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Date Posted: 12:51:26pm 01/15/06 Sun,
Author: Loyola211
Subject: column: Fairfield arena solution may be close to home

Looks like someone has been reading our forum :)

Elsberry column: Fairfield arena solution may be close to home

BRIDGEPORT � Maybe it was seeing all those former Fairfield players who returned to be honored for the 20th anniversary of the Stags first NCAA tournament berth, almost out-numbering the people in the stands at the Arena at Harbor Yard on Jan. 5. That got me wondering if, maybe, this whole Fairfield-playing-at-the-Arena thing just isn't working out.
A very disappointing 1,511 showed up on a Thursday night to applaud the memories of the 1985-86 Stags team that beat Holy Cross to win the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference tournament at the Meadowlands and capture their first-ever NCAA bid.

Tony George came all the way from Virginia.

Ed Golden came from New Jersey.

A.J. Wynder came from Long Island.

Why couldn't Joe Alumni come from Boston Avenue? Or North Benson Road?

I know the students were on holiday break, but would they have made that much of a difference? Doubt it. After showing up in force for the season opener against St. Joseph's, they vanished en masse a week later when Providence came to the Arena. And in the Loyola, Fordham, Siena and Canisius games since then, that student "Stags in the Stands" gang has been just a few die-hards with red T-shirts in Sections 100, 101 and 102.

But they're not the only ones not showing up. Just 1,966 came for last Saturday's loss to Canisius, and through six games this season, Fairfield is averaging just 2,403, its lowest average attendance since it came to the Arena in 2001-02.

Why? I don't know. Do you?

Is it the rush-hour traffic on I-95? Or the fact that a good seat costs $18? Is it the parking? The weeknight start times? The stale pop corn?

It just doesn't make sense.

The Arena is a great place to see a basketball game and the Stags need the Arena to bring in stronger teams (like Providence this season and Georgetown in 2006-07) to help build themselves into the kind of mid-major program their alumni can be proud of and, more importantly, support.

So, maybe it's time for the powers that be at Fairfield to do something drastic � like lower the ticket prices (say, to $12 for the center sections and $8 for the end zones) � because I would much rather have 4,000 in the building at those prices than what the 1,500 or so who attend are paying now.

This sadly might be the long-term answer: think seriously about renovating Alumni Hall and moving back there for a majority of your home games. If you're only going to get 2,500 people for a game, you might as well put them in a place that holds 3,000.

Heck, even the students might show up.

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Replies:

[> Re: column: Fairfield arena solution may be close to home -- Stagophile, 01:07:47pm 01/15/06 Sun, [1]

He's got it right about the ticket price. And it supports my earlier suggestions....

1.) Play all weekend and/or marquee games at Arena at Harbor Yards.
2.) Play all weekday and non-marquee games at renovated Alumni Hall.
3.) If Alumni Hall is beyond repair, then build a new sub-5,000 multifunction on-campus arena and say goodbye to AHY except for marquee games.

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[> [> Re: column: Fairfield arena solution may be close to home -- FU73, 03:08:03pm 01/15/06 Sun, [1]

If AH can't be renovated, then let's start the groundwork NOW for whatever the Town of Fairfield will let the University do. If a 5,000 seat arena is not possible by them, then let's get whatever IS possible. When people like Elsberry are saying it's not working, then let's change it. Let's hope that no more single women's game, at $15,000 a night to rent AHY, next season. Back to campus as soon as possible for the men and play the St. Joe, the Georgetown and any "draw" games at AHY.

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[> [> [> Re: column: Fairfield arena solution may be close to home -- Running Man, 10:15:22am 01/17/06 Tue, [1]

The proposal that some games be played at Harbor Yards and others at a renovated Alumni Hall is so darn logical that it is a certainity that the administration would never consider it.

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[> Re: column: Fairfield arena solution may be close to home -- DitchMitch, 01:22:55pm 01/15/06 Sun, [1]

Great article by Elsberry

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[> Arena - overused by Stags -- JCM, 02:35:22pm 01/15/06 Sun, [1]

1) Fairfield pays 15K per game for the women to play in front of 750 fans.
2) The Men have no home court advantage whatsoever playing at Harbor Yard.
3) The men will never outdraw the capacity of Alumni Hall against some of the lesser teams on the schedule.
4) The program cannot advance without playing some games at an arena like Harbor Yard (St. John's, Providence, URI, or any name program they want to attrac).

The logical solution needs to be to play some games at Alumni Hall and some at Harbor Yard.

I don't argue with what the administration has done to this point. It was estimated that upgrading Alumni Hall would cost in excess of 1 Million dollars. They could lose $100,000 a year for 10 years on AHY before it approaches the cost of the Alumni Hall renovation. And it was possible that AHY would be a break even or possibly profitable venture, if the administration played their cards right. The 5 years deal with Harbor Yard was a good decision.

However, the administration didn't play their cards right. They overpriced the tickets. They showed no ability to promote the program. They didn't capatilize on the presence of Deng Gai and Ajou Deng on the stags roster. They didn't have a 20 win season. They didn't make the NCAA tournament. They didn't beat a big name opponent at home.

How many people go to Bridgeport to watch the Blue Fish or the Sound tigers play. Both programs are new to the area but draw much better than the stags. Why? Promotion. My kids get free tickets to the bluefish games all the time. Why do they give tickets away to kids. Because the parents have to bring the kids and pay to go the game. And a family of 4 will spend on average $55 a game on concessions. Fairfield however entered into an arrangement where they make nothing on concessions. They don't even make money on the shirts sold at the arena. So while the arena deal was a good idea, the stags didn't enter into a great contract.

With the deal coming up for renewal, The administration needs to decide if they are serious about this initiative. If so they need to negoiate a better deal, lower ticket prices and promote the program. Otherwise, fix alumni hall and have only a handful of games at Harbor Yard. While I am for having the majority of game at the AHY, I am not for it if they are going to draw only 1400 fans to play there.

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[> [> Re: Arena - overused by Stags -- Paulie74, 09:58:21am 01/16/06 Mon, [1]

JCM has hit the nail on the head. We have Homer Simpson negotiating with Henry Kissinger. Not that we have a lot of leverage with the product we are offering. However, the analysis of the past is right on. We missed the opportunity and have lost 5 years in the process. The other question I have is WHAT IS THE UNIVERSITY DOING TO ENLIST THE HELP OF ALL THE PASSIONATE VOICES WHO PARTICIPATE REGULARLY ON THIS MESSAGE BOARD. That's free labor folks!!

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[> [> [> Re: Arena - overused by Stags -- Stagophile, 01:25:33pm 01/16/06 Mon, [1]

What is the University doing? Not much. I personally believe that most at the University view the posters here as having nothing of value to add. We are seen as an annoying small group of crazy alumni who only want to complain. There have been several anonymous postings over the past couple of months by posters who clearly are from the University who have chastised us for being constantly negative and living vicariously through student athletes. Granted the posting can get out of hand sometimes and JoeStag does a good job of reigning things in, but, the majority of the posting here has been very constructive and dead on when evaluating the state of affairs at Fairfield. I think the University is doing a disservice to itself by not taking our commentary more serious. Many of us represent the diehard alumni that are in the stands supporting the athletic teams. As stated elsewhere, if they lose diehard Stags fans like us, then I am not sure where they are going to find the fans.

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[> [> [> [> Re: Arena - overused by Stags -- FU73, 04:30:48pm 01/16/06 Mon, [1]

Good points. If in fact the University does monitor these postings, then they now know ther views of the die hard "alumni fans" here. Maybe the University should let their vision and plan for Fairfield Athletics be known to the alumni. We whould to know about the AHY plans, the future of Alumni Hall in terms of using it again, renovating or replacing it, any long term plan for promoting and or upgrading teams. When football and hockey were dropped, the alumni views could have been solicited in advance. The University needs it's alumni in many, many ways; not the least of which is a means of funding!

How hard would it be to have Fr. von Arx send out a letter to us all if and when their plan is ready?

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[> [> [> [> [> Re: Arena - overused by Stags -- Stagophile, 04:59:13pm 01/16/06 Mon, [1]

Communications solves a lot of problems. A boosters clubs providing a little more commnications from the University and the opportunity for alumni to provide their input and donations would go a long way towards turning this situation into a positive. I think there are alot of alumni out there they do want to participate in improving the athletics program. The problem is that very little is being done to tap into this interest and to channel it in a positve manner. It's a valuable opportunity for the University and until something is done, the University is leaving alot on the table.

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[> [> Crazy Alumni -- JCM, 04:49:33pm 01/16/06 Mon, [1]

The university really ought to take a look at these Crazy Alumni. I'm one of those Crazy Alumni who has started 3 profitable businesses and run a company that has 52 million dollars in sales. Yeah, none of these companies is General Motors or GE, but when you take a business from zero to 52 Million in revenue over 5 years you need to know a little something about marketing. And while I feel I am clearly light years ahead of anyone involved in the Universities marketing activities, the truth is I am a rank amateur compared to other folks on this board.

I was involved in a promotion about 18 years ago where we brought 1400 Cub Scouts to a New Haven Nighthawks game. There were about half the number of Cub Scouts in the state then as there are now. Why hasn't the university done something like this? The truth is they have tried but have absolutely no idea how to make this kind of thing work. There are dozens of other organization like the cub scouts that could bring numbers given the right promotion.

Nor has the school ever had a successful "Employeer night wehre GE, SCGC, Sikorsky or some other large area employer promotes a game and offers discounted tickets to employees I have seen companies sell over 1000 tickets for a promotion like this.

They are completely lost. And we are complainers that have no idea what we are talking about.

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[> [> [> Re: Crazy Alumni -- RiverdaleEngineer, 09:25:04am 01/17/06 Tue, [1]

The Hudson Valley renegades minor league baseball team regularly sell out their 3 Scout nights before most of their other games are anywhere near sold out. Thousands of Cub Scouts go to Army Football Scout Day. Admittedly, Army wraps theirs up with their formation on the parade grounds and a tour - so I would never expect this level of success from a MAAC school. I take my Cubs to Manhattan games, even though there is nothing special done by the school. But any Div I college that were to give discounted admission and work with the local Boy Scout Council would do well. Attending a sporting event is a requirement for some levels. The Make up a Scout Day patch - not a lot of money even for small quantities.

I am also amazed that our MAAC schools don't do the same for CYO and Town Rec type basketball programs. My kids sometimes come home with a flyer for Nets tickets, with a small discount. Even with this, it is quite a chunk of money to bring the family. But a MAAC school could work out an affordable level for a family. Besides, if you introduce middle school age kids to your school, they'll be thinking about it when it's time to apply to colleges. Can't think of a better demographic for such an intro.

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[> ew Haven Register also makes FU at AHY point -- DitchMitch, 04:19:07pm 01/15/06 Sun, [1]

This one-liner was in Dave Solomon's column today in the New Haven Register:

<>

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[> [> Re: ew Haven Register also makes FU at AHY point -- DitchMitch, 04:19:54pm 01/15/06 Sun, [1]

"When you can count the numbers in Harbor Yard one by one, we�re talking serious problem."

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[> [> [> Re: ew Haven Register also makes FU at AHY point -- Sobro, 03:25:28pm 01/16/06 Mon, [1]

IMO, the new administration will try to pull the trigger on a new multi-purpose on campus facility. As has mentioned FOREVER, the Town of Fairfield is the major obstacle. 4,000 is the perfect number for an on campus facility, but the town won't go for more than the existing 2,476. What to do?

Perhaps you tell the town that only 3,000 seats will be available to the public and 1,000 will be student seating only. (How about two sections of 500 behind each basket?) Maybe they'll budge on 500 seats.

In additon, any facility must the focal point of the campus and somehow be physically connected to the newly renovated Campus Center. Extended workout facitlities for ALL students with direct connections to a renovated rec plex. An elevated track over the newly renovated STUDENT basketball courts in the rec plex. If you were a student, how would you like to enter the campus center, check your mail, get something to eat, and walk into the on campus arena, take in a game, grab something to eat on the way back through the campus center, and head back to your room?
Students must be made to feel that an on campus facility belong to ALL STUDENTS, not just the athletes. Trust me on this one; if they build the new facility up at Walsh, the students will FEEL LEFT OUT! If you make them part of it, and connect it to Barone, and a renovated Student-centric facility, an on campus facility will be wildly successful and a great selling point to all high school seniors, not just athletes.

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[> [> [> [> Re: ew Haven Register also makes FU at AHY point -- FU73, 04:44:39pm 01/16/06 Mon, [1]

Excellent points. The University needs to reconnect not just with us alumni but also with the current and future students. They need to part of the Fairfield Stags experience and not just by walking past the Walsh Center. A renovated or replaced Alumni Hall should be tied into a Campus Center/Rec Center complex. They also need somehow to get the students involved again as fans. Having all those games at AHY just made it harder and a lot less convenient to go to. Granted AHY is a beautiful facility but getting into your car or taking a bus ride to Bridgeport is a lot less inviting than going from your dorm or townhouse. On campus promotions, give aways, contests and whatever it takes to get the students back would be easier if it all was at North Benson Road rather than in Bridgeport. When you walk into Alumni Hall one of the first things you see is the letters "HOME OF THE STAGS" and that's the way in should be.

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[> Re: column: Fairfield arena solution may be close to home -- observer, 03:07:33pm 01/17/06 Tue, [1]

take a lesson from Siena....had a scout day already this year and have a ton of marketing agendas....that is why they are the best drawing team in MAAC by far.

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[> [> Re: column: Fairfield arena solution may be close to home -- Stagophile, 03:17:48pm 01/17/06 Tue, [1]

I wish we would! What do you know about their Amtrak Lil' Saints Club? It looks like a great way to engage alumni and to give them a fun familiy activity to do with their kids. Do you know if it has a success at Siena?

http://sienasaints.collegesports.com/boosters/sien-boosters-littlesaints.html

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[> [> [> Amtrak Lil Saints Club - Kids Night Out -- Stagophile, 04:42:34pm 01/17/06 Tue, [1]

Fact: According to the Fairfield University Strategic Plan, the average age of the alumni base is 37. What are a majority of people doing around this point in life? Having kids and raising a family!!!

With this fact in mind, here is a great alumni/fundraising idea from Siena to go along with their Amtrak Lil' Saint Club...Kids Night Out.

Kids Night Out is billed as an event for "Mom and Dad...Take the night off on us: Are you looking for night out? Well, Siena Field Hockey and Water Polo presents 'Kids Night Out' for families of the greater Albany community." "Make new friends...Hang out with Saints players...Help support Siena athletics..." They are hosting the event on five different occassions probably with different sports represented and charging $10 for each kid. It's basically a glorified babysitting session, but, I am sure they have all sorts of activities lined up for the kids.

I think it's a neat idea that alumni parents would greatly appreciate and the kids would be thrilled about.

http://graphics.fansonly.com/photos/schools/sien/genrel/auto_pdf/lil_saints_dec_121605.pdf

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[> [> [> [> Re: Amtrak Lil Saints Club - Kids Night Out -- FU73, 05:03:36pm 01/17/06 Tue, [1]

The Siena website is filled with Saints marketing and promotion ideas that easily could/should work here. They apparently use these ideas to promote their athletics with the local fan, Siena alumni and current Siena students. Who at Fairfield is responsible for these types of activities?

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[> [> Re: column: Fairfield arena solution may be close to home -- FUAlum, 10:31:11pm 01/17/06 Tue, [1]

One point - WHY won't the town of Fairfield allow us to build a 5,000 seat arena yet they let Fairfield Prep operate a 5,000 seat football stadium. WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE???? Just because one is indoor and one is outdoor??? It kills me every time the Town complains about us enlarging Alumni Hall when every year they allow the Prep to have 5,000 for their football games.

But I agree with the other alums above that the school's marketing effort is the problem. Don't give up on AHY until they try to market the games to alums better. I live near Stamford and the school NEVER sounds out promotional items or marketing stuff on upcoming games. They act like the alumni base doesn't exist.

It's a fact - when the school offered a Homecoming discount a few years back, they blitzed the alums with mailings and guess what? Over 4,800 showed up. Proof positive that if you keep after alums with regular mailings and promotional offerings, they will respond.

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