Sat MSG Home Court

[Wolv RU]

It’s not surprising at all. Michigan fans expect to destroy us in every sport, every time, no questions asked. My friends, despite knowing how well we’re playing this year (We were all watching the RU game together last night during dart league), and despite what huge Michigan alumni athletic supporters they are, still have that attitude towards us as such.They try hard not to, it’s kinda funny, but it’s just ingrained in their mindset.

You are so far off on this one. You must only talk to about the five Michigan fans that pay zero attention to their sports, and the Big Ten. Either that or these people are just pulling your chain. Read any Michigan based fan site or media and you shall see the diminished expectations (which is objectively obvious to anyone) of the Michigan basketball team this year. Any Michigan fan knows what they lost from last year's team and who is injured and now suspended.

The Michigan attendance for this game will be very muted as compared to, for example, the Big Ten Tournament at MSG when Michigan was in the final game.

 

[RU to the Core]

There has to be 100k more Rutgers alumni in the north jersey New York area than Michigan. Plus jersey pride casual fans is now also big because we are good. I say we have 60 percent to their 40 percent.

 

[Wolv RU]

I still cant get over people thinking they'd be allowed back in if they left.

Why? The Big Ten did this with both hockey and basketball in other years and games were at noon and 8. They allowed fans to enter twice (events were separately ticketed). There is no reason these events could not also have been separately ticketed.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

You are so far off on this one..

No, I’m not, Remember I’m not talking about Michigan fans on a Michigan site I’m talking about Michigan alumni, and huge fans, from New Jersey. They have the typical “Michigan can’t possibly lose to Rutgers in any sport” attitude.

No offense my friend but I think I know my friends a little better than you do lol [cheers]

 

[S_Janowski]

You've criticized Rutgers' promotion of this game a few times. First, why should Rutgers promote this game more when they make nothing off of it. They are correct to promote games at the RAC more. Most of them weren't sell outs until the last few days. Look at the outrageous service fees MSG charges even. What is Rutgers' cut of those?

Second, Rutgers has promoted it plenty. It's 2020. Much promotion is done on social media, and they have talked about the game plenty on there.

I think your criticism is misplaced.

Ummm because this could easily be an extra home game for us if we take over MSG.

Because Rutgers always pumps up being NYC’s team.

Because this team is having its best season in over 40 years and encouraging fans and alumni to go to this game would help keep the momentum going and maybe even encourage people to buy season tickets next year.

I follow basically every Rutgers Athletics and sports social media account and they have not really promoted this game. Richie just confirmed he agreed with me.

I find it a missed opportunity that the AD hasn’t pumped this game up at all to the average fan. I don’t think that’s misplaced.

 

[richthedentist]

Last year? Has absolutely nothing to do with this year. Silly comparison. I’ll take into account the fact that two of my good friends, whom I was with last night throwing darts, or Michigan alumni and huge Michigan football and basketball fans and have absolutely zero interest in going on Saturday because they still think this is going to be an easy win for the Wolverines. Think about that: I live in freaking Hoboken and they don’t want to spend $35 to go see their alma mater play basketball cross the river.

Think more about it that they think its going to be an easy win for Michigan; That's probably why they don't want to go because they can't admit that Rutgers is going to beat them and they don't want to bear witness to that

 

[Scangg]

A month ago, i thought 60/40 or 65/35 michigan. Now im thinking 50/50 with a chance of us even having an advantage in numbers

2-1 is absurd haha. Dude were you at Rutgers Wisconsin at the garden? It was easily 80-20 in favor of Wiscy and they don't have nearly the alum base in NYC as UM. If there's EASILY more RU fans in the building than UM fans color me very shocked

Kyk maybe the Rutgers Michigan NIT finals at MSG was before your time but it was like 90/10 Rutgers. Zero chance Rutgers isn't the dominate fan base here. Plenty of Rutgers grads in the city who are too lazy to take the train to New Brunswick

 

[Wolv RU]

No, I’m not, Remember I’m not talking about Michigan fans on a Michigan site I’m talking about Michigan alumni, and huge fans, from New Jersey. They have the typical “Michigan can’t possibly lose to Rutgers in any sport” attitude.

No offense my friend but I think I know my friends a little better than you do lol [cheers]

You do know your friends. But I guess you just happen to be friends with Rutgers Al of Michigan. You appeared to be representing your small anecdotal sample as something representative (otherwise, why bring it up) when clearly it is not.

 

[Terry_2426]

Why? The Big Ten did this with both hockey and basketball in other years and games were at noon and 8. They allowed fans to enter twice (events were separately ticketed). There is no reason these events could not also have been separately ticketed.

Without making the games hours apart there's no way to separately ticket the events. 1 and 4:30pm with one admission is much more fan friendly then 1pm and 7 or 8pm with two separate admissions

 

[Wolv RU]

Ummm because this could easily be an extra home game for us if we take over MSG.

Because Rutgers always pumps up being NYC’s team.

Because this team is having its best season in over 40 years and encouraging fans and alumni to go to this game would help keep the momentum going and maybe even encourage people to buy season tickets next year.

I follow basically every Rutgers Athletics and sports social media account and they have not really promoted this game. Richie just confirmed he agreed with me.

I find it a missed opportunity that the AD hasn’t pumped this game up at all to the average fan. I don’t think that’s misplaced.

Sorry, if you think they should be promoting a game to make MSG and Ticketmaster money more than promoting games at the RAC, I just disagree. There is only so much promotional bandwidth, and they have given an appropriate amount to this event. This will likely be evidenced by the strong Rutgers crowd there on Saturday.

 

[Terry_2426]

Ummm because this could easily be an extra home game for us if we take over MSG.

Because Rutgers always pumps up being NYC’s team.

Because this team is having its best season in over 40 years and encouraging fans and alumni to go to this game would help keep the momentum going and maybe even encourage people to buy season tickets next year.

I follow basically every Rutgers Athletics and sports social media account and they have not really promoted this game. Richie just confirmed he agreed with me.

I find it a missed opportunity that the AD hasn’t pumped this game up at all to the average fan. I don’t think that’s misplaced.

The thing is, it's probably more valuable within the athletic department to worry about the real home games first. Selling out the RAC gets them more revenue, and they can call all of those people for season tickets next year.

A huge crowd at MSG doesn't have the same short-term impact within the athletic department, especially if they're getting no money on the sales at MSG and not getting the contact info of everyone who bought tickets. I wish they would have really pushed MSG a week ago when the #24 ranking happened and when it started to appear the RAC would sell out for every remaining home game, but I completely get not pushing this game in December/1st half of January.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

You do know your friends. But I guess you just happen to be friends with Rutgers Al of Michigan. You appeared to be representing your small anecdotal sample as something representative (otherwise, why bring it up) when clearly it is not.

To be quite hones I have yet to meet a Michigan fan in my lifetime who did not think that way about RU sports. Sorry if you don’t agree or if you’ve had different experiences. Yes, quite obviously, I’m speaking from my experiences ha ha, In particular this time however regarding two good friends of mine.

 

[ScarletKid2008]

The reality is still this ... casual fans (those not on this board and are not season ticket holders) very very few of them are making a trip into NYC to see RU basketball at this point UNLESS they are invited as part of the "active fans" group. I got a group of 16 to make the trip of which only 4 of them have been to any games at all in the RAC. You pitch it your group of friends as a fun day in the city with a pregame and its a "special event".

So what I'm saying is .. the people on this board need to be the mouth pieces to help drive additional RU fans there. Traditional marketing by RU would only be effective for semi-engaged RU alumn who live in midtown NYC (very small group).

 

[Wolv RU]

Without making the games hours apart there's no way to separately ticket the events. 1 and 4:30pm with one admission is much more fan friendly then 1pm and 7 or 8pm with two separate admissions

Two hours in between would have been more than enough time to separately ticket. There are also ways that many arenas and events allow reentry in certain instances -- though that would take planning not normally done by MSG.

In the past, Big Ten schools have held their alumni events in between the two events. It's not like there's a shortage of things to do during that time.

 

[Terry_2426]

Two hours in between would have been more than enough time to separately ticket. There are also ways that many arenas and events allow reentry in certain instances -- though that would take planning not normally done by MSG.

In the past, Big Ten schools have held their alumni events in between the two events. It's not like there's a shortage of things to do during that time.

There's not two hours in between in this situation though. Wrestling goes from 1-3pm and basketball starts at 4:30pm. That's only 30 minutes of arena "dark time" before needing to clear/clean/re-open the building, making double admission impossible in that situation.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

Oh and don’t even get me started on the level of arrogant douche bag every Michigan fan who sat around me in Madison Square Garden 2004, or at home football games, has been. Give me a break.

 

[Wolv RU]

I have yet to meet a Michigan fan in my lifetim who who did not think that way about RU sports. Sorry if you don’t agree or if you’ve had different experiences. Yes, quite obviously, I’m speaking from my experiences ha ha

They do typically "think that way" about Rutgers sports. Because, news flash, everyone typically does. Even Rutgers people. That's what we're all hoping will change with results, right? This year though, the results are more than there in men's basketball and it's been a national story already. Only people very unattached to college basketball don't realize this (the same people unlikely to be interested in attending games anyway).

Less of a national story, but still a very big one for Michigan, is that Michigan has struggled in January tremendously. They were alone in 12th place in the Big Ten heading into last night!

Michigan basketball has had it's own ups and downs (up over the last ten years and horribly down for the ten before that), and I'm just pointing that people that follow Michigan sports don't realize this isn't the best year and that Rutgers is having an excellent year. If one turns on BTN for about five minutes they'd realize this. I don't think saying "my three friends in Hoboken told me Rutgers sucks!" is representative.

 

[AshCatchEm]

Kyk maybe the Rutgers Michigan NIT finals at MSG was before your time but it was like 90/10 Rutgers. Zero chance Rutgers isn't the dominate fan base here. Plenty of Rutgers grads in the city who are too lazy to take the train to New Brunswick

They're too lazy to take the subway to msg too. Our North Jersey/NYC fans are awful (if anyone has a problem with what I'm saying, prove me wrong and pack msg)

 

[S_Janowski]

Sorry, if you think they should be promoting a game to make MSG and Ticketmaster money more than promoting games at the RAC, I just disagree. There is only so much promotional bandwidth, and they have given an appropriate amount to this event. This will likely be evidenced by the strong Rutgers crowd there on Saturday.

I never said they should be promoting it “more” than RAC events. Also, you act like MSG and Ticket master is competition to Rutgers Athletics.

And Bandwith? I’m talking about some simple tweets, IG posts and email blasts. Didn’t realize there’s Bandwith on social media posts. Or maybe a 10-15 second reminder by the PA announcer at the conclusion of a home game.

Other than the emails to season ticket holders earlier this year to buy tix and the email that came through this morning which included a link to this game there hasn’t really been any promotion so you’re making that up...otherwise show me where.

The average alumni and fan aren’t like the hardcore fans and don’t pay attention to things like this. I’m just saying some simple tweets and posts to the tens of thousands of followers on social media could go a long way to getting a few more thousand fans wearing red to the game. What’s so wrong about that.

 

[koleszar]

Small sample size, but my wife is a Michigan alum and has around 20 friends who live in NJ or NYC. She told me only two are going.

Another sample size. I now have 14 close friends I didn't know I had. As the wife and I are season ticket holders and asked if they could join us to Super Saturday and they ain't no Meechigan fans.

 

[Wolv RU]

I never said they should be promoting it “more” than RAC events. Also, you act like MSG and Ticket master is competition to Rutgers Athletics.

And Bandwith? I’m talking about some simple tweets, IG posts and email blasts. Didn’t realize there’s Bandwith on social media posts. Or maybe a 10-15 second reminder by the PA announcer at the conclusion of a home game.

Other than the emails to season ticket holders earlier this year to buy tix and the email that came through this morning which included a link to this game there hasn’t really been any promotion so you’re making that up...otherwise show me where.

The average alumni and fan aren’t like the hardcore fans and don’t pay attention to things like this. I’m just saying some simple tweets and posts to the tens of thousands of followers on social media could go a long way to getting a few more thousand fans wearing red to the game. What’s so wrong about that.

Yes there is bandwidth to the amount of things that can grab people's attention. I think too often there is a knee-jerk reaction to criticize Rutgers marketing and messaging. There is plenty of room for criticism, but I just don't think this event is one of those instances. I believe there will be a strong Rutgers crowd in the building on Saturday which will illustrate this -- and feel it likely not worth the incremental effort to push it more.

 

[S_Janowski]

Yes there is bandwidth to the amount of things that can grab people's attention. I think too often there is a knee-jerk reaction to criticize Rutgers marketing and messaging. There is plenty of room for criticism, but I just don't think this event is one of those instances. I believe there will be a strong Rutgers crowd in the building on Saturday which will illustrate this -- and feel it likely not worth the incremental effort to push it more.

Yes there will be a strong RU crowd. It could be even stronger. I have friends who follow Athletics casually and didn’t know we were playing Michigan at MSG.

Your bandwith point is comical. I’m talking about Twitter and Instagram...these RU accounts put out probably 10-20 posts a day.

Agree to disagree. Let’s just hope we see a win Saturday.

 

[BigRnj]

This thread makes my eyes hurt. But the bickering is entertaining at the same time. My thought is children can’t we just get along. Oh and FUM! :Rutgers GO RU!

 

[RU-ROCS]

A month ago you were wrong and you're still wrong. I've been saying easily more RU fans and guessing that it'll be close to 2:1 RU to UM fans.

I hope you're right, but I think you are underestimating UM's NYC alumni presence.

 

[hiwater]

You've criticized Rutgers' promotion of this game a few times. First, why should Rutgers promote this game more when they make nothing off of it. They are correct to promote games at the RAC more. Most of them weren't sell outs until the last few days. Look at the outrageous service fees MSG charges even. What is Rutgers' cut of those?

Second, Rutgers has promoted it plenty. It's 2020. Much promotion is done on social media, and they have talked about the game plenty on there.

I think your criticism is misplaced.

It is hard for me to understand how anyone could ask what RU could gain from promoting this game to our fans if we aren't making money on it.

Just the support and energy that a friendly fan base can give to it's team should be evident enough. RU winning and becoming an NCAA team is worth so much more than the money that we are not getting for playing at MSG. Caring about not making money off this event is so "we will not promote supporting our team", is like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I hope you're right, but I think you are underestimating UM's NYC alumni presence.

Riddle me this: why were ticket sales very slow until the past 30-45 days? This is a UM "home game," with plenty of alumni in the NYC area, so why wasn't that lower level more than half-filled by then? Why have ticket sales surged the past 30-45 days? Why are sections being added the past week or so?

meTHINKS it's not due to UM's alumni base in NYC...90% sure it's OUR fans...we shall find out soon enough!

 

[rubigtimenow]

I haven't gambled in over 20 years but would come out of retirement for the easiest bet ever: I guarantee more RU fans will be there than M. Kyk you're more wrong on this than you were on Caleb being a bad recruit after his 4th game (and you were obviously very wrong on that). Some people just young enough to not realize how much the garden is a home away from home if we're good and the game is close. Def moref RU fans there Saturday and 75/25 pretty realistic.

 

[S_Janowski]

It is hard for me to understand how anyone could ask what RU could gain from promoting this game to our fans if we aren't making money on it.

Just the support and energy that a friendly fan base can give to it's team should be evident enough. RU winning and becoming an NCAA team is worth so much more than the money that we are not getting for playing at MSG. Caring about not making money off this event is so "we will not promote supporting our team", is like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Nice way of summarizing the main point I was trying to get across.

 

[S_Janowski]

Riddle me this: why were ticket sales very slow until the past 30-45 days? This is a UM "home game," with plenty of alumni in the NYC area, so why wasn't that lower level more than half-filled by then? Why have ticket sales surged the past 30-45 days? Why are sections being added the past week or so?

meTHINKS it's not due to UM's alumni base in NYC...90% sure it's OUR fans...we shall find out soon enough!

Even more sections were just added. The top level is going to be very red.

 

[ScarletKid2008]

I was dissapointed by RU's showing in the Garden a few years back vs Wisc. I definitely would not say it was 80/20 Wisc fans. But probably more like 70/30 or 65/35.

For the Big Ten tournament .. again I would've hoped for a bigger turnout of RU fans but those that did go were super passionate and made a difference. I thought we represented with good numbers for those few games.

This coming Sat I feel like is a big test for the fan base and a statement to the league that should be made. If RU is even respectable, they're going to get a ton of support in NJ/NYC/Philly. We need to stake a claim to this area and dominate it as home base. And not let that ugly blue team from PA feel like they have a say in it.

 

[soundcrib]

The Garden has recognized the demand for this game and is now "practically" opening up the entire arena. Let's get more people wearing red shirts to buy tickets!

 

[RU-ROCS]

Riddle me this: why were ticket sales very slow until the past 30-45 days? This is a UM "home game," with plenty of alumni in the NYC area, so why wasn't that lower level more than half-filled by then? Why have ticket sales surged the past 30-45 days? Why are sections being added the past week or so?

meTHINKS it's not due to UM's alumni base in NYC...90% sure it's OUR fans...we shall find out soon enough!

I suspect that a substantial majority of the lower bowl will be UM, as they bought tickets at the outset because it's there home game. I agree that the late surge of tickets in the recently opened upper decks will be overwhelmingly RU. I'm just not sure it will be enough to make it 50/50 or more. But, don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for you to be right on this one!

 

[AreYouNUTS]

I suspect that a substantial majority of the lower bowl will be UM, as they bought tickets at the outset because it's there home game. I agree that the late surge of tickets in the recently opened upper decks will be overwhelmingly RU. I'm just not sure it will be enough to make it 50/50 or more. But, don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for you to be right on this one!

Just posted in the other thread: plenty of tickets NOT in the allotted RU sections (107-114, apparently) were purchased by RU fans (our group included).

 

[Rutgers25]

I suspect that a substantial majority of the lower bowl will be UM, as they bought tickets at the outset because it's there home game. I agree that the late surge of tickets in the recently opened upper decks will be overwhelmingly RU. I'm just not sure it will be enough to make it 50/50 or more. But, don't get me wrong, I'm rooting for you to be right on this one!

RU was allotted basically half the lower bowl.

I think our half will be mostly red...

 

[PiscatawayMike]

Looks like RU just sent out an email blast promoting the doubleheader at MSG with a direct link to buy on TM

A lot more seats are now available for purchase...
https://www1.ticketmaster.com/big-t...ing-college-basketball/event/3B005755DCFA2421

 

[Wolv RU]

It is hard for me to understand how anyone could ask what RU could gain from promoting this game to our fans if we aren't making money on it.

Just the support and energy that a friendly fan base can give to it's team should be evident enough. RU winning and becoming an NCAA team is worth so much more than the money that we are not getting for playing at MSG. Caring about not making money off this event is so "we will not promote supporting our team", is like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

It's going to be 70/30 Rutgers at least. Not sure what else this apparent lack of promotion would have accomplished if corrected in your view. Where is this large group of people that would go to the game but don't know about it or can't figure out how to get tickets?

I'm not a basketball season ticket holder and have received information on the game from Rutgers. Obviously they promoted it to more than just basketball season ticket holders. I think it is easy for you guys to criticize. Rutgers is certainly an easy target.

More efforts would have yielded little. If you want to tell me that the NYC Alumni Club should do more -- fine -- I'm in complete agreement there.

 

[Wolv RU]

Riddle me this: why were ticket sales very slow until the past 30-45 days? This is a UM "home game," with plenty of alumni in the NYC area, so why wasn't that lower level more than half-filled by then? Why have ticket sales surged the past 30-45 days? Why are sections being added the past week or so?

meTHINKS it's not due to UM's alumni base in NYC...90% sure it's OUR fans...we shall find out soon enough!

While we may not see eye to eye on the perception of Michigan fans for the competitiveness of Rutgers basketball this year, I agree completely with your assessment of ticket sales.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

While we may not see eye to eye on the perception of Michigan fans for the competitiveness of Rutgers basketball this year, I agree completely with your assessment of ticket sales.

lol thanks Wolv!

 

[Terry_2426]

It is hard for me to understand how anyone could ask what RU could gain from promoting this game to our fans if we aren't making money on it.

Just the support and energy that a friendly fan base can give to it's team should be evident enough. RU winning and becoming an NCAA team is worth so much more than the money that we are not getting for playing at MSG. Caring about not making money off this event is so "we will not promote supporting our team", is like cutting off your nose to spite your face.

Here's another way to look at it though: there's only so much time to promote so many things at once. If you work for Rutgers and are working in New Brunswick, you're focusing on getting all of the games in New Brunswick sold out as much as possible. Once you've accomplished this, then it's time to go all out on the MSG game.

With the way the team has been playing since the Seton Hall game, it's easy now for us to say the games at the RAC would have sold out regardless, but if RU decided to go all out on promoting the MSG game 5 weeks ago and we were seeing 500-1000 seats available at the RAC the last few games, we would be (rightly) crushing them.

 

[patk89]

To be quite hones I have yet to meet a Michigan fan in my lifetime who did not think that way about RU sports. Sorry if you don’t agree or if you’ve had different experiences. Yes, quite obviously, I’m speaking from my experiences ha ha, In particular this time however regarding two good friends of mine.

I work with an obnoxious LI Michigan fan. He disrespects RU. Thought they would never be invited to the B1G. But he follows college bb and understands that RU beating teams like Indy and Purdue means something. Sounds like your Mich fans don't follow the sport if they think Mich will blow out RU at MSG. Or they are just plain ignorant. How can they not understand that the B1G season if half over and RU is at the top of the standings? They can't be stupid, can they?