FB: Minnesota Intercollegiate Athletic Conference

[AO]

  If you want a good seat, you get there early, it's not that hard. 

I think Dusty mentioned that they wouldn't allow SJU fans in early.

Is it impossible to wait in line at the gate?

[DustySJU]

  If you want a good seat, you get there early, it's not that hard. 

I think Dusty mentioned that they wouldn't allow SJU fans in early.

Is it impossible to wait in line at the gate?

It is, I never wait.

Duffman;  Don't forget to bring an extra set of keys tomorrow.   

[stanbob]

  If you want a good seat, you get there early, it's not that hard. 

I think Dusty mentioned that they wouldn't allow SJU fans in early.

Is it impossible to wait in line at the gate?

Wait until Bethel gets all their fans in?  Kinda defeats the purpose doesn't it?

[AO]

I doubt the Bethel faithful will be able to fill up all the seats and sideline areas prior to the johnnie fans being let in. 

[GoldandBlueBU]

I doubt the Bethel faithful will be able to fill up all the seats and sideline areas prior to the johnnie fans being let in. 

I agree.
Bethel fans are not equal to SJU fans in that when the team is down, they don't show up in mass to support them.  That's something unique about SJU that I think every program wishes they had.

[Rugman]

I doubt the Bethel faithful will be able to fill up all the seats and sideline areas prior to the johnnie fans being let in. 

I agree.
Bethel fans are not equal to SJU fans in that when the team is down, they don't show up in mass to support them.  That's something unique about SJU that I think every program wishes they had.

Not sure you can adequately gage how SJU fans would react to a losing season since we have not had one since 1967.

[GoldandBlueBU]

I doubt the Bethel faithful will be able to fill up all the seats and sideline areas prior to the johnnie fans being let in. 

I agree.
Bethel fans are not equal to SJU fans in that when the team is down, they don't show up in mass to support them.  That's something unique about SJU that I think every program wishes they had.

Not sure you can adequately gage how SJU fans would react to a losing season since we have not had one since 1967.

My thoughts were more towards 2004, when they weren't going to be headed to the playoffs, I saw the game against UST, and there were still plenty of fans there.  The trend at bethel has been that once a MIAC title is off of the table, attendance drops significantly.

[Rugman]

I doubt the Bethel faithful will be able to fill up all the seats and sideline areas prior to the johnnie fans being let in. 

I agree.
Bethel fans are not equal to SJU fans in that when the team is down, they don't show up in mass to support them.  That's something unique about SJU that I think every program wishes they had.

Not sure you can adequately gage how SJU fans would react to a losing season since we have not had one since 1967.

My thoughts were more towards 2004, when they weren't going to be headed to the playoffs, I saw the game against UST, and there were still plenty of fans there.  The trend at bethel has been that once a MIAC title is off of the table, attendance drops significantly.

USTD is a different story because of the rivalry.  Even in 1997, when we went 6-4 the USTD game drew 12,145.  The average attendance for the other four home games that year was 5,300.

But I will definately agree there is a large core of fans and enough gorgeous autumn afternoons that it would take a pretty long series of losing seasons before we would need to start taking down all the extra seats that have been added the last few years.

[DuffMan]

Duffman;  Don't forget to bring an extra set of keys tomorrow.   

Why, is there a key party at Bethel?   

[johnnie_esq]

I doubt the Bethel faithful will be able to fill up all the seats and sideline areas prior to the johnnie fans being let in. 

I agree.
Bethel fans are not equal to SJU fans in that when the team is down, they don't show up in mass to support them.  That's something unique about SJU that I think every program wishes they had.

Not sure you can adequately gage how SJU fans would react to a losing season since we have not had one since 1967.

My thoughts were more towards 2004, when they weren't going to be headed to the playoffs, I saw the game against UST, and there were still plenty of fans there.  The trend at bethel has been that once a MIAC title is off of the table, attendance drops significantly.

USTD is a different story because of the rivalry.  Even in 1997, when we went 6-4 the USTD game drew 12,145.  The average attendance for the other four home games that year was 5,300.

That 1997 game was at the Metrodome.  I am glad we don't play there anymore.

AO, SJU has permanent bleachers for about 1500-2000 for its visitors and did bring in several smaller bleachers for overflow crowd that were set up along the BC sideline for that game in 2003 that maybe sat another 250-500-- The temporary seating at SJU in '03 can be clearly shown on the DVD of that game. I'd be glad to make you a copy of it if you want to relive that experience!  

In contrast, there wasn't enough seating for even 1000 SJU fans last year in Arden Hills, and most of the "temporary" seats were 20 yards back from the sideline, meaning people were better off standing on the sideline and watching there without the seating.   If the BU AD thought that would be enough, he would be crazy and/or ignorant.  However, he could also have been smart, as the costs for the game would have been significantly less without putting up temporary seating-- yet revenue would not change.  But I thought that BU was above SJU's money-grubbing ways?

[Freebird]

Does anyone know what Bethel's re-entry policy is?  If we get there at 10:00 to garner some seats, can we leave to go to the SF and then get back in?

The student ticket takers made a bit of a stink about early re-entry nearly requesting fans pay twice.  I think we just started to ignore them about the whole deal.  The real kicker is they allow the Bethel students in well ahead of visiting Johnnie fans to grab their seats.... that really steamed us.

Bethel insists on not providing extra bleachers so get there early....

On the up side Bethel does have a nice little tailgate area near the SoHo lot that has been approved for "Johnnie" use.

Developing....

This is because Johnnie fans show very little respect and try to sit in the student section.  We don't do that at your stadium so why should you be allowed to do it at ours?  

FreeBird;  You're sounding like a politician who thinks nothing about the truthfulness or accuracy of your statements.  I've heard and seen many things however I've never, and I mean I've never seen Johnnie fans attempting to steal Bethel seating.  

So what if they did?  

Maybe you could get your AD to spring for a couple of bleachers so fans could actually see the game.  It doesn't seem to be a problem at St. John's and certainly provided the great success your team has had against St. John's and in the DIII playoffs maybe someone in charge could do a little planning.

Your trite little comment is complete drivel.

Did you steal that line from Dumbo and just replace the part about elaphants flying to "Johnnies fans attempting to steal seats?"  I have seen it and at the time I respectfully asked those folks to move to a different section.  Some did, some didnt.

Maybe you haven't been to the Bethel games at SJU and if that is the case I forgive your ignorance.  However the ones I have been to provided inadequate seating for us, the visiting team.

It is just the way it is in our conference become I'm sure most of the time when teams come to SJU or Bethel they struggle to fill the small amount of seating there actually is.

[Freebird]

I doubt the Bethel faithful will be able to fill up all the seats and sideline areas prior to the johnnie fans being let in. 

I agree.
Bethel fans are not equal to SJU fans in that when the team is down, they don't show up in mass to support them.  That's something unique about SJU that I think every program wishes they had.

Not sure you can adequately gage how SJU fans would react to a losing season since we have not had one since 1967.

My thoughts were more towards 2004, when they weren't going to be headed to the playoffs, I saw the game against UST, and there were still plenty of fans there.  The trend at bethel has been that once a MIAC title is off of the table, attendance drops significantly.

USTD is a different story because of the rivalry.  Even in 1997, when we went 6-4 the USTD game drew 12,145.  The average attendance for the other four home games that year was 5,300.

That 1997 game was at the Metrodome.  I am glad we don't play there anymore.

AO, SJU has permanent bleachers for about 1500-2000 for its visitors and did bring in several smaller bleachers for overflow crowd that were set up along the BC sideline for that game in 2003 that maybe sat another 250-500-- The temporary seating at SJU in '03 can be clearly shown on the DVD of that game. I'd be glad to make you a copy of it if you want to relive that experience!  

In contrast, there wasn't enough seating for even 1000 SJU fans last year in Arden Hills, and most of the "temporary" seats were 20 yards back from the sideline, meaning people were better off standing on the sideline and watching there without the seating.   If the BU AD thought that would be enough, he would be crazy and/or ignorant.  However, he could also have been smart, as the costs for the game would have been significantly less without putting up temporary seating-- yet revenue would not change.  But I thought that BU was above SJU's money-grubbing ways?

Esq,

I see your point and recognize the seating wasn't perfect.  Before the game in 2005 at Bethel I had many discussions with the AD about adding seating and even offered to pay for some of it out of my budget.  However we discovered that we can actually get more people into the grounds to see the game without having temporary bleachers then when we do.  Many people have to stand 5 or 6 people deep but at least they are there.  Plus there really isn't much room to add bleachers around the field.

[Freebird]

Does anyone know what Bethel's re-entry policy is?  If we get there at 10:00 to garner some seats, can we leave to go to the SF and then get back in?

The student ticket takers made a bit of a stink about early re-entry nearly requesting fans pay twice.  I think we just started to ignore them about the whole deal.  The real kicker is they allow the Bethel students in well ahead of visiting Johnnie fans to grab their seats.... that really steamed us.

Bethel insists on not providing extra bleachers so get there early....

On the up side Bethel does have a nice little tailgate area near the SoHo lot that has been approved for "Johnnie" use.

Developing....

This is because Johnnie fans show very little respect and try to sit in the student section.  We don't do that at your stadium so why should you be allowed to do it at ours?  

FreeBird;  You're sounding like a politician who thinks nothing about the truthfulness or accuracy of your statements.  I've heard and seen many things however I've never, and I mean I've never seen Johnnie fans attempting to steal Bethel seating.  

So what if they did?  

Maybe you could get your AD to spring for a couple of bleachers so fans could actually see the game.  It doesn't seem to be a problem at St. John's and certainly provided the great success your team has had against St. John's and in the DIII playoffs maybe someone in charge could do a little planning.

Your trite little comment is complete drivel.

At the game last year vs. SJU, I was sitting on the Bethel side, with about 10 SJU fans 2 or 3 rows in front of me.  Not that big of a deal, but the "so what if they did" is that if BU fans did the same at SJU, without a doubt, posters on this board would be griping about disrespectful Bethel fans...blah blah blah.

I agree that Bethel has seating issues.  My hope is that now that they've caught up the rest of the facilities (dorms, the new commons building) with the size of the student body, that they'll put some money into the football facilities which are due for an upgrade.  I don't know what the new president's direction for the college will be in regards to that....any ideas freebird?

I have seen the plans for a major upgrade of the football facilities but unfortunately they have been shelved due to a lack of funding support.  I think it will be many years or a couple new major donors before we can make it happen.

[sju56321]

In all honesty, why should the home team care about visitor seating? Maybe a few more bucks if visitor fans knew they would have a seat, but more hostile fans, or less problems in the home team's seating area with invading visitor fans. But, why not spread out the visiting fans as much as possible, you have less concentrated noise from their area.
Does any DIII field have enough visitor stands for the truly big games, rivalry or conference championship games?

[ritz72]

I doubt the Bethel faithful will be able to fill up all the seats and sideline areas prior to the johnnie fans being let in. 

I agree.
Bethel fans are not equal to SJU fans in that when the team is down, they don't show up in mass to support them.  That's something unique about SJU that I think every program wishes they had.

Not sure you can adequately gage how SJU fans would react to a losing season since we have not had one since 1967.

My thoughts were more towards 2004, when they weren't going to be headed to the playoffs, I saw the game against UST, and there were still plenty of fans there.  The trend at bethel has been that once a MIAC title is off of the table, attendance drops significantly.

USTD is a different story because of the rivalry.  Even in 1997, when we went 6-4 the USTD game drew 12,145.  The average attendance for the other four home games that year was 5,300.

That 1997 game was at the Metrodome.  I am glad we don't play there anymore.

AO, SJU has permanent bleachers for about 1500-2000 for its visitors and did bring in several smaller bleachers for overflow crowd that were set up along the BC sideline for that game in 2003 that maybe sat another 250-500-- The temporary seating at SJU in '03 can be clearly shown on the DVD of that game. I'd be glad to make you a copy of it if you want to relive that experience!  

In contrast, there wasn't enough seating for even 1000 SJU fans last year in Arden Hills, and most of the "temporary" seats were 20 yards back from the sideline, meaning people were better off standing on the sideline and watching there without the seating.   If the BU AD thought that would be enough, he would be crazy and/or ignorant.  However, he could also have been smart, as the costs for the game would have been significantly less without putting up temporary seating-- yet revenue would not change.  But I thought that BU was above SJU's money-grubbing ways?

Esq,

I see your point and recognize the seating wasn't perfect.  Before the game in 2005 at Bethel I had many discussions with the AD about adding seating and even offered to pay for some of it out of my budget.  However we discovered that we can actually get more people into the grounds to see the game without having temporary bleachers then when we do.  Many people have to stand 5 or 6 people deep but at least they are there.  Plus there really isn't much room to add bleachers around the field.

Wow!!  Hey...let's hoard people in, make them stand 5-6 deep with no chance of having them see the game, so we can make a little $$.   BUT AT LEAST THEY ARE THERE!!!  I didn't know Mr. Crabs was the AD at Bethel!

What a classy administrative decision