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The increase in attendance at SMU basketball games over the past three seasons has been remarkable. Thank you, LB. Now that we are selling out the games, we need to work on getting people there early. The pregame setup - In-N-Out food truck, the DJ and kid games - outside Moody last season was great. We should build on that by making the pregame an event. I realize a few games had a 6pm tip and it is impossible for some to get there early but that only happened twice in conference last season. A few ideas on more pregame activities:

- starting an hour before tip have the cheerleaders periodically throw shirts and mini bballs to fans in the stands.
- offer food/drink specials up to 15 minutes before tip
- have player Q & A running pregame so fans can get to know the guys better.
- have a beer garden setup outside Moody for those without access to the Miller club.
- have a few athletes from other sports sign autographs before the game. Or get a local pro athlete there to sign autographs before games.

A pregame happy hour for all would have multiple positive benefits

Maybe get sponsors to pick up the cost of happy hour prior to the game in certain areas - could create a tailgate tent in front. Miller is too full already typically so need to find a spot for that. More rowdy and more beer money.

I actually thing we do ok in this area, and as long as it is as loud as a plane taking off when we need it in the second half, I'm not going to get all worked up about who is early.

Seems like if we have learned anything it would be the better the outside activities, the more difficult to get people inside. We have
no need to increase the basketball attendance, we need to get people in before the tip. Find a way to get them in their seats early and the issue is solved.

Have pregame give always for people in their seats (drinking beer) before the game.

Half priced beer inside Moody until 20 minutes before tip. Have cheerleaders,dancers, and the band playing, walking around the mezzanine.

Beer pong in the concourse

friarwolf wrote:Half priced beer inside Moody until 20 minutes before tip. Have cheerleaders,dancers, and the band playing, walking around the mezzanine.

Yes. And like mrydel said maybe cheap pizza/hot dogs until 20 minutes pre.

Will be hard to accomplish. I think most WANT to be there early but work priorities and traffic interferes. I'm not sure half priced hot dogs would be enough to justify shifting yet another hour of work to other nights/weekend family time

fifty wrote:Beer pong in the concourse

I'd show up for that.

couch 'em wrote:Will be hard to accomplish. I think most WANT to be there early but work priorities and traffic interferes. I'm not sure half priced hot dogs would be enough to justify shifting yet another hour of work to other nights/weekend family time

I agree. I am more afraid that outside activities, as much fun as they may be could worsen the late comers inside.

But hot dogs AND beer??...eh?

Get one of those T shirt canons and shoot hot dogs to people in the stands.

Puts the buns in seats, for sure.

Not for any of the 6pm games though. There is too much traffic to get there in time.

/sarcasm

Its a matter of priorities. The 50 people who regularly post on ponyfans will be there early. Not everyone else is insane.