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       #Post#: 23221--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Will the Villanova Game Sell Out the Stadium?
       By: Chrissy D. Date: September 24, 2018, 6:17 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       They played Villanova in a 2012 playoff game and didnt come
       close to selling out. That was way before they added seats.
       Attendance that day was just under 5,000. In 2011 they drew a
       sellout against Albany in the first round of the playoffs. The
       week before against Liberty they drew just under 8,000 in a
       winner take all game for the conf title. I dont think that
       villanova is a big draw.
       #Post#: 23222--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Will the Villanova Game Sell Out the Stadium?
       By: ecasadoSBU Date: September 24, 2018, 6:20 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Moveitfred link=topic=707.msg23215#msg23215
       date=1537821676]
       So I'm just asking the question to those of you who I can tell
       are much more knowledgeable about sports in the area and with
       SBU football specifically: Are you fighting a battle (ie, trying
       to promote and expand SBU football) that cannot be won?
       [/quote]
       On the grand scheme of things the northeast coast is indeed a
       pro-sports region as whole. The proof is there - Look at
       Rutgers, Boston College, Connecticut, Temple, and even Syracuse
       how they struggle to draw 30k per game despite being well known
       programs.
       Now, with that said. I think its completely achievable and
       doable for Stony Brook to draw 10-15k per game thanks to its
       student/staff/admin population. I'm not saying its realistic to
       ever expect Stony Brook to draw 20-25k fans per game (unless
       conditions change in the region) but 10-15k is completely doable
       with an honest effort to get everyone to the game. Not just
       dumping money at it...
       We need student surveys asking what they desire from football
       gamedays and give them what they want.
       #Post#: 23224--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Will the Villanova Game Sell Out the Stadium?
       By: Wolffan Date: September 24, 2018, 7:08 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Wolffan link=topic=707.msg23223#msg23223
       date=1537833842]
       [quote author=Chrissy D. link=topic=707.msg23221#msg23221
       date=1537831060]
       They played Villanova in a 2012 playoff game and didnt come
       close to selling out. That was way before they added seats.
       Attendance that day was just under 5,000. In 2011 they drew a
       sellout against Albany in the first round of the playoffs. The
       week before against Liberty they drew just under 8,000 in a
       winner take all game for the conf title. I dont think that
       villanova is a big draw.
       [/quote]
       I don't entirely disagree...but ...
       Villanova playoff in 2012 was an ice-cold gusty wintry afternoon
       and even colder evening (it may have even flurried):
  HTML https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqy1Gegg1uw)
       I'm hoping everything is in place (highly-ranked CAA rivals with
       playoffs hopes very much alive, great weather, good-sized
       visitor crowd, non-holiday weekend, stadium looking great, etc.
       etc.) for a shot at a sellout. Could be I am dreaming of course.
       I remember attending a near-sellout v Colgate several years ago
       and being impressed by the numbers of Colgate fans...I'm
       assuming Villanova could fill their side of the stadium in the
       same manner as Colgate and as I recall they did sell out their
       side in 2012.
       [/quote]
       #Post#: 23226--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Will the Villanova Game Sell Out the Stadium?
       By: NoVA_Seawolf Date: September 24, 2018, 7:17 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Chairman of the Board
       link=topic=707.msg23219#msg23219 date=1537824491]
       to me, the issue isnt whether it's a pro sports town (it is),
       the issue is we struggle to fill stadiums, when not even
       leveraging our 30k population of students/faculty.
       it's a shame, really, all those people in a few square miles
       that are associated with the U, and we get how many, 2% (assumes
       600 total) to LaValle?
       [/quote]
       NY is very much a pro sports region, but here's the thing. When
       you have  12 MILLION people in your general market between NYC
       and long Island, I find it hard to believe you couldn't get 25k
       to Lavalle for a game against quality teams as an FBS program
       down the road. That's the vision Heilbron has when they talk
       about "big time" athletics. The population base is so big, that
       you really have to be dropping the ball to not at least get
       close to that. SBU is well positioned to be NY's college team
       for one simple reason. SBU is the closest, highly regarded,
       affordable public school for all the residents of NYC and Long
       Island. All the private schools are too expensive, and NYC
       residents don't get in-state tuition at Rutgers or UConn. I
       really think SBU has something here if they play their cards
       right.
       #Post#: 23227--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Will the Villanova Game Sell Out the Stadium?
       By: Wolffan Date: September 24, 2018, 8:08 pm
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=VA_Seawolf link=topic=707.msg23226#msg23226
       date=1537834620]
       [quote author=Chairman of the Board
       link=topic=707.msg23219#msg23219 date=1537824491]
       to me, the issue isnt whether it's a pro sports town (it is),
       the issue is we struggle to fill stadiums, when not even
       leveraging our 30k population of students/faculty.
       it's a shame, really, all those people in a few square miles
       that are associated with the U, and we get how many, 2% (assumes
       600 total) to LaValle?
       [/quote]
       NY is very much a pro sports region, but here's the thing. When
       you have  12 MILLION people in your general market between NYC
       and long Island, I find it hard to believe you couldn't get 25k
       to Lavalle for a game against quality teams as an FBS program
       down the road. That's the vision Heilbron has when they talk
       about "big time" athletics. The population base is so big, that
       you really have to be dropping the ball to not at least get
       close to that. SBU is well positioned to be NY's college team
       for one simple reason. SBU is the closest, highly regarded,
       affordable public school for all the residents of NYC and Long
       Island. All the private schools are too expensive, and NYC
       residents don't get in-state tuition at Rutgers or UConn. I
       really think SBU has something here if they play their cards
       right.
       [/quote]
       I think they have played their cards right in terms of
       attracting NY (especially NYC and LI) academic kids who used to
       look elsewhere. The admission stats have greatly improved,
       recent USNWR rankings put us on top (with Binghamton) in the
       SUNY system, the tuition is right, and the campus is looking
       better every year.  I teach high school and some of our top kids
       now go to SBU. That was just not the case 10  years ago .
       IMHO the athletic facilities are just about right and now it is
       a question of getting the fans into the seats and consistently
       winning in as many sports as we can.
       #Post#: 23228--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Will the Villanova Game Sell Out the Stadium?
       By: Hammertime Date: September 25, 2018, 4:50 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       You have to figure into the equation one very important stat SBU
       has, and that is Ethnicity. SB has a lot of Asians and Middle
       Eastern students who are here, for one thing, a Degree. The
       majority could care less about our football, basketball, Lax,
       sports as a whole. This is a fact and not a racist slur or
       something else. ( I am NOT a racist by any stretch just stating
       a fact).. I live in Setauket and have a bunch of Asians families
       who live near me and whenever I get an opportunity to speaking
       to some of them I'll bring up the question. Do you like Football
       or Basketball, and everyone will tell me no. The majority of
       Asians don't even like sports. Now, how do you explain the non
       Asian Middle Eastern students who live near SB and are students?
       I think a lot of those people are studying for their Doctorate
       degrees and are Doctors already and really don't have time to
       partake in any sporting event.
       If SBU were a Liberal Arts school I think the ratio to students
       going to sporting events would be much higher. Couple that with
       NY being a "pro sport" region, hence the small turnout at
       LaValle stadium. Can that ever be fixed. I doubt it, however. If
       more and more people shut the TV off on NFL Sunday, like I do,
       and stick with College sports, then maybe we can get more
       students and fans to fill the stadium.
       #Post#: 23229--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Will the Villanova Game Sell Out the Stadium?
       By: Chairman of the Board Date: September 25, 2018, 8:06 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       agreed with crazy eddie that the FCS is catching up to the FBS-
       at least in terms of winning- perhaps in attendance too.
       and non-P5 FBS is becoming a wash with the CAA and MVC playing
       so well.  do i think NDSU, illinois state, JMU, and nova can
       defeat half of the sunbelt or CUSA?  sure.
       id certainly rather watch those teams!
       and that's not even counting sam houston & co.
       also agreed that 10-12k is a reasonable target.
       i'll be out there in a few weeks on a saturday.  i'll count how
       many students i see outdoors that arent competing in a varsity
       athletic event (or preparing for one).
       #Post#: 23231--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Will the Villanova Game Sell Out the Stadium?
       By: Chairman of the Board Date: September 25, 2018, 8:10 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=VA_Seawolf link=topic=707.msg23226#msg23226
       date=1537834620]
       [quote author=Chairman of the Board
       link=topic=707.msg23219#msg23219 date=1537824491]
       to me, the issue isnt whether it's a pro sports town (it is),
       the issue is we struggle to fill stadiums, when not even
       leveraging our 30k population of students/faculty.
       it's a shame, really, all those people in a few square miles
       that are associated with the U, and we get how many, 2% (assumes
       600 total) to LaValle?
       [/quote]
       NY is very much a pro sports region, but here's the thing. When
       you have  12 MILLION people in your general market between NYC
       and long Island, I find it hard to believe you couldn't get 25k
       to Lavalle for a game against quality teams as an FBS program
       down the road. That's the vision Heilbron has when they talk
       about "big time" athletics. The population base is so big, that
       you really have to be dropping the ball to not at least get
       close to that. SBU is well positioned to be NY's college team
       for one simple reason. SBU is the closest, highly regarded,
       affordable public school for all the residents of NYC and Long
       Island. All the private schools are too expensive, and NYC
       residents don't get in-state tuition at Rutgers or UConn. I
       really think SBU has something here if they play their cards
       right.
       [/quote]
       while i completely agree- let's break this down a bit.
       unless related, no one is crossing a bridge or taking a ferry to
       see SB play, not in 2018.  so strike all of CT, NJ, the bronx,
       manhattan.
       brooklyn and queens- not big football fans because there isnt as
       much football played there.  too many distractions, difficult
       traffic, distance is ~50 miles which can total 3-4hrs in the
       car.
       are they taking trains?  they should.  i have.  will this be a
       significant #?  i don't think so.  but would like to see this
       happen.
       that leaves nassau and suffolk.  it can take over an hour to get
       20 miles.  sitting on nicolls isnt fun.  parking situation is
       not optimal.  can watch the game online.  or other games.  NE
       weather generally degrades in late Oct through november.
       the only real answer is to get students to the game.  but they
       arent on campus.
       #Post#: 23232--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Will the Villanova Game Sell Out the Stadium?
       By: Chairman of the Board Date: September 25, 2018, 8:12 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       [quote author=Hammertime link=topic=707.msg23228#msg23228
       date=1537869028]
       You have to figure into the equation one very important stat SBU
       has, and that is Ethnicity. SB has a lot of Asians and Middle
       Eastern students who are here, for one thing, a Degree. The
       majority could care less about our football, basketball, Lax,
       sports as a whole. This is a fact and not a racist slur or
       something else. ( I am NOT a racist by any stretch just stating
       a fact).. I live in Setauket and have a bunch of Asians families
       who live near me and whenever I get an opportunity to speaking
       to some of them I'll bring up the question. Do you like Football
       or Basketball, and everyone will tell me no. The majority of
       Asians don't even like sports. Now, how do you explain the non
       Asian Middle Eastern students who live near SB and are students?
       I think a lot of those people are studying for their Doctorate
       degrees and are Doctors already and really don't have time to
       partake in any sporting event.
       If SBU were a Liberal Arts school I think the ratio to students
       going to sporting events would be much higher. Couple that with
       NY being a "pro sport" region, hence the small turnout at
       LaValle stadium. Can that ever be fixed. I doubt it, however. If
       more and more people shut the TV off on NFL Sunday, like I do,
       and stick with College sports, then maybe we can get more
       students and fans to fill the stadium.
       [/quote]
       useful intel, and very much agreed.
       so that begs the question- should SB (and can SB) prefer student
       applicants who will contribute to the university's atmosphere?
       with the understanding that ALL other things are equal (like
       grades and qualifications).  tell me in a state of 20m we can't
       find 500 kids a year who are qualified and care about spirit???
       700???
       #Post#: 23233--------------------------------------------------
       Re: Will the Villanova Game Sell Out the Stadium?
       By: Moveitfred Date: September 25, 2018, 9:17 am
       ---------------------------------------------------------
       Thanks for all the discussion and ideas here from you informed
       folks. As admitted I'm not a rabid football fan, but I do
       overall enjoy various SBU sports and am also a local community
       member who would like to see things go well at the university.
       To add, of course the weather was perfect this past weekend but
       I have to say the whole "Wolfie Town" (is that what it's
       called?) seemed like a really fun scene, too. If parents with
       young kids don't have their day filled with running kids to
       soccer games or other such sports, that looks like a fun place
       to be.
       >>>>>>>
       so that begs the question- should SB (and can SB) prefer student
       applicants who will contribute to the university's atmosphere?
       with the understanding that ALL other things are equal (like
       grades and qualifications).  tell me in a state of 20m we can't
       find 500 kids a year who are qualified and care about spirit???
       700???
       <<<<<<<<
       A noble idea, but as a parent who just sent kids through a local
       (3V) school district and off into college, I had to laugh. That
       is, if this was an assessment criteria you can bet parents would
       get wind of it and have all the college prep and tutors they
       hire to get their kids into the best schools add this to the
       essay or application! The whole college app process is so
       cutthroat, filled with lies and deceit...in my humble opinion,
       of course.  ;D
       And simply antidotal information, based on two recent high
       school graduates in the area and listening in on all the
       chatter:
       Some very high-performing local academic kids went to SBU based
       on its growing academic reputation and, typically, good
       financial deal and scholarships offered. Never heard any one of
       them say anything about SBU sports.
       Whereas a number of local kids who were interested in a college
       sports scene all went elsewhere (Alabama, Texas, Kansas,
       Syracuse, UCONN...just a few I remember among my kids' peer
       groups. Even Cortland, which seems to have a reputation as a fun
       D3 sports school, among other elements of its reputation).
       Blatantly obvious, but "SBU" and "Sports" just don't go together
       for young people. But here's hoping at least that a lot of
       people come out for the Villanova game. I assume some of you
       were around and maybe went to the SBU/Villanova hoops game years
       ago in the old version of the arena, and I remember there being
       a big crowd for that one.
       *****************************************************
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