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Topic: The Convo

Topic: The Convo

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Alan Swank
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Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
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The Convo

Posted: 11/23/2014 10:51:55 AM

Went to the Yale - SIU game last night at Kent as part of the Men Against Breast Cancer tournament. Hadn't been in the MAC in a long time. While the Convo is clearly a better seating venue to watch the game, the MAC far outshines the Convo with it's amenities. Shall we start with the Exclerator hand dryers? How about game clocks in the the hall ways? Elevated video screens show the game in real time? A hanging scoreboard with player stats? And my favorite, a sound system that has the full range of sound from deep bass to soaring treble? Again, the Convo is by far a better viewing arena but Kent has it hands down on the fan experience. Even my wife commented without prodding on the superior sound quality not to mention the music selection.

Oh and I almost forgot, concessions. They actually have a grille in the stand where you can't get a grilled burger if you'd like.

Last Edited: 11/23/2014 11:11:41 AM by Alan Swank

oldkatz
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/23/2014 11:10:10 AM

Can or can't, Al? We have all kinds of concession areas where you can't get a grilled burger.

"All my inside sources tell me I have no inside sources." Salvatore "money bucks" Mafiosiano.

Alan Swank
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/23/2014 11:12:15 AM

Good catch OK. Glad you caught that before OCF.

oldkatz
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/23/2014 11:13:41 AM

He's in the depths of his late morning nap!

"All my inside sources tell me I have no inside sources." Salvatore "money bucks" Mafiosiano.

bobcat695
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Location: Parkersburg, WV
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/23/2014 12:58:47 PM

I said something similar after leaving Dix Stadium in September. Kent does a very nice job of game day operations. Too bad their teams stink. I've said for a long time that we have a lot room for improvement in areas that would cost very little money. While I'd like to have a winning team and the best experience, I guess we have to choose one. If we have to choose, give me winning.

"You can't un-fist a fist pump." - Saul Phillips 1/24/15

Alan Swank
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/23/2014 1:48:18 PM

bobcat695 wrote:

I'd have to disagree on that one 695. Read Danny Meyer's book "Setting the Table." It's the best read I've had in some time that addresses both put out a great product and providing the ultimate customer experience. There are places that do both. Sometimes I think it would be worth bringing in a non-sports person to help step up the customer experience. We did it with the Green and White Club tailgates back in 97 - 03 or so.

Last Edited: 11/23/2014 1:49:29 PM by Alan Swank

bornacatfan
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/23/2014 2:41:28 PM

the amenities are nice at the MAC but the wooden stands and the seating arrangement in addition to the abominable parking situation sours me for the entire experience.

Staying after to wait for the team leaves plety of time to sit and look at what they got... better HS facilities around here but I agree with your assertion that we could quietly and cheaply upgrade the game day experience at OHIO to make the Convo a place no recruit or parents would ever pass up

never argue with idiots, they bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

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bobcat695
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/23/2014 3:20:16 PM

I said it with sarcasm. My staff and I spend our entire day providing concierge-level client service. It really doesn't cost that much more to provide a great experience and any money spent is seen back 5-fold. We can supply a better experience and keep winning.

"You can't un-fist a fist pump." - Saul Phillips 1/24/15

Alan Swank
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/23/2014 3:47:22 PM

bobcat695 wrote:

Missed that 695 although knowing your commitment of customer service, I should have recognized that. Anyway, read Danny Meyer's book if you get a chance.

Monroe Slavin
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/23/2014 4:00:20 PM

bobcat695 wrote:

My staff and I spend our entire day providing concierge-level client service. It really doesn't cost that much more to provide a great experience and any money spent is seen back 5-fold. We can supply a better experience and keep winning.

We haven't the money so we have to think -- Ernest Rutherford (former power forward at Iron Age Tech)

Even if we have the money, we have to think -- yourfavoriteposter.

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The Optimist
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/23/2014 5:43:27 PM

I have long suspected that Swank is only here for the caviar and does not care about winning.

Last Edited: 11/23/2014 5:51:01 PM by The Optimist

I've seen crazier things happen.

Alan Swank
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 9:11:43 AM

The Optimist wrote:

I have long suspected that Swank is only here for the caviar and does not care about winning.

Not at all - the "caviar" just tastes better after a win.

Recovering Journalist
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 10:31:55 AM

I go to the MACC two or more times a year and I don't know how anyone could compare anything about it favorably against the Convo. And I actually like going to Kent - the town is great nowadays.

On the one hand I guess it's fantastic that we're always looking to improve things and complaining can be a catalyst for change. On the other hand, sometimes it seems like we don't appreciate how great the overall experience at the Convo really is. I marvel at the quality of the building and the whole gameday experience every time I set foot in the Convo, then I come on here and all I see is carping about the place... It's too big! The pretzels are stale! My hands are damp after using the bathroom!! There's a beautiful young woman in the way of the crappy scoreboard!

I get it. I'm a proponent of a hanging scoreboard myself (and I'd pony up some funds to help pay for one). I just think most of the Convo's issues are very minor and not really worth lamenting.

Alan Swank
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 10:41:56 AM

Recovering Journalist wrote:

RJ, I clearly listed 5 things that the MAC has that the Convo doesn't not to mention the concessions. Not sure how much clearer one can be. And as borna clearly stated, the "seat" experience is far superior in the Convo unless your season ticket is one of those seats badly in need of repair/replacement.

Casper71
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 11:35:28 AM

Serious question on convo seating...am I correct they are going to replace all the seats with plastic? I wonder why they don't just repair those seats that need it? Or, move some of them around? After all, some of those light greeneies have hardly been sat in over the years. I don't get replacing "all" them with plastic? I've been to more than a few games over the years and I haven't sat in a bad seat yet. I just don't see a need to replace them all. Am I missing something here?

OU_Country
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 12:37:56 PM

Recovering Journalist wrote:

This is a discussion I really enjoy, and it happens on here a few times a year. I agree with Alan's fixes in relation to video boards, game clocks, scoreboards, etc. A few other things that are ALREADY IN PLACE that we don't use include "piping in" the radio broadcast in the restrooms, and using the flat screen TV's above the concession stands with either the OU game, or another MAC game of consequence that day.

My point is, and I think Alan's point as well, is that there are little things that don't cost a lot that could be done to really improve the game-day experience. For example, we're always talking about new scoreboards with video. Why do we really need state of the art video boards? I'd settle for a scoreboard I can see, that includes some stats of the ten players on the floor.

OhioCatFan
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 1:15:05 PM

Casper71 wrote:

I agree Casper, I see no need to replace all the the seats with inferior seats. My is very comfortable. Putting in plastic seats would be a serious downgrade. Let's just fix the ones that need fixing and leave the good ones alone. It can't be more than five percent of the seats that need fixing. I'd take the money saved by not doing this downgrade and put it toward a hanging scoreboard. I will say that I'll be very upset if next year I have to sit in some generic plastic seat without the nice padded cushion I currently enjoy.

The only BLSS Certified Hypocrite on BA

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Recovering Journalist
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 2:37:51 PM

Alan Swank wrote:

I wasn't intending to single you out, as these critiques are seen in many threads. Honestly, many of the points are valid, but they get far more ink than necessary in my opinion. Here's why:

I don't care about food because food at all sporting venues is either overpriced or awful (usually both). I don't care about the hallways because I'm too busy watching the game. I don't care about the sound system because I enjoy the band so much and I don't need high fidelity for our esteemed announcer. I don't care about hand dryers because shaking my hands off and brushing them on my jeans is not a crushing burden. Would it be nice if all that was better? Sure. I just don't lose sleep over it or pine for it when I see it elsewhere.

I do care about the scoreboard and I've done more than my share of carping about that.

p.s. - If you love the MACC so much you should get its name right. ;-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Athletic_and_Convoc...

Casper71
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 3:05:57 PM

See that, if OCF and I agree on something then maybe someone should take this to the powers at be ans simply ask: Why replace ALL good seats when only some aged/inferior/damaged ones need it?"

Again, I say, those top light green seats are seldom to ever used. Are they all that bad? If not, put them were some dark green ones are or move the "bad" dark green ones around and replace them with the "good" dark green ones. Unless I am missing something I just see no reason to put in all new..yippididoda plastic seats in the beautiful Convo!

OU_Country
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 3:22:40 PM

Casper71 wrote:

I agree with this thought 110%. I like my cushioned seat quite a bit. If anything, why not put the plastic ones in the student section above the bleachers/below press row, and move good ones from there around the building as needed as replacements.

Mark Lembright '85
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 4:16:14 PM

OU_Country wrote:

Casper71 wrote:

Why does the cynical part of me say that the University will be selling seat pads at the College Bookstore, Follett's etc. next year? It's all about raising revenue, fellas. Hopefully they put that new revenue to the upgrades you're discussing.

shabamon
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 4:18:22 PM

I think Schaus believes converting the Convo seats to plastic will eventually pay for itself. Those upholstered seats tear up easily.

Speaker of Truth
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 6:11:11 PM

shabamon wrote:

I think Schaus believes converting the Convo seats to plastic will eventually pay for itself. Those upholstered seats tear up easily.

Plastic seats are a good long term solution. The current ones are not only tough to maintain, but I would be surprised if company still put them in that way.

OhioCatFan
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 6:59:36 PM

shabamon wrote:

I think Schaus believes converting the Convo seats to plastic will eventually pay for itself. Those upholstered seats tear up easily.

This simply not true. My seat and all of those around me in the lower ring are in excellent shape. There is a little wear on them, but they are holding up remarkable well. In my wandering around other parts of the Convo the only seats that I've seen that look in bad shape appear to have been vandalized by some hoodlum; a few looked like someone had taken a pocket knife and purposely cut the fabric on the seat. I haven't seen many of these, but a few. Outside of that kind of treatment these seats have held up remarkably well. You'll hear a lot of howling, by me and others if they replace them with plastic crap. I might even withhold a donation to the OBC over this. It's just a plain stupid move! Casper, are you in for the protest movement? How far do we go? Pickets? Mass walkout?

Edit explanation: After Alan quoted this post, I noticed that it had about 15 typos. My problem is that I type fast -- but not accurately -- and when I'm in a hurry I post before I proofread. No wonder I received a D in typing in high school. ;-)

Last Edited: 11/24/2014 9:57:16 PM by OhioCatFan

Alan Swank
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 11/24/2014 7:58:50 PM

OhioCatFan wrote:

shabamon wrote:

I think Schaus believes converting the Convo seats to plastic will eventually pay for itself. Those upholstered seats tear up easily.

This simply not true my seat, and all of those around me in lower ring are in excellent shape. There is a little wear on them, but they are holding up remarkable well. In my wandering around other parts of the Convo and the only seats that I've seen that are look in bad shape appear to have been vandalized by some hoodlum; a few looked like someone had taken a pocket knife and purposely cut the fabric on the seat. I haven't seen many of these, but a few. Outside of that kind of treatment these seats have held up remarkable well. You'll hear a lot of howling, by me and others if they replace them with plastic crap. I might even without a donation to the OBC over this. It's just a plain stupid move! Casper, are you in for the protest movement? How far do we go? Pickets? Mass walkout?

Have to agree my good man. There are some pockets of very bad seats in the Convo but by and large, they are in pretty good shape for 45 years old. What we will hear - and you can mark this post - is that this is standard industry practice today. So if all of your friends are jumping off of the Tallahactchie Bridge, do you? OU fans are smarter than that.

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