Bye bye 118
- Thread starter jersey07080
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What is the ticket office's chances of filling this section with legitimate buyers? Is it really intended as an area for donors not getting courtside seats and recruits and their family and friends? Will be embarrassing on TV if the seats go unfilled and/or has attendees sitting on their hands.
Seats have becoem 48 loge seats. Parking food and drink are included with bar stool style seats. $2000 for the season.
There were way too many nights where 118 was half empty and quiet. Not much lost. I’m sure there were some good fans there but I’m all for adding premium seats if people are going to pay for it. Get fans with money to enjoy the experience is the best way to raise donations.
Nothing against premium seating but right behind the basket is not where the wine and cheese club should sit.
I hope they improve on the bar stools that they currently use behind the handicap section
48 you say? That’s about how many students are at most non-conference games. Put them in 118 and pack the section!
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Mr. Twister, it wasn't meant for you. Somehow the post got tagged to the basketball forum with your quote. I was trying to post several quotes at one time in a different thread on my phone... big mistake. It was intended for a response on the football forum. I've never had issues with you.
Not a fan of this at all. They’ve taken student section after student section away, however, it’s not like they show up to the games anyway, and now this? Bad business in my humble opinion.
+1
what's the plan? distract the visiting foul shot by offering a drink or hot dog?
Just more evidence of the desperation for money. Sad reality at RU
Still hate that they took away the front rows of the student section. They look so removed from the action now
Such is the plight of a program that is always picked to finish dead last.
How many "seats" were in 118 before? Does RU anticipate this new 48 seat expensive seating filling up?
Another really odd decision by the RU powers that be.
Once again making the RAC even smaller. Why would you continue to do that?
Ru should be exploring ways to increase nor decrease attendance.
Ruining significant part of the RACmosphere.
Making it less of a pit feel and easier for opposition.
Optics and visuals are going to be awful.
Why would you put high rollers behind the basket? Wait until they find out that with the new humongus advertising stanchions holding up the basket that you can not see half the court.
Plus kicking out some of the most loyal fans in the RAC that have been there for decades without a tourney bid. Now unceremoniously yanked?
All for 48 seats? Really misguided and short sighted.
Architect, if passed away, will be turning over in grave.
IMHO instead of this crappy idea just build a brand new concourse to wine and dine the high rollers and or use the silly press boxes above on the RU side for the high rollers.
Penny wise, pound foolish.
Regretable decisions attempting to generate revenue as destroying the things that make RU unique and collegiate.
Then again RU thought paying to move a home B1G game to Yankee Stadium was a good idea.
Then again RU thought that hiding the “Birthplace of College Football” in the football stadium for an electronic ribbon board was a good idea?
Does Georgia rip up the hedges for advertising?
They would not do this to Cameron Indoor, Phog Allen, Palestra. Why the RAC?
Again, all the good stuff that makes RU and the RAC unique and a great place to watch college hoops and they are messing with it.
Sadly SMH.
Once again making the RAC even smaller. Why would you continue to do that?
Ru should be exploring ways to increase nor decrease attendance.
Ruining significant part of the RACmosphere.
Making it less of a pit feel and easier for opposition.
Optics and visuals are going to be awful.
Why would you put high rollers behind the basket? Wait until they find out that with the new humongus advertising stanchions holding up the basket that you can not see half the court.
Plus kicking out some of the most loyal fans in the RAC that have been there for decades without a tourney bid. Now unceremoniously yanked?
All for 48 seats? Really misguided and short sighted.
Architect, if passed away, will be turning over in grave.
IMHO instead of this crappy idea just build a brand new concourse to wine and dine the high rollers and or use the silly press boxes above on the RU side for the high rollers.
Penny wise, pound foolish.
Regretable decisions attempting to generate revenue as destroying the things that make RU unique and collegiate.
Then again RU thought paying to move a home B1G game to Yankee Stadium was a good idea.
Then again RU thought that hiding the “Birthplace of College Football” in the football stadium for an electronic ribbon board was a good idea?
Does Georgia rip up the hedges for advertising?
They would not do this to Cameron Indoor, Phog Allen, Palestra. Why the RAC?
Again, all the good stuff that makes RU and the RAC unique and a great place to watch college hoops and they are messing with it.
Sadly SMH.
Why someone would pay double what a court side seat costs to sit behind a basket stanchion is beyond me. There’s a reason why the old 118 was the only general public seating downstairs that didn’t have a donation requirement.
Unfortunately, when they installed the floor seats in front of the old 118 and reduced seating capacity that section looked sort of sad and pathetic. Pretty soon we’ll be playing in a 6,000 seat arena at this rate.
Unfortunately, when they installed the floor seats in front of the old 118 and reduced seating capacity that section looked sort of sad and pathetic. Pretty soon we’ll be playing in a 6,000 seat arena at this rate.
I agree G-R. I gave up my seat in 118 a couple years ago (because I could only make a handful of games each year), but I LOVED sitting down there near the RU bench. Your crew has been a mainstay in that location for years, and it is sad that the university is kicking you out -- and all for 48 wine & cheese people?
That aside, this is going to look HORRIBLE on TV, and will make the RAC look even more like an empty high school gymnasium.
Have had season tix in 118 since the 80’s. Suffered through many a bad season in those seats, which gets no love from the AD office.
This is the second time in as many years they are messing with the loyalists in that section. Last year, with a week’s notice, they told us they were making the section smaller and had to shift people to accommodate “luxury” courtside seating for major contributors who would pay a premium, which turned out to be a total lie because the seats became the Hobb-knob seats for guests (some business/some personal) of our AD.
One year later, with again a week’s notice, we get the announcement they are destroying the rest of 118 with a 48 seat “luxury” section that includes seating with a table to place your and Jersey Mike’s submarine sandwich , parking and access to the overrated hospitality area, for a mere $2,000 a pop.
What bothers me most is that there was no outreach or discussion around possible alternatives during the planning phase with the loyalists and contributors who have sat in that section for decades. On top of that, they ignored what a focus group of alumni told the AD and their arena architects that whatever they do they should not ruin the lower level configuration that has made the RAC great (for us) and bad for opponents, with the noise that was generated by having fans surrounding the court. Now, the section behind the basket will look like the corporate seats at Yankee Stadium behind home plate, which are half empty for most games that aren’t sellouts (unless our AD invites more of his guests to act as seat fillers similar to what they do at the Oscars when the “talent” has to go powder their noses and chins. Even when filled, I doubt the people in that section will be as vocal as those who have religiously followed this team through then many, many, many (many) lean years where the quality of the product on the court was far less than the price of admission. The way I figure it, the money owed to me for enduring those years should be applied to the new Hobb-nob section. My calculations say I should get about 5 good years of free seats.
If the AD only took the time to pick up the phone and call at least some of the people more religiously loyal people in that section BEFORE they decided on what to do and how to price it, and then communicated to the others impacted far in advance of releasing the other seats to the renewals and general public, it may have mitigated some of the ill will caused by what appears to be a grab for cash in advance of the team turning the corner. Rather than waiting until they truly upgrade the facility, they come up with this make-shift solution. It’s the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig
I like Pike and what he is doing, but may just buy cheap Bob Euecker tix in the top section in the corner and just put a bag over my head out of protest until this is all justified by the product theybout in the floor.
And what if the team doesn’t perform, well, just look at what happened to the football crowds post-Schiano. The stadium is typically half empty because the bandwagon folks that were catered too over the loyalists, don’t support a non-performing program. It’s one thing to do this sort of stuff when you have a perennial top performer. If we ever get there, I will gladly support the supply-and-demand strategy. But, if you take that root, then you should also lower prices in the lean years - and we’ve had more lean years than robust and I’ve never seen my ticket prices go down (aside from the pittance of a price of what the scalpers were willing to pay me).
Time to revamp the AD strategy and communications department.
Feel bad my contact in the donations and ticket office as they’ve had to take the brunt of the backlash while the decision-makers hide behind the curtain.
Dorothy, we are not in Kansas any more (but I will be for the football game). Call me a glutton for punishment.
CG-
This is the second time in as many years they are messing with the loyalists in that section. Last year, with a week’s notice, they told us they were making the section smaller and had to shift people to accommodate “luxury” courtside seating for major contributors who would pay a premium, which turned out to be a total lie because the seats became the Hobb-knob seats for guests (some business/some personal) of our AD.
One year later, with again a week’s notice, we get the announcement they are destroying the rest of 118 with a 48 seat “luxury” section that includes seating with a table to place your and Jersey Mike’s submarine sandwich , parking and access to the overrated hospitality area, for a mere $2,000 a pop.
What bothers me most is that there was no outreach or discussion around possible alternatives during the planning phase with the loyalists and contributors who have sat in that section for decades. On top of that, they ignored what a focus group of alumni told the AD and their arena architects that whatever they do they should not ruin the lower level configuration that has made the RAC great (for us) and bad for opponents, with the noise that was generated by having fans surrounding the court. Now, the section behind the basket will look like the corporate seats at Yankee Stadium behind home plate, which are half empty for most games that aren’t sellouts (unless our AD invites more of his guests to act as seat fillers similar to what they do at the Oscars when the “talent” has to go powder their noses and chins. Even when filled, I doubt the people in that section will be as vocal as those who have religiously followed this team through then many, many, many (many) lean years where the quality of the product on the court was far less than the price of admission. The way I figure it, the money owed to me for enduring those years should be applied to the new Hobb-nob section. My calculations say I should get about 5 good years of free seats.
If the AD only took the time to pick up the phone and call at least some of the people more religiously loyal people in that section BEFORE they decided on what to do and how to price it, and then communicated to the others impacted far in advance of releasing the other seats to the renewals and general public, it may have mitigated some of the ill will caused by what appears to be a grab for cash in advance of the team turning the corner. Rather than waiting until they truly upgrade the facility, they come up with this make-shift solution. It’s the equivalent of putting lipstick on a pig
I like Pike and what he is doing, but may just buy cheap Bob Euecker tix in the top section in the corner and just put a bag over my head out of protest until this is all justified by the product theybout in the floor.
And what if the team doesn’t perform, well, just look at what happened to the football crowds post-Schiano. The stadium is typically half empty because the bandwagon folks that were catered too over the loyalists, don’t support a non-performing program. It’s one thing to do this sort of stuff when you have a perennial top performer. If we ever get there, I will gladly support the supply-and-demand strategy. But, if you take that root, then you should also lower prices in the lean years - and we’ve had more lean years than robust and I’ve never seen my ticket prices go down (aside from the pittance of a price of what the scalpers were willing to pay me).
Time to revamp the AD strategy and communications department.
Feel bad my contact in the donations and ticket office as they’ve had to take the brunt of the backlash while the decision-makers hide behind the curtain.
Dorothy, we are not in Kansas any more (but I will be for the football game). Call me a glutton for punishment.
CG-
Or just revamp the press boxes and do the same without gutting the heart and soul of the RAC. Those stanchions block the sight lines significantly. Predict a very hard sell. Ruin RAC atmosphere and noise. Optics will be awful.
The halftime section has looked to work out so far.
Well see what happens. I know people are not happy here. Rutgers will try to bring in money however, and this may work once the program lifts off, which it is on its way.
I could care less what the RAC looks like on TV. Only judge on noise level.
I remember talking with Tony Carr's dad for five minutes at a game once. It was a PSU free throw and the RAC got so loud. He said it was the loudest he heard a gym that whole year.
Take that back to the Valley!
Well see what happens. I know people are not happy here. Rutgers will try to bring in money however, and this may work once the program lifts off, which it is on its way.
I could care less what the RAC looks like on TV. Only judge on noise level.
I remember talking with Tony Carr's dad for five minutes at a game once. It was a PSU free throw and the RAC got so loud. He said it was the loudest he heard a gym that whole year.
Take that back to the Valley!
Forgive the typos - typed on my iPhone 6 (miss my blackberry in these moments). And my apologies to Bob Uecker for butchering his last name.
I agree, I’ve always thought to upper level office area could be turned into luxury boxes. Quite a few years ago that did open that area at half time for the VIPs to hang out
If anything they should have expanded 118 per the original design. Why mess the floor plan and base. The one cool thing about the RAC.
Ruining the RAC chasing $$ is just shortsighted and makes no sense. Luxury boxes behind the basket? The view ain’t pretty. Visually it’s going to look like a high school gym and/or be devoid of all atmosphere.
Not to mention alienating and treating awfully the few loyal season ticket holders they have left.
Yankee Stadium: The House that Ruth built!
The RAC: The House that Hobbs shrunk!
Ruining the RAC chasing $$ is just shortsighted and makes no sense. Luxury boxes behind the basket? The view ain’t pretty. Visually it’s going to look like a high school gym and/or be devoid of all atmosphere.
Not to mention alienating and treating awfully the few loyal season ticket holders they have left.
Yankee Stadium: The House that Ruth built!
The RAC: The House that Hobbs shrunk!
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Bad decision ---- bad execution.
This is clearly a business decision by Rutgers .. and a bad one. Seems they are trying to send a message that we are now Big Time and therefore can offer premium seating for high rollers. That would be an easier message to send if it hadn't been 27 years since our last NCAA tournament appearance. And so the timing of this decision is somewhat suspect.
Having sat in these seats for almost 25 years, I can tell you there are a lot of good things ... and bad things about them . Being close to the bench is great. Sitting off center of the basketball stanchion and not being able to see 25% of the action ... not so great. If I was paying $2K and found out my seats were partially obstructed, I would not be pleased. And so as I was considering the investment I asked the natural question -- "do you have an architect rendering so that we can see what the sight lines would be ? " None available. I guess we are supposed to just pay the $2K and take our chances. Bad execution.
Seats don't become premium because you throw in access to a hospitality suite stuffed in the corner of the arena where you can buy drinks while tacking on an extra mandatory $700. Premium seating should be premium --- excellent seats in the best possible location. But I guess making truly premium seats in a good location would cost too much money and so the cheaper way to play "big time" is rip up the end court and displace the fans that are currently there. If/when we become a good team, the end court will be a sparsely designed seating area that only holds 48 fans, most of whom are one timers on a corporate boondoggle as opposed to several hundred loyalists who have been there through good times and bad. All to make a few extra bucks while sacrificing a fair amount of goodwill. Bad business decision. I wonder if the lack of fan distraction will help our opponents free throw shooting percentage ?
And from fan outreach perspective -- Glenn from Chicago said it all. We were blindsided. We have been given less than 10 days to make a decision about what we want to do with very little information on which to make that decision. There has been no effort to allow for advance planning and the result is that we either split up a group of 6 that has been coming to games together since the 90's ( waiting for our 1st NCAA appearance ) or we accept a group of seats in an upper level. Sorry boys ... back of the line for you !! Bad execution.
This is clearly a business decision by Rutgers .. and a bad one. Seems they are trying to send a message that we are now Big Time and therefore can offer premium seating for high rollers. That would be an easier message to send if it hadn't been 27 years since our last NCAA tournament appearance. And so the timing of this decision is somewhat suspect.
Having sat in these seats for almost 25 years, I can tell you there are a lot of good things ... and bad things about them . Being close to the bench is great. Sitting off center of the basketball stanchion and not being able to see 25% of the action ... not so great. If I was paying $2K and found out my seats were partially obstructed, I would not be pleased. And so as I was considering the investment I asked the natural question -- "do you have an architect rendering so that we can see what the sight lines would be ? " None available. I guess we are supposed to just pay the $2K and take our chances. Bad execution.
Seats don't become premium because you throw in access to a hospitality suite stuffed in the corner of the arena where you can buy drinks while tacking on an extra mandatory $700. Premium seating should be premium --- excellent seats in the best possible location. But I guess making truly premium seats in a good location would cost too much money and so the cheaper way to play "big time" is rip up the end court and displace the fans that are currently there. If/when we become a good team, the end court will be a sparsely designed seating area that only holds 48 fans, most of whom are one timers on a corporate boondoggle as opposed to several hundred loyalists who have been there through good times and bad. All to make a few extra bucks while sacrificing a fair amount of goodwill. Bad business decision. I wonder if the lack of fan distraction will help our opponents free throw shooting percentage ?
And from fan outreach perspective -- Glenn from Chicago said it all. We were blindsided. We have been given less than 10 days to make a decision about what we want to do with very little information on which to make that decision. There has been no effort to allow for advance planning and the result is that we either split up a group of 6 that has been coming to games together since the 90's ( waiting for our 1st NCAA appearance ) or we accept a group of seats in an upper level. Sorry boys ... back of the line for you !! Bad execution.
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Stupid shortsighted move by Hobbs. He’s been mostly good, but this is just dumb.
How do any of you know if this is not part of a long term plan. Maybe just phase 1 of 5?
I don’t have much sympathy in general for whining but it sure doesn’t seem like some loyal fans were treated well here.
What long term plan kicks out 30 year season ticket holders on a whim or for phase 1 of 5.
All the years of loyalty for nothing.
You could be next.
And for those who don’t care about loyalty... just think what this is doing the RAC. Luxury boxes behind the basket... really? 48 seats. Some home court advantage!!!
All the years of loyalty for nothing.
You could be next.
And for those who don’t care about loyalty... just think what this is doing the RAC. Luxury boxes behind the basket... really? 48 seats. Some home court advantage!!!
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