What is Wrong with the BC?

[askdavescat]

The NBA leaves a lot of money from West Central Wisconsin on the table because of their (approx.) 100 mile radius rule, which means that the NBA tries to shove the Minnesota Timberwolves down their throats. When I go back to Chippewa Falls for Christmas, all my friends/family there are starving for Bucks info (I have NBA League Pass, so I tell them what I see), and b!tch about not having the Bucks on their cable/satellite packages. Admittedly, the folks from there aren't capable of going to a lot of games, but back in the day, we used to make road trips once or twice a year to go see a Bucks game, and we all had a Bucks sweatshirt or two. Now, nothing like that happens. David Stern needs to realize that (for the most part) Wisconsin people root for Wisconsin teams, and a lot of folks who would like to be watching/supporting the Bucks wouldn't walk across the street to watch the Timberwolves, and don't spend money on their merchandise.

[MickeyDavis]

As long as Badger basketball is thriving Madison won't support the Bucks.

Few remember but the Bucks used to play regular season games in Madison (and Green Bay). They even had some PLAYOFF games in Madison when the Arena was booked (hard to believe but true).

The season they won the championship they played 6 regular games in Madison and never drew more than 10,000. Certainly the facilities weren't great but it WAS the NBA's best team with Alcindor.

In fact the year we won the title we played all 3 home games in the first round of the playoffs in Madison (against the Warriors).

[LISTEN2JAZZ]

Interesting MD, I didn't know that.

I wouldn't say that because it didn't work back then it can't work now though. There may be lots of other reasons why it can't work now; I just wouldn't use that one.

Madison supports the Packers with a passion, so it is certainly possible for the city to support a professional sports franchise. I think at least part of the reason that the Bucks don't enjoy the same support is because they haven't been marketed effectively enough.

[MickeyDavis]

It's possible that the Bucks could draw in other parts of the state but it would have to be against a premium opponent.

The way things are going now it certainly wouldn't hurt to try. I have no idea why we don't at least try a preseason game in Madtown.

[LISTEN2JAZZ]

If you did 5 games a year in Madison, and 36 games in Milwaukee, what would be the risk? That the 5 games in Madison would only draw 10,000? That doesn't sound very scary to me as a worst-case scenario, since the games don't sell very well in Milwaukee either.

The upside of doing that is that you might create a few thousand additional Bucks fans who increase tv ratings on FSN, buy a jersey, and occasionally head to Milwaukee to catch an extra game.

Doing a pre-season game would be the risk-free way to obtain some more info about the viability of that.

[MajorDad]

I have to wonder if the people who are complaining about the sight lines are the people who buy the cheap seats? and just want to complain?

I think it's stupid and also financially irresponsible to build a new arena when the current one doesn't sell out more than 5 times at most in one year.

i think it's time for the whiners and complainers to start another let's hate bogut, let's hate kohl, let's hate redd thread or let's hate the weather thread..

Can't Bucks fans ever be happy about anything?

[skones]

As long as Badger basketball is thriving Madison won't support the Bucks.

Few remember but the Bucks used to play regular season games in Madison (and Green Bay). They even had some PLAYOFF games in Madison when the Arena was booked (hard to believe but true).

The season they won the championship they played 6 regular games in Madison and never drew more than 10,000. Certainly the facilities weren't great but it WAS the NBA's best team with Alcindor.

In fact the year we won the title we played all 3 home games in the first round of the playoffs in Madison (against the Warriors).

I think the success the Badgers are having could actually help the Bucks. With the success comes a renewed interest in the sports itself. Putting some NBA basketball within walking distance to thousands of students could help sell.

As far as preseason games go, it's just not an accurate measure. Honestly, nobody wants to go see preseason games. They simply don't matter in the grand scheme of things.

[Chuck Diesel]

What everyone else said, plus the entire building smells like 3 year old hot dog water.

[kebzach]

First of all the BC has the smallest lower bowl in the NBA. About 11,000. That means there are over 7,000 in the upper (cheap) seats. Simple math tells you if you have more seats in the lower bowl you will have more revenue as those seats cost more.

Actually per the Bucks media guide there are only 7,200 seats in the LOWER bowl. Which leaves 11,517 in the upper bowl and suites to get to the Bucks sellout number of 18,717.

[CS Buck]

Yeah, MD had that backwards. It's cool.

If they built a new arena with things going on that were not basketball-related (like MD said), it will sell. Put the HD museum in there, put a coupla bars, shops, Bucks experience theme park or somethin'...make it THEE place to be when you are downtown, and it will sell out.

My co-worker found a pair of tickets on the ground outside the BC that were in section 213 before last week's game vs. the Hornets. Crazy.

[MickeyDavis]

The media guide is incorrect. There are 11,000 in the lower, 7800 in the upper.

[kebzach]

Let me count the ways.

-It's a dull, greyish look inside.
-Awful sound system.
-Awful lighting scheme.
-Terrible sightlines if you aren't sitting along the sidelines in EITHER level. The seats are angled for hockey, not basketball.
-Cramped seating in both levels.
-Uncomfortable seating in both levels.
-A video board straight out of 1995.
-Steep upper deck (once again for hockey purposes).
-Boring, typical concessions.
-Shabby, bathroom-esque concourses.
-Suites are subpar in terms of what you'd expect for a luxury suite.
-Small lower bowl compared to other arenas.
-Music choices straight from the tape deck to you.

Anything else?

Can't disagree with any of that.

The media guide is incorrect. There are 11,000 in the lower, 7800 in the upper.

Mickey, I believe that the media guide is correct. If for no other reason than for the fact that I've been to Admirals games that have drawn 7,500 to 8,000 fans, and those games have just a handful (50-100 or so) of fans using the upper decks. If there were 11,000 seats in the lower bowl, there would be 3,500 empty lower bowl seats at those particular Ads games.

[WEFFPIM]

The media guide is incorrect. There are 11,000 in the lower, 7800 in the upper.

I think I'll have to disagree with you there. A sellout of an Admirals game is only the lower bowl and it never tops 7,000.

[Enrique]

I think they should build a new arena somewhere between Milwaukee and Madison. Maybe in Oconomowoc. The area is booming. It's the fastest growing area of the state and would draw people from both communities.

[L Gator]

The actual seats are god awful. I am a fairly large human (6'4", 230) and it is actually uncomfortable to sit in the BC. The rows are very close together and provide no leg room at all. My legs ached after every game I went to.

[MickeyDavis]

Guys you are forgetting that there are a lot more seats in the lower bowl for basketball than hockey. The hockey rink takes up more space.

Just to be sure I called my friend in the Bucks front office today and confirmed that the seating in the lower bowl for Bucks games is just under 11,000.

[jerrod]

The actual seats are god awful. I am a fairly large human (6'4", 230) and it is actually uncomfortable to sit in the BC. The rows are very close together and provide no leg room at all. My legs ached after every game I went to.

i'm only 6'1" ish and it's extremely uncomfortable for me too