Last week I wrote about how Colorado State’s home court, Moby Arena, needs to be transformed into the tough environment it has been known for in the past.
Over the past two games, it’s been transformed—into a heartbreaker.
An overtime loss to a Utah team currently ranked 10th in the nation on the RPI scale and a missed shot to tie the game in a key rivalry game against Wyoming have resulted in consecutive close home losses.
A venue that averages barely over 3,000 fans caused the athletic and marketing departments last week to discuss ways of getting student fans to attend the games.
Wednesday night’s rivalry match-up was marketed as a “Hostile Student Takeover” with several promotions including a free “Border War” T-shirt to the first 500 students and dollar hot dogs for all students in attendance.
Tickets were distributed on the center of campus Wednesday afternoon while cheerleaders promoted the game.
Despite the outcome, the marketing scheme seemed to work. The students came out and created a hostile environment inside Moby Arena.
The student sections, which are located on each end of the court behind the baskets, were filled to the brim. So full in fact that students stood in the upper tier of the arena above the concourse, normally reserved for general admission rather than students.
There were 5,556 fans in attendance Wednesday night—good for second highest on the season, but it definitely ranked first among volume and energy.
The attendance figure outnumbered Moby Arena’s past two games combined (TCU and Utah) by over 600 fans.
Throughout the season, I have heard glimpses of noise out of the crowd, but Wednesday night I felt like I was actually in a college basketball environment.
Chants of “de-fense" and the usual jumping while the opposing team has the ball were in full effect, and lasted most of the 40 minutes of play.
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