BB question for FB fans

[PerunaPunch]

I played a lot of football in jr high and high school, so I think a have a reasonable understanding of the game -- i understand it, so I find it enjoyable. I wrestled during basketball season, so I never really got into basketball other than back in the day when you could still buy LARGE, CHEAP beer at the Mavs games at Reunion Arena. And my college roommate's father always let us use his Mavs' season tickets when he wasn't taking business clients to the game.

Another analogy would be motorcycle racing. I followed MotoGP back in the days when my wife let me have a YZF-R1 street bike. I haven't really followed it since she made me sell it. Now that I race sailboats, I know all about the upcoming America's Cup, but other than the bonafide stars, I couldn't name the starters for the Rangers, Mavs or Stars.

So I guess people enjoy and buy tickets to those events they have a connection with. Now that we (presumably) will have a first-rate product and first-rate BB facilities, we just need to lure some fans in, so we can build those connection.

And having a club facility won't hurt either....

[SMU2007]

My guess would be that an incredibly small percentage of the smu fan base played football and/or basketball at any meaningful level in their lives. I wouldn't think that is a huge factor in determining butts in seats.

[Peruna94&07]

My guess would be that an incredibly small percentage of the smu fan base played football and/or basketball at any meaningful level in their lives. I wouldn't think that is a huge factor in determining butts in seats.

I would not discount it. I am a soccer player first and played high school football. I don't care for baseball because it is too slow of a game and basketball to me is the exact opposite. Too easy to score. When you have a game that is pretty much decided in the last 5 minutes of every game regardless of how you play in the first 3 quarters I don't have the desire to pay for tickets. Yes other games can be decided in the last 5 as well, but when you score in football in the 1st quarter or soccer in the 1st half or even hockey it has a dramatic effect on the game. In basketball unless it is a real blowout the points in the first half really don't matter. This is my opinion of course.

The other thing you have to keep in mind is Texas is a football state, so I would always expect to see more football season tickets than basketball. If we were in Indiana it would be the opposite. Folks grow up watching the Cowboys/Oilers/Texans as well as UT, A&M and others. Basketball wasn't something that folks were big on. Things are changing with the Mavs doing well and now we have Larry Brown.

[PK]

My guess would be that an incredibly small percentage of the smu fan base played football and/or basketball at any meaningful level in their lives. I wouldn't think that is a huge factor in determining butts in seats.

I would not discount it. I am a soccer player first and played high school football. I don't care for baseball because it is too slow of a game and basketball to me is the exact opposite. Too easy to score. When you have a game that is pretty much decided in the last 5 minutes of every game regardless of how you play in the first 3 quarters I don't have the desire to pay for tickets. Yes other games can be decided in the last 5 as well, but when you score in football in the 1st quarter or soccer in the 1st half or even hockey it has a dramatic effect on the game. In basketball unless it is a real blowout the points in the first half really don't matter. This is my opinion of course.

The other thing you have to keep in mind is Texas is a football state, so I would always expect to see more football season tickets than basketball. If we were in Indiana it would be the opposite. Folks grow up watching the Cowboys/Oilers/Texans as well as UT, A&M and others. Basketball wasn't something that folks were big on. Things are changing with the Mavs doing well and now we have Larry Brown.

From my discussions with a few soccer fans, much of the excitement for them is watching the players display their skill at controlling and moving the ball and executing the game strategy as much as the scoring. In that respect, basketball is pretty much the same. The early scoring may not mean that much, but the fun is watching the players play the game. At least that is my take on it.

[PerunaPunch]

To add on to what Peruna94&07 said and what I said earlier:

I think the "interest" idea also applies to sports you followed because your kids played, your boyfriend/girlfriend played, you were a cheerleader, band member, trainer or booster for. And because football teams are larger (probably 5-10X larger than a BB team in larger high schools and colleges) and because Texas is a "football state" the likelihood that you have some kind of connection with and enjoyment of football is larger.

Back East, where football isn't so much of a Friday night ritual, basketball is probably as big or bigger, since the more compact population centers and climate favor indoor sports that can be played in a gym.

But at the end of the day, I don't think that's a big deal when it comes to packing our Moody. The guys in my office (a couple of UT guys and an NTSU grad) are already hitting me up for tickets. As long as the Mustangs are playing quality basketball, I think there's a huge appeal in the idea of going to see a quality game, played by "name" players and coaches in a throw-back venue that doesn't have all the hyper-commercialized BS of a Mavs game.

From what I can tell, SMU is doing it right with Moody, and I am personally really looking forward to attending some games next year.

[Junior]

My guess would be that an incredibly small percentage of the smu fan base played football and/or basketball at any meaningful level in their lives. I wouldn't think that is a huge factor in determining butts in seats.

I disagree. I didn't play football, but i played basketball. And I've attended many more football games than bball games.

[SMU2007]

That's exactly my point junior. I'm saying that your enjoyment of football is not related to you playing it in college. You just like the sport.

[Mexmustang]

This was my first year to buy season basketball tickets, I have had season tickets for football since 1970. Part of the reason was that I attended a school that had a big time basketball program, that had a poor football program and then went to graduate school at SMU where I fell in love with football again (and Jerry LeVias). The last SMU basketball game I attended (before this year) was to watch my old fraternity brothers take on the defending SWC champs at Moody and defeat them--Still have mixed feelings.

However, I always felt that basketball at SMU would reignite football--for all the reasons many of you have commented upon in the past: it only takes one or two big-time recruits, much smaller recruiting classes. Just never happened. It happened at Baylor, first women's BB success, then men's, then RJIII.

I really believe that the addition of LB would not have happened if it weren't for JJ and that together they will break down the barriers that have been part of the way SMU has worked for 26 years. I believe JJ is now committed to SMU and he is stepping up his recruiting, where before he just wanted out. So, in a way basketball success is leveraging football. Success is funny, it all begins with one sport to get the attention of 17-18 year olds--a "rising tide raises all boats".

One more thing, the BB experience is quite different than FB. It is more relaxed, my wife and I wear whatever we have on to attend the games, sweatsuits, etc., we are in and out much quicker and I feel more connected with the players--maybe because I can see their faces and expressions. Those FB fans are missing something by not watching these kids growup right in front of you.

[ponyboy]

Moody really can be an amazing experience when it's really rocking. I am so looking forward to getting that back -- in my mind, no other sports experience beats it. SMU basketball is a strong, strong buy right now. Get on board before we are in full on bandwagon mode.

[Junior]

That's exactly my point junior. I'm saying that your enjoyment of football is not related to you playing it in college. You just like the sport.

sorry 2007, i misread what you wrote. i thought you said the opposite. i agree with you after all.

[LHS81]

I'm sorry. You lost me in the first sentence when you mentioned "much of the excitement for soccer!"

[PK]

I'm sorry. You lost me in the first sentence when you mentioned "much of the excitement for soccer!"

Well there must be some kind of soccer excitement for some people or there wouldn't be any soccer. I don't happen to be one of those people, but to each his own.

[smustatesman]

My guess would be that an incredibly small percentage of the smu fan base played football and/or basketball at any meaningful level in their lives. I wouldn't think that is a huge factor in determining butts in seats.

As a child my next door neighbor, ran a major book in town. So, at an early age I learned to play the ponies. Therefore, coming to Dallas for my college education, and cheering on SMU was a forgone conclusion.

[SMU2007]

I don't get it.