid of everything in the balcony, but I think it’s time to reduce it.

 

[cytor]

The student turnout has been disappointing at times. When I was there in the 80s with Johhny Orr... getting a ticket was near impossible.

 

[Al_4_State]

The non-student conference games have no patches of visibly empty seats on TV.

Student section would be lower bowl only, or allow them to resell to the public in the upper bowl.

 

[dafarmer]

Back in my day there would be 12” of snow, 15 below and 20 mph wind, and students would go! Maybe do like Iowa and have $2 beer night.

 

[awd4cy]

There were plenty that didn’t show last night. Look at all the tickets being given away free here. You weren’t going to get many more into Hilton that were already there.

I never want to reduce the student tickets. It’s already to the point that students that want season tickets can’t get them. Going to games is one of the greatest memories that I had as a student. To take that opportunity away from more students because there were some that didn’t want to walk to Hilton when it was -10 outside and watch a beat down is ridiculous.

Problem is, it’s pretty much every conference game minus Kansas where the balcony of the student section is empty. This has been the case for years and it only seems to get worse.

 

[alarson]

There were plenty that didn’t show last night. Look at all the tickets being given away free here. You weren’t going to get many more into Hilton that were already there.

I never want to reduce the student tickets. It’s already to the point that students that want season tickets can’t get them. Going to games is one of the greatest memories that I had as a student. To take that opportunity away from more students because there were some that didn’t want to walk to Hilton when it was -10 outside and watch a beat down is ridiculous.

And as a fan, for those big games I want as many students there as possible, even if it means some empty cheap seats for lesser games. Keep in mind those upper deck student section seats are the worst seats in the arena, so they'd be last filled anyway.

 

[Clonehomer]

The student turnout has been disappointing at times. When I was there in the 80s with Johhny Orr... getting a ticket was near impossible.

It still is for many. There’s a lottery system to have the opportunity to buy student tickets. It’s just that without physical tickets it isn’t worth the hassle for many to try to find someone that wants your unused ticket. IMO, if you go back to physical tickets you’ll end up with better attendance as it’s easier to give them away if you’re going out of town or don’t want to go.

 

[David Moss]

Do you realize what students have to do to go? They oversell the section so students are not guaranteed seats. This causes several problems. For big games you need to stand outside for hours and still risk being turned away. After that happens a couple times and you realize certain groups have the system rigged, it isn't worth the time and effort to try and stand in line. It is not like it was "back in your day" where you had a guaranteed seat. It is a ******** system that really drives students away.

 

[goldmember]

Last I heard the AD oversells the student section by 1,000, so when there are 500 empty seats, it’s actually 1,500 no shows.

 

[EvilBetty]

I don't know that I had a student athletic fee when I was there 1997-2001, but we definitely had to purchase season football and basketball tickets. They were cheapish---I think basketball ran around $100.

maybe I am misremembering. I was there from fall 2000 to spring 2005 (super senior!). I thought we had a flat fee for al sports that we had to pay no matter what. perhaps there was an additional charge.

 

[awd4cy]

And as a fan, for those big games I want as many students there as possible, even if it means some empty cheap seats for lesser games. Keep in mind those upper deck student section seats are the worst seats in the arena, so they'd be last filled anyway.

It’s not worth diminishing the atmosphere for 95% of the season just to service that 5% or less.

 

[jsb]

And as a fan, for those big games I want as many students there as possible, even if it means some empty cheap seats for lesser games. Keep in mind those upper deck student section seats are the worst seats in the arena, so they'd be last filled anyway.

THE PUBLIC FILLS UP THOSE SEATS ON THE OPPOSITE END OF HILTON. One side behind the basket in front he balcony is public and one is students. The public side is almost always full. The student side is not.

 

[Cyclonsin]

It still is for many. There’s a lottery system to have the opportunity to buy student tickets. It’s just that without physical tickets it isn’t worth the hassle for many to try to find someone that wants your unused ticket. IMO, if you go back to physical tickets you’ll end up with better attendance as it’s easier to give them away if you’re going out of town or don’t want to go.

Transferring digital tickets is ridiculously easy and doesn't require any sort of meet up. I think you're dead wrong about physical tickets having an advantage here. They just don't care that their tickets get used.

 

[cy4state]

They should allow students to claim tickets and then 24 hour to 48 hours in advance, they open the unclaimed tickets to the public as GA. This could solve both issues.

 

[Sevey]

real question, would the old heads fill those seats for the same game if given the opportunity? was it just the student section that was empty?

They always seem to be full for the games the students are on break.

 

[jsb]

maybe I am misremembering. I was there from fall 2000 to spring 2005 (super senior!). I thought we had a flat fee for al sports that we had to pay no matter what. perhaps there was an additional charge.

And maybe it was for those years. Student ticket policy changed almost yearly when I was a student. We had rotating assigned seats one year. It was GA for a year or two.

 

[Roseclone07]

I think start small, sell the top two rows to general public that’s quite a few seats and they haven’t been used most games, so not a huge blow to students but still puts more butts in seats.

 

[Sevey]

Do you realize what students have to do to go? They oversell the section so students are not guaranteed seats. This causes several problems. For big games you need to stand outside for hours and still risk being turned away. After that happens a couple times and you realize certain groups have the system rigged, it isn't worth the time and effort to try and stand in line. It is not like it was "back in your day" where you had a guaranteed seat. It is a ******** system that really drives students away.

I was at Iowa State from 1975-77 and we had general admission for both football and basketball. Basketball wasn’t as successful but spent more than one night sleeping in front of Trice to get better seats. Part of the student experience!

 

[brianhos]

My son is a student and predicted there wouldn't be as many students there last night. He said the combo of bad opponent and lots of exams this week would have an impact

And the weather, I begged my son to not go out hours early to get in line. He got there just as the line was starting to move and was sitting in the 3rd row. I can't throw shade at the students, I didn't go last night because I didn't want to hobble from C5 to Hilton on crutches.