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Topic: Fans and OZone

Topic: Fans and OZone

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GPro31
General User

Member Since: 9/16/2012
Post Count: 75

Status: Offline

Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/7/2018 7:25:15 PM

I was surprised when my little cousin (younger by 10 years) said that He rarely goes to basketball games at the Convo. I was really disappointed because even in my first year at OU when the Tim O’Shea team was .500 we still all went to games and the OZone had a nice crowd with tons of chants. We eventually had to get to games early to be part of the OZone that extended above the media tables. I don’t understand how the people in charge of athletics can let our OZone die off. I must admit I haven’t been back down to a game in years but even knowing that my beloved days in the Convo were spent hoping to keep a tradition going with a great atmosphere now long gone is sad. What can OU do to make the Convo a feared place to play with the OZone jumping again?

mf279801
General User

Member Since: 8/6/2010
Location: Newark, DE
Post Count: 2,452

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/7/2018 8:16:37 PM

To be fair, I was also in college during the O'Shea days ('01-'05) and if I'm remembering correctly I went to maybe 3 or 4 basketball games during my entire college tenure. Easily been to more games as an alumni (who has never lived in Athens as an alum) than I went to as a student. Looking back, I wish I'd have gone to more basketball (and baseball!) games, but I'm sure whatever I was doing at the time was at least as entertaining.

Andrew Ruck
General User

Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,696

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/7/2018 8:29:51 PM

It is not one bit the fault of the Athletic Department. The kids just don't want to go.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

OU_Country
General User

Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,320

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/8/2018 12:15:59 AM

Andrew Ruck wrote:

It is not one bit the fault of the Athletic Department. The kids just don't want to go.

Beg to differ. There are things they could do. And it has nothing to do with free crap to hand out at games. They could start with making a splash with the first real home game of the year and not scheduling it against the football game on ESPN against the biggest rival we have.

100%Cat
General User

Member Since: 1/17/2013
Post Count: 2,491

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/8/2018 7:37:51 AM

What is the OZone?

GraffZ06
General User

Member Since: 1/5/2005
Location: Dayton, OH
Post Count: 1,907

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/8/2018 8:52:54 AM

What is Buffalo sucks?

Andrew Ruck
General User

Member Since: 12/22/2004
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,696

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/8/2018 10:43:18 AM

OU_Country wrote:

Andrew Ruck wrote:

It is not one bit the fault of the Athletic Department. The kids just don't want to go.

Please note I did not say they couldn't do better. But their incfuence and efforts are no less now than they were when the Ozone was thriving.

Andrew Ruck
B.B.A. 2003

.
General User

Member Since: 2/3/2005
Post Count: 2,949

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/8/2018 11:42:25 AM

I'm just throwing something at the wall here: Do they need to think about scaling it down for quality over quantity for the time being? Fill one section and make it rabid. Maybe if one small portion of it is rabid, it will attract more students over time? Isn't that how it grew to be such an institution? People seeing how much fun that small group of students was having and wanting to be in on that?

The real answer, of course, is importing hundreds of Brazilian students to Athens and just letting them party courtside the entire game.

Last Edited: 11/8/2018 11:44:54 AM by .

shabamon
General User

Member Since: 11/17/2006
Location: Cincinnati
Post Count: 6,109

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/8/2018 11:49:22 AM

What the O Zone is missing is a core group of about 10 students who will take it upon themselves to show up and be rowdy for every game. When we were only mediocre under TOS, not many students in total showed up, but you still had a small core that did all the O Zone fanfare. When you have that, the casual fan who might be interested in participating in games that way have a group to join instead of feeling like a lone wolf. Also, if you have that core group, you can build around that when the team is good and more students come to the games.

Without that core that takes it upon themselves, you can't build a student section. I think this is outside of athletics' control.

OU_Country
General User

Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,320

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/8/2018 11:51:53 AM

Andrew Ruck wrote:

OU_Country wrote:

Andrew Ruck wrote:

It is not one bit the fault of the Athletic Department. The kids just don't want to go.

Please note I did not say they couldn't do better. But their incfuence and efforts are no less now than they were when the Ozone was thriving.

Fair point on the influence and efforts.

RSBobcat
General User

Member Since: 8/22/2010
Location: Columbus, OH
Post Count: 4,401

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/8/2018 11:28:09 PM

Dissappointed that my son who is now a Junior seems to have little interest. And he was BIG fan when a kid - Lot's of Convo trips with me, away games, St Louis Sweet 16 game, etc.

But now as a student - he's pretty 'meh" about BBall and FBall. Seems to be the general state of mind these days. I don't get it.

But I do know - He will not miss a Fiami game. Or a 'Kron game. Or a Marshall game. Or any other OOC Big Name game. I am also confident he would get more engaged if we were WINNING a Lot.

RS Bobcat

GroverBall
General User

Member Since: 12/3/2012
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 1,241

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 12:07:52 AM

RSBobcat wrote:

My son is a junior too, grew up in Athens going to every game and still goes to every game and is definitely not 'meh about OU hoops. However, he comes and sits with us most of the time, his friends are usually not in attendance.

FearLeon
General User

Member Since: 3/12/2005
Post Count: 4,125

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 8:42:13 AM

RSBobcat wrote:

I am also confident he would get more engaged if we were WINNING a Lot.

There is truth to this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

#BleedGreen #TrentIsGOAT

GoCats105
General User

Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Post Count: 6,912

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 9:47:35 AM

FearLeon wrote:

RSBobcat wrote:

I am also confident he would get more engaged if we were WINNING a Lot.

There is truth to this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

But as Shab noted, we had some pretty mediocre teams during the TOS era, yet the OZone was bananas. Hell, midweek MAC games were some of my favorite times to go to the Convo. Finish up my shift at Shively Dining Hall and throw my OZone shirt on and get rowdy for a couple hours.

rpbobcat
General User

Member Since: 4/28/2006
Location: Rochelle Park, NJ
Post Count: 3,504

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 9:51:48 AM

FearLeon wrote:

RSBobcat wrote:

I am also confident he would get more engaged if we were WINNING a Lot.

There is truth to this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

But,are you looking for true fans or "bandwagoners" ?

This is what happened at Rutgers.
When they were doing well in football,pre B1G ,their games were sold out events.

Then they started to slide.
Now they have crickets in the stands.

They interviewed some students who said that they have no interest in
Rutgers sports,until they are winners again.

Of course,when it comes to football,I'll be long dead before they're even competitive.

OU_Country
General User

Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,320

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 12:06:30 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

FearLeon wrote:

RSBobcat wrote:

I am also confident he would get more engaged if we were WINNING a Lot.

There is truth to this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

That was a golden era for the OZone because of the active people running it, and it was good before the surprise tip in by Leon to beat UB. Winning clearly doesn't hurt, but it's not the only reason. As for the bandwagon, you need the bandwagon fans because eventually some of them become goofy loyal fans like the regulars on this board.

That said, In my opinion....

Getting butts in seats now-a-days means doing more than just winning. It requires making every game day an EVENT, and an event that's not to be missed. A portion of that has nothing to do with winning, but has to do with game day experiences that fans get when they buy a ticket, or students get when the choose to get in for free.

It's things like how much fun it is in the building before the game, during player intro's, and during TV timeouts, halftime entertainment. It's the music played, and things done with the video board that engage people. It's decorating The Convo to make it FEEL cool, and show off the successes of the past to make people truly feel the winning tradition that has been in there for a long time. And right now, Ohio Athletics is falling short in this area in my opinion. Compared to many big/nice arena's in the State of Ohio, it is bland. The hallways are white and concrete, and in general have nothing on the walls that screams tradition, fun, or coolness. While that might have gotten it done when I was in school in the late 90's, it doesn't now. The walls of The Convo should look as great as the walls of Baker Center - and they don't.

The ease of getting in and out of the building is an issue with these annoying 'security' people funneling everyone through one entryway. Concessions, as stated a million times on this board, could be drastically improved. Blue painted restrooms....you get the picture.

Meanwhile, in-state students who hail from Columbus, Cincy, Dayton, or Cleveland spend time in places like the Schott, Fifth Third Arena, UD Arena, or The Q, which all make The Convo look a lot less cool. Maybe I'm all wet here, but to me, all those things are big factors in the current age. Looking cool matters. Looking like you won a lot matters. And other than a bad-ass video board, and a few banners on the roof, there's nothing in The Convo that shouts "cool", or this is THE place to be. Heck, as several of us have noted on here before, it's not even well lit up at night and on Game Days to know there is a game taking place.

Specific to students, want to figure out what gets them in the seats? Go to UD, UC, Ohio State, and Xavier and ask the hundreds up to maybe a thousand WHY they consistently turn out for games regardless of the tip time --- because they do. Then ask those Athletic Departments what they're doing with their student sections. It's the same state, with a whole bunch of the same types of kids, and they routinely fill most of their student sections. Yes, I'm aware that there's a huge difference between Big East/B1G basketball and the MAC. The gap isn't nearly as huge though from the AAC or A10 to the MAC. UD wasn't very good last year, won't be this year, and will STILL put butts in student seats.

If you make The Convo THE place to be, and restore the cool factor, whatever it is now, and usually win 18-22+ games a year, students and fans will show up more than they are right now. Because unlike us, the regulars of this board, not everyone shows up just for the game because they're basketball junkies.

Last Edited: 11/9/2018 12:21:22 PM by OU_Country

Jeff McKinney
Moderator

Member Since: 11/12/2004
Post Count: 6,045

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 2:10:22 PM

OU_Country wrote:

GoCats105 wrote:

FearLeon wrote:

RSBobcat wrote:

I am also confident he would get more engaged if we were WINNING a Lot.

There is truth to this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

To borrow a line from Fear Leon....THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

FanInTheStands
General User

Member Since: 10/11/2015
Post Count: 172

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 2:26:38 PM

Jeff McKinney wrote:

OU_Country wrote:

GoCats105 wrote:

FearLeon wrote:

RSBobcat wrote:

I am also confident he would get more engaged if we were WINNING a Lot.

There is truth to this ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

To borrow a line from Fear Leon....THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Well said. Since this is the 50th anniversary of the opening of the Convo, the entire year should be spent celebrating all of the great events that have happened in this building. Aside from the deplorable hand driers in the restrooms that obviously came with the facility in 1968, there is very little to reflect upon the storied history of the building. Lots of sports history there and I can recall when The Convo was a great concert venue as well.

As another aside, is there a reason why we have nothing but holes and patching for the 2 video boards that were removed on the floor? If we can't replace them with other better video options, at least get an Ohio banner or flag or something to cover them up.

Last Edited: 11/9/2018 2:27:36 PM by FanInTheStands

OU_Country
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Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,320

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 3:00:56 PM

FanInTheStands wrote:

Jeff McKinney wrote:

To borrow a line from Fear Leon....THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Brilliant point. While I'm indifferent regarding hand dryers, as long as they work, I do agree about the 'patchwork' where the old boards were.

The celebration of the arena's 50th Anniversary is a heck of a point. There are a ton of things that could be gone over, including the 50 best games, 50 best players, moments, etc.

Tom-Bob
General User

Member Since: 10/31/2017
Post Count: 4

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 3:06:35 PM

I would add that the Ozone began the decline when the games began having "Hosts, or MCs". When a time out comes, and the Ozone really would get going; suddenly the mic comes on and drowns them out to prepare for a "commercial" or buritto toss. The involvement of the student section has been replaced by uncomfortable antics that have no business in the Convo. I'll add, the 110 plays about 2 songs before halftime, and seems to stand there awkwardly, at times. We all get to listen to Rap music, in stead. This is not the atmosphere conducive to rowdy fan involvement.

GoCats105
General User

Member Since: 1/31/2006
Location: Seattle, WA
Post Count: 6,912

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 3:36:31 PM

OU_Country wrote:

FanInTheStands wrote:

Jeff McKinney wrote:

To borrow a line from Fear Leon....THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Easily something that could be done with old game tape and Russ or Lou in a voiceover and display on the new video board during a TO of every game. A different moment every game.

Hell, I'll do you one better and say do it all the time, every season. "On this day in Bobcat basketball history" type stuff.

OU_Country
General User

Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,320

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 3:47:25 PM

Tom-Bob wrote:

While some don't like the "rap music" and prefer the 110 at all hours of the day, I have sincere doubts that students, and younger alumni actually feel this way. And those are the people who generally stand up and make the atmosphere loud. I haven't been to hundreds of college arena's, but I've been to Hinkle, UD Arena, Fifth Third Arena, The Schott, Crisler Arena, among a few MAC venues and the Nutter Center.

At all of the places I've been to that really rock besides Athens, the band is not the center piece of the college basketball experience during down times like everyone on Bobcat Attack seems to desire. They do, of course, use the pep band, but it's probably about the same amount as is done right now at Ohio, maybe a little less.

Every building has Em-Cee'd moments where there is something on the floor in conjunction with the video board being done to engage the crowd. I think what needs a little help in The Convo is smoothly orchestrating how all that goes - so the 110 plays this media TO, and that one, and two songs right as the halftime begins, or whatever. And I'm sure they're working on this with the new board, and have worked on it prior to the new board.

And, making those sponsored moments something that actually engages the crowd. Personally, my favorite promo from years back was the realtor's mini house that a blindfolded student had to find with the help of the crowd. Stuff like that is fun - but maybe it's not to others and students now, I don't know.

OU_Country
General User

Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,320

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 3:48:28 PM

GoCats105 wrote:

OU_Country wrote:

FanInTheStands wrote:

Jeff McKinney wrote:

To borrow a line from Fear Leon....THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

"This Day In Bobcat History" -- LOVE. IT.

Alan Swank
General User

Member Since: 12/11/2004
Location: Athens, OH
Post Count: 7,023

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/9/2018 5:20:38 PM

OU_Country wrote:

FanInTheStands wrote:

Jeff McKinney wrote:

To borrow a line from Fear Leon....THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

50 cent beers.

OU_Country
General User

Member Since: 12/6/2005
Location: On the road between Athens and Madison County
Post Count: 8,320

Status: Offline

RE: Fans and OZone

Posted: 11/10/2018 11:14:27 AM

Alan Swank wrote:

OU_Country wrote:

FanInTheStands wrote:

Jeff McKinney wrote:

To borrow a line from Fear Leon....THIS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

50 cent beers.

That concept went well in Cleveland. 😂

Let's do it! It could be called Greenery night! (accounting for inflation)

Last Edited: 11/10/2018 11:15:25 AM by OU_Country

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