Student Section Moving

[Grizzoola]

If students already pay a hefty athletic fee, then their seats are not gratis. It's a different story if those seats earn more general public revenue. So, with that, let's call a spade a spade: Most students now are not into the "old college game," if they ever were. They're at school to learn and earn a degree to pursue their personal goals. Many, if not most, work jobs, have families, etc., in addition.

Make the athletic fee optional: No fee, or selected sports. Officials should be able to gauge that to predict possible student attendance, and provide seats for the paying public. If a student declines the athletic fee altogether, he/she should pay to attend as a general public.

But, let's get real, here: For several decades, now, UM games have been chiefly supported by alumni and community fans. It hasn't been about the students for ages. As I say, let's call a spade a spade.

I agree with athletic fee being optional. That’s a workable idea. The rest idk. If you don’t want the students apart of it then maybe the team just shouldn’t be apart of University. Have a semi-pro team. Alumni that support used to be those students. If you want to build that alumni support in the future, alienating the students isn’t the way to go.

I'm not saying students "should not be a part of the University." Of course, they should, but if they don't show up for games, what's the admin. to do?

It seems as tho' college football & perhaps basketball are already semi-pro teams, de facto farm clubs for the NFL & NBA. I am an alum (1959 & 1970. I didn't attend any Griz football games, but enjoyed a few bb games. Even so, I am a fan of all UM athletics, these many years later.

 

[tourist]

From a business perspective, if the student section is underused, it makes sense to shrink, or, reassign the area to a more profitable designation. In the future, should student preferences change, they could move from West Side Mt. Sentinel to some designated area within WGS. I'm not some recent grad. The area is still the Clover Bowl, to me. Google it.

 

[bgbigdog]

From a business perspective, if the student section is underused, it makes sense to shrink, or, reassign the area to a more profitable designation. In the future, should student preferences change, they could move from West Side Mt. Sentinel to some designated area within WGS. I'm not some recent grad. The area is still the Clover Bowl, to me. Google it.

If/Until attending games becomes a “thing” again for this generation of students, a change like this is understandable if you’ve got unmet demand. If the trend continues long term, not being a “thing” isn’t a good omen for the health of a support structure like an alumni program in years to come.

Ps: some group of someone’s need to be getting busy figuring out how to better provide/monetize the broadcasts of these games. If these kids are anything like mine, they’re faces are from 8 to 24 inched from a screen every waking hour they aren’t working, and many times even then.

 

[BadlandsGrizFan]

I disagree with the move. As someone that was a student relatively shortly here is my perspective. The students get shafted on athletic fees that only continue to rise. Guest passes also went up drastically plus you can only get one and they are fewer available. Now they move the students off section 121 which is always filled. That ruins the students experience by making a large portion go to the south end zone on the other side of the band where you cannot see the Griz Vision or be one unified loud unit. Section 121 is also where a majority of older students, grad students and faculty like to stand.

The problem with empty seats is the same reason why all of attendance went down: on field performance. So don’t blame the students for that. Look at Gonzaga’s b-ball student section or even MSU’s and you can realize it’s an asset if they can enjoy a good experience.

Bottom line is that it is very short sided to ruin future alumni’s game experience especially if you want donations to keep going. This only further drives them away. Does not help with recruiting a regular student. A lot of alums that contribute can go back to their enjoyable student experience at Wa-Griz as a factor for donating. I think athletic fees should be lowered if that’s something they want to do. Cut the students a break.


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All good points but I would challenge the capacity. I haven't seen a full student section in years. Maybe half full if lucky for all the games last year. Why have a half full student section when people would pay for those seats.

Yep, this is a good move until students prove other wise. When I was in school the student section was packed every single game no matter what, granted I was there during Selles 2 national championship runs, and the JJ era.

But I see this as a good move until the numbers show other wise. Might as well bring in some money if the students arent going to use it.

 

[grizfan95]

I disagree with the move. As someone that was a student relatively shortly here is my perspective. The students get shafted on athletic fees that only continue to rise. Guest passes also went up drastically plus you can only get one and they are fewer available. Now they move the students off section 121 which is always filled. That ruins the students experience by making a large portion go to the south end zone on the other side of the band where you cannot see the Griz Vision or be one unified loud unit. Section 121 is also where a majority of older students, grad students and faculty like to stand.

The problem with empty seats is the same reason why all of attendance went down: on field performance. So don’t blame the students for that. Look at Gonzaga’s b-ball student section or even MSU’s and you can realize it’s an asset if they can enjoy a good experience.

Bottom line is that it is very short sided to ruin future alumni’s game experience especially if you want donations to keep going. This only further drives them away. Does not help with recruiting a regular student. A lot of alums that contribute can go back to their enjoyable student experience at Wa-Griz as a factor for donating. I think athletic fees should be lowered if that’s something they want to do. Cut the students a break.


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All good points but I would challenge the capacity. I haven't seen a full student section in years. Maybe half full if lucky for all the games last year. Why have a half full student section when people would pay for those seats.

Yep, this is a good move until students prove other wise. When I was in school the student section was packed every single game no matter what, granted I was there during Selles 2 national championship runs, and the JJ era.

But I see this as a good move until the numbers show other wise. Might as well bring in some money if the students arent going to use it.

Selle only had 1 championship run. Bergquist was the year before.

 

[hokeyfine]

i would agree about making fees optional..... but it will never happen. i would guess that there would be very few that would pay it if they had a choice. a significant loss of revenue and the university cant afford that.

 

[mtgrizfankb]

Students aren’t there for the game anyways anymore. Most the students there are not even paying attention and are just socializing. People get mad that they take stuff away from people not utilizing it but let’s be honest. You put that section anywhere and they team gets pooular again it will be full. Student sections are all about friends. If their friends are going and the team is good it will be full. If we are mediocre and people aren’t talking about the team then the sections will be lame....ie the last 2 years

 

[tourist]

From a business perspective, if the student section is underused, it makes sense to shrink, or, reassign the area to a more profitable designation. In the future, should student preferences change, they could move from West Side Mt. Sentinel to some designated area within WGS. I'm not some recent grad. The area is still the Clover Bowl, to me. Google it.

If/Until attending games becomes a “thing” again for this generation of students, a change like this is understandable if you’ve got unmet demand. If the trend continues long term, not being a “thing” isn’t a good omen for the health of a support structure like an alumni program in years to come.

Ps: some group of someone’s need to be getting busy figuring out how to better provide/monetize the broadcasts of these games. If these kids are anything like mine, they’re faces are from 8 to 24 inched from a screen every waking hour they aren’t working, and many times even then.

Whomever is responsible for telecasting Griz football is doing a shitty job. Change needs to be done NOW!

 

[grizbro]

It seems other than the bottom 3-4 rows, Sec 121 was more of an "open seating" area for anyone in the stadium instead of students. I don't have a problem having it for fund raising for UM Athletics as they give up most of the concessions to UM Dining Services and are still paying a ton annually for the Pharmacy Building.

 

[grizpack]

A few years ago, the UM Student fee was one of the lowest in the BSC. I would be curious to hear where it stands now. And students pay all sorts of fees on top of their tuition. Just look at an actual bill. And I would bet they only use a fraction of the services they are paying a fee for.

 

[BadlandsGrizFan]

I disagree with the move. As someone that was a student relatively shortly here is my perspective. The students get shafted on athletic fees that only continue to rise. Guest passes also went up drastically plus you can only get one and they are fewer available. Now they move the students off section 121 which is always filled. That ruins the students experience by making a large portion go to the south end zone on the other side of the band where you cannot see the Griz Vision or be one unified loud unit. Section 121 is also where a majority of older students, grad students and faculty like to stand.

The problem with empty seats is the same reason why all of attendance went down: on field performance. So don’t blame the students for that. Look at Gonzaga’s b-ball student section or even MSU’s and you can realize it’s an asset if they can enjoy a good experience.

Bottom line is that it is very short sided to ruin future alumni’s game experience especially if you want donations to keep going. This only further drives them away. Does not help with recruiting a regular student. A lot of alums that contribute can go back to their enjoyable student experience at Wa-Griz as a factor for donating. I think athletic fees should be lowered if that’s something they want to do. Cut the students a break.


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All good points but I would challenge the capacity. I haven't seen a full student section in years. Maybe half full if lucky for all the games last year. Why have a half full student section when people would pay for those seats.

Yep, this is a good move until students prove other wise. When I was in school the student section was packed every single game no matter what, granted I was there during Selles 2 national championship runs, and the JJ era.

But I see this as a good move until the numbers show other wise. Might as well bring in some money if the students arent going to use it.

Selle only had 1 championship run. Bergquist was the year before.

Oh ya..did Selle not play against Richmond? I forget

 

[AllWeatherFan]

Jesus, people around here act like college is for the damn kids!

 

[kemajic]

All good points but I would challenge the capacity. I haven't seen a full student section in years. Maybe half full if lucky for all the games last year. Why have a half full student section when people would pay for those seats.

Yep, this is a good move until students prove other wise. When I was in school the student section was packed every single game no matter what, granted I was there during Selles 2 national championship runs, and the JJ era.

But I see this as a good move until the numbers show other wise. Might as well bring in some money if the students arent going to use it.

Selle only had 1 championship run. Bergquist was the year before.

Oh ya..did Selle not play against Richmond? I forget

He probably should have; Bergquist was hurt early and hobbled through the rest of the game as a sitting duck for their to-be pro DE. We had some injuries on the OL and could not contain their rush.

 

[griz5700]

Bad move.

 

[SoldierGriz]

Bad move.

Yep.

The student section at basketball games used to be special.

The student section at football games used to be special.

One is gone forever...one will be gone forever?

 

[dayday]

It’s too bad I’m sure there would have been a lot of excitement and energy from that section for this next year but not much can be done. Sounds like they are going to ride this experiment out.


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['68griz]

Use it or lose it. I think the university has to go with what has recently been, rather than waiting to see what MIGHT be.

 

[George Ferguson]

If it doesn't sell out with new or moved season ticket holders, it's a bad move. If that section is full every game with fans who stand up and don't whine about people who stand up, I'm fine with it.

 

[EverettGriz]

Recall that Haslam gave the students a chance to reclaim the zoo at BB games. It was an unmitigated disaster. Why should he trust them that football would be any different when all recent evidence is to the contrary?

Look, I wish we could place 8,000 students on the Griz logo at midfield. But if they're not going to show up and their empty seats can be sold for revenue....

 

[dayday]

With basketball in the past they made a bunch of GSA seats that sat empty as well. I don’t think with declining attendance to just expect GSA seats be filled.


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