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Post by ic59 on Jan 15, 2015 8:03:51 GMT -5
Cjb, LaSalle had the best MAAC team ever, only because of a technicality, which kept the Ruland, Vickers, Hamilton, Brown, Middleton and Palma team from earning that title. (SF)
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Post by tootie223 on Jan 15, 2015 8:59:10 GMT -5
[/quote]Great observations. Still think the program deserves better support and attendance than what it's been getting despite some of the challenges you addressed above. We're not talking about moving mountains here. Figure out a way to pack another 100-200 people into every home game and it would change the atmosphere completely. [/quote]
have been having some talks with a nephew of mine over the Westchester Knicks. Despite the Garden's claim of cheap tickets, their tickets ranger from $26-$136! Unless I am on the bench calling the plays, I am not spending $136 for minor league hoops (insert your own NY Knicks jokes here).
My contention is that Iona should be doing a better, and more aggressive, job of selling Gaels basketball as a cheaper (and more exciting) alternative to pro hoops.
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Post by ghostofwillard on Jan 15, 2015 9:10:07 GMT -5
ghost thanks for answering, oh wait you didn't. were you at the game? back then you didn't have to bribe the students with food to get them to come to half a game and then they leave at halftime, and the alumni used to stand and cheer. Now 4 people stand for the veteran of the game its sad. That's your problem, Back Then is Back Then, and now is now, tell me 1 D1 program in or around NYC who is doing better now, than Back Then?
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Post by iona1970 on Jan 15, 2015 9:14:32 GMT -5
ghost, that wasn't the point. all i am saying is that was the best atmosphere of at an Iona home game i have ever seen, period. And it probably should have since it was the best team we ever hosted, it was a top 25 team, i was agreeing with the best MAAC team ever, if you want to get your panties in a bunch because i said that that's your problem, nobody was comparing era's
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Post by Joebird on Jan 15, 2015 9:51:59 GMT -5
The loudest craziest game ever at Iona was in 85 when 3,300 people completely packed into Mulchay and a huge fight broke out between the teams that even involved male cheerleaders. Although there have been some big and loud crowds every so often, nothing before or since was even close to that atmosphere. The NY media even gave this attention in a fairly big way.
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Post by iona05 on Jan 15, 2015 10:03:26 GMT -5
I remember some great crowds in the late 90s, as well. Particularly when we had our big run in '98 I remember regular sell outs and pretty raucous crowds on the student side. The most frustrating part is that you're talking about only a few hundred people, which would make a world of difference as far as noise, TV appeal, etc. We're not talking about selling out a 10,000 seat arena. Get a few hundred more kids and families in the place on a consistent basis and it would be a game changer.
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Post by iona1970 on Jan 15, 2015 10:11:08 GMT -5
05, I hope we could do that. I don't understand how we can get the area or casual fans behind us though, Under Cluess we have been the best area team and by the far the most exciting and if the students don't come the gym is half empty. There needs to be a way to get the New Rochelle fan to become an Iona fan, but I don't see us being more exciting than the last few years.
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Post by Super on Jan 15, 2015 10:24:46 GMT -5
The loudest craziest game ever at Iona was in 85 when 3,300 people completely packed into Mulchay and a huge fight broke out between the teams that even involved male cheerleaders. Although there have been some big and loud crowds every so often, nothing before or since was even close to that atmosphere. The NY media even gave this attention in a fairly big way. Recall that one Joe, but there was also a crazy game against a Vitale-coached Detroit team with 2 NBA players in the late 70s. All of the aisles were filled with people sitting down. Vitale and Valvano put on a show for the crowd.
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Post by chelseadal on Jan 15, 2015 10:37:47 GMT -5
Great observations. Still think the program deserves better support and attendance than what it's been getting despite some of the challenges you addressed above. We're not talking about moving mountains here. Figure out a way to pack another 100-200 people into every home game and it would change the atmosphere completely. [/quote] have been having some talks with a nephew of mine over the Westchester Knicks. Despite the Garden's claim of cheap tickets, their tickets ranger from $26-$136! Unless I am on the bench calling the plays, I am not spending $136 for minor league hoops (insert your own NY Knicks jokes here). My contention is that Iona should be doing a better, and more aggressive, job of selling Gaels basketball as a cheaper (and more exciting) alternative to pro hoops. [/quote] This has been an issue forever. New Rochelle residents have not had any interest. The increase needs to come from students and to a lesser degree, alum.
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Post by albanygael on Jan 15, 2015 11:47:29 GMT -5
The first year Mulcahy opened we stunk 4-19 under Roberti and we were lucky to have 100 people at the games. In his first year at Iona Valvano filled the place to the rafters for an upset win over Fordham. The crowd went crazy and the bars on North Ave were filled with Gael fans. I knew at that point that we were on our way to something truly special.
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Post by hawaii bill on Jan 15, 2015 12:23:13 GMT -5
The loudest craziest game ever at Iona was in 85 when 3,300 people completely packed into Mulchay and a huge fight broke out between the teams that even involved male cheerleaders. Although there have been some big and loud crowds every so often, nothing before or since was even close to that atmosphere. The NY media even gave this attention in a fairly big way. Yes the MAAC games against Fordham in the mid 80's were very intense.
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Post by imagael on Jan 15, 2015 13:44:04 GMT -5
Good points, CJB. But since we have more boarders now, shouldn't we have more students when they are in school? Thanks for the memory, Super! That Detroit game was a special night. Agree the Ruland, Hamilton, Vickers, Palma etc. would have been best MAAC team ever. They could take out anybody on a given night. Enthusiasm, increased attendance, etc has to come from the students. I would love to turn the place into a pit that other teams trembled to come into. Maybe a chain link fence around the court?
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Post by GuyF on Jan 15, 2015 13:53:28 GMT -5
Good points, CJB. But since we have more boarders now, shouldn't we have more students when they are in school? Thanks for the memory, Super! That Detroit game was a special night. Agree the Ruland, Hamilton, Vickers, Palma etc. would have been best MAAC team ever. They could take out anybody on a given night. Enthusiasm, increased attendance, etc has to come from the students. I would love to turn the place into a pit that other teams trembled to come into. Maybe a chain link fence around the court? We have a ridiculous home record under Cluess.
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Post by hawaii bill on Jan 15, 2015 14:36:22 GMT -5
Jeff Goodman's 10 most hostile arenas
3. Gonzaga’s McCarthey Athletic Center -- It opened in 2004 and is affectionately referred to as the “New Kennel.” It’s not overly big (seats about 6,000) and that’s one of the reasons it works so well -- along with the fact that Gonzaga is the only game in town.
“I couldn’t even hear Coach [John Calipari] speak in a timeout. The place literally shakes.” -- Former Memphis guard Antonio Anderson
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Post by iona05 on Jan 15, 2015 14:53:13 GMT -5
Good points, CJB. But since we have more boarders now, shouldn't we have more students when they are in school? Thanks for the memory, Super! That Detroit game was a special night. Agree the Ruland, Hamilton, Vickers, Palma etc. would have been best MAAC team ever. They could take out anybody on a given night. Enthusiasm, increased attendance, etc has to come from the students. I would love to turn the place into a pit that other teams trembled to come into. Maybe a chain link fence around the court? We have a ridiculous home record under Cluess. This speaks more to the remarkable job the coaching staff has done than it does to our home court atmosphere.
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