AA Remodel - Removing Seating - Downsizing

[McPeachy]

Ok, I have had a change of mind / heart on this. And am man enough to admit it...after thinking about it for a few days, and reading what others had to post / say. Along with the attached article from USA today below.

I think it is a smart thing, to add revenue producing seating (luxury suites) to the AA. At the cost of what amounts to be about 4,000 seats that very rarely get sold (used). An occasional time or two they may be sold, sure, but if UW can bring in "Wildcatter Suites" type revenue, it is a very smart plan. As was bringing in the revenue at the War for the affore mentioned Wildcatter Suites. Wyoming football / The War, is a different story altogether, as is the current paradigm of the UW administration, and I will leave it at that.

Here is the USA Today article:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/coll...asketball-concerns-attendance-drop/53424996/1

 

[WyoExpat]

The attendance trend is interesting. I also note that the first statistical year referenced was the year before the economy collapsed. As with any planning issue that uses statistics over time like this, the time frame that the data is drawn from can determine what conclusions are reached. Given how things have gone lately in the general economy, I would not base any projection on data that goes back any less than 10 years.

I am not opposed to improvements that reduce capacity. I just have not yet been convinced that the magnitude of seating reduction that others on this board are tossing around is the best way to go.

 

[kansasCowboy]

I'm not going by their stats, The average attendance has dropped, because they have added 10 more teams to D1. Those ten teams added have an average attendance of 2,000 or less. That is what has dropped it down. If you take those 10 teams back out your attendance numbers are pretty much the same.

There is no downward trend that I see.

 

[WyoExpat]

I'm not going by their stats, The average attendance has dropped, because they have added 10 more teams to D1. Those ten teams added have an average attendance of 2,000 or less. That is what has dropped it down. If you take those 10 teams back out your attendance numbers are pretty much the same.

There is no downward trend that I see.

Even then, I do not like the selection of 2007 as the beginning year. That selection really affects the context that we are looking at.

I do not like taking out a bunch of seats, but the more I think about it, the more I really like the idea of bringing the seating down closer to the court.

 

[laxwyo]

Wow Mcpeach. Glad that an argument on a message board actually swayed someone. Pretty rare and I'm too stubborn to listen as are a lot of us. It's going to be sweet when they get it done.

 

[Cowboy Junky]

This thing is going to be sweet. Lines will be marginally shorter, concessions more efficient, bathrooms nicer, flat screen t.v.s everywhere you look, better sound system, better lighting, more money to the budget, structural repairs, the chance to drink if you get a club seat, center hung video board, practice facility, and what I'm looking forward to the most:

move the seating closer to the court.

It's going to be a thing of beauty when it's done.

 

[Cowduck]

I'm not going by their stats, The average attendance has dropped, because they have added 10 more teams to D1. Those ten teams added have an average attendance of 2,000 or less. That is what has dropped it down. If you take those 10 teams back out your attendance numbers are pretty much the same.

There is no downward trend that I see.

The stats that are cited in the article McPeachy linked are based on Big 6 conferences, so new D1 programs wouldn't affect them.

 

[kansasCowboy]

I'm not going by their stats, The average attendance has dropped, because they have added 10 more teams to D1. Those ten teams added have an average attendance of 2,000 or less. That is what has dropped it down. If you take those 10 teams back out your attendance numbers are pretty much the same.
There is no downward trend that I see.

The stats that are cited in the article McPeachy linked are based on Big 6 conferences, so new D1 programs wouldn't affect them.

You really don't know what you are talking about, do you? The stat shows from 07 to 12. It shows 325 TEAMS. Avg attendance and total attendance. I don't know about you, But I don't remember 325 teams in the BIG 6 conferences...
The stat later shows the number of TEAMS going up to 335. That has dropped the average. It is EVERY D1 SCHOOL! Do you really argue about everything?

There is NO downward trend. Do basic math. Please?

 

[WyoExpat]

The stat shows from 07 to 12.

Once again, these numbers conveniently start the year before the bottom fell out of the economy. I need a great deal more information before I accept the premise that this drop in average attendance reflects a structural change in tastes and preferences as opposed to simply reflecting households reducing their discretionary spending until the economy recovers.

Was attendance also trending downward from 1996-2006?

 

[WyoBrandX]

I've ridden the fence on this one for a while. Personally, if they downsize, I'd just like to see the ability to see they can get us up to 15k - 20k seats in a hurry (say 1 or 2 year timeline and start expanding) if they start selling out on a regular basis.

Gas prices have been ridiculous for nearly a decade. I'm sure some people look at the cost to drive from Casper/Riverton/Evanston, etc and decide its just easier to watch it on TV.

Some of the closer areas - Rawlins, Wheatland, Cheyenne, Northern Colorado - the gas prices probably at least make everyone hesitate for a bit.

You would think in the day and age of the Internet, the CJC would have a website up allowing registered members to comment on these things. Maybe some formal surveys up, etc?

 

[NowherePoke]

Let's remember that the debate is not whether or not to reduce seating. That is not the goal. The question is whether reduced capacity/seating is a justifiable/worthwhile trade-off for arena upgrades designed to produce revenue enhancements.

 

[laxwyo]

Let's remember that the debate is not whether or not to reduce seating. That is not the goal. The question is whether reduced capacity/seating is a justifiable/worthwhile trade-off for arena upgrades designed to produce revenue enhancements.

exactly

 

[Cowduck]

I'm not going by their stats, The average attendance has dropped, because they have added 10 more teams to D1. Those ten teams added have an average attendance of 2,000 or less. That is what has dropped it down. If you take those 10 teams back out your attendance numbers are pretty much the same.
There is no downward trend that I see.

The stats that are cited in the article McPeachy linked are based on Big 6 conferences, so new D1 programs wouldn't affect them.

You really don't know what you are talking about, do you? The stat shows from 07 to 12. It shows 325 TEAMS. Avg attendance and total attendance. I don't know about you, But I don't remember 325 teams in the BIG 6 conferences...
The stat later shows the number of TEAMS going up to 335. That has dropped the average. It is EVERY D1 SCHOOL! Do you really argue about everything?

There is NO downward trend. Do basic math. Please?

I'll admit I didn't see the data in the sidebar table, but in the text of the article it discusses downward trends in attendance in the ACC and PAC12. Other recent articles note drops across the board in the big 6 conferences.

Check the NCAA's own data. Here:

2008 - http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/Reports/attend/2008.pdf

2011 - http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/public/ncaa/pdfs/2011/2011+ncaa+mens+basketball+attendance+full+report

 

[Wyovanian]

Ok, I have had a change of mind / heart on this. And am man enough to admit it...after thinking about it for a few days, and reading what others had to post / say. Along with the attached article from USA today below.

I think it is a smart thing, to add revenue producing seating (luxury suites) to the AA. At the cost of what amounts to be about 4,000 seats that very rarely get sold (used). An occasional time or two they may be sold, sure, but if UW can bring in "Wildcatter Suites" type revenue, it is a very smart plan. As was bringing in the revenue at the War for the affore mentioned Wildcatter Suites. Wyoming football / The War, is a different story altogether, as is the current paradigm of the UW administration, and I will leave it at that.

Here is the USA Today article:

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/coll...asketball-concerns-attendance-drop/53424996/1

Oh yeah? Well all I've got to say is: blah blah blah. Blah blah, blah-blah, blah blah. Blah blah blah blah. Blah.