Pre Season Tip Off

[coasterville95]

It would appear that the athletic department is still adjusting and fine tuning the season ticket holder preview event.

This year it has moved from early October to October 30, and they are opening up the event to all All For One members as well as season ticket holders. The structure and timing of the event seems to be the same: player autograph and interaction opportunity from both Men's and Women's team, and a pre season run down by both head coaches.

One big change is the addition of an admisson charge - $15 per person ($5 for children 10 and under), as well as a change of venue to the Duff Banquet Center. (I have to wonder if there were any spilled food/drinks, and or scuff marks on the playing floor that prompted the move)

They are billing this as a "First-Time" event, even though is sounds awfully similar to the Season Ticket holder Open house in 2012, and the Season Ticket Holder Appriciation Night in 2013 (as well as the Season Ticket Holder post season reception back in April).

As usual, snacks and cash bar available, admission includes 1 drink ticket.

[drudy23]

People go to be entertained by the players...not sit in a room with them and pay $15 to be in their presence. Keep it to basketball and focus on the kids for the opening event...this is dumb. Everything is a money grab these days. What would even be the point to bring your kids?

Is this in place of the Midnight Madness event (or whatever the hell they call it now)? If so, then it's dumb.

If it is addition to the Midnight Madness event, then I'll change my tune.

[Chalmers0]

Is this in place of the Midnight Madness event (or whatever the hell they call it now)? If so, then it's dumb.

If it is addition to the Midnight Madness event, then I'll change my tune.

Different event. Musketeer Madness is the 24th.

[Milhouse]

Pretty disappointed in this. Was finally gonna be able to go to the season ticket holder event this year with work schedule moving around. But I will not be paying $15 for what is essentially the exact same thing that was free the previous two years.

[Lamont Sanford]

Very disappointing to read this. I agree that it is nothing more than an additional money grab. Last year's event was great and my oldest loved the opportunity to sit courtside and then shoot a layup or two afterwards. Then winning two tix to the Crosstown Shootout was the icing on the cake. I think that I'll take the kids to Musketeer Madness on 10/24 and skip this event.

[coasterville95]

I'm not sure the admission charge is really a deal breaker. What I mean, is I recall a few years ago when Cincinnati had our very own STealk Fry that took place on the campus of Xavier University.

The reason for attending was much the same: to hear the head coaches recap the past season, reveal the non-conference opponents for the next season, and give us a run down on the next season. Yes, this was sometimes challenging for coaches as new recruits may not have formally signed on yet, leaving Coach to resort to such things as "The kid from Frankenmuth... Also, I guess the players could not officially appear as such, but at least once or twice they just happened to walk past the event area at precisely the right time.

That event was around $50-$60 a person, and yes, you did get a nice steak dinner with all the trimmings and a magical cup that refilled itself with beer (if you carried it over to the self service beer taps)

I still miss that event. Come to think of it, I think it left with Coach Miller, or am I imagining that.

The current event is similar in content, and they do feed you light finger foods, and there is some cost to that. Maybe $15 is fair, after all you get food, and you get information from the coaches season previews, and information has a price tag. (Ask Scout and Rivals)

Where Xavier may have hurt itself, is it offered this event for the past two years, for FREE. Once you get people used to getting something free, its hard to start charging them, and get them to readily accept it.

[xu82]

I am a big fan of magical cups.

[LA Muskie]

$15 is really going to keep people from this? Really???

[Muskie]

Competing in the Big East means generating more
Revenue.

[Milhouse]

Its the fact that it was free the last two years and now its no longer free irks me.

It's also largely something I'm not that interested in for the $30 it would cost us to go. I won't learn anything I don't already know. And seeing as how I've already dropped over $1000 on season tickets this year I honestly believe the event should be free to season ticket holders/AFO members. I wasn't happy with the non-con but I still renewed by tix and didn't just pick up a Big East Mini Pack (which would've saved me over $500).

[Kahns Krazy]

As a reference point, UC's event for season ticket holders (football and basketball) is an entirely free BB riverboat cruise with dinner and a couple drinks. Coaches are on the cruise but players are not.

X is dropping the ball on this one.

[paulxu]

UC events should be free.

[Kahns Krazy]

So should X events. If they need to build it into the ticket price, they should. Nobody wants to pay up for premium seats then feel nickle and dimed. This is really shortsighted in my opinion.

[nuts4xu]

Its the fact that it was free the last two years and now its no longer free irks me.

Then don't go.

I am not being smug or sarcastic either. If you don't like the fact you are asked to pay for this previously free event, then don't pay and do not go.

If they have an empty house this year, they will get the message.

There are some things worth paying for and some that are not. At $15 you can just about buy a cheap ticket to a real Xavier game, which is far more entertaining than listening to coach speak and shaking a few hands with the players. I haven't been to this event before, but it does sound a bit overpriced for what you get. I am curious to see how well this is attended and if Xavier some how makes it worth the extra $ they are charging this season.

[Milhouse]

Not planning on it. Not worth the money/time for what you get. Especially since they always do something similar for young alumni during the year as well.

[coasterville95]

I don't have a dog in this one as I am going to be in Boston the night of this event anyway. If I were in town, I would probably lean towards going, with the hope there might be a special giveaway item or some juicy piece of top secret super knowledge to be garnered. Then again it is less than a week after Musketeer Madness.