Michigan Fans, Maize Rage, and Athletic Department Frustration
It has clearly been a frustrating basketball season.
Yesterday, waiting for tip-off I was floored by the number of Purdue fans in attendance. Obviously, the answer here is pretty straightforward -- if the team were better, there would be more demand for the product. But my goodness, our basketball "fans" are incredibly fickle. So, first off, Michigan ticket holders -- do better.
Even so, I tweeted at the Maize Rage before the game about how many Purdue fans were IN THE MAIZE RAGE. The lower bowl, where the Rage sits was mostly Purdue fans, as well as almost the entire corner section. The Maize Rage tweeted back to let me know that during spring break, they only get the center section of the lower bowl.
Well, fine I guess. The Athletic Department obviously has the experience here and knows lots of students will be gone. That makes sense. What doesn't make sense to me is just dumping those tickets on the open marketplace allowing Purdue to pack the lower bowl. Just give the tickets to local elementary schools or Big Brothers/Big Sisters or *something* that isn't the opposing team's fans.
I thought the MSU game was rough in terms of how present and loud their fans were. But that's somewhat to be expected given how many Michigan ticket holders have MSU family members, friends, etc. Also, MSU taking over Crisler has happened before. Plus... this season.
But yesterday was a new low. It was almost certain Michigan wouldn't be able to win yesterday. But the players played hard all game. And it felt like their homecourt advantage was actually a liability.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:30 AM ^
This is the impact of having a bad team.
If Michigan was in contention, we would have sold that place out with our without students. It comes to down to having to put a quality product on the court.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:05 AM ^
I think the other thing that comes to mind for me as a season ticket holder is that once the University made the decision to try to maximize every dollar they can get, it's easier to just sell your tickets. If they treat you as a customer only, then treat them like a business. (For what it's worth, we used all of our tickets yesterday).
They don't have to charge $10 for an ice cream cone and $6 for a 20oz of pop. But they can, so they do. I just lose a lot of my sympathy for the AD when they just push and push and push every penny out of you.
I do feel bad for the players. They played hard yesterday and deserved better, but that's kind of just where we are at this point.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:35 AM ^
Concessions at both Crisler and Michigan Stadium are a joke. No variety and hot dogs are always cold with hard buns and pretzels are hard as bullets. It’s ridiculous to pay those prices for horrible quality. The Athletic Department needs to step up and get the message out to vendors. Yes it’s difficult to keep things fresh for 110,000 but many times it’s worse at Crisler. A family of four can’t afford to pay for food let alone junk.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:39 AM ^
Had to LOL at an Absopure water and a stale Sodexo hot dog coming in at about 13 bucks, while LOLing harder at the concept of adding a Coors Light tall boy for another 12. It's crazy town.
February 26th, 2024 at 1:43 PM ^
Concessions at Michigan Stadium are so bad that it's impossible to believe that it's not on purpose. Simple lack of effort is an insufficient explanation on it's own.
Not a conspiracy theory. It's just that for all my gripes about the UCLA game Rose Bowl experience, concessions is that one that that - while honestly not great - is honestly MUCH better than the clown car operation that Michigan's running.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:58 AM ^
After Covid, I remember a friend who's a long-time Iowa FB ticket holder telling me that Iowa had given season ticket holders a bunch of on-line coupons (free soda, free hot dog, etc.) that they could use but wouldn't be transferrable to the next person if you sold that game ticket. You are EXACTLY right that UM cashed in big when the program was going well and not only jacked up the prices, but made concessions ridiculously priced.
Was not a big fan of Bill Martin as AD but he did get Amaker (who was the hottest guy on the market) and then later JB. While he brought in PSLs, I don't think he made it absurd with dynamic pricing like Brandon did.
Feel bad for the players who have showed up. The coaching is just pitiful. Laziness starts in practice. The guys shocked me yesterday by not folding when down 15. But, this is a MESSAGE to the AD. Get creative on promotions, discounts, ability to "upgrade" your seat after say 5 minutes has run off the game clock (if you're late as a fan, too bad, you lost your seat).
February 26th, 2024 at 8:44 PM ^
You want the least creative AD in the world to do something innovative, Good Luck. Secondly how would Warde have a clue about what happens at Crisler since he is never there. I see President Ono at about half the games but I don't ever remember seeing Warde at a game. I guess Warde is just to busy to actually attend a game.
February 26th, 2024 at 12:45 PM ^
I saw Michigan lose to Long Beach this year. But my Chicken Tender basket from the Baseline Grill…. chef’s kiss.
Yeah it was $14 but it was bangin.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:08 AM ^
Yep, 8-20, dead last in the B1G, defensive play ranks in the 300s, there's nothing for people to get excited about. Don't forget during the Brandon/Hoke era there was a time when you could get football tickets for 2 sodas. It's all about the product being put out, and right now that's on Warde Manuel and Juwan Howard. If we were the #2 ranked team in the country the place would have been filled with Michigan fans.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:25 AM ^
Look how well Michigan football fans traveled this past season. Our fans took over Spartan Stadium as well as at Maryland and then went on to Indy, the Rose Bowl and Houston. So, yes, they do not like to watch a bad product. They also traveled well when the MBB program were conference and national contenders.
February 26th, 2024 at 8:11 PM ^
Let's be honest, even when Beilein was here and had some of his best teams the place wasnt always sold out. Michigan is not a hoops crazy program, never has been and probably never will be. The 2nd most popular Michigan sport is offseason football.
Also a lot of lower bowl tickets are bought and go unused or resold because they jacked up the prices when they renovated Crisler, and rich folks and companies bought them.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:30 AM ^
When your team is terrible and your program is a tire fire the support isn't going to be great. Fix the product and the rest will follow. I was a student ticketholder 1997 - 2001, so I saw some good (end of the Fisher era) and some REALLY bad (Ellerbee).
February 26th, 2024 at 2:44 PM ^
Yeah, I watched from the 15:00 minute mark in the 1st half to halftime and was confused why the crowd seemed so pro-Purdue on Michigan’s home court. There’s a few other obvious and not so obvious answers to yesterday’s atmosphere:
- Purdue is a top 5-ish team and their fans are going to travel well to commutable away games @ UM, MSU, IU, OSU, etc.
- Although Michigan did upset a slumping Wisconsin team earlier this year, that’s about the only bright spot I can think of to inspire someone to attend the game.
- Relatedly, and I feel bad saying this, there isn’t much to play for at this point. No hopes for a post-season tournament birth + generally bad basketball = low fan turnout. I have to think even a mediocre, possible bubble team changes the atmosphere to some degree.
- Lastly, I don’t think students and fans intentionally tried to send a message to the team or administration by not attending but it literally speaks volumes when an opposing fan base takes over like that.
Although I thought UM played well enough to make it competitive, Purdue had an answer for most of UM’s runs. As many have said, that scene is to be expected but Crisler doesn’t have the auto-pull for students/fans that the blue-blood programs like Duke, UK, or KU do where even in a down year, the stands will be packed. Can’t ask fan attendance behaviors to change if the program itself doesn’t make the changes it needs to first.
February 26th, 2024 at 5:30 PM ^
Secondary market tickets for a lot of Crisler has been like $5 upper bowl, $10 lower bowl for basically every game except the MSU game. I went to two Michigan games this year and paid $11 for behind the hoop 9th row and literally a dollar for upper bowl corner. So essentially it was a “free game” for Purdue fans willing to drive a moderate distance.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:31 AM ^
Every time something like this happens, I really wonder what folks like the OP want the Athletic Department to do. How do they control who buys which tickets? How do they know if they're a Purdue fan or a Michigan fan? (Also, IIRC, there are conference-mandated opposing team tickets behind the bench, so that section behind the Purdue bench was always going to be Purdue people. And there was a section of youth basketball players on the other end near the UM bench that they brought in through the tunnel pregame, so they did give away some of them.)
Look, it was awful in Crisler yesterday. It was no fun to sit in the arena expecting a home game and realize you're surrounded by Purdue people who will not shut up about it. But the only solution is to make sure Michigan fields a team that Michigan fans want to see. Oh, and I dunno, cancel spring break or something?
February 26th, 2024 at 9:37 AM ^
If I’ve learned anything over the past six months or so, no one should hold their breath on the Athletic Department doing anything, no matter the situation.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:42 AM ^
Really and truly, though, what do you want them to do? This is Southeast Michigan. You restrict ticket-buyers to MI zip codes, and you still get 5000 Purdue alum auto industry engineers and their families packing the place.
When the team is bad and tickets are for sale, especially during student breaks, all bets are off. And it's not all that easy to get into Mackey these days, either, so even if Purdue fans overpay for away game tickets, they still end up ahead.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:48 AM ^
Put a better product on the court.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:10 AM ^
My point is, for one game of the year, when it is spring break, do something totally different.
For example, I don't want to go back to the "Buy a Coke, get a ticket" promotion, but if you know the student section will be mostly empty, plan for that by giving local elementary schools all the excess Maize Rage tickets for $5 each.
That token amount will make it so that the tickets aren't wasted. But then a local family with elementary school aged kids can get a Crisler experience for a family of 4 for $20. Then the tickets are guaranteed to not go on the open market.
I totally agree with the point about "put a better product on the court." But this would be a feel-good promotion, regardless if the team were contending for a championship or having a bad season. Just looking at the kids who got to stand with the M players before the game -- those kids were having a BLAST all game long.
As I said in my original post, I understand that it is more likely for the MSU game that there will be MSU fans in the arena. Especially in a down year when people are dumping their season tickets. That's why I started by saying, "Michigan ticket holders, do better." I was able to secure great tickets at Spartan Stadium this year through a family friend, and Michigan fans were pretty dominant this year.
My main point is that for this one specific situation -- Maize Rage and students gone for Spring Break -- there's an opportunity to do something different and better.
February 26th, 2024 at 12:00 PM ^
But has the athletic department tried giving away free tickets with the purchase of a coke?
February 26th, 2024 at 9:33 AM ^
Comes with the territory of being the worst team in the BIG, I guess.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:33 AM ^
Yeah I was there. The Boilers took over our house. I was amongst a shit ton of them and they were very complimentary of our facility and lamented the "good old days". When they got lippy all I said was Farleigh Dickinson and that shut them up. They are good fans. Like we used to be. BTW, I bought my barely into the upper bowl tickets for 12 bucks, and they were selling for 7 yesterday. We played well. The boys did not quit and scrapped the whole game. *Sigh*
February 26th, 2024 at 9:33 AM ^
Nobody attends sporting events out of obligation, they do so for entertainment - it's fun. And when the product stops being fun to watch, people stop attending.
It happened to football in 2014 and it's happening to basketball now.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:35 AM ^
For sure.
The main point I'm trying to make is about what the Athletic Department does with the Maize Rage tickets during spring break week.
Even if the team is awful, a bunch of local elementary school kids and their families could go to the game in an affordable way, have fun, and fill the Maize Rage with somebody not screaming "Boiler Up!"
If the team happened to be great, a bunch of kids would get an opportunity to see a great team that would likely be much less accessible to them.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:07 AM ^
Yes, I think there is too much learned helplessness -- "Well, the team stinks. What are you going to do?"
Of course the team being good is key; but the average athletic dept staffer has no control over that. But what they *could* do, for example, is make sure when it's Spring Break that every single Maize Rage ticket is filled with a middle/high schooler who is thrilled to have such good seats for a B1G game. That it becomes part of that middle school's culture that every February they go to a game and support the Wolverines.
The AD has a $200 million budget; there should be available staffers whose sole job is developing & maintaining these relationships to get not only butts in seats, but maize & blue butts.
As I mentioned earlier, I went to a Pistons-Magic game recently and it was 2/3 filled. I was in the upper level with my son, but in various spots there were youth groups. One kept leading cheers of "MVP! MVP!" for Cade Cunningham every time he did something good. It was stupid (Cade is a nice player, but he's no MVP), but it also helped make a game btw a team that lost more games in a row than any team in NBA history and a high-class mediocre Magic team pretty fun and contributed to a good home atmosphere.
February 26th, 2024 at 11:08 AM ^
Ask the athletic department and they will say this was still 100,000+ fans in attendance.
February 26th, 2024 at 8:40 PM ^
That picture was due to the shitty new policy where they herded students in like cattle which took forever for them to get everyone in. It never got full but it ended up way better than that picture. I think it was Akron in 2013.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:37 AM ^
Fire Warde
February 26th, 2024 at 9:38 AM ^
I guess they should have offered tickets with cans of National Championship Coca Cola.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:55 AM ^
It was too soon for this comment until Jan 8, 2024. Now it will never hurt me again.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:13 AM ^
I had two of the '97 Pepsi cans. One eventually failed and had a slow syrup-y leak where I was keeping it in the basement.
February 26th, 2024 at 7:22 PM ^
Going from Pepsi to Coke seems like a step up.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:40 AM ^
I know it has to suck for the players and I do feel bad about that. I've been a season ticket holder for a long time, but trying to justify using 3+ hours of my Sunday to watch this team is hard.
It will be so much worse next year if they don't make a coaching change.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:41 AM ^
I think the answer is obvious, fire Warde. What was the question again?
did i do that right?
February 26th, 2024 at 9:42 AM ^
So, first off, Michigan ticket holders -- do better.
Well, if you have tickets and you can sell them and enjoy a beautiful Sunday without seeing your favorite team play an embarrassing brand of basketball who are you to judge them to "do better"
February 26th, 2024 at 9:59 AM ^
I think "be better" and "do better" are on the same level as "You should be ashamed of yourself!" In both cases I tend to lower my opinion of the writer.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:07 AM ^
My family and I have had 4 season tickets for 40+ years. Have seen the highs and the lows. I asked at least 15 people to go on Sunday, not one taker. At that point, i chose to sell the 4, and it was the 1st home game i did that for, as I did not feel like going alone and watching another most likely loss. I went to almost all the Ellerbee games, i remember going when Frieder's teams were struggling. But you know what, there was a connection to those teams. Those guys played hard, plus there were some players that were upperclassmen who you followed for 2 or 3 or 4 years.
I feel no connection to this team. Sans Williams (who i feel for) and maybe Jace, they are just a bunch of guys. Between the transfer portal and players going pro early, there has been not much continuity to Howard's teams, and this years team is just another year of the program declining. It is hard to get excited for a program and a product that you have no connection with.
I felt for the team yesterday, that was rough for them, and I am guilty of not only not going, but also selling lower bowl tickets, so shame on me.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:23 AM ^
I feel no connection to this team. Sans Williams (who i feel for) and maybe Jace, they are just a bunch of guys. Between the transfer portal and players going pro early, there has been not much continuity to Howard's teams, and this years team is just another year of the program declining. It is hard to get excited for a program and a product that you have no connection with.
I think this is a pretty foundational issue with college sports today. There is zero connection to the players, who are essentially basketball mercenaries. I feel the same way...don't know they players and really don't have much interest in getting to know them when they are here for a year and then gone.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:12 AM ^
The onus is on the basketball program. THEY need to do better. Stop playing like utter shit and people will want to watch again...it's not rocket science.
February 26th, 2024 at 1:49 PM ^
"it doesn't take rocket appliances"
Ricky
February 26th, 2024 at 10:17 AM ^
Fair enough.
I really have no response other than to say my choice is to buy tickets, go to the game, and support the team.
It is not for me to tell others what to do. So I accept that even if it isn't what I do.
My main gripe is with the Athletic Department and my suggestion is that they do something different, specifically with the Maize Rage tickets during spring break.
February 26th, 2024 at 1:47 PM ^
This website, which is based entirely on covering the main UofM sports teams, has a recurring bit where they do everything possible to avoid talking about the basketball team. That should tell you all you need to know about the total lack of interest in the team right now.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:46 AM ^
Just say to yourself...
WE ARE NATIONAL FOOTBALL CHAMPIONS.
And the nonthreatening fans of Purdue's #2 hoops team coming to watch them play our last-place and hopeless men's team during UM's spring break... suddenly doesn't seem worth stressing about.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:46 AM ^
This is not unlike Michigan football having de facto home games at Northwestern and Rutgers when those teams stink. People choose not to invest dollars in a crappy product. Michigan basketball is a crappy product, and this isn’t the first bad year. OTOH, people will pay extra for a really good product, hence the willingness to travel to watch a really good team.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:48 AM ^
OTOH, Yost Ice Arena was a wonderful place to be Saturday evening vs ND. Very few Irish fans to be found anywhere in the building. Even when Notre Dame went on the power play and scored in the first couple minutes of the game to take the lead, it was very difficult to find evidence of their fan base in attendance.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:02 AM ^
That's because there is a completely different culture of support in Michigan at Yost than there is at Crisler. It has been that way for 30-plus years. Just look at that post the other day that had extensive "guidelines" to all the many cheers & jeers by the Children of Yost; can you imagine us needing to have anything like that for the Maize Rage/Michigan basketball?
The basketball team (this year excluded, obviously) has been pretty good-to-great for a long time. Yet, for whatever reason, it has never gained the devoted fan base that the football or the hockey team has. We are literally not a basketball school.
February 26th, 2024 at 10:23 AM ^
I also tend to think that there's not a really fair or equal comparison there, either. College hockey has always been a really specific subset of the respective fanbase that doesn't always map onto other sports, and hockey people are already different. You can go to an opposing arena in a jersey most nights and be pretty much fine, because you're gonna end up talking hockey like a dork with the mirror version of yourself. I saw a fair bit of ND fans on Saturday, but zero problems, because it's always that way. They're just as much fans of the sport as the school, I guess.
Meanwhile at Crisler yesterday, every Purdue fan felt like a meathead at a football game. Felt more like getting trolled for sport than anything else.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:49 AM ^
Apathy has set in.
February 26th, 2024 at 9:54 AM ^
If you are a current M basketball season ticket holder, God bless you. No criticisms on you.
If the M team wants a better home court, play better. If Purdue fans have nothing better to do than travel hundreds of miles to watch the prelude of them choking again in tournament, good for them. Hope they spend lots of money in Ann Arbor, while the students were on spring break.