http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/an-opposing-view/ Life As A Mid Major Sat, 04 Feb 2012 17:05:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/an-opposing-view/comment-page-1/#comment-2452 LWoodBuzzy31 Sat, 13 Mar 2010 03:56:12 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2464#comment-2452 I love Richmond!! I do not see why people are so down on it... they just need to get to know the area when they come to town, I guess. I love Richmond!! I do not see why people are so down on it… they just need to get to know the area when they come to town, I guess.

]]> http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/an-opposing-view/comment-page-1/#comment-2439 Steven Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:09:58 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2464#comment-2439 Interesting posts, but we still have teams getting ready to play more basketball. Let's think about basketball while it's going on, and discuss the CAA tournament location when this season is over. Interesting posts, but we still have teams getting ready to play more basketball. Let’s think about basketball while it’s going on, and discuss the CAA tournament location when this season is over.

]]> http://www.caahoops.com/2010/03/an-opposing-view/comment-page-1/#comment-2437 Erik Fri, 12 Mar 2010 17:28:41 +0000 http://www.caahoops.com/?p=2464#comment-2437 “We” (die hards who will follow their team in anywhere) are going to have a great time in any city. However, we are in the minority, at least we should be. Why? Because we’ll buy whatever product the CAA puts out there – we love our teams. The CAA needs to do what’s best for the casual basketball fan - that family of 4 who rarely goes to a college game, but is looking for something fun to do on the weekends. This demographic is going to come to the game, buy the programs, merchandise, and lunch for all (on average they spend more per game than you & I). If you show them a great time, they come year after year, bring more families/youth teams, start tuning into games on TV, and consider ticket packages with the local team. These are the fans you want to market to. They will help to grow the CAA outside of students and active alumni. If I am a casual fan, and I had the experience I had last weekend (dirty facility, lackluster staff, and limited options to do with my kids both inside and outside of the arena), why would I come back next year? I worked in baseball for several years and while I know that the product on the court has to be good, you have to deliver an overall experience to people. If this weekend’s games were all blowouts, would it have been as memorable or fun? Absolutely not. Sure, we’d have had fun laughing with friends, but how fun is the tournament itself? It was boring. Couldn’t they come up with something other than lucky programs and a three point shooting contest? Those great games helped to cover up the problem – the CAA tournament is not necessarily appealing to the casual fan. If the CAA is truly interested in growing the league, it needs to consider making serious changes, even if it does not include leaving Richmond. “We” (die hards who will follow their team in anywhere) are going to have a great time in any city. However, we are in the minority, at least we should be. Why? Because we’ll buy whatever product the CAA puts out there – we love our teams. The CAA needs to do what’s best for the casual basketball fan – that family of 4 who rarely goes to a college game, but is looking for something fun to do on the weekends. This demographic is going to come to the game, buy the programs, merchandise, and lunch for all (on average they spend more per game than you & I). If you show them a great time, they come year after year, bring more families/youth teams, start tuning into games on TV, and consider ticket packages with the local team. These are the fans you want to market to. They will help to grow the CAA outside of students and active alumni. If I am a casual fan, and I had the experience I had last weekend (dirty facility, lackluster staff, and limited options to do with my kids both inside and outside of the arena), why would I come back next year? I worked in baseball for several years and while I know that the product on the court has to be good, you have to deliver an overall experience to people. If this weekend’s games were all blowouts, would it have been as memorable or fun? Absolutely not. Sure, we’d have had fun laughing with friends, but how fun is the tournament itself? It was boring. Couldn’t they come up with something other than lucky programs and a three point shooting contest? Those great games helped to cover up the problem – the CAA tournament is not necessarily appealing to the casual fan. If the CAA is truly interested in growing the league, it needs to consider making serious changes, even if it does not include leaving Richmond.

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