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Post by kcSBU03 on Dec 1, 2014 13:16:59 GMT -5
KCSBU please follow the thread I was responding to Bona87 I didnt even see your posts NYC draws 5k for similar type doubleheader, Rochester games have been in 3500 mark but when Buffalo hits 7100 it proves Buffalo does not support college hoops? The atmosphere was not really there and much has to do with the organizers not paying attention to detail such as cutting off any seating with curtains or getting youth groups etcc...Siena and many other big arenas do this to promote atmosphere - it can and needs to be improved upon I have been following the thread and your proposed facts are largely incorrect. They have already been proven wrong with other posts. I was referring to our discussion back in August when you all but guaranteed 12k for this past weekend and I said it would draw 6-10. bonabandwagon.proboards.com/thread/12375/bonnies-face-niagara-classic-doubleheader
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Post by jh on Dec 1, 2014 14:08:48 GMT -5
KCSBU please follow the thread I was responding to Bona87 I didnt even see your posts NYC draws 5k for similar type doubleheader, Rochester games have been in 3500 mark but when Buffalo hits 7100 it proves Buffalo does not support college hoops? The atmosphere was not really there and much has to do with the organizers not paying attention to detail such as cutting off any seating with curtains or getting youth groups etcc...Siena and many other big arenas do this to promote atmosphere - it can and needs to be improved upon I have been following the thread and your proposed facts are largely incorrect. They have already been proven wrong with other posts. I was referring to our discussion back in August when you all but guaranteed 12k for this past weekend and I said it would draw 6-10. bonabandwagon.proboards.com/thread/12375/bonnies-face-niagara-classic-doubleheaderIts good to be right isn't it KC !? The 7k number will rise as more success comes to the locals or we replace a local with a bigger name - UB may be hitting that this year. Niagara just wont draw after 7 win season and the projection for more of the same this year. Canisius similar as well
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Post by jh on Dec 1, 2014 14:38:43 GMT -5
Tasty To further your suggestion about a 'tournament' where teams play each other for an anuual champ. That was the exact plan offered by Larry Quinn former President of the Sabres and the arena. Each team would play on campus Tuesday night before with the 2 losers playing each other then the 2 winners to crown an annual Big 4 champion. The coverage of the Tuesday games would offer natural promotion for the Saturday doubleheader. What stopped it? Our school - we would only agree to participating in a single doubleheader but not in any type of tournament with an annual champ. We were seen as 'big timing' everyone causing Quinn to claim SBU will never play in the arena again etc etc etc. I'm sure its a big reason why SBU has played very few games in the arena and is more welcome in the more friendly confines of the Rochester Blue Cross arena since then (we also have a good alum corp sponsor ability there as well) Quinn worked with Golisano who are both gone now...
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Post by Pinnum on Dec 1, 2014 15:02:54 GMT -5
Tasty To further your suggestion about a 'tournament' where teams play each other for an anuual champ. That was the exact plan offered by Larry Quinn former President of the Sabres and the arena. Each team would play on campus Tuesday night before with the 2 losers playing each other then the 2 winners to crown an annual Big 4 champion. The coverage of the Tuesday games would offer natural promotion for the Saturday doubleheader. What stopped it? Our school - we would only agree to participating in a single doubleheader but not in any type of tournament with an annual champ. We were seen as 'big timing' everyone causing Quinn to claim SBU will never play in the arena again etc etc etc. I'm sure its a big reason why SBU has played very few games in the arena and is more welcome in the more friendly confines of the Rochester Blue Cross arena since then (we also have a good alum corp sponsor ability there as well) Quinn worked with Golisano who are both gone now... It was a rational response from SBU. Playing in the event as a tournament would be fine except it would make it so that there would be no point in playing each Big Four team as they have done for many years. Playing the local home and home rival games are good for SBU since they don't have to buy games to get teams to come in and even when they play those road games you have quality SBU fan representation that helps diminish the home court advantage. Of course the event promoters wanted to get more out of the event but SBU had to lookout for their own interests. I don't think it was bad for SBU. I think of the WNY Big Four Classic the same as the Des Moines Big Four Classic. I like the single game double header format. The problem is that every Big Four program wants to be treated equally even though they all have different needs. This is the best method of ensuring everyone is happy.
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Post by kcSBU03 on Dec 1, 2014 15:19:54 GMT -5
Its good to be right isn't it KC !? The 7k number will rise as more success comes to the locals or we replace a local with a bigger name - UB may be hitting that this year. Niagara just wont draw after 7 win season and the projection for more of the same this year. Canisius similar as well I hope the number rises, I really do. I agree the only way that happens is if they play a big time opponent there and lately we havent even been able to attract anybody worth playing outside the RC.
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Post by 123Rob on Dec 1, 2014 16:09:42 GMT -5
The format was great. The follow through was seemingly lacking. Why hype the Big4, wear the throwback Braves uniforms and then barely acknowledge it once in the arena. If it was Braves throwback night, how about bring in a few former Braves to sign autographs and glad hand in the arena. How about pipe in some old radio play by play during timeouts. It seemed more like Jimmy Griffin throwback day-everyone grabbed a six pack and stayed home.
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Post by sony on Dec 1, 2014 16:47:20 GMT -5
Just not sure how this is "an event that mirrors an NCAA Tournament..."?
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Post by Pinnum on Dec 1, 2014 16:57:58 GMT -5
Just not sure how this is "an event that mirrors an NCAA Tournament..."? Venue, times, format.
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Post by tomgleason on Dec 2, 2014 13:45:21 GMT -5
MBB | Niagara Highlights: youtu.be/B7XjKvES8yEAMAZING CROWD...SMH...tell me again why we should be playing there, giving up a home game?
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Post by dadster81 on Dec 2, 2014 14:28:19 GMT -5
Just jumping on jh's comments (including the shots against Rochester). Buffalo = 4 teams. Buffalo = buses bringing fans from Olean. Buffalo = Saturday of a 4 day national holiday weekend, when plenty of people who do not xmas shop are looking for things to do. The Buffalo Braves marketing approach. 7K. And you call Rochester minor league for bringing in 5K with none of the above. Niagara and Canisius both play in HS gyms. UB plays in a state built facility with a campus population of 10 times of Bonas. And none of them play on average even close to capacity. So PLEASE. Buffalo is a great pro sports town. It is not a college sports town. Nice arena for BB, got great tickets the day of the game. Something you would not be able to get in Rochester the day of the game.
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Post by thesocalkid on Dec 2, 2014 15:11:39 GMT -5
This whole Rochester / Buffalo thing has become a burden for the fans and the school. Who is the Administration trying to please? The BAF? The Alums? New recruits? All of the above?
How about an 8 team tournament in one of those locations with Bonas, Buffalo, Canisus, Niagra and four team to be named. Might as well stay close to home and get to play 2 or 3 games.
Go Bonnies
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Post by 123Rob on Dec 2, 2014 15:51:00 GMT -5
A burden? The burden is that the school is in a very small market that has been hit hard by the down economy. The solution is to broaden the horizons. We have to play in Buffalo and in Rochester on a regular basis. It is vital to increase the fan and donor base. So who is the administration trying to please? Themselves and the athletic department by trying to increase revenue streams. And yes, the alums by making more convenient ways to support the Bonnies. Have recent games away from the RC been smashing successes? Obviously not. But that is no reason to chuck the whole idea and crawl into a hole. A Big Four Classic might work better if SBU had complete control over it. That is not likely. But we need to keep trying to grow it. Funny how the same people advocating for home and homes with CC and NU and lamenting the demise of Saturday DHers in the Aud brimming with fans seem to be the same ones that grouse and throw stones when games away from the RC aren't frenzied sellouts. All these tournament ideas are like trade proposals on sports talk radio. They sound great but are completely unrealistic. Few on this board seem to appreciate the difficulty scheduling games in today's college bball world. If Duke or SU was burning the phones to schedule games do you really think we wouldn't? BCS conference schools aren't giving up home games to come to Olean..or Buffalo..or Rochester. So we do what we can. Anyone notice the Siena series (a strong mid major), or frequent H&Hs with Ohio and Cleveland St. (more decent mid majors). Heck, even when we take guarantee games on the road the money goes to the general coffers rather than the athletic budget. The athletic department is doing what they can with the resources at hand. Want all our games in the RC? Then give to the BAF, buy more tickets and go to the games. Want better events in Buffalo and/or Rochester? Then give to the BAF, buy more tickets and go to the games.
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Post by sbu79 on Dec 2, 2014 16:26:21 GMT -5
I know I can put a member on ignore (been real helpful for the past couple of weeks), but I am starting to wish I could put a thread on ignore too.
I grew up in Buffalo, and I spent a good deal of time living in Rochester too. I have been far away from both, now, longer than the time I spent in them both combined, and I believe I have some perspective on this emerging BUF vs. ROC feud that is brewing. My perspective is "Just Stop." It serves no one or purpose very well.
From the first announcement of this "Big 4 Classic", I have thought that 7k - 8k would be a reasonable target for a decent crowd. "Why so low?" some might ask. Well, first the "Big 4" is a completely artificial construct. The "Little Three" had a commonality of members, so it made sense that it would develop organically and be a thing in WNY with a rich history. No matter how you cut it, UB is a bolt on to those other 3. I don't want to diminish the efforts of Buffalo boosters to try to pull the local D1 teams into some kind of "thing", but it doesn't have what it takes to fill an 18,000 seat arena. Then, second, there has been too many years of losing and irrelevance for the average Buffalo sports fan to get really worked up for this. You can call Buff a pro sports town if you want, but there really has been no other game in town for a long time. Don't lose sight, though, of the fact that Bills crowds diminsh significantly when there is no hope.
I want to see if whomever was behind this "Classic" tries to keep it going. It can, with the right marketing and care, become something some day. It's going to take a consistent, and more aware, effort to get there. More attention to details like curtains and getting every school's backdrop there for the pressers. Could be a bit of the chicken and egg thing with regards to winning. Maybe it needs winning teams to take off, but maybe it can be an agent in getting winning teams going again.
People show up in Rochester, so there is no point in getting into a pissing contest about crowds in one town vs. the other. Rochester is a good sports town and a good Bonnies town. Too much of a Syracuse town in my opinion, but, again, years of losing will do that.
Full disclosure: I fully support a game in Buffalo and a game in Rochester every year. I support giving up RC home games too, if that's what it takes. Others have already said why that is a good idea. I agree with them. If you don't, I won't change your mind, so I am not going to get into that. Since I am doing you that favor of not getting your blood pressure up by arguing, please do me a favor and drop the Buffalo vs. Rochester crud.
thanks
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Post by CoachSBU on Dec 2, 2014 23:10:56 GMT -5
I am happy Ndoye had a breakout game. I happy for the team. I am happy for Ndoye who works very hard and is a great kid. And I'm happy that the haters might be silent for at least one game. He had at least two blocks and one or two altered shots OUTSIDE the paint right in front of our seats. He also caused a number of poor passes by his activity on "D". He is no "stiff".....albeit with "soccer" hands. AND he hussled his ASS off, flying after loose balls, etc....
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