Why don't you go to men's basketball games?
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?
February 12th, 2022 at 10:06 AM ^
Because there is still a global pandemic and I am a parent of someone too young to be vaccinated. It’s also expensive. It also is a full day commitment on the weekend. Weekday nights are too late for someone with kids and a job.
The games are fundamentally a tv product anyway.
February 12th, 2022 at 12:44 PM ^
Why did the global pandemic not seem to be an issue during football season, when we filled a stadium nearly 10 times as large as Crisler? Unless you mean U-M requiring vaccination status to enter, which I suppose could be turning some off.
I do think the inconvenient start times (9 p.m. on a weeknight) are an issue. Half of the Big Ten is in the Central time zone. They should be getting those late games, since it's only 8:00 for them. Give us the 7:00 games.
February 12th, 2022 at 1:38 PM ^
Because one is outdoors and mostly held during warmer weather.
February 12th, 2022 at 1:46 PM ^
I didn’t attend any football games the last two years either.
February 12th, 2022 at 5:29 PM ^
Easy. Michigan Football is played in an outdoor stadium and (yes, this is an oversimplification, TBH ) depending upon wind currents, the vast majority of the virus is quickly dispersed.
OTOH, Crisler has ventilation but is it enough to disperse the virus sufficiently?
February 12th, 2022 at 10:08 AM ^
Not everybody has the spare time and money to attend every sporting event they might like to. Some of us have to pick and choose our moments. I'm glad to hear you've got everything sorted out though.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:09 AM ^
9pm game on a work night... no thanks. Wouldn’t get home until after midnight and closer to 1am
February 12th, 2022 at 10:43 AM ^
This is the way.
February 12th, 2022 at 12:12 PM ^
I think this is it. People on here and twitter (Ace comes to mind) love to bitch about the season ticket holders, but I think it's fundamentally a demand problem. The Purdue game was at 9pm on a work night in the middle of the winter. And it was a rescheduled game on top of that. Plenty of $6 tickets were available on StubHub but there obviously wasn't the demand. Now today is a previously scheduled game at 6pm on a Saturday and the cheapest ticket on StubHub (as of noon) is $52, so I expect you'll see a pretty full house.
Even living 25 miles from Ann Arbor every game is a 4 hour commitment. That's a lot.
February 12th, 2022 at 4:17 PM ^
It's more than just demand. There's a big problem with the supply of available tickets for sale in the blue seats, which is the area so visible on TV. If you look at today's game, a much better time for a game (weekend at 6:00) there are still very few seats for sale in the blue. In checking on Stubhub, there were a grand total of 14 seats for sale in 5 sections I looked at, and selling for $160 and up each. I doubt it will improve much by game time. And most likely, you will still see a lot of empty seats, albeit not as many as the Purdue game. Why? my belief is that there's this large number of long time season ticket holders that just have this mindset of not going to games and not using all their tickets. They've been buying these seats for so long and been doing this for so long, they don't care about the potential money they're losing out on. It just doesn't matter to them. Also, there are a lot of people who just don't want to deal with setting up a Stubhub account and creating listings, even though it's pitifully easy.
The only solution I can think of is for the AD to proactively contact these season ticket holders sometime before the game to see if they're not planning to attend, and if they respond that they're not, the department sells the seats for them at some price. Simply trying to ask them to sell or give the seats away on their own isn't going to be enough.
Personally, I live in Ann Arbor and I won't go to the games unless I can get blue seats because I think the maize seats suck. And because the supply is so low for the blue, the prices are just too high for me to justify. Plus I'm a lazy old geezer who doesn't want to drag my butt down there for 9:00 games.
February 12th, 2022 at 4:27 PM ^
"my belief is that there's this large number of long time season ticket holders that just have this mindset of not going to games and not using all their tickets. They've been buying these seats for so long and been doing this for so long, they don't care about the potential money they're losing out on. It just doesn't matter to them."
There has to be a way for the AD to keep track of whether or not season ticket holders show up to games. Assuming that's accurate, then the season ticket holders in the lower bowl who miss a threshold percentage of games should have their seats reassigned to the upper bowl, and their lower bowl seat should be turned into a student seat. Continue this process over five years and you'd see a much higher percentage of students in the lower bowl.
The older season ticket holders are going to bitch and complain, but there's no absolute right to a particular seat—if they want to keep it, then it should be with the proviso that they actually attend.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:15 AM ^
If football games were 9pm kicks on Wednesday we’d have attendance issues too.
February 12th, 2022 at 1:14 PM ^
Nuh-uh!
February 12th, 2022 at 10:16 AM ^
I don’t have a smart phone.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:21 AM ^
we're in the most significant wave of the pandemic since before vaccines and kids can't get their shots yet. this may not be the most appropriate time to shame people for their individual choices to stay safe.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:55 AM ^
Not sure who negged you, but even though I've been triple vaxed and had COVID in early January, I'm still leery of large gatherings. It's going to take awhile before it seems responsible/risk-free.
I happen to be a 5-6 hour drive away, so I'm not going to make it to many/any games. But even if I were lucky enough to live nearby, $30 to $60 for a single ticket plus concessions is a once or twice a year situation for a family of 5. That and I'd rather watch it on TV in the comfort of my home most of the time. ...and I can't watch 30 games even on TV. 1-2 Marquee matchups during the year, big ten tourney and March Madness. 5-10 games tops. If I ever get divorced I might be able to double that. :)
Football is awesome because there are fewer games and they are on a set day that I don't have to work.
February 12th, 2022 at 11:13 AM ^
You’re triple vaxxed and had covid? And you’re still leery of gatherings? Unless you’re severely immune compromised, when would you feel safe? If you are under 65 and no underlying health conditions, your risk is about as close to zero as you can get.
February 12th, 2022 at 12:53 PM ^
Triple vaxxed + Omicron variant, now seems as good a time as any to attempt living again for those without significant risk factors.
February 12th, 2022 at 4:48 PM ^
I'm not really worried about myself so much anymore so much as that I might spread whatever the next variant is. My limited understanding is that I could still in theory spread omicron or the next one even though I've had it. I've been to a couple of hockey games and have flown so I'm not a total prude, but want this whole thing to end and am willing to do my part.
February 12th, 2022 at 6:06 PM ^
It’s endemic. It doesn’t end. The sooner the masses and those in power come to understand this, the sooner we go back to normal.
February 12th, 2022 at 2:03 PM ^
CDC had a science study showing any protection from omicron by wearing masks was found to be statistically insignificant. The vaccines provide you protection from not developing severe covid symptoms. So, if you do not want to catch omicron it is best to remain isolated. Though, eventually most will get omicron fully vaccinated or not. The elderly and those who are older and unvaccinated may develop severe symptoms and possibly die from omicron. Since omicron has over taken delta, I no longer wear masks in public spaces. I was still wearing one when I went out of the house during alpha and delta, but particle sizes are so much smaller with omicron I no longer see the need to wear one.
February 12th, 2022 at 4:12 PM ^
Until mutations of one of the currently circulating variants produces the next dangerous strain.
February 12th, 2022 at 4:31 PM ^
I think it's more transmissible due to the mutations on the spike protein, making a smaller viral load capable of infecting a person. I don't think the size of the virus has changed. A well-fitting medical grade n95 mask still affords a decent amount of protection. You do you, but it seems odd that you would stop wearing a mask precisely when a more transmissible variable shows up. I agree that eventually we will probably all get a case of Covid. I'll take mine in a year or two after they've figured out exactly how often I need to get vaxxed, what the best hospital treatment is, and there is an ample supply of first line anti-virals such as Paxlovid. In the meantime, I'll be wearing an N95 mask to basketball games. GO BLUE!
February 12th, 2022 at 11:30 AM ^
we're in the most significant wave of the pandemic since before vaccines
I don't know where you're located, but Covid hospitalizations in Michigan (and especially Washtenaw County) have been dropping rapidly over the past 3-4 weeks. The numbers now are basically where they were before the Delta surge.
All Michigan county health departments are lifting their mask requirements for K-12 students at the end of the month. We seem to be getting to the endgame here.
February 12th, 2022 at 1:53 PM ^
As someone who works in one of the largest emergency departments in Michigan (2019-present), it's so nice that we are nearing the endgame and relaxing any remaining public health requirements for the fourth time. That's never come back to haunt us.
I'm just tired. Wear your mask and get the shot. Hopefully the gov't will throw us a bone to help with all this. They probably won't and it's probably too late. Gotta keep my immunocompromised Michiganders and others in mind, though.
February 12th, 2022 at 4:43 PM ^
I keep hearing "everybody who wants to be vaccinated is vaccinated" I keep shouting back: "except the babies!" Seriously, people. I don't understand why we don't understand... I'll be wearing my mask for while yet.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:24 AM ^
If I lived nearby I'd go. Only hiccup I ever had was late games. Driving in the winter late as I got older sounds less appealing
February 12th, 2022 at 10:29 AM ^
The games don't offer a free coke like the football games do.
February 12th, 2022 at 4:08 PM ^
Your pic of WD wearing scarlet is photoshopped, right?
February 12th, 2022 at 10:29 AM ^
Mostly because I have a small kid and my wife and I both work full time jobs. I have football, baseball and have seriously considered hockey season tickets. I have never considered basketball season tickets even though I watch every game.
I either have to leave work super early to get home and get the kid taken care of (dinner, sitter etc...) or end up getting too little sleep because I don't get home until midnight during 9pm tips. This doesn't even take into consideration the different activities kids have during the week.
Whole lot easier to buy a couple games a year on weekends when we don't have those other time demands.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:30 AM ^
Because every game is a 9pm tip and some people have to work early in the morning. Weird concept.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:31 AM ^
Even if I lived near AA, which I don’t, I must admit there is something unwatchable about this particular team. For years I’ve normally watched most games on tv. But this team has mostly been an ugly, uninspiring slog to watch. I suspect many other fans feel the same.
February 12th, 2022 at 1:51 PM ^
I feel the same way: grew up in Ann Arbor, attended U of M undergrad ('81-85), moved 8 hours away to raise my family. So attending basketball games in person is not a question for me. But I love watching the games on TV since Beilein got the program going again.
Obviously they've been great the past few years in particular. This season I've hardly watched them at all. Big disappointment, terrible chemistry, bad overall play and rock fights with teams they 'should' beat. I hope they keep the momentum going from the other night but this season just hasn't felt like must-see/appointment TV.
Maybe I simply don't want anything to step on my 42-27 buzz?!?
February 12th, 2022 at 10:33 AM ^
Because I don't live in the state.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:39 AM ^
Commute from New Jersey is rough, but I do check the schedule whenever I plan to be in the Ann Arbor area and try to plan either hockey or basketball in the winter
February 12th, 2022 at 10:41 AM ^
Dayton, Oh.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:44 AM ^
I live 60 miles away and have gone to every home game (save one or two cupcakes) since 2016-17, however I decided in July that I had no interest in being around crowds anymore, even though I'm vaccinated and boosted, or adhering to mask mandates so I didn't buy my usual season ticket off of my buddy and have not attended any games. I suppose the pandemic has simply worn me out. I did agree to go to a concert in GR next Wed at Van Andel so that should be interesting.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:46 AM ^
1. The pandemic
2. 9:00pm tip on a weeknight with work and 3 kids
It is a good question tho
February 12th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
I don't live within 50 miles, so don't meet that qualifier, but I'll answer it as if I did.
First and foremost for me personally is the scheduling. Weeknight games at oddball times just do not work. I could do 7pm tips, but 9pm on a weeknight? Forget it. Like some others ITT I don't even watch 9pm weeknight games live. Don't enjoy the misery of a long workday on short sleep.
Related, you have winter. You gotta find a parking spot and hike in. After the game it's dark, roads can be lousy and there is traffic. None of those are enjoyable. Not a big deal if you're a local, but it is if you live outside AA.
Seating/ticketing - Brian or Seth or Ace has written a bunch on this subject and how it could be better and I absolutely agree that it's an issue. Make it easier for season ticket holders to sell their seats to other Michigan fans. I'd be more interested in attending if I can purchase a reasonable seat - particularly to buy games where there should be ample supply - at a reasonable price. I'm not super interested in paying a bunch of money to sit in the rafters to watch Houston Baptist. It's not as much of an issue against our rivals like Sparty, Illinois and Rutger of course.
Going to games was great fun as a student when obligations were relatively few and a little pregame antifreeze would make for an easy hike down to Crisler. As an old, watching on TV (and by TV I mean off the DVR) is much of the time a far more enjoyable experience.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:51 AM ^
Honestly, I like my 68” oled and my living room on a weeknight at 9:00 in the winter. One hour drives each way just isn’t practical in my mind. I attend weekend games quite frequently. If I still lived in Ann Arbor I would most likely have season tickets, but would still end up selling or probably giving away the tickets to about half of the home games.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:52 AM ^
I think this is a good question, OP, as I have wondered the same thing. My wife and I live 45 miles away and attend almost every game. Full disclosure: we are retired, so we don’t have work or kid obligations.
What bothers us is seeing so many lower bowl seats go unused game after game, even for the weekend and earlier weeknight games. Those are all paid-for season tickets! If people aren’t going to use them for a particular game, we wish they would sell or give them to somebody who would attend. It seems crazy to not at least fill the lower bowl for a program that has had so much success over the past decade. We wonder if this is because Dave Brandon sold a lot of these seats as “corporate” tickets rather than to individuals.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:54 AM ^
We go to every game we can. COVID has made it difficult to justify going to every game although it is nice that they require vaccination or negative test now.
We were there for the Purdue game, between empty seats and boring fans our atmosphere is terrible. If you don't care to stand or make a single bit of noise besides clapping after some made baskets why go? The amount of people in our section that complain about people standing is outrageous to me. Why go? Now I understand, standing the entire game against Southern Utah would be silly, but after Moussa posterizes somebody to put us up double digits against the best team in the B1G? If you want to see the game there is this wonderful provision called television. It's cheaper, more convenient, gets you in bed earlier for those pesky 9:00 pm starts and is safer!
For the most part, the people that can afford and have the circumstances to go are the crochety old fans who go because it's an event, just like they are at the theater.
February 12th, 2022 at 10:57 AM ^
Sitting for hours wearing a mask, even though I'm fully vaccinated? I've pretty much ended all sports and concert attendance until the mask requirement is gone. I went to one concert requiring masks and it was frankly not an enjoyable experience. Difficult to breathe, scratchy on the face, generally distracted from a concert I had been looking forward to.
That and I don't live in Michigan anymore. But I don't go to venues in my home state right now whereas I normally would.
February 12th, 2022 at 11:01 AM ^
The real issue is why don't those who HAVE tickets use them! I think there are plenty of folks who would go if tickets were made available. There should be a way for those who have but don't wish to use tickets can get them into the hands of folks who would LOVE to go. Maybe the Athletic Department could create some system for this. When I know of available tickets, I always find folks who are very happy to go and cheer for the team.
February 12th, 2022 at 11:08 AM ^
Maybe you haven't heard, but there's a pandemic out there that might be affecting people's willingness to gather en masse
February 12th, 2022 at 11:11 AM ^
Virginia
February 12th, 2022 at 11:15 AM ^
I live just south of Metro Airport, so about 20 miles away. I go to a few here and there, but I have a rather full life and much of the time, it is more economical - from both time and money perspectives - to watch from the sofa than it is to actually be at the game. I have two teenagers with rather busy lives, a small zoo when it comes to pets, and our house is one of those "projects", if you will.
I am an alumnus x 2, so I am definitely motivated and interested. I enjoy the game atmosphere. I am a little distraught about how the season has gone, but I am too old to be fuming like I might have been when I was actually at Michigan.
As for the pandemic, of course there is that as well. It is a good reason to be highly selective about which games you attend if any. For some of us with medical issues, that's part of it too. That said, if one refused to go to a game simply because they would need to wear a mask and for no other reason, that's really....stupid.
The larger point - some of us just have rather full lives.
February 12th, 2022 at 11:29 AM ^
I live in Vermont.
February 12th, 2022 at 11:42 AM ^
I do think I would enjoy living in Vermont, not only because of the more agreeable politics, but the proximity to big markets like Boston, NY and Philadelphia (I realize they are not close, per se, but closer than my options in Nashville). As Virtual Office becomes more of a thing, I hope to have the ability to change my scenery.
February 12th, 2022 at 12:53 PM ^
Just so you know - from Chittenden County (most populated area of Vermont), Boston is a 3+ hour drive, NYC is a 6 hour drive, and Philadelphia is also 6+ hours. Going to any of those places can be a bit like "going up north" here. However, actually going north to Montreal is the shortest drive and people often forget about that one (not without reason in the past two years).