Is it time to reconfigure the so-called Student section?

[Mr_Twister]

Might be time to re-configure the Student section. Perhaps replace the bottom 20 or so rows with comfortable seats with backs that are available on a first-come first-serve basis for sale only on game day as walk-up purchases.
Also, what's the deal with the cabaret-like tables and raised seats behind the Handicapped seating area? The seats and tables were occupied for most of the game by fans camped-out and not eating. Is this a Court Club reserved area?

 

[S_Janowski]

Huh? Are you suggesting this because of the turnout for a 12pm Sunday game vs. Niagara?

This program has sucked the life out of the students the last 10 years. The good thing is this staff is legit and this squad looks like it will be able to compete and play some exciting and entertaining ball this year. The RAC will be back.

If they do anything to the student section they should add back the 5 or so rows they took away a couple years ago. The students used to sit right on top of the court and now they are set back pretty far from the basket.

 

[Mr_Twister]

Rarely is there a student presence at the game. Sad but true. Fact. Can you identify a game on this year's schedule where we should expect a large and raucous student turnout?

 

[hinson32]

Rarely is there a student presence at the game. Sad but true. Fact. Can you identify a game on this year's schedule where we should expect a large and raucous student turnout?

Can you telll me a game when the non students will show up? The regular fans as just as lacking as the students.

 

[RUJMM78]

I'm of the opinion that when it starts getting cold sports fans go into hibernation and stay home watching games on the tv.The RAC is a 8000 seat arena in a densely populated area .The football program attracts 40,000 to games with a losing team.With a little marketing the mens basketball team should be able to attract 8000 fans .

 

[jersey07080]

No demand. Free tickets today and no ons was there. What's up with the tables up top?

 

[bac2therac]

perhaps we are headed toward an alcohol area roped off:cheers2:

 

[sct1111]

Keep winning and the student section will fill up when we play good teams.

 

[FAT MOON]

Keep winning and the student section will fill up when we play good teams.

100% fact...

 

[S_Janowski]

Rarely is there a student presence at the game. Sad but true. Fact. Can you identify a game on this year's schedule where we should expect a large and raucous student turnout?

Thursday 1/12 9pm game vs. Northwestern should probly have a good student turnout despite being on break. This is the second BIG home game with Penn state being on 1/1 so who knows how that turnout will be.

 

[Underdogs88]

Rarely is there a student presence at the game. Sad but true. Fact. Can you identify a game on this year's schedule where we should expect a large and raucous student turnout?

They showed up for the 1st game of the season. If we keep winning they will be there. im looking forward to a rockin RAC again!

 

[MGSA99]

I will answer: Yes. Combine all the fat cats in the 100s on one side of the court, and put all the students on the other in the camera's eye. The arena is empty anyway, so it doesn't matter what it looks like on TV for these OOC games. But once conference play starts, assuming we are still doing well, the students will make it look and sound like the RAC again.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

Lots of real bad ideas in this thread.

 

[Upstream]

The RAC will be back.

I'm concerned about that. It has been 10 years since our last winning season and the last time the RAC had a tradition of one of the toughest college arenas. The students who were freshmen then graduated in 2009. The students who were freshmen in the 2008-09 season graduated in 2012. The students who were freshmen in the 2011-12 season graduated in 2015. And the students who were freshman in the 2014-15 season are juniors now.

It has been 3-1/2 generations of students since we had students who rocked the RAC. The learned traditions have been lost. Sure, new traditions can be created. But those traditions will probably be different, and I am concerned that they'll be cookie-cutter versions of what we see at any school.

 

[PatrickRU92]

after just 3 awful years under Littlepage, it took at least 2/3 of the season to get the students to show up to watch a very good team in 1989. Attendance during winter break was absymal too. After 20 years of futility it will take more than a 4-0 start.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

It might be back someday but it won't be this year, I'm afraid. Even in conference, the home slate is very weak and, as has been pointed out elsewhere, early weekend tip times and early evening weeknight games won't help attendance. If we surprise people with our record this year and start playing an entertaining style, it might help build momentum toward next year.

As referenced above, in 1989 the year of the now famous A-10 Championship game at the RAC, we played the same Penn State team about 4 weeks earlier and the announced attendance was only about 4000.

 

[Proud NJ Sports Fan]

From watching on tv, the RAC actually got a loud a few times after runs.

Though, I was hoping to see the lower level folks get up with about 30 seconds left to give the team a prolonged standing ovation. It didn't happen.

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

Can the fans in the 100's at least applaud on a consistent basis? They have the energy of a funeral procession.

 

[sct1111]

I'm concerned about that. It has been 10 years since our last winning season and the last time the RAC had a tradition of one of the toughest college arenas. The students who were freshmen then graduated in 2009. The students who were freshmen in the 2008-09 season graduated in 2012. The students who were freshmen in the 2011-12 season graduated in 2015. And the students who were freshman in the 2014-15 season are juniors now.

It has been 3-1/2 generations of students since we had students who rocked the RAC. The learned traditions have been lost. Sure, new traditions can be created. But those traditions will probably be different, and I am concerned that they'll be cookie-cutter versions of what we see at any school.

When I was a student, we would show up for the big games. The Florida game against Rosario was pretty fun and it was packed. We usually filled up the student section for games against Syracuse, Georgetown, Villanova etc. The current Big Ten doesn't have the same regional rivalries as the old Big East which probably adds to the apathy.

It's going to interesting how Rutgers develops some Bball rivalries over the next few years in the Big Ten. PSU can be one, but there is really no other geographical rivals in the Big Ten which is a shame. I think we should play Monmouth, Princeton, Seton Hall, FDU every year and teams like St. Johns, Temple.

 

[OntheBanks]

From watching on tv, the RAC actually got a loud a few times after runs.

Though, I was hoping to see the lower level folks get up with about 30 seconds left to give the team a prolonged standing ovation. It didn't happen.

You have NO idea what a loud RAC sounds like.

 

[Scarlet Shack]

Have a 14-7 type record after break and there won't be a problem with the student section being full

The one thing I would not mind is movIng the band back to the center of the student section and let them play loudly during timeout

The big east made RU and all over teams relocate their band further away from The opposing teams bench

We are not in the big east anymore

Move the band back to the center

 

[ColonelRutgers]

Can the fans in the 100's at least applaud on a consistent basis? They have the energy of a funeral procession.

You mean the people that actually show up for every game and donate money to the program?

 

[BKIn118]

Those tables have nothing to do with the Court Club, replacing the risers that have been there the past few seasons

 

[ScarletDave]

The band, students, and cheerleaders do cheers on every possession, offense and defense, for the entire game. While the fans in the 100's just sit and watch. Don't clap, don't speak. It's not hard to say "Let's Go Rutgers" or even yell when the other team has the ball. Not a peep. Need that guy that would stand up and wave his hand in a circle to come back and get some people to get loud.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

You don't know what you're talking about. Mind telling us what raucous section you are sitting in? We'll be sure to take notes next time. Or maybe you're sitting in front of your tv.

 

[RUTrack94]

You have NO idea what a loud RAC sounds like.

Was there in the early 90s as a student ... Some games were rocking ... UNLV was the loudest game I went to ... 2nd best win I saw while in college (other than VT on Halloween for football)

 

[BellyFullOfWhiteDogCrap]

You mean the people that actually show up for every game and donate money to the program?

I get what you're saying. That is why I'm so puzzled. Maybe you could help me understand. Why is it that the people that do the most to support the program sit on their hands (for the most part) while they're in the building? Shouldn't they be absolutely thrilled? And for the record, I support all of our sports teams.

 

[PiscatawayMike]

after just 3 awful years under Littlepage, it took at least 2/3 of the season to get the students to show up to watch a very good team in 1989. Attendance during winter break was absymal too. After 20 years of futility it will take more than a 4-0 start.

We only won six of our first 16 games to start the 1988-89 season. Hence, I can understand the fan apathy back then. It wasn't until February when things took off.

 

[RU-Choppin-Ohio]

Can the fans in the 100's at least applaud on a consistent basis? They have the energy of a funeral procession.

Need to put students closer to the court in some of those side court seats. They will make noise right behind the opponents bench.

 

[Greene Rice FIG]

Need to put students closer to the court in some of those side court seats. They will make noise right behind the opponents bench.

Do you make it revenue neutral by doubling the ticketing cost and seat donation on the other side or forgo the revenue?

 

[G- RUnit]

When I was a student, we would show up for the big games. The Florida game against Rosario was pretty fun and it was packed. We usually filled up the student section for games against Syracuse, Georgetown, Villanova etc. The current Big Ten doesn't have the same regional rivalries as the old Big East which probably adds to the apathy.

It's going to interesting how Rutgers develops some Bball rivalries over the next few years in the Big Ten. PSU can be one, but there is really no other geographical rivals in the Big Ten which is a shame. I think we should play Monmouth, Princeton, Seton Hall, FDU every year and teams like St. Johns, Temple.

Love the B1G but the dirty little secret is besides PSU no rivals.

 

[Sir ScarletKnight]

Have a 14-7 type record after break and there won't be a problem with the student section being full

The one thing I would not mind is movIng the band back to the center of the student section and let them play loudly during timeout

The big east made RU and all over teams relocate their band further away from The opposing teams bench

We are not in the big east anymore

Move the band back to the center

I like this idea.

 

[AreYouNUTS]

LOL @ this thread. If anything the students NEVER should have had their 2 sections of seats, behind the bench, taken away 20 years ago.

 

[coachkos]

HOW about the first 20 rows with luxury setting and free food. The students get points with a critera of who excel in class, going to other athletic events, selling RU sports, selling RU tickets and on and on.

 

[ColonelRutgers]

They need to create revenue where they can find it in our tiny old arena. Taking premium seating away and giving it to students is not happening, folks. It's not 1989 anymore and this is not the A-10.

 

[coachkos]

Those students that get those luxury seats might become your best boosters if you put the pt system together correctly and there future income. Cant deny that

 

[ColonelRutgers]

Because no better way create a racuous atmosphere than to give someone luxury seating (let's call them Legends seats to make them sound special) and free Sodexo concessions to students with already-paid-for meal plans. Let's not overthink this. If they don't want to come you can't stop them. Just win, baby.

 

[RocktheRac]

The area behind the handicap section where the tables and chairs are will become a beer garden when the RAC sells beer next year .So says the event staff I asked.

 

[coachkos]

Just coming up with somethink like this to get these kids to really enjoy what they are doing. I understand what your saying about seats but how about the first couple of rows in the student section or make a area from somewhere and enjoy \the benefits we can give them Just something to consider

 

[S_Janowski]

I'm concerned about that. It has been 10 years since our last winning season and the last time the RAC had a tradition of one of the toughest college arenas. The students who were freshmen then graduated in 2009. The students who were freshmen in the 2008-09 season graduated in 2012. The students who were freshmen in the 2011-12 season graduated in 2015. And the students who were freshman in the 2014-15 season are juniors now.

It has been 3-1/2 generations of students since we had students who rocked the RAC. The learned traditions have been lost. Sure, new traditions can be created. But those traditions will probably be different, and I am concerned that they'll be cookie-cutter versions of what we see at any school.

Not necessarily talking about the traditions but more so the full student sections and deafening atmosphere that can happen in that building. I graduated in 2011 and while the teams didn't do much while I was in school there were a few games when it was packed and loud (2011 win vs. No. 9 Nova to name 1 game).

If this team continues to win the games the should in OOC, rebound and play D and play exciting ball over the next 6 weeks the student section will start to pack and that building will get loud again. It really won't take much to turn things around.