Should ISU bring back Midnight Madness?

[Kosor77]

I've heard that back in the day ISU basketball teams would hold midnight madness for the first practice of the season. I think this would be a great idea considering that we will be having the biggest freshman class coming in the fall and it seems that school pride is starting to come back on campus. I think it'll be beneficial to the team, the fans and students. :sycamores:

 

[Sackalot]

don't the women's (& men's sometimes) basketball do this every year outside Hulman Center and then go inside for practice? In the parking lot between the Terminal and Hulman Center? If not, when did they stop, I remember there being well over 500 people in that parking lot for several years in the early 2000s

 

[4Q_iu]

don't the women's (& men's sometimes) basketball do this every year outside Hulman Center and then go inside for practice? In the parking lot between the Terminal and Hulman Center? If not, when did they stop, I remember there being well over 500 people in that parking lot for several years in the early 2000s

They do (or did) but I think it's earlier in the day/evening -- better for the kiddos and families

 

[BlueSycamore]

Nope..................all of a dozen students "might" show up. Too late for us older folks.

 

[IndyTreeFan]

They did that when I was in school (late 80's). Packed the arena with students, and the teams then were far worse than the teams today!!! It was great - the coach talked for a little bit about the team, about how important it is for the students to show up, and then they scrimmaged and did a slam dunk contest! I stood in line outside the arena for a couple of hours just to get in!!! It was a lot of fun!

 

[Little Eddie]

I've heard that back in the day ISU basketball teams would hold midnight madness for the first practice of the season. I think this would be a great idea considering that we will be having the biggest freshman class coming in the fall and it seems that school pride is starting to come back on campus. I think it'll be beneficial to the team, the fans and students. :sycamores:

Devils advocate here...but why would there suddenly be an influx of people wanting to attend a midnight madness? Even if you got the size of a "normal" Hulman crowd would it be considered a success? I would contend that it would not be a success if normal sized game crowd showed for a Midnight Madness event.

From someone that was once close to the program and have followed Cu closely, I agree w/ the approach of getting right down to business w/ practices. It's not as though the team has a ton of time to prepare for the season. Also, they'll be learning a different system under Greg. Just my opinion...I think you need a bigger school w/ solid attendance numbers to make this a fun event.

 

[bent20]

I like what they've been doing by inviting the public to a well publicized practice. If the students want a midnight madness they have to prove themselves worthy of the effort by supporting the program in larger numbers.

 

[xfactor9600]

Many schools now do something during the day to make it a more family friendly environment. However, I do think the first year back of midnight madness might see a bump (because of the novelty). If the team were to take that momentum and have a good season, I could see picking up some more students in the arena.

 

[Sackalot]

I like the idea and it obviously works well at many other schools, but I just don't see it working well at ISU right now. In the future, maybe. Right now the "event" in the parking lot at around 5 Pm or so followed by practices of the womens and mens team are pretty good events, well attended. I know that I had a great time at the 4 that I went to while working at ISU.
The real issue is getting students to the games...having a midnight madness isn't going to increase student attendance from my perspective. Creating an "incentive program" is what will do that...as we have discussed multiple times.

 

[4Q_iu]

...Creating an "incentive program" is what will do that...as we have discussed multiple times.

Wins = incentive program
Hard-nosed, gritty play = incentive program
Good character players = incentive program

 

[Little Eddie]

I like the idea and it obviously works well at many other schools, but I just don't see it working well at ISU right now. In the future, maybe. Right now the "event" in the parking lot at around 5 Pm or so followed by practices of the womens and mens team are pretty good events, well attended. I know that I had a great time at the 4 that I went to while working at ISU.
The real issue is getting students to the games...having a midnight madness isn't going to increase student attendance from my perspective. Creating an "incentive program" is what will do that...as we have discussed multiple times.

I'd agree w/ the first part of this for sure...while I believe getting down to business, ie getting right at serious practices and not dunk contest shows, is what's best for a team in the Valley, a midnight madness event could work in time if things continued to progress these next couple years. Do any of the other Valley teams even do one? I know CU doesn't and I'm not sure how Greg McD feels about them yet...haven't heard. I don't think the Shockers do it either but I could be wrong...those are the two highest attendance teams.

 

[Jason Svoboda]

Wins = incentive program
Hard-nosed, gritty play = incentive program
Good character players = incentive program

People keep saying this sort of thing, but it's just not true. When we were winning under Royce, the place still had tons of empty seats... I know, I was there damn near every home game. The bottom line is there are a ton of entertainment options, even in little ole Terre Haute, that Sycamore athletics have to compete with.

If you look at consumer loyalty, I'd say incentive programs have been a big part of that. I pretty much buy gas exclusively at Speedway because of their points program. Hell, I've passed 3-4 gas stations needing gas to find the Speedway so I could get my points because I know I'll get to take my family out for a free dinner twice a year on them.

The worst thing they could do is try to have an incentive program and it fail. The best case scenario is they get a new segment of fans into the door and get them hooked. Additionally, I'd imagine you could do something like this on the cheap if they have someone that can land some sponsors -- I'd imagine Wal-Mart would have no problem donating some video game systems and iPods to have their name in programs, on signage and mentioned at the game.

 

[IndyTreeFan]

Just to clarify my comments about the Midnight Madness when I was in school, they were actually held in the Arena, and were for students only. I suppose that "regular" fans could come, but it was an event designed specifically for students, and we did get many there, probably around 2,000. It was a festive night, a lot of fun, and really helped bond the team and students. It wouldn't have worked in Hulman Center, and thankfully Coach Locke was smart enough not to try and have it there. The Arena worked nicely because it was across the street from virtually all the dorms. Don't know if they could do that today since they've removed all the possible seating from the Arena.

It was a great fan experience, and felt like a "real" college. I think if they could find a way to replicate that, it would be a good thing. Of course, if you don't pay them, students today might not show up...

 

[4Q_iu]

People keep saying this sort of thing, but it's just not true. When we were winning under Royce, the place still had tons of empty seats... I know, I was there damn near every home game. The bottom line is there are a ton of entertainment options, even in little ole Terre Haute, that Sycamore athletics have to compete with.

If you look at consumer loyalty, I'd say incentive programs have been a big part of that. I pretty much buy gas exclusively at Speedway because of their points program. Hell, I've passed 3-4 gas stations needing gas to find the Speedway so I could get my points because I know I'll get to take my family out for a free dinner twice a year on them.

The worst thing they could do is try to have an incentive program and it fail. The best case scenario is they get a new segment of fans into the door and get them hooked. Additionally, I'd imagine you could do something like this on the cheap if they have someone that can land some sponsors -- I'd imagine Wal-Mart would have no problem donating some video game systems and iPods to have their name in programs, on signage and mentioned at the game.

They won for 4 years during Royce's 11 years; injuries and talent depth played a big part of not winning the other 7.

Joe Tiller had a great line about his boilers losing recruits to Michigan -- Michigan had been to 29 CONSECUTIVE bowls. Winning counts. I won't discount the incentive idea because (ideally, hopefully) it will bring more fans in the door but once they're in the door, you have to win, you have to entertain them AND the staff cannot treat the customers like crap (regardless of they are 'seat improvers' or not)

I too am brand loyal (for somethings) -- I've always used Schick razors, like them so much, I 'bought the company' Not all of it...

If Speedway gas was crap and your car spent more time in the shop than on the road, would you still buy it knowing that for every 5 fill-ups, you would spend a week without it?

Hook em with the incentive but if you can't get into the boat and eventually your wall or table; it doesn't matter.

 

[Sackalot]

Indytreefan-so it was more like a "peep rally"? Just so I can wrap my head around what you are saying.

4Q-virtually every school that wins...still has an incentive program of some kind. UT-Austin is the big example. They win at most sports, most of the time and they have a comprehensive incentive program for the students. My point is that regardless of winning, there should be an incentive program to help build the "excitment" of getting students to the games and even local fans if it could be figured out how to do that.
Winning will bring people, that cannot be disputed. But if winning were the only thing that brought fans to games, then how can it be explained that Univ. of South Carolina Game cocks lost every game in 1999, but still sold out every game in 2000? (and I realize that there is a culture that has been established for years and years at SC). South Carolina has never consistently won...they are a good school with decent teams, but they have never lite up the win column...but they sell out every game.
ISU can get to that point if they start it off by creating a meaningful and exciting incentive program, first with student organizations and then move on to individual students. For example, have every Greek member sign in at the game. Figure out the percentages of membership that are attending the games and then give a $2,500 scholarship to the chapter that has the highest percentage attend games throughout the year (for example). But also provide an incentive for the chapter that has the most members at the game each night or each week...like Boda suggested give out an Xbox or Wii or something so that there is immediate and longterm incentive for these groups to attend the games. Once that is established and going well then move on to individuals...using the "ID card swipe method" give out one semester tuition stipend to the top 3 students in attendance for the season, or something like that. That would be about what, $3500 per student that you would give that out too?
As hopeful as I am about our athletics and student attendance, I am not convinced that students will attend regularly even if we win. When I was on campus back in 2000's with Renn, Menser, etc. I was never overly impressed (maybe a game or two) with the student turnout and we were in the NCAAs twice at that point. Winning will lead to overall better attendance but I can't say that I agree that it is the "winning formula" to increase attendance. Students are not as willing to give up their time to attend a game, their is much more of a "what's in it for me?" attitude on campus (atleast from my perspective and I visit TH at least 10 times per year.

 

[Little Eddie]

Winning will bring people, that cannot be disputed. But if winning were the only thing that brought fans to games, then how can it be explained that Univ. of South Carolina Game cocks lost every game in 1999, but still sold out every game in 2000? (and I realize that there is a culture that has been established for years and years at SC). South Carolina has never consistently won...they are a good school with decent teams, but they have never lite up the win column...but they sell out every game.

I think South Carolina sells out every game because fans love the cheer, "you can't beat our cocks"...we got a lot of that over here in Omaha the past week and a half.

 

[Sackalot]

Well, they do have that. I mean the mascot is called, "Cocky"

 

[Callmedoc]

Hard-nosed, gritty play = incentive program
Good character players = incentive program

It's already been proven that students have no interest in those two things...we have had high character athletes the past 4 years and I have seen nothing but crap out of students....

 

[IndyTreeFan]

Indytreefan-so it was more like a "peep rally"? Just so I can wrap my head around what you are saying.

I'm not sure what a "peep rally" is, but just in case you're talking about a PEP rally, then yeah, that's probably pretty close. :bigsmile: It surely wasn't a practice. It was more about excitement, getting students close to the team, having fun with ISU basketball - and being at midnight. As I said, and some out there who are from my era correct me if I'm wrong, but I'd say we had a couple thousand students there. I know we stood in a long line down 5th Street to get in!!!

Locke was actually good at that sort of thing, at least when he first started. I don't know if he was after I left and things kind of fell apart.

 

[4Q_iu]

Sports attendance...

Indytreefan-so it was more like a "peep rally"? Just so I can wrap my head around what you are saying.

4Q-virtually every school that wins...still has an incentive program of some kind. UT-Austin is the big example. They win at most sports, most of the time and they have a comprehensive incentive program for the students. My point is that regardless of winning, there should be an incentive program to help build the "excitment" of getting students to the games and even local fans if it could be figured out how to do that...

at texas-austin is part of the culture; they were drawing huge crowds without an incentive program.

It's great to look at a ut-austin or south carolina but until Indiana State becomes a BCS school, I'm more interested in how a North Texas or Texas-Arlington, San Antonio gets fannies in the seats.

ut-austin has 38,000+ undergrad students; we have 8,000... anyone else see the difference?

Incentive programs can work but they're the frosting/icing on the cake... sadly, today's student's only care about the icing because they know nothing about the cake...

Incentivize it all you want -- at some point, you have to WIN cause the Hulman Center is NOTHING like Wrigley Field on a summer day.