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Topic: The Convo

Topic: The Convo

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Obc2
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Member Since: 11/8/2007
Location: Cincinnati, OH
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The Convo

Posted: 1/7/2017 4:15:14 PM

Its been a few years since ive been to see a game but it looked great last night on espnu.

Looks like me, the mrs and our teens will be there Saturday for Eastern game...any tips from the usual suspects?

I lived there my freshman year, but that was snoopy graham/dave jamerson year. I hope the refreshments have improved.ha

BuddyLee
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Member Since: 12/20/2004
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/7/2017 7:08:36 PM

EspnU broadcast sure was digging the pretzels last night. But I agree the convo looked pretty good and the lighting seemed much brighter on tv than I remember in the past.

Last Edited: 1/7/2017 7:08:59 PM by BuddyLee

Tom Valentino
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Member Since: 3/13/2005
Location: Painesville, OH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/7/2017 7:50:21 PM

Although I've been to probably 10 or so Ohio games elsewhere since graduating, I'll be making my first trip to the Convo since 2004 next month for the BG game. Looking forward to being back in my favorite place for watching hoops!

On Twitter: @1tomvalentino | TheNailPodcast.com

OU_Country
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Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/7/2017 8:28:25 PM

Obc2 wrote:

What sort of tips are you looking for? I'm glad to hear we'll have a couple regular attackers getting into the building for the first time in a little while.

ts1227
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Location: Tallmadge, OH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/7/2017 9:38:03 PM

BuddyLee wrote:

EspnU broadcast sure was digging the pretzels last night. But I agree the convo looked pretty good and the lighting seemed much brighter on tv than I remember in the past.

To be fair it probably is the "gourmet" item out of the sub-high school quality concessions that we offer.

But yes, the building did look good on TV.

Obc2
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Location: Cincinnati, OH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/8/2017 10:35:44 AM

Looks like the Roundhouse is pretty much the same as i remember it, except for new seats and hanging banners. Which is a-ok with me.

Wrigley used to be my favorite place to see any game but the new additions have taken away some of its historic charm to me.

Ill be sure to order 4 pretzels and 2 popcorn. Are we a coke or pepsi arena?

SBH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/8/2017 12:14:17 PM

No coke. Pepsi.

OUVan
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Location: Bethesda, MD
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/8/2017 3:13:25 PM

BuddyLee wrote:

and the lighting seemed much brighter on tv than I remember in the past.

ConvoBat was a little critical of the lighting I believe. Something about it being a little too bright.

cbarber357
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/8/2017 5:42:20 PM

The convo got a nice shoutout from and ESPN analyst on twitter recently.

https://twitter.com/franfraschilla/status/817805704174141441

Deciduous Forest Cat
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Location: Ohio
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/8/2017 6:01:16 PM

BuddyLee wrote:

EspnU broadcast sure was digging the pretzels last night. But I agree the convo looked pretty good and the lighting seemed much brighter on tv than I remember in the past.

our last attempt at upgraded lighting did wonders and we also have a lighter color floor, which I think looks way better on tv.

Also, I think the new seats being all the same color looks great. They would look better if they looked like people, but the seats look great.

BillyTheCat
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/8/2017 9:22:59 PM

BuddyLee wrote:

EspnU broadcast sure was digging the pretzels last night. But I agree the convo looked pretty good and the lighting seemed much brighter on tv than I remember in the past.

New LED lights two seasons ago.

Andrew Ruck
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Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 10:39:41 AM

Obc2 wrote:

Wrigley used to be my favorite place to see any game but the new additions have taken away some of its historic charm to me.

Nonsense. It's the same stadium and neighborhood, a couple boards don't change that.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

giacomo
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 10:49:03 AM

The Convo did look great the other night. I don't like the huge logo at center court. If I were playing, I'll bet I wouldn't know half the time where the half court line was. I think O-H-I-O behind the baskets is sufficient, as well. But when they put in the new floor they didn't ask me and I didn't pony up to impose my will.

bshot44
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 10:50:36 AM

Some observations I had from Friday's game re: Convo

Someone mentioned this earlier on this board...but I felt like I was breaking into the Convo to watch the game. It was so dark outside...you would have no idea a game was going on. Just a quiet, dark building on a poorly lit street. Can we add a few light bulbs to exterior to add some life??

Once you get past the entrance (which is painted up nice with a lot images/photos/history....the rest of the Convo concourse, walkways, etc are like a prison. No paint. No signage. Nothing. Can we not paint some Bobcat logos or something along the concourse walls or the tunnel entrances into the seating area? Can't imagine that would break the bank.

The arena is in desperate need for better scoreboards. It's awful. Those corner boards are just the worst. Depending on where you sit, you can't see the clock or score sometimes. There's no replays, no stats. No fan interaction with in-house cameras. Would be wise investment to liven up the in-game experience for the crowd/kids/etc.

Also would't kill them to maybe add some ribbon boards over top the tunnel entrances? Smaller scoreboard?

I know money is an issue...but there are a few things they could do to add some life in there.

They could also use a massive facelift to the in-game experience for fans. Go study some other schools/games to get some fresh ideas. Musical chairs and bad trivia is pretty awful. Not to mention half the time Lou talks over the PA the damn band cuts him off halfway and starts playing over top of him. Just a clusterf**k organizationally.

I know it was winter break...and maybe that played into it. But I came away just shaking my head at how disjointed the entire experience was. The 2000-ish crowd (4500+ my ass!) didn't help.

Just feel like we're our own worst enemy sometimes when it comes to elevating our own product. That goes for football too.

OU_Country
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Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 12:14:49 PM

bshot44 wrote:

I agree with 95% of what you've said in here. Light the place up on the outside!

Wouldn't it be a nice Grad Student project to research how other schools run their gameday operations to see how some improvements could be made? Places like UC, Dayton, Pitt, Butler, IU, and Xavier are all within reasonable driving distance for research. From my perspective, having been in each building in the last year, Butler, UD, and UC have it down for in game experiences. Butler and UC make excellent use of the center court scoreboard in their buildings. They use it for advertising, but also in game promotions that we're doing with musical chairs on the floor right now. I know it's on the radar for getting done, and I know it costs money. But as you say, it would do a lot to improve the experience. With ads on it, it would eventually (hopefully) pay for itself, right?

But as you said, there are tons of things that can be done to give The Convo the feel of excellence and tradition that cost MUCH less. Hanging banners with All-MAC players in the building. Hanging more jerseys from the rafters. We have more than the small handful of great players in program history than are currently hanging up there now. Brandon Hunter, DJ Cooper, Geno Ford are names that come to mind that could/should be up there.

I've been posting about this for years, but why can't we hang things and decorate the concourse to the point that you know you're there watching Ohio Basketball (men's and women's), and volleyball? Making it look really sharp, and feeling like a building of tradition and history can't cost that much.

Seems to me there needs to be a group running the show on gamed ay so everything flows better. There needs to be a balance of band, and music over the PA to get/keep energy high. The music should be a blend of modern/current music that the students get into, and a couple songs that older fans can identify with. Find what gets the response from the fans, and stick to it. Same with the 110 - find the high energy songs, and stick to the same ones.

One last thought I've been wanting to share, or ask about: Why is it that we don't play the Alma Mater either before or after games, or both? I was at Cincinnati's Fifth Third Arena on New Year's day. The UC Alma Mater preceded the National Anthem, and was also played as fans departed. Pride in the Alma mater comes with that song. Alma Mater Ohio needs to be part of the game day experience in Athens.

giacomo
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 12:35:21 PM

I agree with playing the alma mater.

catfan28
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Member Since: 6/11/2011
Location: Athens, OH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 1:28:15 PM

bshot44 wrote:

I know it was winter break...and maybe that played into it. But I came away just shaking my head at how disjointed the entire experience was. The 2000-ish crowd (4500+ my ass!) didn't help.

Just feel like we're our own worst enemy sometimes when it comes to elevating our own product. That goes for football too.

We have over 4k season ticket holders (remember article from the fall saying that was a new record) so you'll never see an attendance number below that.

Also, I'd argue our "experience" is 10x any MAC school. If you travel to some road games this year you'll see what I mean. Morgue-like environments with no more than a legit 500 there.

#MACtion...

OU_Country
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 2:06:58 PM

catfan28 wrote:

I can attest that our experience is better than BG, and Oxford. I haven't been anywhere else in the conference personally. It's obvious that NIU, EMU have lacking gameday experiences. I'm hoping to get over to Muncie this year for the first time for a game at Worthen Arena.

(Although BG sells beer, so they get a bump up there)

But the serious question is this: Don't we, and the Athletic Dept want the experience to be far and away the best in the MAC? They play up the "Best Fan's in the MAC" stuff, and OUr programs are very good, why not get the rest of the show to match?

Recovering Journalist
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 2:40:35 PM

OU_Country wrote:

Why is it that we don't play the Alma Mater either before or after games, or both?

Because it, like most alma maters, sounds like a treacly funeral dirge. Not exactly a great way to fire up the crowd.

GoCats105
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Location: Seattle, WA
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 2:55:31 PM

OU_Country wrote:

bshot44 wrote:

I wonder if the marketing department gets the opportunity to travel to games outside the MAC to see where they could improve. Like most things though, it all costs money and Schaus and Co. are always running a tight ship.

Ohio69
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 2:58:43 PM

OU_Country wrote:

I can attest that our experience is better than BG, and Oxford.

Oxford? Wow. Its been a few years but last time I was there it was a dark and lonely place.... That's a hockey school now, no? ;)

I like a lot of the ideas here like lighting up outside the arena. And, a new scoreboard of course. I attended at UVA football game this year and they did a lot of cool stuff with their huge scoreboard that fired up the crowd.

Of course, we need some of funds....

Last Edited: 1/9/2017 3:06:54 PM by Ohio69

Can somebody hit a pull up jumper for me?.....

Recovering Journalist
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 3:13:03 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

A lot of good ideas have been thrown around here, but I don't think there's a lot to be learned around the league. I've been to most arenas in the MAC, and they generally lack what we already have: fans. What they have that we don't is stuff everyone (including Schaus) knows we need, starting with a scoreboard. If we had the money for it, we'd have the scoreboard. I just hope it's the #1 priority right now, because it is the biggest thing keeping the Convo from being really great.

bshot44
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 3:25:34 PM

I agree Ohio/Convo experience is better than anywhere else in the MAC.

But that's like being the star on your JV basketball team.

Don't you strive to be better?

We shouldn't compare ourselves to the rest of the MAC in that regard....strive for better.

Visit (study) some of the good mid-major programs that have some good home court experiences and pull from them.

Miami might be worst CBB experience I've ever had. Millett Hall is dreadful.

The scoreboard would be a huge boost...but as I mentioned earlier....just having some organization would be a small step in right direction. The band shouldn't just be playing whenever they fell like it (i.e. over Lou when he's trying to do a read). Just seemed very disjointed.

Why no some murals to celebrate great moments in Bobcat basketball/volleyball.

Hell...celebrate the men's Sweet 16 run with a big mural.

Volleyball's run to multiple NCAA tourneys/MAC title

Women's basketball MAC title/NCAA run

Maybe even some wrestling murals for MAC/NCAA success.

There are just so many blank, concrete walls once you get past the front ticket office. They did a good job there...but the rest of the arena is pretty blah.

catfan28
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Location: Athens, OH
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 3:33:28 PM

I think many underestimate the importance of a quality videoboard in the things discussed above. If you go to an NBA or "big time" college game, much of what goes on at timeouts is predicated by the board. For those of you that have been to the "Q" for the MAC Tournament, you've seen how it's done there.

Our lack of replay capability, fan cams, etc means we essentially have all the tools available to us that the average SE Ohio high school does. Hence, we are left to cheesy minor league baseball promotions rather than the "McDonald's Fan Cam" or the like. I will say though that many of those fans around me (a lot have kids) enjoy the cheesy contests. We represent the crusty old man demographic here...which I will plead guilty to not always being the most in-touch with what the student or young family demographic enjoys.

OU_Country
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RE: The Convo

Posted: 1/9/2017 3:54:15 PM

Recovering Journalist wrote:

OU_Country wrote:

Why is it that we don't play the Alma Mater either before or after games, or both?

Because it, like most alma maters, sounds like a treacly funeral dirge. Not exactly a great way to fire up the crowd.

It's 90 seconds long. Having pride in the Alma mater generally fires people up a little, right? When done by SMO, it's not exactly a funeral dirge.

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