NCAA BID/ RESPONSE TO FILLING UP STANDS

There are many intangibles as to why the Mullins Center is never sold out as opposed to other arenas throughout the country.  The school does a horrible job promoting to the local Amherst population along with ticket prices being a bit overpriced.  The school should have tickets available to those who visit the Springfield Basketball Hall of Fame.  The school should have field trips for inner city programs/basketball clubs throughout the state to attend the games.  The students are accustomed to big time programs from the BCS schools growing up that the A-10 teams pose no value for them to go watch the games, in other words they rather party and play beer pong.  The Minutemen don't schedule any big draw name colleges to come into Amherst, MA.  The Kentucky game at the TD BankNorth Garden in Boston would have probably attracted a great crowd at that venue.  The basketball team is pretty much ostracized.  The school and the team need to find a way to fill up the stands.  Etienne Brower in a previous article called out the fan loyalty stating that they were playing pretty much in an empty house, in other words there was no home court advantage (Fordham Game).  The Players might just have to manup and stand in the Campus Center and self promote themselves and show some love back to their fellow students/more Pep Rallys.   UMass might need to strike a contract with ESPN to give games a bit more meaning. 

Bottom line the Athletic Administrator's are not doing a good job.  Just look at the recruiting in the past 10 years for the Basketball program.  Can anyone recall the last time UMass signed a legit prospect? 

Here we are in 2007 chasing 2 star guards when their backcourt is set for the next 3 yrs.  At the moment you don't have to worry about someone signing and being in college for one year, UMass doesn't have that luxury of bringing in diaper dandies who play one year and skip to the Pro's.  

Athletic Director where is the progession?  I'd really like to know what the goals/standards are within the next 7 years for the program to return to its Elite status it had during the mid 90's. 

The greater Amherst area is neither large enough, nor affluent enough to consistantly support the team.  UMass needs to lower seat prices to start.  Also, they should sell from the half court out, not sell any more tickets 1/2 hour prior to the game, and make any unsold seats available to students at that point.  They also need to find a local TV station to start carrying the games to promote the team.

Offering reduced rate group packages to local Boy's and Girl's clubs and CYO leagues is a nice idea.  The league would be responsible for the transport, not UMass (it's not clear above).  Also, a package deal with admission to BBall Hall of Fame is a good idea, but 45 minute drive north might be too great a distance.  Local TV time is the way to go for real substantive changes. 

Recruiting is handled by the coaching staff.  If Ford wants guards, he'll get guards.  Not sure where you're going with that.  A good team that gets national coverage and has a compelling coach recruiting will get the better prospects, plain and simple.

although you make a good point tickets for a Umass game are 24.00 and sometimes18.00$.  Thats unbelievable you can go to a celtics game for less money.  well in my mind that was a pretty good post for a 13 year old and his first time in this.  remember keep posting and go umass

I know I'm going to be dating myself here, but here goes...  When I went to UMass (91-95) There was NEVER a problem with filling up the stands.  I recall waiting in line at 2 am in hopes of maybe scoring a ticket or two before my 10am class.  And then getting to the game 1-2 hours early just to get in.  The students wanted less "public" tickets so that more students could get in.  We had the crowd of the caliber of Duke and UNC and all them.  Nobody sat for the whole game.  It was loud, it was crazy, it was one of the best things about UMass. 

My suggestion is make the team good again and you won't have to advertise or find ways to fill the seats.  Same thing happened with the Celtics.  Crappy team, no one wants to watch.  Good team, they're knocking down the doors to get in. 

There is abosolutely no reason why the Mullins Center should be only half full.  UMass, right now, has one of the top 30-40 teams in the country.  Any other school with a program as succesful as UMass would at least routinely fill up 75% of the stands or more in a 9,500 seat arena.

Tomorrow is Senior day for the likes of Gary Forbes, Etienne Brower, Dante Milligan and Matt Pennie.  These young men have worked quite hard to get to where they are at now.  At the very least, it would be nice if all the usual student supports would invite one or two friends so that they may have a near sell-out in their final home game.  Student tickets are free since they are covered under student activities fees.  Students from several other schools actually have to pay out of pocket to support their sports teams.  They do show a lot of passion though (UConn, Indiana, Gonzaga, even Dayton)   Please show your support....The players will appreciate you all for coming.