Is there any way to fix the atmosphere at Crisler?
Feels like this has been an issue for as long as I can remember, but it just doesn’t feel like Crisler is even close to an intimidating place to play. And when Johns was shooting his FT at the most critical part of the game, the place got so quiet you could hear a pin drop. That has got to be more nerve wracking than the token noise we give opponents at the line. Just doesn’t feel like we have a legit home court advantage like a lot of other schools.
February 28th, 2020 at 5:27 AM ^
Some of it is the building - it wasn’t designed for loud crowd noise like Mackey or Carver-Hawkeye. Some of it our fans who sit there like they’re at the opera, show up late and feel compelled to leave early to beat traffic. But it is so much better than it was.
February 28th, 2020 at 9:42 AM ^
I know when they built Crisler it was praised for it's green energy and efficiency, etc... but you're right. It was not designed to sound loud.
February 28th, 2020 at 7:20 AM ^
You are right. The atmosphere at Crisler honestly sucks in games that aren't vs MSU or big non-conf teams.
The real answer is getting the season ticket holders who just sit there out and replacing them with a larger student section.
But Michigan is too afraid to harm their season ticket holders and are fearful that if they make the student section bigger, it won't be full.
For most of that game last night, it honestly felt like an exhibition with how quiet the arena was. And I understand they were down for the entirety of the game, but Crisler has been like that far too often.
February 28th, 2020 at 8:14 AM ^
Interesting. I've participated in thousands of athletic contests in my life. To the best of my knowledge the crowd never made an iota of difference in how I played, coached or officiated. I know that is just me owning my sample size of one...but I do not recall a single incident where I heard the crowd in a significant way. In general, when I did hear them, their nonsensical stupidity did make me chuckle at times-it never distressed me in any way.
February 28th, 2020 at 9:47 AM ^
So it’s just a coincidence that almost every team in existence has a better home record than on the road?
February 28th, 2020 at 8:55 AM ^
Here’s a list of all the problems:
- Brandon hated student seating
- brandon decided to make donations a higher priority for low bowl seating
- Rich blue hairs got priority to get the seats
- blue hairs provide little energy
- blue hairs are far more likely to be in a warmer climate in the winter
- rich people are less likely to feel motivated to sell their seats if they’re out of town
- Even if they do sell their seat, it won’t end up with a student anyways
And that’s how you get a lower bowl that’s a little bit students and lots of rich older people (if they show up). I truly have nothing against the latter, but you’re not going to build an intimidating environment with them. But the main problem is this - what solution is there that doesn’t involve pissing this demographic off (and remember, this probably your best donation pool)? It’s either live with the environment or piss off this demographic. Warde and everyone else is really in a no win situation.
February 28th, 2020 at 9:59 AM ^
Admittedly, I haven't looked at the finances of the Athletic Dept. but I would bet "lower bowl ticket sales" for Basketball is pennies compared to TV deals, Nike apparel, etc. So, in other words - who cares? Eat those costs, create a more intimidating environment, reap the benefits of a team with a home-court advantage...profit.
February 28th, 2020 at 10:41 AM ^
I don’t disagree with anything you said. But the problem is that I’m sure lots of people now that have lower bowl seats are also big donors. So how do you, as an athletic department, respectfully piss these people off?
February 28th, 2020 at 10:50 AM ^
Fair point. Don't disagree that some people may be mad and take their ball and go home. I do think, overall, fans will support a team that's winning, regardless if their sitting in row 10 or row 30. May some drop off, sure, but that's a drop in the bucket compared to all the other income pouring in.
February 28th, 2020 at 5:50 PM ^
You make the change in a year when demand is lower... in other words, when we suck again for a year or two.
February 28th, 2020 at 12:18 PM ^
Agree with part of this - if you're just looking at basketball dollars compared to TV, Nike, etc... then yes.
However, I'm sure a good amount of the people in the lower level have also donated on top of whatever they are paying for their seats. If you upset them and move them out, do they cut off those donations as well? I have no idea.
February 28th, 2020 at 2:45 PM ^
The solution is expand the maize rage in the lower bowl and live with the whatever consequences there are if any. Seems pretty simple.
February 28th, 2020 at 9:03 AM ^
Looking at most of the students in the crowd currently it honestly looks like most of them have never watched sports in their life or frankly dont care if michigan wins or loses. Most other schools have rabid student sections, michigans not so much
February 28th, 2020 at 9:41 AM ^
More lower bowl sections of students. There is money sitting on the floor with another row on the baseline on both ends if profit is a problem. 1 row on the baseline isn't enough. There are a lot of great seats in the very intimate Crisler. Basket to basket in the lower bowl filled with all students would be awesome. That leaves 2-3 rows on each sideline and baseline for the big $ donors as well as about 40% of the lower bowl.
February 28th, 2020 at 10:23 AM ^
You know what's funny about all this? Had Michigan won last night I'd say there is at least a 90% chance this isn't posted.
At the core of all of this, you're just pissed that the team lost. Which I can't blame you for, but if they were winning you wouldn't care if the building was intimidating or not. Winning cures a lotttttt of problems you might otherwise have.
By the same token, when you're losing, people find everything to complain about.
February 28th, 2020 at 1:14 PM ^
Yep, this post would not exist had the team won. Last night, the game just had a losing feel to it and the fans sensed it.
February 28th, 2020 at 10:43 AM ^
Maybe it's the style of play. A more fast paced game might get the crowd more energized. If we get the guys we're expecting (and hoping) to bring in next year, I have to believe Juwan is going to have them run up and down the court.
Different league and era, but when the Pistons had Lindsey Hunter and Mike James, they would pick up the defense in the backcourt, which led to more turnovers and a more exciting brand of Deeetroit basketball. We need a couple of those guys to go in from time to time to put fullcourt pressure on a team. Whatever offense they provide is a bonus, but something to shake up the opposition and inject some life into the crowd.
February 28th, 2020 at 4:32 PM ^
Iowa does that and Iowa sucks on defense.
February 28th, 2020 at 11:48 AM ^
Hookers & blow
February 28th, 2020 at 1:12 PM ^
Losing=quiet
Winning=noisy+enthusiastic+full house.
It's no different than any other venue with the home team is either winning or losing most of it's games.
February 28th, 2020 at 3:27 PM ^
It’s a know fact that rich, old alumni season-ticket holder’s that sit in the lower bowl are quiet. They’re never going to turn into a rowdy bunch of European soccer hooligans. So stop asking.
February 28th, 2020 at 4:31 PM ^
More t-shirt guns and free pizza.
February 28th, 2020 at 6:36 PM ^
Too lazy to read all the comments, but I hope ticket prices in the lower bowl are mentioned over and over...