The Dome was empty...again. Where are the fans?

[LAorange44]

It has a huge impact on the amount of incoming students who apply. Obviously, the more students who apply the better it is for the school. More students, possibly more wealthy parents, more research money etc. My daughter has been on the hill for the past 7 years as an undergrad/grad student. She has relayed many times how palpable the buzz is on campus when football and basketball is doing well. How Dino often came into the Schine and got all the kids fired up. She sees very little of this anymore. We were a top ten basketball program for almost 40 years. Only way for a chance to bring that back is to win. Successful athletics are a huge part of the financial and academic picture at Syracuse.

Kids Are Giving Up on Elite Colleges—and Heading South

‘Even if I could’ve gotten into Harvard, I wouldn’t have gone.’

www.thefp.com

Interesting article about highly qualified northeastern students ditching ivies for warmer state schools in the south in part due to sports, among other factors, including costs, politics, weather, etc. Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Miami. Sports are a priority at these institutions and they are attracting highly qualified students because they have the whole package. Publisher seems politically motivated and biased but it’s a data point. I do believe these schools are attracting more students because of good sports. We saw a big bump after 2003

 

[CuseBlood44]

Three years is reasonable for Red. It's obvious it won't work and the fans have spoken. Need someone that can inspire the fanbase again.

He should’ve never been the hire though. Why promote someone who oversaw the downfall of the program, and if you do then why was it red over Gerry who the fans wanted more

 

[CuseFaninVT]

Kids Are Giving Up on Elite Colleges—and Heading South

‘Even if I could’ve gotten into Harvard, I wouldn’t have gone.’

www.thefp.com

Interesting article about highly qualified northeastern students ditching ivies for warmer state schools in the south in part due to sports, among other factors, including costs, politics, weather, etc. Clemson, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, Miami. Sports are a priority at these institutions and they are attracting highly qualified students because they have the whole package. Publisher seems politically motivated and biased but it’s a data point. I do believe these schools are attracting more students because of good sports. We saw a big bump after 2003

We’ve seen many kids from our little town in Vermont heading to USC (the OG one), Bama, and Ole Miss.

 

[Cusefan78]

This is a really good point, if we were as poor as some claimed you likely don't do a 150M+ renovation. Attendance definitely wasn't being limited by the setup of the dome.

The dome remodel was done on the cheap. They did what they had to do and barely anything else. Colleges are spending big money while Syracuse like always is penny pinching while growing their endowment.

 

[Brooky03]

The dome remodel was done on the cheap. They did what they had to do and barely anything else. Colleges are spending big money while Syracuse like always is penny pinching while growing their endowment.

They built an entirely new roof…

 

[Blanko97]

The dome remodel was done on the cheap. They did what they had to do and barely anything else. Colleges are spending big money while Syracuse like always is penny pinching while growing their endowment.

But why do anything at all? And they’re certainly not penny pinching while they purchase half the hill

 

[cusefan88]

The dome remodel was done on the cheap. They did what they had to do and barely anything else. Colleges are spending big money while Syracuse like always is penny pinching while growing their endowment.

It was over $150m what are you smoking. It was not cheap. What did they NOT do that you wanted?

 

[RedtheGOB]

But why do anything at all? And they’re certainly not penny pinching while they purchase half the hill

ROI on real estate and upping tuition 10% is a sure thing for making money for SU.

Now look at the SEC, in my opinion firstly they say what do I need to to do win games and keep my fanbase happy. In many cases the entire state is the fanbase not just alums, and those fans vote for who is going to fix their football program or basketball program just as much as anything else political. If the school loses, heads roll and quickly regardless of $'s. I think some SEC and and BIG schools you would almost say they are gambling sometimes instead of running a sports program.

For SU ROI on paying more for the sports programs is not a sure thing. So they are investing for sure but yea it's just different. Yes they want to win and they're willing to spend, but that's every program. imo we are slower and more methodical.

 

[Blanko97]

ROI on real estate and upping tuition 10% is a sure thing for making money for SU.

Now look at the SEC, in my opinion firstly they say what do I need to to do win games and keep my fanbase happy. In many cases the entire state is the fanbase not just alums, and those fans vote for who is going to fix their football program or basketball program just as much as anything else political. If the school loses, heads roll and quickly regardless of $'s. I think some SEC and and BIG schools you would almost say they are gambling sometimes instead of running a sports program.

For SU ROI on paying more for the sports programs is not a sure thing. So they are investing for sure but yea it's just different. Yes they want to win and they're willing to spend, but that's every program. imo we are slower and more methodical.

Theres chasing a potential ROI and then there’s saddling yourself with guaranteed losses. Refusal to invest in your breakeven sports to the detriment of your own budget sounds like a far more sure thing than any cash flow you might see from the comstock and euclid real estate

 

[FrancoPizza]

They built an entirely new roof…

It was either that or turn off the lights in the dome. You must think we're pretty naive to peddle that narrative.

 

[orange79]

It was over $150m what are you smoking. It was not cheap. What did they NOT do that you wanted?

Actual roller coaster on the roof.

 

[Blanko97]

It was over $150m what are you smoking. It was not cheap. What did they NOT do that you wanted?

retractable roof

 

[cusefan88]

retractable roof

I know you're joking but on a serious sidenote those are some of the stupidest additions to stadiums and completely unnecessary additive cost.

 

[CuseCactus]

You couldn’t pay me to go to a hoops game in the Dome at this point. I can think of 100 things more enjoyable. Big empty morgue. Not acceptable.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

FT shooting is bad enough. You really want the roof open during games?

 

[Cusefan78]

It was over $150m what are you smoking. It was not cheap. What did they NOT do that you wanted?

They HAD to do a roof. The rest isjust lipstick

 

[sufan59]

They HAD to do a roof. The rest isjust lipstick

One of the only college stadiums with 100% seats.

 

[kirbivore]

I hear you but we still had a shot for the season goal this year (NCAA tournament) going into this game and we knew Hofstra was sneaky good and this was probably going to be a tight game and nobody showed.

the problem is nobody outside of the hard cores know this

 

[Bulldog04]

A big factor for lack of attendance too is the ability to watch every game on tv now. Before streaming and apps, you needed to go to the game to see it or you weren’t seeing it at all for a lot of these types of games. Now throw in that no one is really enjoying what they are seeing, why go? I go as much as I can, but last night was perfect example of having things to get done at home and being able to turn on the game and save myself 3 hours and hassle of getting up there.

Attendance would have been good for first conference home game if they kept winning all these games that they should have won. But they didn’t. A tale as old as time where SU loses a game and loses all momentum. It’s an easy formula to figure out why people aren’t going

 

[JimBoston]

There is no reason to believe that Syracuse basketball won't be back. The Dome and the fanbase are a huge asset, but the AD has to make the decision that Red is not the right guy to be the coach. There has to be a national search for a successful coach and GMac does not have the resume yet to be considered.

 

[FrancoPizza]

There is no reason to believe that Syracuse basketball won't be back.

Agreed, but the ceiling for fan engagement and attendance is dropping every year this portal/NIL culture drags on unregulated.

 

[cuseinseattle]

There is no reason to believe that Syracuse basketball won't be back. The Dome and the fanbase are a huge asset, but the AD has to make the decision that Red is not the right guy to be the coach. There has to be a national search for a successful coach and GMac does not have the resume yet to be considered.

All of these things will happen in a few months. Red is not coming back.

 

[hoopsupstate]

Lack of attendance may play a bigger role in making a change than what we see on the floor. They now have to revenue share $20.5 million and that has to come from somewhere. Attendance is killing revenue in basketball AND football.

 

[ar inj]

It was over $150m what are you smoking. It was not cheap. What did they NOT do that you wanted?

How about a comfortable seat? Preferred the benches.

 

[JimBoston]

Lack of attendance may play a bigger role in making a change than what we see on the floor. They now have to revenue share $20.5 million and that has to come from somewhere. Attendance is killing revenue in basketball AND football.

Both Autry and Brown were high risk coaching hires as neither was an experienced head coach. Autry is in year 3 and we have enough data to make a decision. Brown had a great year 1 and a bad year 2 so the jury is still out. The next coaches hired at Syracuse need to be proven winners.