The EnergySolutions Experience
We had a strong response to Friday's question about improving the in-arena experience for Jazz fans and I wanted to thank everybody who took the time to chip in with their two cents. Here's the tally so far:
Six votes: New scoreboard/video board. We covered this in the original post. The Jazz have fallen seemingly decades behind the video boards Charlotte, Cleveland and Portland all feature. There also was a vote for an expanded stats display, including deflections.
Six votes: Music. This went a lot of different directions from fans who are sick of the noise to fans (as well as myself) who are just sick of hearing "Cotton Eye Joe." One poster said they should let the players pick the music that's played during games.
If that's the case, be warned that Carlos Boozer is going to select anything and everything by Jay-Z, played at roof-shaking decibels. Boozer borrows C.J. Miles' iPod before every game and flips through the Jay-Z catalog at high volume to pump himself up.
A couple of folks want the Jazz to abandon playing music altogether. My soon-to-be 59-year-old father shares your sentiment. He's long talked about how an NBA team should have a retro night, with no dance team, no music and no promos. Just basketball.
Five votes: Lighting/Player introductions. Having covered the Lakers, I can say it never got old when they turned out the lights and dropped a ceiling-to-floor white curtain for video highlights during introductions. Best in the NBA without a doubt.
Four votes: Retro uniforms. How cool would it be seeing Boozer and Deron Williams in throwbacks from the Stockton-to-Malone era? Have to imagine it also would be good for business over at Fanzz.
Those were by far the four biggest changes voiced by fans. There also were votes for no more "Little Miss Sunshine" kiddie dance teams, more compelling halftime shows, better food with more local options, lower beer prices and the end of green seats.
--Ross Siler
Six votes: New scoreboard/video board. We covered this in the original post. The Jazz have fallen seemingly decades behind the video boards Charlotte, Cleveland and Portland all feature. There also was a vote for an expanded stats display, including deflections.
Six votes: Music. This went a lot of different directions from fans who are sick of the noise to fans (as well as myself) who are just sick of hearing "Cotton Eye Joe." One poster said they should let the players pick the music that's played during games.
If that's the case, be warned that Carlos Boozer is going to select anything and everything by Jay-Z, played at roof-shaking decibels. Boozer borrows C.J. Miles' iPod before every game and flips through the Jay-Z catalog at high volume to pump himself up.
A couple of folks want the Jazz to abandon playing music altogether. My soon-to-be 59-year-old father shares your sentiment. He's long talked about how an NBA team should have a retro night, with no dance team, no music and no promos. Just basketball.
Five votes: Lighting/Player introductions. Having covered the Lakers, I can say it never got old when they turned out the lights and dropped a ceiling-to-floor white curtain for video highlights during introductions. Best in the NBA without a doubt.
Four votes: Retro uniforms. How cool would it be seeing Boozer and Deron Williams in throwbacks from the Stockton-to-Malone era? Have to imagine it also would be good for business over at Fanzz.
Those were by far the four biggest changes voiced by fans. There also were votes for no more "Little Miss Sunshine" kiddie dance teams, more compelling halftime shows, better food with more local options, lower beer prices and the end of green seats.
--Ross Siler
3:36 PM
| 
4 Comments:
One more idea. The Jazz should have a Jerry Sloan profanity night. Sloan could have a highlight video of his finest cursing. After every bad call the vid would play on the Jumbotron. Fans could hold up placards with swear words and the Bear could give away "G*!@#$%^ play some F!@#$%%* Defense!!!" T-shirts, in powder blue of course. Hey, they could call it the Jerry Sloan Blue(language)-out night.
As an added bonus we could have clips of Larry Miller's awkward cursing and picking fights with Denver fans.
They could announce in advance so children aren't exposed. It would be a big hit and help Utah shed it's stuffy image.
Ross and Steve, I wanted to thank the both of you for bringing up this topic. I was hoping someone in the media would finally take notice and become vocal about the arena needing to be upgraded. Beyond the season ticket holders, sports writers probably see even more of the arena's weak spots and glaring needs. The only upgrade ESA has made inside the arena, beyond the MVP seats and relocation of the media, is the light ring. Most if not all of NBA arenas have this already and is now a standard staple of what NBA fans should expect.
Understandably, from a business standpoint I can see many reasons as to why Miller would keep things status quo. The Jazz maintain a great attendance record at home, concessions appear to be doing very well, you can see fans walking around with new Jazz apparel at every game, and the bottom line is the product on the court is running at a very high level. To sum it up business is good right now for Miller, so why should he spend more money on an aging arena when his return would be so small?
Usually when arenas are upgraded they are experiencing a downswing in attendance or the team is struggling on the court. So the arena gets a face lift to generate consumer excitement and buzz. I wouldn't be surprised if nothing happens immediately at ESA, but I would welcome some changes with open arms. Hopefully the Jumbotron and lighting are in the works, but I'm not holding my breath.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
To add to what James m said above, I have a new idea that I know won't catch on but would be quite entertaining. Ever since Gordon was traded to Philadelphia a lot of us have been wondering who will be Sloan's next ventilation magnet. So, wouldn't it be great if the Jazz ran a promo called, "Sloan's Doghouse". Where one lucky fan would earn an NBA check for one game (for each home game), sit behind the bench, and let Sloan take all his anger out on you instead of on one particular player? Haha. I think it would kill two birds with one stone. Maybe literally. Just a random thought running through my head.
They already had a "Win CJ Miles' paycheck" contest.
I get to see the team play in person an average of one time a year, and so far that has only happened three times. Always it's an exciting event for us to be there.
With the price tag of new facilities to adding some additional or upgraded devices to enhance the fan experience I'd say it would be easy to throw a couple hundred grand for new fan devices. Which serve to keep the fans coming rather than waiting until too many would not step foot in the place again to spruce it up.
These buildings are not cheap and they don't wear out like a car, you can't just build a new one every 10 yrs or such.
Post a Comment
<< Home