Official: SMU vs. Walking in Memphis Thread

[GreenbeltPony]

<-- There were a few moments when Pastner was getting dangerously close to throwing another tantrum.

[GiddyUp]

[Terry Webster]

Memphis would absolutely kill it if they could find a way to build a 12k arena on campus. Fed Ex is set up as a pro arena so the students are pretty much set apart from the game. Put that group in a campus arena and that would be an amazing place to play.

[Charleston Pony]

I've never been on their campus, but hard to believe a school with a hoops history as strong as Memphis' doesn't have an on-campus arena

[Mustangs_Maroons]

Maybe they never felt the need to have one and add to that they don't have the money - it's a poor school. I suppose not that surprising

[smupony94]

I've never been on their campus, but hard to believe a school with a hoops history as strong as Memphis' doesn't have an on-campus arena

The get to play there for next to nothing and kids get to say they play in a nba arena

[DanFreibergerForHeisman]

I've never been on their campus, but hard to believe a school with a hoops history as strong as Memphis' doesn't have an on-campus arena

The get to play there for next to nothing and kids get to say they play in a nba arena

Yeah.

I have always been under the impression playing in the downtown arena was a good recruiting tool for them since they were "big time".

[mrydel]

It is the equivalent of when we played football in Texas Stadium.

[ponyte]

I was in Memphis during some really good Larry Finch teams. They played at the Mid South arena then which is by the Liberty Bowl stadium. To my knowledge they haven't played on campus in decades. Now getting to their campus isn't easy. Not sure being on campus will help Memphis. They have some barriers that are not similar to the DFW area.

[Hooplife18]

As I stated last night, I was just here trolling and rolling with you guys last night. All clean fun. But this Memphis attendance talk is kind of baffling. We've been in the top ten in attendance for the past decade. Of course this year we'll fall to around #20ish bc of a down year. FedexForum holds 18,500. Normal for us (not this year) is 16,500 for normal games and 17,500+ for larger games. And then the occasional sell outs for huge games. Almost every non-student seat is sold. The students pretty much determine if we hit 16,500 or 18,000. Depends if they show up. Despite being a pro set up, when that place is near capacity, it gets to rocking. I'd love to have a 15k arena. That way it would be packed every game. Anyways, just my thoughts.

[max the wonder dog]

Correct on FedEx Forum being used as a recruiting tool. More important, the bonds on FedEx Forum are paid for with tax revenue from the Beale Street Entertainment District and they need the crowds that Tiger games put into the bars to help with the payments. The city powers that be, who overlap with the university powers that be, won't go for an on-campus arena. Likewise, there has been a push for an on-campus football stadium, but the city needs the Tigers to help cover the Liberty Bowl Stadium's operating costs.

[ponyte]

As I stated last night, I was just here trolling and rolling with you guys last night. All clean fun. But this Memphis attendance talk is kind of baffling. We've been in the top ten in attendance for the past decade. Of course this year we'll fall to around #20ish bc of a down year. FedexForum holds 18,500. Normal for us (not this year) is 16,500 for normal games and 17,500+ for larger games. And then the occasional sell outs for huge games. Almost every non-student seat is sold. The students pretty much determine if we hit 16,500 or 18,000. Depends if they show up. Despite being a pro set up, when that place is near capacity, it gets to rocking. I'd love to have a 15k arena. That way it would be packed every game. Anyways, just my thoughts.

I tend to agree. It a huge venue and a normal college crowd would look shabby on TV. I remember going to game at the MidSouth arena and the crowds to me appeared pretty good. And the game I went to last year (SMU t Memphis) had a decent crowd but it look sparce cause the venue is so big.

[Hooplife18]

As I stated last night, I was just here trolling and rolling with you guys last night. All clean fun. But this Memphis attendance talk is kind of baffling. We've been in the top ten in attendance for the past decade. Of course this year we'll fall to around #20ish bc of a down year. FedexForum holds 18,500. Normal for us (not this year) is 16,500 for normal games and 17,500+ for larger games. And then the occasional sell outs for huge games. Almost every non-student seat is sold. The students pretty much determine if we hit 16,500 or 18,000. Depends if they show up. Despite being a pro set up, when that place is near capacity, it gets to rocking. I'd love to have a 15k arena. That way it would be packed every game. Anyways, just my thoughts.

I tend to agree. It a huge venue and a normal college crowd would look shabby on TV. I remember going to game at the MidSouth arena and the crowds to me appeared pretty good. And the game I went to last year (SMU t Memphis) had a decent crowd but it look sparce cause the venue is so big.

It would be like if Uconn played all of their games in the XL Center. When they play at Gampbel, it's packed, but the XL Center, a good amount of empties

[ponyte]

Obviously I have no idea how to improve crowds on TV at Memphis. There are local issue of which I have inadequate information. Given the road we have traveled over the last 2 generations, to have Memphis in our conference is a plus. For those that complain about the FedEx center, please travel to NOLA for the Tulane game cause you will instantly appreciate Memphis playing in a NBA arena as compared to an antiquated HS facility on Tulane's campus.