Shootout - Will you go?? Poll

[MADXSTER]

Personally I say Campus Only. Otherwise it just feels like Butt Chugging(not that I know what that feels like)

[D-West & PO-Z]

Personally I say Campus Only. Otherwise it just feels like Butt Chugging(not that I know what that feels like)

IS this just random or is there any news on this?

I will go if it is neutral again, but would prefer back to the campuses.

[MADXSTER]

IS this just random or is there any news on this?

I will go if it is neutral again, but would prefer back to the campuses.

Both sides are working on getting this done. Looks like the game is a go but not sure about the other details.

[Xavier]

I like it on campus better. Having said that, I went last year and it was actually a pretty sweet atmosphere. Went to the banks first and walked over, the build up with about 15 minutes before the game until tip was pretty intense with both fan bases there. And then the game was amazing, hearing the xavier chant throughout the arena, "whose killpatrick" echoing while he missed free throws. Made it all the better seeing all the UC fans so disappointed. Still I like it at home better but wouldn't be against rotating at UC/US. Bank/ at home.

Also, US bank is the type of place (no close backdrop behind the hoop) that they play in during the NCAA tournament so it's nice to get a couple games like that each year IMO.

[xu82]

I would prefer home and home (time to grow up and get over it!), but if I were in town I'd go regardless of location. The team deserves support and there's no easier "away/neutral" game to get to!

[X-man]

Personally I say Campus Only. Otherwise it just feels like Butt Chugging(not that there is anything wrong with that)

Fixed that for you.

[Muskie1000]

Haven't we had this debate year after year?

[Muskie]

I doubt I will attend at US Bank. I cannot duplicate my seats at that arena, for a price that I am comfortable paying.

[nuts4xu]

I doubt I will attend at US Bank. I cannot duplicate my seats at that arena, for a price that I am comfortable paying.

If you go, I will go. We can slum it in the upper deck with the rest of the "regular folk". I would like to go to one of these shootouts downtown to experience it live. I enjoyed the times Xavier has played at US Bank in the past, and I am sure it would be fun to go again.

I would prefer to have this game on campus, and would be fine with whatever Xavier has to do to get the games back to where they belong.

But if we need to play downtown, I think both season ticket bases should have this game in their ticket package.

[Olsingledigit]

I will not go at a neutral site. Hate US Bank Arena and don't like being around any UC fans. Even the ones who sneak in when the game is at the Cintas are enough to make me gag.

[Muskie]

If you go, I will go. We can slum it in the upper deck with the rest of the "regular folk". I would like to go to one of these shootouts downtown to experience it live. I enjoyed the times Xavier has played at US Bank in the past, and I am sure it would be fun to go again.

I would prefer to have this game on campus, and would be fine with whatever Xavier has to do to get the games back to where they belong.

But if we need to play downtown, I think both season ticket bases should have this game in their ticket package.

That's quite an offer. Is that first come first serve? (Like have you made the promise to go to other people?). I want to know how much time I have to consider.

[blobfan]

I doubt I will attend at US Bank. I cannot duplicate my seats at that arena, for a price that I am comfortable paying.

Had this been an option, I would have chosen it. I'm willing to go to a neutral site for the right price. I'll pay more for a better site but US Bank is not worth the current asking price. Would prefer it were included in the season ticket package on alternating years.

[nuts4xu]

That's quite an offer. Is that first come first serve? (Like have you made the promise to go to other people?). I want to know how much time I have to consider.

Take all the time you need. Hit me up when they announce the game and we will re-visit the subject.

[TUclutch]

I obviously would prefer it on campus, but that atmosphere last year was pretty sweet. I kind of have a problem with fans who wouldn't go just because its not on campus. Going to be loud and support the team on their way to winning is fun no matter what.

[xu82]

I obviously would prefer it on campus, but that atmosphere last year was pretty sweet. I kind of have a problem with fans who wouldn't go just because its not on campus. Going to be loud and support the team on their way to winning is fun no matter what.

That's the way I feel about it. I'm not saying anyone is right or wrong, but I don't get why people wouldn't want to see a big rivalry game played by your favorite team played in your home town. I'd rather it be home and home and I get to sit in my familiar, awesome seats (if I had familiar, awesome seats), but a much hyped, high energy rivalry game across town would appeal to me too. But that's just me...

[D-West & PO-Z]

I am surprised the majority of people would only go if it was at home, especially the type of people who are big enough fans they are on the teams message board. Like XU82, not saying anyone is right or wrong, just was surprising to me.

[xu82]

I wonder if some of it is just resentment over how a better arrangement was taken away from us because it was so badly mishandled. I can understand that to some extent, but if my team's playing a big game in town and I'm a serious fan, I think I'd want to be there. Maybe if I lived in town and already had a dozen plus games a year I'd feel differently. It seems far more compelling than an exhibition type game against a Western Carolina type team at Cintas (although those games scare the crap out of me!).

[West is Best]

I actually like the neutral court setting... every play brings cheering or boos. It captures the divided nature of Cincinnati Hoops really well - something that's not very common across the country. I'd prefer it at home due to ticket prices and US Bank's limitations as a venue, but other than that I have no complaints.

Also, when you're winning the way we won last year, it's great to have some opposing fans near by.

[X-man]

I obviously would prefer it on campus, but that atmosphere last year was pretty sweet. I kind of have a problem with fans who wouldn't go just because its not on campus. Going to be loud and support the team on their way to winning is fun no matter what.

And I kind of have a problem with people who have problems with people who don't behave the same way that they do.

[X-man]

NM

[Thor in 204]

I plan on being there, but I feel like we're getting hosed with the ticket prices at a venue with too many bad seats. Nonetheless, I want to support the team and be part of Xavier Nation showing up big for a big game.

[Olsingledigit]

I will say again - I will only go if it is on campus and even then only to the Cintas. I cannot be around UC fans anywhere plus the downtown arena stinks. It should be a home and home.

[MADXSTER]

I find it interesting how split we fans are on this subject.

[xu82]

I find it interesting how split we fans are on this subject.

I'm fascinated as well. I'd want to see the game, but that's me. I see some reasonable explanations for passing (bad or expensive seats, venue area, parking, whatever), but many don't give anything specific. It just seems like a matter of principle to many. I don't really get that. Is it because we had a good home and home and people resent losing it? Hating UC fans may be a reasonable excuse, but I haven't been to one on so long I can't say. It seems like that's part of the excitement so it seems far fetched, but again I haven't experienced it in forever. But the large divide is interesting. I'm not saying the other half is wrong, so please don't start on that... it's just interesting. I wonder if there's a pattern? Do season ticket holders have a more extreme point of view? Is age a factor? Do in-town people feel different than out of towners? Any other factors?

[MADXSTER]

I think some of it may be tradition. Some may be UC trying to get the upper hand on Xavier. Some may be UC using this to end the series and them coming out smelling like a rose. Resentment possibly, the longer UC can keep the Brawl alive, the better it makes them look in the media, and as long as it remains at a neutral court the longer the media will continue to mention the brawl.

These are more of my reasons for wanting the home-and-home.

[xu82]

I think some of it may be tradition. Some may be UC trying to get the upper hand on Xavier. Some may be UC using this to end the series and them coming out smelling like a rose. Resentment possibly, the longer UC can keep the Brawl alive, the better it makes them look in the media, and as long as it remains at a neutral court the longer the media will continue to mention the brawl.

These are more of my reasons for wanting the home-and-home.

So, they better managed the aftermath. I'd agree with that. Would it have come off better for us if the exact same thing had happened on their court? How much does it hurt in perception that it was on our court? I guess we need the ultimate cure - bring in good players, win and move on. I am all for moving on and I trust we're doing that quite well.

[xubrew]

I think it could be a great neutral site game, but the way it's run now is awful (ie ticket prices, not making the game accessible to season ticket holders every year, etc). My preference would be to turn it into an awesome neutral site game, but I liked it better on campus than what it is now.

As far as tradition goes, it looks like the majority of the games were played at neutral sites. It was at Cincinnati Gardens every year from 58-75, and then it was at Riverfront (now US Bank) for the next seven straight years, then it rotated Cincinnati Gardens and Riverfront. So, for a series that dates back to the late 20s, it wasn't on campus until 1990.

I know it rotated Riverfront and Cincinnati Gardens, though. Was one considered Xavier's home game and the other considered UC's home game. the reason I ask is because it was not a strict rotation. It was at Cincinnati Gardens three years in a row before it was played in the Shoe for the first time.

I'm not saying I don't understand why people want it back on campus. I'm just saying that it doesn't have this long rooted tradition of always being on campus. It looks like the vast majority of games were neutral site games.

[GoMuskies]

I know it rotated Riverfront and Cincinnati Gardens, though. Was one considered Xavier's home game and the other considered UC's home game. the reason I ask is because it was not a strict rotation. It was at Cincinnati Gardens three years in a row before it was played in the Shoe for the first time.



I don't pretend to know much about Xavier and UC pre-1990, but UC definitely played their home games at Riverfront Coliseum in the '80s. They may have had a year or two of home games at Cincinnati Gardens while the Coliseum was going through one of its many renovations. Or they may have had a lease dispute while the Shoe was in progress once it was clear UC was leaving downtown for the Shoe.

[nuts4xu]

I know it rotated Riverfront and Cincinnati Gardens, though. Was one considered Xavier's home game and the other considered UC's home game. the reason I ask is because it was not a strict rotation. It was at Cincinnati Gardens three years in a row before it was played in the Shoe for the first time.



UC played their home games at the Coliseum for most of the 80's, and Xavier played most of their home games at the Gardens. The stretch of 3 years in a row at the Gardens was when UC was waiting for the Shoe to be finished, and Go is right, the coliseum was being renovated. Cincinnati Gardens was the home venue to both UC and X for a short period of time.

[muskiefan82]

I can't, nor will I, speak for anyone else, but when I think back to this game over the years at the Coliseum and the Gardens (and all the elbows, punches, cursing, etc that happened at those games) and then I think about the commitment Xavier made to the program by building the Cintas Center, I can't help but feel that the game should be played at the campus arena. Those who have been a part of making all of this happen and those who are just entering the Xavier Nation, deserve to have this game at their arena every other year.

I won't argue the benefits to the RPI for a neutral game, nor the "tournament atmosphere" that others talk about. I will only state that Xavier has EARNED the right for this game to be played at the Cintas Center if that is where they want it to be.

[Milhouse]

I will say the support down there that X gets absolutely sucks. I get it why some of you don't go...but it's just a bummer. I have no doubt that if its a close game that X will be at a huge disadvantage due to the crowd. Which in the end just sucks no matter how you look at it.

I will say last year going to the banks before and after and celebrating the absolute slaughter of Clifton was great. Even ran into Redford after the game and he was having a great time as well.

[xubrew]

I can't, nor will I, speak for anyone else, but when I think back to this game over the years at the Coliseum and the Gardens (and all the elbows, punches, cursing, etc that happened at those games) and then I think about the commitment Xavier made to the program by building the Cintas Center, I can't help but feel that the game should be played at the campus arena. Those who have been a part of making all of this happen and those who are just entering the Xavier Nation, deserve to have this game at their arena every other year.

I won't argue the benefits to the RPI for a neutral game, nor the "tournament atmosphere" that others talk about. I will only state that Xavier has EARNED the right for this game to be played at the Cintas Center if that is where they want it to be.

I can understand that, but at the same time I don't think the Cintas Center was built simply because they thought it would be a great place to play the Shootout. Had the decision been made to play it at a neutral site every year prior to the Cintas being built, it still would have been built. If we were to start playing half our games at other venues like UConn and Nova, then I can understand, but this would be just one showcase game that can create a unique atmosphere at a neutral site that no other game really can.

I think Illinois vs Mizzou, and the Big Five games at the Palestra are great games. I don't think many teams have the types of OOC rivalries/opponents that allow them to schedule a game like that. We do. Unfortunately, it's been crappily managed to the point to where I would prefer it back on campus rather than seeing it continue as it is now. But, if they could make it in to what Illinois v Missouri is, I think that would be great. When you can create NCAA Tournament intensity in an NCAA Tournament type environment with a crowd split down the middle between two NCAA Tournament caliber teams, and create that in December, that's pretty cool. Not many teams get the chance to play in a game like that, much less play in one in the month of December.

[blobfan]

I will say the support down there that X gets absolutely sucks. I get it why some of you don't go...but it's just a bummer. I have no doubt that if its a close game that X will be at a huge disadvantage due to the crowd. Which in the end just sucks no matter how you look at it.

I will say last year going to the banks before and after and celebrating the absolute slaughter of Clifton was great. Even ran into Redford after the game and he was having a great time as well.

That's part of the problem and I don't think it would change if those of us that skip the game were to change our minds. How can it feel like a truly neutral game when all the fair-weather UC fans come out for the shootout and will always outnumber X fans?

[Thor in 204]

That's part of the problem and I don't think it would change if those of us that skip the game were to change our minds. How can it feel like a truly neutral game when all the fair-weather UC fans come out for the shootout and will always outnumber X fans?


Each school is given opportunity to sell tickets for half the seats in the arena. If UC fans outnumber XU fans it is because UC fans have bought tickets that XU fans have left unsold and at some point are offered to the general public.

One of the consequences of XU fans boycotting the game is that XU is underrepresented in the seats and UC fans are overrepresented. The announcers at the 2012 game downtown stated the game felt more like a UC home game than a neutral site game. That was not just because UC wore home team uniforms. It was because it looked like about 2/3 of the fans were wearing UC colors and were cheering for UC.

The team doesn't boycott the game because they have to play it downtown.

[Backyard Champ]

I will say the support down there that X gets absolutely sucks. I get it why some of you don't go...but it's just a bummer. I have no doubt that if its a close game that X will be at a huge disadvantage due to the crowd. Which in the end just sucks no matter how you look at it.

I will say last year going to the banks before and after and celebrating the absolute slaughter of Clifton was great. Even ran into Redford after the game and he was having a great time as well.

I really enjoyed it last year. We blew them out, so that could be part of the reason. I thought the atmosphere at the beginning was awesome. Then we ran away with it, which made it great for X fans.

I think there are far too many excuses for why people don't want to go, which sucks because Xavier needs more people to go so the crowd is split evenly.

[xubrew]

I like the idea of a neutral site game, but to be completely honest, I wouldn't pay fifty bucks for a ticket. I don't live in Cincinnati, so I won't be able to go regardless, but I would not go if that were the price of the ticket.

[X-band '01]

It's more like $25 for a ticket and a $25 "donation" to the Freedom Center.