A regional team

[OceanStateBonnie]

Time to look forward.

I'd like to read posters reactions to somthing that I'd like to see in the future for the non-conference schedule.

I would love to see us schedule at least one non-con per season in both Buffalo and Rochester, with maybe even two at the HSBC Arena per season. These three early season dates could be used to attract higher profile programs who otherwise would not consider traveling to the Reilly Center. Why not try and attract Gonzaga, DePaul, Notre Dame, etc. ? It would make for some great return dates for away games. I would target non-Big East programs.

The gates would be better at these arenas. Season ticket holders could be given first shot at tickets for these games. The dates could be targeted for those times when students are not going to be on campus anyway (Thanksgiving, Christmas break).

The advantages would be: building or re-building a broader regional fan base in Central and Western NY: higher media exposure in these "home" markets and those of the opponenets (read: recruiting); revenue; potential TV games; and, the potential for some great ongoing home and homes with good programs.

I look forward to your thoughts.

[kcSBU03]

OSB, i agree with your thoughts. Being a Roch resident, i have attended the games Bonas has played here in the past and they have been well attended by fans here. I remember there was a great buzz in the air here after Kevin Houstons game winner vs Charlotte. Rochester is a great market for college ball because we dont have any good college sports in the area so Bonas is a nice draw. From what i remember about the Buffalo games, they didnt draw as well as they did here and they had a great BC team come to town where we had Charlotte and St Louis and Cuse (which obviously draws a crowd here). So i think if anything they should schedule 2 in Rochester instead of Buffalo.

I also am partial to games at the RC. Theres just something special about seeing the Bonnies play there and i would love to see some of those teams you mentioned come to the RC when we have a good team. Unfortunately given the small arena and its reputation of being crazy, i dont think the Notre Dames of the world will ever come back to the RC.

[BEAR]

As a long time season ticket holder I would have no problem with playing 2 home games a year in either Buffalo or Rochester with two stipulations. The games would be played on a weekend and teams played would have to be high profile. We played Saint Louis in Rochester a couple of seasons ago in Rochester, to me they were not a big enough program to be moved out of the RC. I would much rather drive the hour and half to see us play any BCS confrence team than a MAAC or NEC team in the RC.

[Felca]

Rochester is definietly a better spot. It would be great to have a game against one big time opponent in Rochester every year.

[pete]

put the students back on floor level and bring back the RC that made Bonas famous. This will draw Bona fans in droves from Buffalo, Bingo (ain't that right Ed), Rochester and beyond. We can then export that atmosphere for 1 or 2 games a year to Buffalo or that lovely new arena in Bingo and have a good chance of selling out

[bonnievet]

Ocean State Bonnie is right. We should again schedule some good teams that we can play in Buffalo and Rochester. But, the non conference schedule now is way too weak and not attractive enough to take any of the games to Buffalo or Rochester. The RC is the greatest but it was fun over the last few years to have the likes of BC in Buffalo and Charlotte, St. Louis and Cuse in Rochester. It did make us a regional team. We need to get back to that. But the schedule must improve again in order to make these games viable outside of the RC.

[FroMunga]

Before moving games to Buffalo and/or Rochester this team needs to win more games. Last year they had a hard enough time filling the RC, what makes you think they would sell out a bigger venue? Sure this would be the one chance for fans in those areas to see the Bonnies but more would show up if they had a competitive team. Things seem to be heading in that direction but I doubt many would have made the trip to see a 2 win team last year.

[Copenhagen]

those were my thoughts...moving forward needs to be done , one step at a time.....recruiting appears to be going well, step2- wins some games, reestablish the RC as a home court.....

anyway, what big program who would play us now? maybe leverage our relationships from the good old days, select non conference games in areas where we focus our recruiting...like the Florida x-mas tourney....

lets see how we do against UWV in Rochester.....and we need to clean up on our "cup cake" non-conference schedule....

well anyway; 2005-2006 has both Rochester & Buff covered....

let's feed off of the momentium of the spring recruiting, solve our little team problems & move past them.....ands then pile up some quick wins before the A10-schedule....

I think that this business part of the program is a interesting topic and a big part of "Marching Forward"!