MBB: Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[Titan Q]

2) I guess UW-Stevens Point is clearing the gym between games.  That really stinks.  Why would a school with a 2800-seat gym need to clear it?  I understood when Lawrence had to do it in 2006 (with a 1000 seats)...but I don't understand this at all.

They don't NEED to clear it. They WANT to clear it. They sell more tickets and make more money when they clear the gym. Plus, it appeals to those fans who only want to attend one game, but not both.  They can by an $6 single game ticket instead of a $10 two-game session.  They did it last weekend and they'll probably do it forever.

As long as people who travel there from Bloomington, IL or Kenosha, WI (or wherever) don't get shutout of tickets for Game 2...that would stink.

[Greek Tragedy]

From what I was told & paid, it was 7 bucks a game. If that wasn't the case, I want my 4 dollars back!!

[Just Bill]

From what I was told & paid, it was 7 bucks a game. If that wasn't the case, I want my 4 dollars back!!

I have no idea what the prices are. I was just giving an example.

[Just Bill]

2) I guess UW-Stevens Point is clearing the gym between games.  That really stinks.  Why would a school with a 2800-seat gym need to clear it?  I understood when Lawrence had to do it in 2006 (with a 1000 seats)...but I don't understand this at all.

They don't NEED to clear it. They WANT to clear it. They sell more tickets and make more money when they clear the gym. Plus, it appeals to those fans who only want to attend one game, but not both.  They can by an $6 single game ticket instead of a $10 two-game session.  They did it last weekend and they'll probably do it forever.

As long as people who travel there from Bloomington, IL or Kenosha, WI (or wherever) don't get shutout of tickets for Game 2...that would stink.

Buy them in advance. Don't wait until you get to Stevens Point.

[Titan Q]

I'm curious about the 2005 UWSP vs. Lawrence game that caused later tournament games at UWSP to be reserved seating. Anyone care to expand on the supposed controversy?

*sigh*

Point hosted Lawrence for a second round game.  At the time, it was general admission. The Point staff reserved two sections for Lawrence fans.  Immediately behind the Viking bench, and in the balcony right above that lower section.  The lower section filled quickly with LU fans (mostly parents and adults). The balcony section still had some seats but as tipoff approached the UWSP fans were overflowing into that section that the UWSP event staff had been trying to keep empty.

About 6-8 minutes before tipoff, a large group of LU students arrived. They had been tailgaiting outside. They were directed to the balcony section and went there at first. They apparently didn't like the seats and came back downstairs. They wanted to sit behind the basket although the section was already 2/3 to 3/4 full. Since the game was about to start, the UWSP staff relented and asked those sitting behind the basket to move over or find another seat, which of course wasn't very popular among people that had arrived 30 minutes earlier.

The LU students moved in the best they could, but there still wasn't enought room for them, so the rest sat on the floor which I'm sure wouldn't have made the fire marshall happy.

So by tipoff, we have angry LU students, angry LU parents in support of their students, angry UWSP fans who got moved from seats they had a right to have, and the UWSP athletic director with a big headache.

Then in the proceeding days we had a number of LU fans (OK, one in particular) who made it their crusade for the next 12 months to tell the world how poorly UWSP treats their visiting fans.

I think that about covers it. So this weekend, take your assigned seat, sit down, shut up and enjoy the game.

It is amazing to me how many schools have problems with the seating issue for NCAA games.  I have seen some real disasters over the years...Wartburg 2001 being the biggest (sounds like the Lawrence/UW-SP situation described above). 

Schools have to have a plan for these games and then have enough people on hand to execute it.

[carthagealum]

Thanks for the assigned seating explanation...

Re: clearing the gym, with assigned seating, I'm guessing that even if you buy tickets for both games right away, you probably can't buy the same seats?

Related: Can you buy tickets for both games right away and stay in the gym, even if it means changing seats? Leaving just to stand in line to get back in the gym seems like a hassle. Not familiar if there is a separate entrance/line for those already holding tickets for games at UWSP.

Any insights are appreciated.

I'd be curious to watch UWSP game, especially under a different coach. It is probably six or seven years since I've seen the Pointers play. The talent was deep then, and the player attitudes were... interesting. Different coach can make for a different team personality, so I'm interested to see what it will be like this time around.

[Titan Q]

Buy them in advance. Don't wait until you get to Stevens Point.

I will gladly do that if I can.  I heard some things today that made me think I won't be able to do that...that IWU and Carthage fans would have to buy the Friday Game 2 tix at the door after Game 1.

I'll give Stevens Point the benefit of the doubt and just wait until official ticket word comes out.

[Just Bill]

Buy them in advance. Don't wait until you get to Stevens Point.

I will gladly do that if I can.  I heard some things today that made me think I won't be able to do that...that IWU and Carthage fans would have to buy the Friday Game 2 tix at the door after Game 1.

I'll give Stevens Point the benefit of the doubt and just wait until official ticket word comes out.

I doubt that's the case. Usually Game 1 and Game 2 are both available ahead of time. It's Game 3 on Saturday that they don't sell until the Friday game is complete. In fact, I would expect that Game 2 will be soldout by Wednesday or Thursday.

And there was nothing wrong with UWSP's plan in 2005. The problem was a large group of tipsy LU students that arrived at the last second and didn't want to sit in the assigned section.

Now you've done it.  You've got me rehashing a stupid five year old argument.

[Greek Tragedy]

They clear the gym if you have a ticket for the 2nd game or not. Its a mess out in the lobby.  Go get a bite to eat or take a walk.  Its reserved seating, so it doesnt matter when you show up.  As for tickets purchased, just lie & say you're a Pointer fan

[frodotwo]

They clear the gym if you have a ticket for the 2nd game or not. Its a mess out in the lobby.  Go get a bite to eat or take a walk.  Its reserved seating, so it doesnt matter when you show up.  As for tickets purchased, just lie & say you're a Pointer fan

After they cleared the gym last Friday it took over 1/2 hour to get back in. I got to my seat with about 4 min to tip off. I have no idea what they were doing inside for that time but that was unsatisfactory.

[Greek Tragedy]

Rumor around the campfire is that it took so long between games to seat people because they were cleaning up your popcorn and soda mess, along with your dirty napkins from your hotdogs and nachos.  Clean up your mess & we'll get in the gym sooner!! 

[frodotwo]

Buy them in advance. Don't wait until you get to Stevens Point.

I will gladly do that if I can.  I heard some things today that made me think I won't be able to do that...that IWU and Carthage fans would have to buy the Friday Game 2 tix at the door after Game 1.

I'll give Stevens Point the benefit of the doubt and just wait until official ticket word comes out.

There were some game 2 tickets available at the door last week, and attendance was only about 2100 so there were plenty left to be sold.

I'd guess that may not be the case for this week, but who knows. The last time the sectional was held here in '07 the tickets returned by the opposing teams sold out in a matter of hours after being returned.

To be safe who ever wants tickets for game 2 should order ahead of time, as I understand it fans of participating teams are entitled to 1/3 of half of the seats available (1400 / 3 = 467).

Tickets sales starts at 8AM - 3/09/10 Have your credit card ready and walk up on game day.  

Phone orders:
Local: 715-346-4100
WI Residents: 800-838-3378  

Emptying the gym ensures more ticket sales apparently (and income), but I know that most of the fans from Hope didn't stick around, and a lot from St. Norbert left as well.

Game 1 winning fans can purchase their tickets immediately after game 1, everyone else has to wait until after the second games is completed. It was a mad rush last week and I know that some people waited well over an hour standing in line.

[frodotwo]

Rumor around the campfire is that it took so long between games to seat people because they were cleaning up your popcorn and soda mess, along with your dirty napkins from your hotdogs and nachos.  Clean up your mess & we'll get in the gym sooner!!

I always dispose of litter in the proper receptacle after the game.

[Greek Tragedy]

The floor doesn't count, frodo! lol

[Pat Coleman]

They did sell more than 2,800 seats last week, though honestly, not by a lot. But I suspect that that might change this time around.