Why don't you go to men's basketball games?

Submitted by Beaublue on February 12th, 2022 at 9:54 AM

If you are reading this I assume that you are a Michigan basketball fan.   If you live within say a 50 mile radius from Ann Arbor why aren't you going to support the team?

I post this as a 20+ year season ticket holder who drives 45 miles each way to Crisler for probably 90% of the games.    

It was very disappointing to have the #3 ranked team in the country come to Crisler only to have only 2/3 (at best) of the arena full by tip-off.   On rewatching the game the announcers commented on this during the 2nd half saying something like "there sure are a few empty seats here".   I read the Purdue game thread on a Purdue site and there were several comments from the Purdue fans about how empty the place was.  

Today the OSU game is supposed to be a blue out.   I commented to my wife that that seemed dumb as a maize out pops but a blue out looks dull.    She adeptly observed that the empty seats won't be as noticeable in a blue out.

So why aren't you going to the games?    Uninterested?   Don't like the game atmosphere?   Disappointed in the team this year?   Don't want to wear a mask?

UMForLife

February 12th, 2022 at 10:35 AM ^

I live outside of the State. Would love to go otherwise. 

But, this condescending bullshit of a topic bothers me. You ask us why we couldn't go as if you are interested in problem solving. Instead have the topic read more of encouragement to go. If encouragement is what you had in mind, your message is off. This topic is not going to motivate anyone to go.

Joined: 11/04/2013

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Beaublue

February 12th, 2022 at 11:58 AM ^

I'm not interested in problem solving as I am not in a position to solve this problem.    I am interested as to why when I watch college basketball on TV I see jammed packed arenas but we can't come close to filling a 12k basketball arena when the #3 team in the country comes to town in arguably the most important game of the season so far.  

Joined: 09/17/2013

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MGlobules

February 12th, 2022 at 12:19 PM ^

I feel your frustration about the half-empty arena, have felt it for years (I grew up in Ann Arbor, now live in FL). But if the people aren't there and the u wanted to do something about it, they certainly could. How about offering game-day face value tickets to the 38,000 non-faculty employees, many of whom toil with too little recognition now? Charge a nominal fee--get people there for the less heralded games; some revenue has to be better than none. And make paying customers arrive within ten minutes of game time or sell their seats/move people down. 

Not saying that these are the precise answers, but some experiment could fill that arena, and with grateful, happy fans. Surely, the benefits--as compared to the message that a half-empty arena for a nationally televised game sends--would outweigh projected revenue shortfalls. This is something that a two-year project to fix could take care of. 

Blaming the customer is usually not only not a good idea, but not productive. 

Joined: 11/17/2008

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Dwarrior

February 12th, 2022 at 5:55 PM ^

I have heard, not verified, that at some places like Alabama for football, even selling your tickets to non Tide fans can get you removed from the season ticket list. While this tactic, if true, is severe and boarder-line fanatical, something does need to change at Michigan. I wish there was some type of exchange where season ticket holders who can’t attend a game, be able to sell those tics for face value to a Michigan fan. I understand places like seatgeak and stubhub are around but this would be for only Michigan fans. 

Joined: 01/27/2013

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Gavia immer_MI

February 12th, 2022 at 12:17 PM ^

I agree with the OP and think his question is fair. Our fanbase can be an embarrassment at times. Im often jealous watching other fan bases on TV. This is especially true of our student section. And to insinuate that this question isn't valid is gaslighting. The quality of our crowds is frequently called into question on this board. 

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TrueBlue2003

February 12th, 2022 at 4:39 PM ^

Michigan has relatively poor basketball support, at least it has since "the dark years".  We are a football school.  Fans pay a lot of money and spend a lot of time on football (moreso this year than ever before even) so there's usually "sports fatigue" come basketball season.  Other reasons:

  • This was a late game, a lot of people complain about getting home after midnight for 9pm games which is fair.
  • College sports fandom is waning across all schools and all sports with lots of other entertainment options and declining interest amongst younger generations.
  • This basketball team wasn't very good and wasn't coming off a very aesthetically appealing game at PSU so you're always going to have less interest when the record is worse.
  • I imagine covid fears are still keeping some people from attending large indoor events (either because of the virus or because as some have noted don't want to wear a mask).

 

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RGard

February 12th, 2022 at 10:10 AM ^

Virginia here. 

Maybe if we scheduled an MGoCampOut within 50 miles of Ann Arbor? We could rent a bus and all go to the game some Saturday night.  Then we would head back to the campsite for smores and hot chocolate?  

Where's Dennis when you need him? I bet he could organize this.

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brad

February 12th, 2022 at 10:41 AM ^

Same.

However, when I lived on campus, if I missed a basketball game, it was pretty much always because it was on a weeknight, fucking cold to walk, and too big of a time commitment to watch the game while not flunking out of school.

Joined: 06/30/2008

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LSA Aught One

February 12th, 2022 at 11:39 AM ^

I'll add "When I was on campus, I missed games because:

1. I was broke

2. Our team was lousy (1997-2001)

3. I was doing all I could to keep my grades up and never had free time.

Today:  I live outside of your imaginary 50 mile ring, so I am not the target of your rage.  The two times they have played in Nashville, I was there.

Joined: 08/24/2011

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RedRum

February 12th, 2022 at 10:35 AM ^

Your judgmental post, which is more of a “look at me” for going to games post, is bringing me down man. You see, I’m not as cool as you. No one is. I’m unemployed, wife won’t talk to me, kids hate me, and the dog looks me in the eye as he shits in the living room portion of our card board chantey. Can’t you cut me a little slack? Your opinion of my fake persona behind a Stephen King characters avatar means a lot to me. I’m surprised you don’t have more friends with whom to attend the game. You seem really awesome 

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hunterjoe

February 12th, 2022 at 10:14 AM ^

So, you're going to reply to all of us?  Basketball games during the week that are late in the evening are not great events for a lot of fans.  I'm betting a lot have kids who are in school or they have to work the following day.  The idea of getting home close to midnight and then needing to get up a few short hours later isn't ideal.  Now, if that game were Saturday I'd bet the seats would have had more butts in them.  

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Blue Vet

February 12th, 2022 at 10:29 AM ^

In other words, games at 9PM on weeknights are scheduled for the convenience of TV money-making, not for the convenience of fans. 

If Fox or BTN or CBS thought they could make more money scheduling games at 2AM, they’d do so, and someone would probably chide us for not being devoted enough to attend then.

While it’s legit to wonder about other fans’ loyalty, it feels a bit excessive for Mr. Why-Don’t-You-Go to criticize those who don’t act as he does.

Joined: 05/08/2012

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schreibee

February 12th, 2022 at 1:06 PM ^

Well I guess we'll just see about that in a few hours then, huh?!

Anyway  while you mock him for reposting "hence 50 miles..." over & over, did you notice how few ppl who do live within 50 miles bothered to reply at all?

Are they not even interested enough to click on the post?

For the record - I live in SF...

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oriental andrew

February 12th, 2022 at 10:01 AM ^

I live in Chicago and generally only go when they are playing at northwestern. 

No need to respond with the 50 mile qualification thing. You're probably like, "bunch of lame-o's, ruining my valid discussion topic!" ;)

Also, because I'm a dork, I feel like your wife "adroitly" pointed out the seat thing. That just popped into my head. Is that a better or worse word for it than adeptly, or same difference?

Joined: 06/30/2008

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RedRum

February 12th, 2022 at 10:09 AM ^

I think you are correct. The way the sentence reads with “ adept” would mean there is skill in the observation of empty seats. Most people can’t see empty seats, but wifey has an adept sixth sense to see no ass in chair. 
 

adroitly suggests that the recognition of empty seats was not interpreted by the masses correctly. Most people assumed people were in the shitter or at the concession stand. But wifey adroitly pieces it together that the seats were empty, not because an attending fan has bad bowels or a desire for nachos, but that the fan wasn’t there at all! 
 

see! We are making a difference. 

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JohnNavarre12

February 12th, 2022 at 10:04 AM ^

I live in Ann Arbor and go to every game as long as I can get a babysitter, which has been increasingly difficult. I always give my tickets to someone else if I can't go though

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