annarborbear said:

---

Ideas for building attendance:

1. Winning, especially with some well-known local players on the roster (We need schools like Berkeley High, O'Dowd, Oakland Tech, Salesian, and St.Mary's to re-emerge as powers in girls basketball).

2. NIL - you have to have it to recruit the players that can win.

3. Congressional action on the portal - if the roster turns over every year, fans cannot identify.

4. Free tickets to all Cal students and other local students.

5. Actually ask the fans what they would prefer in regard to the game day experience.

6. Parking availability as a priority, not as an afterthought.

7. Hold a couple of games at Chase as lead-in doubleheaders with the Valkeries.

Unfortunately, I am not sure that I will see any of these in my lifetime.

---

Cal students currently get in free. Extend offer to high school students if they haven't already.

There is no overlap between the Valkyries season and Cal's season. Valkyries conclude this season in early September, while Cal generally starts late October/early November.

I like #5 idea. It would be easy to do an email survey at the time of season ticket renewals this year.

SFCALBear72 said:

---

I like #5 idea. It would be easy to do an email survey at the time of season ticket renewals this year.

---

I've occasionally suggested not blasting music in Haas whenever possible, luring in students with half-time food vouchers, getting Charmin and the team interviewed by Berkeleyside, etc. (And bring back the agility dogs at half-time; they were the best!) I receive standard polite responses, but have no sense that anyone has paid attention, which is a silly way to treat long-time season ticket holders. My assumption is that since we are not big-time donors, there is little interest in our opinion.

That said, attendance was up somewhat toward the end of last season, and I think the marketing people are making an effort.

Regarding Jaelyn (from the indianafeverreport.com):

Indiana Fever has to choose between 2 players before the WNBA season begins

The team can only carry 11 athletes this season
The Indiana Fever has been forced to make dramatic cuts to the team's training camp roster so far this preseason: Jillian Alleyne, Yvonne Ejim, and Bree Hall were all waived following the team's 108-44 win over the Brazilian National Team on Sunday, May 4. This leaves two athletes battling for one spot: Makayla Timpson and Jaelyn Brown.
Timpson and Brown had wildly different paths to get to the Fever, but the fact that they both landed in Indiana was due to the same blockbuster trade. Back in February the Fever were part of a huge trade that sent NaLyssa Smith to the Dallas Wings and brought Sophie Cunningham and Brown to the Fever. The trade also gave the Fever the 19th overall pick in this year's draft the very spot the team selected Timpson at.

Cap space is an issue for the Fever
WNBA teams are allowed to fill their rosters with 12 athletes, but this year the Fever's cap space is maxed out in part due to the team's decision to part ways with Katie Lou Samuelson earlier this year. That decision included a buyout to the tune of $106,419 all of which counts toward the Fever's overall spending power this year.
This leaves the team in a tough spot when it comes to Brown and Timpson.
The Indiana Fever can only select one
Jaelyn Brown was not selected in the 2020 WNBA Draft and signed a professional contract with Toulouse Mtropole Basket in August of the same year. She moved on to Sweden in 2021, and then played in Hungary, Turkey, Israel, and Mexico. The Dallas Wings signed Brown to a training camp contract in February 2024, and in her first preseason game that year she dropped 21 points the same as then-rookie Caitlin Clark.

Timpson, who played 9 minutes against Brazil and scored 9 points, was drafted by the Fever in 2025. She has received high praise from her teammates and Coach Stephanie White, who told the Indianapolis Star May 7, "She doesn't get rushed. She stays patient. If she doesn't know what to do, she doesn't get antsy. And that's something you can't teach, and I'm really impressed with that."
The Fever's next preseason match is against the Atlanta Dream on Saturday, May 10, and the team has to make a final roster cut before the season begins on May 16. It's likely a decision will be made soon after this weekend's game, which would still give the Fever time to finalize the team's roster and rotations before their home opener against the Sky on May 17

RedlessWardrobe said:

---

BearBint said:

---

SFCALBear72 said:

---

I like #5 idea. It would be easy to do an email survey at the time of season ticket renewals this year.

---

I've occasionally suggested not blasting music in Haas whenever possible, luring in students with half-time food vouchers, getting Charmin and the team interviewed by Berkeleyside, etc. (And bring back the agility dogs at half-time; they were the best!) I receive standard polite responses, but have no sense that anyone has paid attention, which is a silly way to treat long-time season ticket holders. My assumption is that since we are not big-time donors, there is little interest in our opinion.

That said, attendance was up somewhat toward the end of last season, and I think the marketing people are making an effort.

---

I respect your ideas here. Just wondering though, when you state "I think the marketing people are making an effort", what specifically do you think they're doing? All that we got this past season were some emails targeted to football and MBB account holders offering maybe a $5 discount to a game. That won't do much. The marketing department needs to motivate people to GET to a game. Last year's game were highly entertaining. Expose and get people there and there's a good chance the product will sell itself.

---

I've no idea what they're specifically doing. I posted that because I noticed more students, more often, at games. (I sit in the student section during the second half so I can watch the sweat fly.) The young marketing reps who would show up at Triple Threat talks seemed pretty bright and enthusiastic, although I wish they would learn to introduce themselves.

I've tried working with the Valkyries on another project and they are overwhelmed, it seems. Cal might have more luck, but really, how much has the Warriors' success impacted Cal men's BB? They're different beasts.

Northern California is in a down cycle for basketball talent, thanks in part to the greater popularity of volleyball, and it's not a fertile field for elite talent right now. Things could change, but even if you look at the all-state teams, you don't see many future WNBA players.

And to bang my drum again, I would add a practice facility to annarober's list.

Finally, high school students are not a particularly good market to try and attract. As mentioned, getting to Haas isn't easy if you haven't done it a lot, and of course high school players have no time to go to college games.

So a high school student living in Danville does not have easy access to BART. A lot of kids never take BART and don't even consider it. Even those that do haven't taken it to get to Haas.

In addition, parents may very likely be worried about safety on BART.

For those familiar with BART and Berkeley, it might be easy. Not so much for a girl from Livermore or Oakley.

And there's no BART connection to San Jose, most of the Peninsula and the North Bay.

ClayK said:

---

So a high school student living in Danville does not have easy access to BART. A lot of kids never take BART and don't even consider it. Even those that do haven't taken it to get to Haas.

In addition, parents may very likely be worried about safety on BART.

For those familiar with BART and Berkeley, it might be easy. Not so much for a girl from Livermore or Oakley.

And there's no BART connection to San Jose, most of the Peninsula and the North Bay.

---

That's right use "extreme" examples to "prove" your point. lol. I bet mom and dad would let them take Uber. lol.

There's a Dublin/Pleasanton station, a Berryessa/North San Jose station and a Millbrae station plus CalTrain to SF. These kids can figure it out. Plus, I bet many of their friends probably have cars now.

MBB Coach Mark Madsen lives out there in the San Ramon/Danville area, I believe, and he takes BART to work. I've seen him at the Rockridge station. And then he takes an AC Transit bus to Berkeley/Bancroft Avenue. If it's good enough for him...

Let me add it my list: Have some local high school teams play doubleheaders at Haas, allowing the teams and their fans to stick around for the following Cal games. Could be viewed as a prestige opportunity. Could do the same with middle school and elementary school teams.

Talked to my frat brother who has season tickets for Duke men's and women's basketball. He says their practice gym is nothing special. Doesn't seem to hurt their recruiting.

I think it is easier to get to a Cal game than a Valkeries game

Haas Pavilion is in an urban area accessible by public transportation. It is not tucked away in the boondocks of a crime ridden sinkhole that no one can get to without a sherpa.

BART is much nicer now with the new fare gates and new trains....crime down 23% already and the trains are quite nice. I took it to SF for the Valkyries game in the late afternoon on Monday and home again around 10 p.m. to El Cerrito. Much better than driving. In fact I would NEVER drive to SF and to the Chase Center for a game...I will always take BART and MUNI. This first game I took BART, walked since it was a beautiful day but took MUNI back to Powell Street to return home (along with lots of other fans). It was smooth and the trip from Chase to BART was free...

As for Cal, I mostly drive to Haas since it's easy to park with my pass, but I have taken BART there as well....It's not that onerous.

I think in general, the evening games are more difficult drawing kids/families for obvious reasons. BART to an afternoon game on a weekend should not be that difficult if one is a fan frankly. Youth can get discounts (Youth 5-18 years old get 50% off with a Youth Clipper card). Over 65 get 62% off with a Clipper card....maybe BART and CAL can collaborate and offer an easy way for folks to sign up for the requisite Clipper cards for their age group...once you have it, your good to go and add $ as needed....mine is stored on my phone.

The key thing Cal WBB can offer on weekends (when the weather isn't good) is a family friendly, inexpensive, fun outing. The Valkyries games on the other hand are much pricier and harder to get to eh?

I like the thought but probably a recruiting violation

annarborbear said:

---

Let me add it my list: Have some local high school teams play doubleheaders at Haas, allowing the teams and their fans to stick around for the following Cal games. Could be viewed as a prestige opportunity. Could do the same with middle school and elementary school teams.

---

HoopDreams said:

---

I like the thought but probably a recruiting violation

annarborbear said:

---

Let me add it my list: Have some local high school teams play doubleheaders at Haas, allowing the teams and their fans to stick around for the following Cal games. Could be viewed as a prestige opportunity. Could do the same with middle school and elementary school teams.

---

---

I thought that all recruiting rules have been eliminated or are no longer in force. Why be the only one that follows them.

annarborbear said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

I like the thought but probably a recruiting violation

annarborbear said:

---

Let me add it my list: Have some local high school teams play doubleheaders at Haas, allowing the teams and their fans to stick around for the following Cal games. Could be viewed as a prestige opportunity. Could do the same with middle school and elementary school teams.

---

---

I thought that all recruiting rules have been eliminated or are no longer in force. Why be the only one that follows them.

---

there are still plenty of recruiting rules, including recruiting blackout periods

as for why there are still rules limiting events that can be a type of recruiting of HS players, I think it's pretty silly and it may not still be in place

I found this out in two ways ... trying to sponsor the Albany High girls basketball team to attend a Cal basketball game, and trying to get a club boys team onto the court at halftime. That's why the half time games are only very young kids

Good points about BART. My last experience was good too.But I still think there's a psychological barrier for suburban kids to go to a game at Haas. They don't go to Berkeley on a regular basis, and just like any of us if we went to an unfamiliar area of SF, it would be a bit daunting. But BART is a good option.

A note on the Valkyries' attendance: A friend of mine who was there said it was about half full. Granted, 8,500 is still a lot of people for an exhibition game, and maybe the number of bodies in seats will go up, but the 17,000 number was a PR trick.

CalWSportsFan said:

---

DO not say it was half full ... I'm not going to argue, but why the negativity?

---

In my day half full was the positive assessment. Either way a good day for WBB.

Again I'm not against celebrating a great day for Women's basketball. It just bothers me that if so much interest can be generated for a new pro team, why can't just a decent portion of that interest be generated for our Cal team, who at the next level possess much of the same talent and excitement as a pro team does? I know often in the past we've noted that the Bay Area is much more of a pro sports town than a college sports town, (a problem for MBB and football), I guess maybe that goes the same for Women's Basketball as well. I just wish it didn't.

CalWSportsFan said:

---

Well Clay, I WAS there and it was very full and very loud....not sure exactly how many people there, but imho it was quite packed....there were a few groups of seats here and there that were empty...looks like some may have bought up season tickets in a specific area behind the bench and not attended, but please...DO not say it was half full....maybe the nosebleed seats were empty above me?? Some folks were in the hallways/lounge areas watching the Warriors at various times too.... I'm not going to argue, but why the negativity? Can't we just celebrate a huge, happy day in the Bay for women's basketball???

---

Many would kill for a WNBA team here in the Philly area, so congrats to all of you who get to enjoy it, and choose to enjoy it.

stu said:

---

CalWSportsFan said:

---

DO not say it was half full ... I'm not going to argue, but why the negativity?

---

In my day half full was the positive assessment. Either way a good day for WBB.

---

It is still your day, Stu.

I could well be wrong, as my info is second hand.

Not trying to be negative, but if true, the number of missing ticketbuyers was an interesting fact.

But 8,500 for a WBA exhibition game is something special, and hopefully, it's just a precursor of better days ahead.

BearBint said:

---

stu said:

---

CalWSportsFan said:

---

DO not say it was half full ... I'm not going to argue, but why the negativity?

---

In my day half full was the positive assessment. Either way a good day for WBB.

---

It is still your day, Stu.

---

Thanks for that positive thought!

stu said:

---

BearBint said:

---

stu said:

---

CalWSportsFan said:

---

DO not say it was half full ... I'm not going to argue, but why the negativity?

---

In my day half full was the positive assessment. Either way a good day for WBB.

---

It is still your day, Stu.

---

Thanks for that positive thought!

---

But don't forget that great sports cliche...we are all day to day!