Jersey Jump Shot with Bryan Felt
- Thread starter Halldan
- Start date
I thought his interview with Felt could have been so, so much better. There was an interesting tidbit or two, like what Sha really prioritized this offseason, but everything was softball after softball. Even when Felt started lauding the teams offense after watching the NC State game in Maui, it would have been a golden opportunity to ask stuff about that, which has been discussed ad nauseum on this board for years. Same with the attendance issue - it focused exclusively on students and said nothing about the broader and much bigger issue.
The most important bit of info was Felt saying somewhat strongly that Sha will have more resources—$$$— for this portal season than last year. If he had around $6 million to put this team together he will need around $8 million this year to put a similar or slightly improved team on the floor. Of course he has to make good choices on whom he brings in. But the increased $$$ is key.
$6M last year absolutely happened. And yes I agree we must bump that up to $8M if we want to remain competitive this summer. Don't do that and the gains we made this season will be for naught. Bryan knows that so let's hope we get to at least that figure.
I liked his comment about the main takeaway from this offseason being minutes and game experience outweighing potential. Sha learned from the Dual/Scotty M/Baby Jokic/Okafor experience. We all kind of surmised this was the case, but Felt said it flat out.
Also liked how he was actually transparent on the student attendance issue, including that SH is spending “lots” of money to subsidize that (which is absolutely crazy to me).
Also liked how he was actually transparent on the student attendance issue, including that SH is spending “lots” of money to subsidize that (which is absolutely crazy to me).
It's a very sad state of affairs when an AD shows more enthusiasm at home games than the students. In my time as a Pirate fan I strongly believe this current group is the worse.
Dan, I bet more students went to CAA in PJs first season. And you and Tom probably know
But where I think Jerry fell short was not raising the reality of growing the fanbase generally, and what role both Sha and the school can play there. Especially Sha. It is not only a student-specific issue.
This interview is the most you’re going to get from Seton Hall on these topics. Reading between the lines is an art form when dealing with that school, IMO, and I think you got some insight here. This is much better messaging than what we heard in years prior on these topics.
**Clearly the school had a plan to work with Sha in how to address the portal in 2025 after the disaster in 2024. Sha probably also recognized he needed to change a bit after that embarrassment; one man cannot do it all. I don’t think it was only the money. This was an area I have been curious about in terms how they went about it in 2024 to 2025. More specifically how to target players, who negotiated and took care of the business side, etc. Felt did his typical staging of Shaheen as being the lead, but IMO, I feel they got more involved and made it systemic after all the swings and misses and malcontents of 2024.
**VERY glad to hear he recognizes we need more funding and the market is growing, not contracting. Let’s hope it reaches an equilibrium someday where we remain a Top-40ish program annually.
**The story on the Baylor student section was illuminating. It’s everywhere to varying degrees, just so shocking with our case because the small # to begin with. Sell the seats then.
**Awesome fundraiser with PJ and Sha upcoming. These are the things that draw value.
**Clearly the school had a plan to work with Sha in how to address the portal in 2025 after the disaster in 2024. Sha probably also recognized he needed to change a bit after that embarrassment; one man cannot do it all. I don’t think it was only the money. This was an area I have been curious about in terms how they went about it in 2024 to 2025. More specifically how to target players, who negotiated and took care of the business side, etc. Felt did his typical staging of Shaheen as being the lead, but IMO, I feel they got more involved and made it systemic after all the swings and misses and malcontents of 2024.
**VERY glad to hear he recognizes we need more funding and the market is growing, not contracting. Let’s hope it reaches an equilibrium someday where we remain a Top-40ish program annually.
**The story on the Baylor student section was illuminating. It’s everywhere to varying degrees, just so shocking with our case because the small # to begin with. Sell the seats then.
**Awesome fundraiser with PJ and Sha upcoming. These are the things that draw value.
I've been going to games since the mid-80s...in that time, this is the worst student section I've ever seen. And there were some lean years during that time frame, that included a harder "commute" to Brendan Bryne for many of those years.
The students have to be a focus.
But alums and generating new fans as well.
The Michigan State 2019 game is one still talked about on here, even though it was a loss. It is considered by some as the crowning achievement of where we were as a program at the height of the Willard experience. We had about 14,000 that night.
We had less than 10K for UCONN, and the other crowds to date have been small. Less than half Michigan State. Yes, part of that is because of last year and expectations. But once this team started to show it wasn't last year, it should be much more. Students or not, you are surrounded by a ton of people within the state who are casual Hall fans or don't have a die-hard college team. 20s and 30s somethings who now have some disposable money and are looking for fun stuff to do. Folks with kids. Folks who are retired but have assets to spend on a hobby. Families who all live near each other and like to find things to do together.
I still laugh when we call a "sell out" the lower bowl filling up with paid attendance. The Athletic Department should remove that word from its vocabulary and external marketing unless the Rock is actually sold out.
This can be done, but we need Sha to be so much more of a promoter in this respect, and the Athletic Department needs to up its game. Capitalize on this surprising season. Professional sports around here are crazy expensive. College games are more affordable for individuals and their families.
And don't say it can't be done, because I truly believe it can and will point to a clear example staring us in the face.
But alums and generating new fans as well.
The Michigan State 2019 game is one still talked about on here, even though it was a loss. It is considered by some as the crowning achievement of where we were as a program at the height of the Willard experience. We had about 14,000 that night.
We had less than 10K for UCONN, and the other crowds to date have been small. Less than half Michigan State. Yes, part of that is because of last year and expectations. But once this team started to show it wasn't last year, it should be much more. Students or not, you are surrounded by a ton of people within the state who are casual Hall fans or don't have a die-hard college team. 20s and 30s somethings who now have some disposable money and are looking for fun stuff to do. Folks with kids. Folks who are retired but have assets to spend on a hobby. Families who all live near each other and like to find things to do together.
I still laugh when we call a "sell out" the lower bowl filling up with paid attendance. The Athletic Department should remove that word from its vocabulary and external marketing unless the Rock is actually sold out.
This can be done, but we need Sha to be so much more of a promoter in this respect, and the Athletic Department needs to up its game. Capitalize on this surprising season. Professional sports around here are crazy expensive. College games are more affordable for individuals and their families.
And don't say it can't be done, because I truly believe it can and will point to a clear example staring us in the face.
The Devils don’t reach sell out numbers, is it fair to expect SHU to do so?
College games aren’t as expensive as pro games, but they aren’t cheap. And unless it’s a special school or city (and this market is not), there’s just not a lot of interest beyond a small core of diehards in regular season college basketball.
But (as you allude to) more money only with the goal of keeping up with middle of the pack.
Felt talks about the Big East needing to improve to get more teams in the NCAAs. It all comes down to money. The Big East bottom half have to bring up their investment. Pitino & Hurley have talked about it several times this season. Hurley uses the figure $8-9M and Pitino says $10M. This year BE average was 8, this Spring it looks like it will be $9-10M.
Its good that Felt is aware the prices will continue to grow and even better that he says SH will be raising their commitment. He didn't mention any amounts but I thought what he said about Seton Hall historically being middle of the pack resource-wise was telling. Sounds like that is his goal. This year we are $2-2.5M below the average BE team. We need to raise that number plus inflation to get to the middle We need a minimum of $8M this year, ideally closer to $10M.
Its good that Felt is aware the prices will continue to grow and even better that he says SH will be raising their commitment. He didn't mention any amounts but I thought what he said about Seton Hall historically being middle of the pack resource-wise was telling. Sounds like that is his goal. This year we are $2-2.5M below the average BE team. We need to raise that number plus inflation to get to the middle We need a minimum of $8M this year, ideally closer to $10M.
I don't expect us to get 18,000+, which is what I believe the Rock holds for basketball (think hockey is slightly less). But I think we can significantly increase the numbers for non-Uconn games. I know college basketball isn't cheap either, but as someone who routinely goes to different sporting events with my 3 kids, friends, and extended family, to me there is no better deal than good college basketball. The cost of going to a Knicks/Rangers game is extreme, the costs to going to Jets/Giants games even when they suck can be significant (especially in the Giants case), and with baseball if you want have a relatively cheap seat in Yankee stadium, you are going all the way upstairs. I think there is good value.
The promotion is the key. When you’ve strung together winning NCAAT seasons like Willard did, you’re naturally ranked, you play name brands at home, you’ve got promotion.
I think the school could do so much more but idk if they have the resources or people. You’re better off paying a couple bench players then investing in high powered marketing executives.
It was a good listen, I enjoyed the interview. It was good to hear how seriously he taking the student attendance issue and the resources he plans on throwing at it in the summer . Not sure where to make this offer, but if I may, I'd be open to lending a hand. I've got a decade+ in sports ticketing strategy & analytics, and Ticketmaster data is second nature to me. Don't want to bite off too much as I've still got a day job to worry about, but I'd like to think I've got the experience to be helpful. Volunteer, not asking for any money.
I also agree with the comments about not being content at lower bowl only and building towards a future where ticket volume justified having the upper bowl always open. I'm under no illusion that it's easy, but I do think it's possible.
I also agree with the comments about not being content at lower bowl only and building towards a future where ticket volume justified having the upper bowl always open. I'm under no illusion that it's easy, but I do think it's possible.
Last edited:
The two words that some up your post are “to me” …. The overwhelming majority of people in this area aren’t like you. There may be value in your eyes, but you also need interest. And in this market, it’s very very limited.