I do think some of that has to do with it being the first year of that new arena and them having some flashy names, but also impressive considering the record they have. I think the new sac arena fits well in the Big West.

I also think our (mens) basketball team is a bit stale and has been for a bit. Most people I know who are still in Davis think the team has been "mid" for the last few years. I think some of the new student section stuff has been cool, but I do worry moving into the mountain west that we are gonna really struggle at first (expected with any step up in competitive though). I am okay moving on from Les.

It’s going to get less expensive. This is one of the few things that Davis is playing correctly. The Sacramento corporate dollar, which is not large, ain’t going to Sac State athletics. They are redirecting some of the minimal support they have to sponsor a suicide mission to Tuesday night football on espnu in the MAC.

It’s free tickets and toomey level attendance accuracy. There are less than 2,500 seats in that thing.

Yeah I was gonna say I remember them saying total seating was less than 3000 ...

Just need to let those guys do what they do. What’s your take on hoops as a recent grad? Student participation is well behind UCI, SB, SD, and this is a situation where Davis has the largest venue of the bunch, the most students within walking distance, and pretty solid play.

You are great my man, don't lose your enthusiasm!! Talking Davis sports is so fun today, because we are close to taking the next step. We can all feel it. Wait till next year, I'm telling you 2026 might be the year we break through :)

I think the basketball would be happy with numbers like like. Seems like a good third of our crowd is students (free), and no creative accounting gets us above 2000 except vs Sac. They are packing the place and their home record reflects.

seems like with a little marketing and a down Kings team there could be a push for UCD BB but gotta actually market it AND put some money into the gameday experience. With the Kings having one of the best entertainment products in the NBA it’s a lot to contend even when their basketball is comical, but I’d rather go watch my Aggies than Kings, especially if the experience was elevated a bit. I think the eventual arena upgrades get us there, but we need some in game experience aside from the basketball too.

Not to derail this into a basketball discussion but here’s big west attendance for this season. We’re down about 300/game from last year (we got a big ESPN bump). Hawaii is the outlier. What are SB, SD and Irvine doing to get 600-1000 more per game? Irvine has been a perennial power, but lots of LA completion. How is Poly, who’s been terrible in recent past and decent now, outdrawing us? Be good to have someone research their approach and see what applies to us.

(and I’m going to @LeFan) I think the pr for basketball has been really bad compared to football. I do think that if we can compete in the MW attendance will improve, most people I know like playing the UC schools but don’t really seem interested in watching a Thursday game against Northridge or Bakersfield. The fact that football only has a few home games and recently has been basically expected to provide a really exciting game compared to the basketball team that for almost 10 years now hasn’t done much doesn’t surprise me. I also from personal experience know a lot of people who find the team really stale right now. whether it’s actually stale or not, to me it seems like the lack of star players, stagnant records in recent years and the success of football has people not focused on basketball. When I got to Davis as a freshman and in sophomore year when pepper was on the team I knew a lot of people from a variety of classes that were interested in games and went to quite a few. I also know quite a few people who are former and current students who find Les insufferable for how he acts during games, complains nonstop and just seems “old”. Heck, most people I know find Plough young, energetic (especially since he went here) and innovative, don’t feel the same about Les.

Now out of my personal opinion, I like the promos they have had, but other than that the gameday experience kinda sucks. The concessions stink, the concourse and hallways are depressing and lifeless and parking sucks. I am excited for the renovations in Aggie ascent (which would make it one of the better arenas in our new conference) but for now just improving concessions would be a really good start. Also with football I feel like I am aware whether I am looking for it or not when a game is happening, basketball I have to go and look to see…

Now for my extended families opinion that wanted to join in: “parking isn’t my biggest complaint… concession are lame…. Bakersfield has a basketball team?…. I want to travel to New Mexico for a game…. I’ll miss playing Poly… it feels like my voice could echo when in the arena… why are there big gaps…” (paraphrasing)

Concessions have been better. They have 2 lines now and both seem to move along at a reasonable pace.

I just wish we had more options to be honest. That’s good to hear though, I remember being really thirsty and it taking a while last time haha