Madison Square Garden and the BET

[room112]

Also have to wonder if UConn wins tonight at Marquette, and it's looking like they'll have the 3 seed, if UConn fans who may have bought tickets to the Thursday early session in advance will end up selling their tickets and create downward price pressure. As of right now, the evening session has been much cheaper.

 

[dk423]

Last year, I ended up saving a lot of money getting BET tix day-of for the semi's. I plan on doing the same for whatever games I go to.

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

Last year, I ended up saving a lot of money getting BET tix day-of for the semi's. I plan on doing the same for whatever games I go to.

where'd you get them day of last year??

 

[IDRAFT]

There are about 5600 season tickets this year. Less than 25% of that is sju allocation. Pretty sure that administrators are getting their tix without regard to priority.

To me, our ticket demand still has a way to go. On Saturday vs Seton Hall, there were a large number of seats on secondary markets with seats in the 200s plunging to $6 by game time.

Before last year, demand for BET tickets from sju fans was weak. Then it surged last year, and exploded this year.

Kull mentioned that 5600 number - which does not track for me. Perhaps they are including MSG only plans in that number? Otherwise this would mean CA was basically sold out through season tickets and I did not find that to be the case.

I would have estimated full season ticket holders at closer to 4,500 based on CA tickets available for mid major games individually.

 

[dk423]

where'd you get them day of last year??

I actually just realized I got them on this very board! lol. It was in the 100s behind the basket for, I think, about $200 give or take.

 

[dk423]

Kull mentioned that 5600 number - which does not track for me. Perhaps they are including MSG only plans in that number? Otherwise this would mean CA was basically sold out through season tickets and I did not find that to be the case.

I would have estimated full season ticket holders at closer to 4,500 based on CA tickets available for mid major games individually.

Every game at Carnesseca was listed as a sellout (5602) except for:
Wagner: 4,751
Bryant: 4,573

So that's closer to the baseline for full season ticket holders.

 

[SLYFOXX1968]

RE: The MSG PA Announcer

I just rewatched the Uconn Game and it made me think about a home court advantage.

I love the PA Announcer at the Garden (sadly not John Condon, but good), with the Intros and in-game,

Z ---- U ---- B---- Y----
E --- J --- I --- O --- F --- O --- R ---.
A --- N--- D ---
O---- N---- E----
Etc., etc.,

It creates excitement and gets the crowd going.

I assume during the BET (which I've gone to dozens and dozens of times) we don't get the home town PA Announcer thing? (I can't remember!)

This is the first year the Committee is not counting the BET as "our home court" so all those other years we should have gotten the home town treatment with the Intros and PA Announcer.

I like the flame-thrower thing too, adds to the atmosphere.

Who's going to the Tournament???????

BJR , your mention of the late John Condon , MSG PA Announcer was timely and evokes great memories .

In the Garden it was Condon and Bob Shepard at Yankee Stadium and some SJU games at CA , then Alumni Hall .

Bob , of course , a SJU alum and Faculty member .

Both, Legends !

 

[BrookJersey Redmen]

BJR , your mention of the late John Condon , MSG PA Announcer was timely and evokes great memories .

In the Garden it was Condon and Bob Shepard at Yankee Stadium and some SJU games at CA , then Alumni Hall .

Bob , of course , a SJU alum and Faculty member .

Both, Legends !

Two of the best in person, Stadium, arena announvers ever to do that job, you're right, SF68, legends.

Bob Shepherd and his teaching at St. John's gives us an even wearmer spot in our hearts for him. Wonderful charitable, and devout gentlemen, too.

Condon's PA announcing for the pre- and Championship Knick teams floods my mind of great times and my youth. Perfect pitch and voice.

The present MSG Announcer (don't know his name, reminds me of Condon) is very good too, especially when announcing a score by one of our Johnnies players. He draws their names out in elongated fashion, and ends with a verbal exclamation point, as-if saying "Of course, he scored!!!"

 

[SLYFOXX1968]

Two of the best in person, Stadium, arena announvers ever to do that job, you're right, SF68, legends.

Bob Shepherd and his teaching at St. John's gives us an even wearmer spot in our hearts for him. Wonderful charitable, and devout gentlemen, too.

Condon's PA announcing for the pre- and Championship Knick teams floods my mind of great times and my youth. Perfect pitch and voice.

The present MSG Announcer (don't know his name, reminds me of Condon) is very good too, especially when announcing a score by one of our Johnnies players. He draws their names out in elongated fashion, and ends with a verbal exclamation point, as-if saying "Of course, he scored!!!"

I agree 1000 percent ! Bob Sheppard was , of course , the” Voice of God “ as Reggie Jackson described him . No one in Baseball PA Announcing was close .

Condon always seemed to give us his best in all our Games . He had a way of igniting the Crowd too , when we scored . You got the idea too , he was rooting for us .

 

[Knight]

Yes, but Bob Shepherd was the voice of God.

 

[Beasts of the East]

.

Every game at Carnesseca was listed as a sellout (5602) except for:
Wagner: 4,751
Bryant: 4,573

So that's closer to the baseline for full season ticket holders.

I was told our big east allotment is 800

 

[Beasts of the East]

Kull mentioned that 5600 number - which does not track for me. Perhaps they are including MSG only plans in that number? Otherwise this would mean CA was basically sold out through season tickets and I did not find that to be the case.

I would have estimated full season ticket holders at closer to 4,500 based on CA tickets available for mid major games individually.

Probably with msg plans. You have been around a very long time. Would be much fairer to give 500-1000 points per season than 100

 

[IDRAFT]

Probably with msg plans. You have been around a very long time. Would be much fairer to give 500-1000 points per season than 100

100 is just not much per year but it is what it is for all of us. If allotment for BE is only 800 that is rough, but believable with eleven teams.

Any other sport that I have ever had tickets for always put full season ticket holders ahead of planholders (and I have been both over the years in multiple sports) for postseason but I also guess the way points are being calculated that isn’t even the case with SJU.

 

[IDRAFT]

Also have to wonder if UConn wins tonight at Marquette, and it's looking like they'll have the 3 seed, if UConn fans who may have bought tickets to the Thursday early session in advance will end up selling their tickets and create downward price pressure. As of right now, the evening session has been much cheaper.

I am hoping very a bunch of reasons that they end up in that evening session.

 

[carmineabbatiello]

321 for the quarters.

 

[sjc88]

Also have to wonder if UConn wins tonight at Marquette, and it's looking like they'll have the 3 seed, if UConn fans who may have bought tickets to the Thursday early session in advance will end up selling their tickets and create downward price pressure. As of right now, the evening session has been much cheaper.

Just fyi game tonight is in the Yukon.

 

[Section3]

119

 

[Beasts of the East]

100 is just not much per year but it is what it is for all of us. If allotment for BE is only 800 that is rough, but believable with eleven teams.

Any other sport that I have ever had tickets for always put full season ticket holders ahead of planholders (and I have been both over the years in multiple sports) for postseason but I also guess the way points are being calculated that isn’t even the case with SJU.

I completely understand and share your frustration. College sports are a very different animal than professional sports, although there are many similarities.

Professional teams can only do so much to gain your loyalty (and $$). Winning generates interest and revenue (tickets, licensed products, tv, ads) but not donations.

For colleges winning gains loyalty but also generates donations. A college's interest in their alumni are directly related to giving. There is only so much a university can do to gain alumni loyalty (vis a vis giving). One is stewardship, where a donor supports an aspect of the university the donor believes in (scholsrship, capitsl improvements). The benefits to a donor aren't tangible. Volunteer positions of responsibility are another (trustees, various board memberships, etc.) are usually appointed based on giving. Prime tickets to sporting events always related to capacity to give beyond the price of a ticket.

We try not to think about it as fans, but it is ever present. We follow basketball and mostly do it for love of the game and the endorphin rush that comes with winning. Competing and winning is largely a male thing - it's in our survivsl DNA. But at the heart of university investment in winning teams is how it affects enrollment and donations.

Most of us here loyslly followed this program for decades. But it's also true that precious few have care enough about post season tournaments like BET and NCAA that those tickets before last season were easy to come by. So we cry victim, but we are nearly as guilty as those donors who had low interest in our teams until we begin winning.

Cruel way of the world. I try not to think of the realities.

 

[IDRAFT]

Won’t quote you Beast, just for thread brevity, but absolutely agree college sports is unique in how it can be used to leverage many additional revenue opportunities for the school. And pro or college, leveraging for every last dime is how it goes.

No issue with me - I am a capitalist. As long as I consider my invoice from SJU a fair value I’m in, if it crosses my personal threshold I will be out.

As for BE tournament tickets no complaints from me because I made the cut. I don’t think it’s a great look that the distribution was done at a time that the school cannot verify anyone’s point totals, but for all I know that helped me!

 

[Andrew]

For those of us without season tickets or access to tickets through the school, what's the best strategy to get a decent price? Wait until right before the game when prices start to plunge?

Since it is an afternoon game probably worth waiting especially if you don’t mind where you sit. Some tickets may become available after Wednesday. Some UCONN fans may start selling now assuming that they will beat Seton Hall Saturday. Otherwise more will become available after the Seton Hall game. Obviously likely losing UCONN from the afternoon session is a big help.

If both UCONN and we win in the Quarterfinals, Friday will be a very expensive ticket.

If we play UCONN in the Finals that will be a hot ticket. If we play Marquette it could be cheaper than the semis.