Suggestions for improving MSU gameday experience

GavinDonos · Post by **GavinDonos** » Wed Dec 08, 2004 10:33 pm

billingscat wrote:Bay Area: so what you are saying is that "the people at msu" whoever they are will come across these postings and change what they do? Or is there an actual specific place or individual we can go to express these ideas??

Check out BAC's opening post to this thread... he lays out his plans there.

BozoneCat · Post by **BozoneCat** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 2:25 am

Interesting timing on this article in the Chronicle... but some good items covered. I would like to see Peter become a little more aggressive and proactive, as opposed to reactive, but I do like the vision he has for our university.

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/ar ... fields.txt

Robcat · Post by **Robcat** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:55 am

I have read some great suggestions and I hope they move forward. However most are going to cost some money, money MSU does not have. I am not sure of the average age of the posters on this forum, but I have a feeling that it is less than 30 years old. Maybe we need to look within Bobcat Nation, find a project that we think will increase the game day experience the most and raise the money from within Bobcat Nation. Lets keep the ideas flowing, the goal will be accomplished, we will increase the game day festivities.

Tully · Post by **Tully** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 10:56 am

Gotta utilize the big screen better! My understanding was that the only time we can get instant replays on there is when our games are being televised.
I also understand that MSU has one of the best film departments outside of L.A. couldn’t the athletic department extend an invitation to the film department to get some interns over there to film the games and get it replays up on the screen. I’m not a techie, but this seems relatively simple and inexpensive.

Music. Love the Lulay song and was absolutely pi$$ed this year when the announcer would start thanking sponsors again after a touchdown rather than playing “Lulay, Lulay Lulay Lulay” Again, being an alum and a corporate sponsor this is my personal pet peeve and it’s got to change!

This one may be a harder sell, and if memory serves there is some history to the answer, but if they are selling beer inside the stadium in Missoula, why aren’t we??? It would certainly generate revenue, and may fire up those golden oldies under the grandstand. \

Whoever the announcer is, and I hope we get a new one, I have one word, “Timing.” If there is already someone new hired for next year my offer from the other day stands. Let me get that person a ticket to go to the game in Missoula this weekend to see how a good production goes.

suckitgriz · Post by **suckitgriz** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:25 am

gfallscat- you have a great one too. If you are in Bozeman- look me up.
By the way, isn't it illegal for stadiums that are located on campus to sell beer? One more thing, i have never seen beer at the jizz games? Maybe I am wrong, but i thought the NCAA had rules against it and the only teams that can sell beer are those who have their stadiums away from campus.

Post by **rtb** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 9:52 pm

suckitgriz wrote:By the way, isn't it illegal for stadiums that are located on campus to sell beer? One more thing, i have never seen beer at the jizz games? Maybe I am wrong, but i thought the NCAA had rules against it and the only teams that can sell beer are those who have their stadiums away from campus.

I don't think so because beer can be sold in the boxes at the stadium so that must not be a law.

Also the idea of bobcatnation raising the funds for an ideas sounds great!! As this post builds we need to determine something feasable that can be done. I think we could raise enough money for a game clock that faces the tailgates or speakers for the scoreboard, but it would take a pretty big effort. If you guys are into something like this let us know.

BobCatFan · Post by **BobCatFan** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:19 pm

When it comes to raising money, Bobcat Nation would have to from a nonprofit organization like a (501-3c)?. Then an election of officers and a board of directors would have to be formed. Another decision that would have to be made is weather to donate all your funds to MSU or to start a foundation where only the profits from your investments are donated to your cause. The advantage to the first one is the immediate use of funds. The advantage to the second option is the constant future flow of funds.

If a foundation is started then a nice goal of $1,000,000 in capital should be the long-term goal. With 5% return, this would raise $50,000 a year for MSU each and every year. A million sounds like a lot of money, but if you break it down, it really is not that bad.

We have 405 users. If we all get two friends to be members, we would have 1215 members. If we all donate $100 per year, it would take about 8 years to reach the Million-dollar goal. Lofty, but it can be done.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:48 pm

[quote="suckitgriz"]No

I really think that is the key. I noticed at the jizz games that even the people who know nothing about football come to the games (most of the crowd). Make it enjoyable and they will come.

[quote]

Hey I don't really need to get involved in this thread but I'm not sure how you could sit there and talk about how great the Griz gameday atmosphere is and not call the fans knowledgable. They are dead silent on offense and the loudest stadium in I-AA on defense. They know when the ref makes a good or bad call, and don't boo (as I heard Georgia Southern fans doing) their team when they don't go for it on 4th down inside their own 20.....Greatest fans in footballl....Anyway, back to your guys' suggestion dealy. I agree, stop stealing our traditions!

Go Griz!

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Thu Dec 09, 2004 11:52 pm

Tully wrote:

This one may be a harder sell, and if memory serves there is some history to the answer, but if they are selling beer inside the stadium in Missoula, why aren’t we??? It would certainly generate revenue, and may fire up those golden oldies under the grandstand. \

.

Just to clear this up, as a Griz season ticket holder since 1999 I assure you that Washington-Grizzly Stadium does not sell alcohol.

Bigtime75 · Post by **Bigtime75** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 1:15 am

but the skyboxes can have beer and liquor...

suckitgriz · Post by **suckitgriz** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 9:37 am

I believe that the reason the boxes can have alcohol is because it is a private deal. People pay a due and get certain privledges, but the general public cannot partake.

NICK- I am not saying that certain fans do not know what they are talking about, but the majority of your fans are uneducated, homeless hippies or 50 year old obese women who just got off their shift at walmart.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:37 am

If you didn't want to actually go through the process of forming a non-profit corporation (file articles of incorporation, elect a board of directors, creat/establish bylaws, elect officers, hold monthly board meetins, hold annual elections, organize fundraisers, manage finances, and all the other little details that it takes to run a business) everyone here, plus their 2 friends, could donate their $100 to the ASA and accomplish the same thing.

Bleedinbluengold · Post by **Bleedinbluengold** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 10:38 am

suckitgriz wrote:NICK- I am not saying that certain fans do not know what they are talking about, but the majority of your fans are uneducated, homeless hippies or 50 year old obese women who just got off their shift at walmart.

Actually, they are neither, because neither of these demographics can afford griz home games.

Robcat · Post by **Robcat** » Fri Dec 10, 2004 12:07 pm

Donate the money to the ASA or form a non profit. I can see both sides of this deal, if it goes to the ASA, unless maybe we can ear mark the money for a specfic project, it will be used for scholarships. A non profit could decide what to do with the money. A $100 bill per year would be a bargin. You can count on me.

One more thought, could we put music videos on the big screen? Maybe the stadium tunes could be shown on the big screen.

Bobcat Proud · Post by **Bobcat Proud** » Sat Dec 11, 2004 11:09 pm

I hope the stadium expansion rumor is true. If it is it better happen soon because I'm sick and tired of always being ten steps behind the Griz! It's amazing the amount of respect you get when you play in a REAL stadium. No wonder we can't recruit decent players. We play in a high school stadium.

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:05 am

Bobcat Proud wrote:I hope the stadium expansion rumor is true. If it is it better happen soon because I'm sick and tired of always being ten steps behind the Griz! It's amazing the amount of respect you get when you play in a REAL stadium. No wonder we can't recruit decent players. We play in a high school stadium.

Like it or not, our stadium is better than 80% of 1-AA teams. And unfortunately, I hope the stadium expansion rumor is NOT true. We can't even fill the stands as it is. A stadium renovation sounds better.

Nick · Post by **Nick** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 1:40 am

suckitgriz wrote:
NICK- I am not saying that certain fans do not know what they are talking about, but the majority of your fans are uneducated, homeless hippies or 50 year old obese women who just got off their shift at walmart.

Keep telling yourself that. It looks like they're educated enough to board the plane to Chatty on Thursday (myself included). Awful quiet in Bozo town huh..........Oh well, you'll win a playoff game sometime.

CelticCat · Post by **CelticCat** » Sun Dec 12, 2004 2:14 am

It wouldn't be so quiet if our basketball team gave us something to talk about as well. It's not the best time to be a Cat fan.

BobcatBlood · Post by **BobcatBlood** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 1:55 pm

We (as a family) have been trying to brainstorm this question for the last week - some of the ideas that have already been mentioned are excellent.

We definitely need to use the screen more effectively. Even if instant replay is not feasible at this point (and if it is USE IT!!!!)- we could do so much more. I strongly agree with Peter Fields that we are MSU and no one else and therefore we need to base our success and our plans, etc. on what WE are and on what WE want to be.

What we ARE is a very strong academic institution. We want to recruit intelligent, motivated, bright students to come to MSU - both in general and as athletes. This doesn't mean only the 4.0 student, but also the 2.5 high school student who has visions of being the next Bill Gates or of designing the coolest building in the state - and is willing to roll up his/her sleeves and do the work. We should be very boastful of our record on CPA exams and of how many of our graphic arts students win international design contests. We could also showcase the women's basketball team putting in some hours at the children's museum or the football team shoveling snow or the cycling club raising money for Toys for Tots. I could go ON and ON and ON... Why not use the screen to show blips of our student athletes being students - there could be loud music, they could say something catchy, AND we could say WE are a great SCHOOL. The Line shows Jon Montoya in the school where he student taught. My daughter (10) was so impressed that he was studying to be a teacher. I think it would be great to emphasize the hard work that these athletes put in 24/7, it would showcase MSU - would be interesting to most fans, could be entertaining. Don't you think a "commercial" of Jon Montoya teaching math to a bright eyed kid, and then making a crushing hit on an opponent would be fun. I'd like to see something like that on the big screen.

Now this might be really corny, but you know that song "Walk this way, Talk this way..." (Sorry, I'm horrible about remembering who sings what, but this is a song I know you all know) - I could see maybe using a song like that to get the crowd focused in on walking the Bobcat way, talking the Bobcat way. We could think up some kind of crowd activity that went with the song, something that eventually became a unique BOBCAT thing. It would have to be cool (so I agree to back out of this idea now; cool I'm not).

As far as the Bobcat Nation raising money to accomplish something specific. I'm all for it. I'm sure the ASA would be willing to earmark funds if there was a strong, clearly designed plan put forth. I'd be hesitant to set something up that basically competed with the ASA/Boosters.

Just my two cents.

Robcat · Post by **Robcat** » Mon Dec 13, 2004 2:01 pm

BCB, I agree we would not want to compete with the ASA for funds. However I think we could compliment the ASA with funds raised to enhance the game day experience. I like your idea of featuring student athletes on the big screen. I hope the moderators will boil this thread down to notes that will be passed on to Peter Fields and the powers to be.