necfbfan
Climbing Mt. St. James
Posts: 78
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Post by necfbfan on Feb 7, 2023 15:53:44 GMT -5
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Post by lou on Feb 7, 2023 17:03:56 GMT -5
PP football opponent not official yet?
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Post by hchoops on Feb 7, 2023 18:15:24 GMT -5
Hopefully
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Post by matunuck on Feb 7, 2023 19:19:47 GMT -5
Gee, a successful and engaged athletics program is helpful with community relations. How about that.
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Post by thecrossisback on Feb 7, 2023 20:44:53 GMT -5
I think this was taped before they announced Harvard?
I like the Polar Park game but honestly what is stopping the Worcester fans that go to that game? Why won’t they go to a game at Fitton. Parking is probably easier at HC, less expensive,
Polar has better options for food.
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Post by HC92 on Feb 7, 2023 21:29:17 GMT -5
The Polar game was a great idea as we were building interest in the community and a fun novelty for the existing fans. Don’t hate it as much as some here seem to but I don’t think it needs to be an every year thing given how few home games we get each year. When we do play there, I’d prefer a true night game with a 7:00 start.
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necfbfan
Climbing Mt. St. James
Posts: 78
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Post by necfbfan on Feb 7, 2023 21:54:41 GMT -5
I think playing at Polar has definitely raised the profile of Holy Cross within the city and county. Polar is an attractive destination. However, I also understand the sentiment of wanting to play more marquee games at Fitton. The unfortunate reality is that our Patriot League opponents just don't draw. If one of the long-term goals is higher attendance at Fitton, the CAA should be the destination (Although I admit I have no idea how feasible that is/What the timeline would look like.)
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Post by longsuffering on Feb 7, 2023 22:47:25 GMT -5
I think playing at Polar has definitely raised the profile of Holy Cross within the city and county. Polar is an attractive destination. However, I also understand the sentiment of wanting to play more marquee games at Fitton. The unfortunate reality is that our Patriot League opponents just don't draw. If one of the long-term goals is higher attendance at Fitton, the CAA should be the destination (Although I admit I have no idea how feasible that is/What the timeline would look like.) Holy Cross (11,897) outdrew every CAA team last year except for Delaware. Here's a few fine but low interest in football CAA schools, Monmouth (2519), Hampton (2956) URI (4618). The PL gives us two more OOC games per season then the CAA gave it's members last year. That gave HC the schedule flexibility to fit both BC and Army in next season and still retain desirable series with Harvard, Yale and Merrimack (aka the "Big Three" sorry Princeton🙂). Projecting football interest of potential opponents, Merrimack only drew an average of 5758 last season, but that was 164.51% of capacity of their little band box of a stadium, tops in FCS. (all figures courtesy of Sam Herder of Hero Sports) So watch the Warriors in the next few years. Merrimack would be a good opponent at Polar Park in the future with HC never returning to North Andover until/if they expand their stadium. That would give HC a chance to play five games at Fitton and one at a neutral site (Polar). |
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Post by bfoley82 on Feb 7, 2023 23:23:08 GMT -5
I think this was taped before they announced Harvard? I like the Polar Park game but honestly what is stopping the Worcester fans that go to that game? Why won’t they go to a game at Fitton. Parking is probably easier at HC, less expensive, Polar has been options for food. Nothing is stopping them from going to HC games. Has Holy Cross tried to get some local food trucks in there for concessions? I know some of the schools I shoot for have food trucks as concessions at some of the lower level sports. |
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Post by fillfittonfield on Feb 8, 2023 0:20:35 GMT -5
I think playing at Polar has definitely raised the profile of Holy Cross within the city and county. Polar is an attractive destination. However, I also understand the sentiment of wanting to play more marquee games at Fitton. The unfortunate reality is that our Patriot League opponents just don't draw. If one of the long-term goals is higher attendance at Fitton, the CAA should be the destination (Although I admit I have no idea how feasible that is/What the timeline would look like.) Holy Cross (11,897) outdrew every CAA team last year except for Delaware. Here's a few fine but low interest in football CAA schools, Monmouth (2519), Hampton (2956) URI (4618). The PL gives us two more OOC games per season then the CAA gave it's members last year. That gave HC the schedule flexibility to fit both BC and Army in next season and still retain desirable series with Harvard, Yale and Merrimack (aka the "Big Three" sorry Princeton🙂). Projecting football interest of potential opponents, Merrimack only drew an average of 5758 last season, but that was 164.51% of capacity of their little band box of a stadium, tops in FCS. (all figures courtesy of Sam Herder of Hero Sports) So watch the Warriors in the next few years. Merrimack would be a good opponent at Polar Park in the future with HC never returning to North Andover until/if they expand their stadium. That would give HC a chance to play five games at Fitton and one at a neutral site (Polar). Having Merrimack as the Polar Park game in the future (assuming we continue playing them) seems like a good idea. I think they would help make the game a sellout. I think they travel well when playing local opponents. They had a good crowd at Harvard last year. |
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necfbfan
Climbing Mt. St. James
Posts: 78
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Post by necfbfan on Feb 8, 2023 8:16:41 GMT -5
I think playing at Polar has definitely raised the profile of Holy Cross within the city and county. Polar is an attractive destination. However, I also understand the sentiment of wanting to play more marquee games at Fitton. The unfortunate reality is that our Patriot League opponents just don't draw. If one of the long-term goals is higher attendance at Fitton, the CAA should be the destination (Although I admit I have no idea how feasible that is/What the timeline would look like.) Holy Cross (11,897) outdrew every CAA team last year except for Delaware. Here's a few fine but low interest in football CAA schools, Monmouth (2519), Hampton (2956) URI (4618). The PL gives us two more OOC games per season then the CAA gave it's members last year. That gave HC the schedule flexibility to fit both BC and Army in next season and still retain desirable series with Harvard, Yale and Merrimack (aka the "Big Three" sorry Princeton🙂). Projecting football interest of potential opponents, Merrimack only drew an average of 5758 last season, but that was 164.51% of capacity of their little band box of a stadium, tops in FCS. (all figures courtesy of Sam Herder of Hero Sports) So watch the Warriors in the next few years. Merrimack would be a good opponent at Polar Park in the future with HC never returning to North Andover until/if they expand their stadium. That would give HC a chance to play five games at Fitton and one at a neutral site (Polar). While the Patriot League may not be the most prestigious FCS conference, the fact that it allows for 5 OOC games to be scheduled (6 in certain years) is actually an excellent and underrated point! It's up to Holy Cross to schedule attractive opponents, and Army and BC certainly fit the bill! It would be nice to get a home-and-home with one of the more prominent FCS teams in addition to our road FBS games. |
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Post by longsuffering on Feb 8, 2023 12:06:59 GMT -5
We play the Jacks every year 2021 (Spring), 2022 and counting, but so far only at their place.🤬
We've played the CAA home and away the last two years, at Villanova and UNH at Fitton. Those extra games when the frost is on the pumpkin help us achieve the aspirational schedule many desire without having to drop any traditional foes or meet tough negotiating demands during the thankless scheduling process.
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Post by bringbackcaro on Feb 8, 2023 12:40:15 GMT -5
I think playing at Polar has definitely raised the profile of Holy Cross within the city and county. Polar is an attractive destination. However, I also understand the sentiment of wanting to play more marquee games at Fitton. The unfortunate reality is that our Patriot League opponents just don't draw. If one of the long-term goals is higher attendance at Fitton, the CAA should be the destination (Although I admit I have no idea how feasible that is/What the timeline would look like.) The only way to drive higher attendance at Fitton is to get more people interested in Holy Cross football + the Fitton/campus gameday experience, which we have made great progress on over the last couple years. Aside from Villanova, there is very little name recognition in the CAA for casual, NFL-first Central Mass sports fans. Bucknell, Elon, Lehigh, Richmond, Colgate, Towson --- these schools are all the same to this casual fan, who is not going to Fitton because they are interested in seeing any of them play. Obviously a different situation in most ways, but do you think Spokanians are going to Gonzaga basketball games because they are interested in Pepperdine or Pacific? No, they're going to watch Gonzaga and don't care who the opponents are. |
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Post by football44 on Feb 8, 2023 14:19:17 GMT -5
I think playing at Polar has definitely raised the profile of Holy Cross within the city and county. Polar is an attractive destination. However, I also understand the sentiment of wanting to play more marquee games at Fitton. The unfortunate reality is that our Patriot League opponents just don't draw. If one of the long-term goals is higher attendance at Fitton, the CAA should be the destination (Although I admit I have no idea how feasible that is/What the timeline would look like.) The only way to drive higher attendance at Fitton is to get more people interested in Holy Cross football + the Fitton/campus gameday experience, which we have made great progress on over the last couple years. Aside from Villanova, there is very little name recognition in the CAA for casual, NFL-first Central Mass sports fans. Bucknell, Elon, Lehigh, Richmond, Colgate, Towson --- these schools are all the same to this casual fan, who is not going to Fitton because they are interested in seeing any of them play. Obviously a different situation in most ways, but do you think Spokanians are going to Gonzaga basketball games because they are interested in Pepperdine or Pacific? No, they're going to watch Gonzaga and don't care who the opponents are. Sorry but I disagree with you on the scheduling subject. UNH,URI,Maine unlike Lehigh, Lafayette and Bucknell would draw interest from many around Worcester. These teams would also bring a larger crowd to Fitton Field as well. I also believe that William and Mary, Monmouth and the like would also inspire the locals to come to Fitton for a game. |
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Post by bringbackcaro on Feb 8, 2023 14:49:55 GMT -5
The only way to drive higher attendance at Fitton is to get more people interested in Holy Cross football + the Fitton/campus gameday experience, which we have made great progress on over the last couple years. Aside from Villanova, there is very little name recognition in the CAA for casual, NFL-first Central Mass sports fans. Bucknell, Elon, Lehigh, Richmond, Colgate, Towson --- these schools are all the same to this casual fan, who is not going to Fitton because they are interested in seeing any of them play. Obviously a different situation in most ways, but do you think Spokanians are going to Gonzaga basketball games because they are interested in Pepperdine or Pacific? No, they're going to watch Gonzaga and don't care who the opponents are. Sorry but I disagree with you on the scheduling subject. UNH,URI,Maine unlike Lehigh, Lafayette and Bucknell would draw interest from many around Worcester. These teams would also bring a larger crowd to Fitton Field as well. I also believe that William and Mary, Monmouth and the like would also inspire the locals to come to Fitton for a game. If you took a poll of 50 random Worcester/Central Mass people and asked them where Monmouth was located, you might get zero correct responses. If you took a poll of 50 random Worcester/Central Mass people and asked them if they thought Maine had a good football team, 50 would say no. Maybe 40-45 would say no about URI Probably 30-35 no's for UNH. The point is that the casual sports fan in Worcester/Central Mass knows nothing about 1-AA football (typically even very little about 1-A football too). Us wackos around here knowing that the CAA has good football teams does not translate in any way to the larger HC community or local Worcester community. The casual fan who went to the Polar Park game vs Bucknell last year did not care if we were playing Bucknell, Richmond, Monmouth, South Dakota St, or Whatsamatta U -- they were there to (1) have a good time, and (2) (probably a distant second for many) watch some Holy Cross football. Drawing these casual fans to Fiiton to have a good time there, and then showing them a strong HC product is what will keep them coming back. Not any incremental changes to a 1-AA schedule. |
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Post by KY Crusader 75 on Feb 8, 2023 15:38:02 GMT -5
URI would seem to be a good candidate for strong Fitton Field attendance but then you have to think that if the fans don’t show up for home games in RI why would we expect them to go to an away game in Worcester?
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 8, 2023 16:29:54 GMT -5
Ocean Staters just don't travel well, as I've said before. However, while we'd like to have large crowds at Fitton, I have to think that the opponents that we schedule are designed to help our strength of schedule and that's not based on how many attend a game. And selfishly, playing a home and home makes going to both a home and an away game pretty easy.
Though many Rhode Islanders think a trip up to Worcester is a trek, Rt. 146 is a piece of cake compared to heading up to BC or down to Yale.
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Post by fillfittonfield on Feb 8, 2023 16:29:59 GMT -5
URI would seem to be a good candidate for strong Fitton Field attendance but then you have to think that if the fans don’t show up for home games in RI why would we expect them to go to an away game in Worcester? KY - I agree and was about to make a similar post. URI hasn’t come to Fitton in a long time (over 30 years?). The idea of hosting a competitive game against a big NE school that is in close proximity to Worcester sounds appealing and would lead some to think it would generate big crowd. Unfortunately, I just don’t think URI has a big enough/strong enough fan base that would lead to big ticket sales on the visitor sideline. The only NE schools that have proved to me that they could bring a big crowd to Fitton are: UNH UMass BC (sadly, I don’t see them ever coming back to Fitton  |
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 8, 2023 16:32:58 GMT -5
Only way BC is ever coming to Fitton is if we win the FCS national title and even then, likely a 2 for 1 or even 3 for 1 favoring Alumni Stadium. Simple "power dynamics."
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Post by Sons of Vaval on Feb 8, 2023 16:41:11 GMT -5
Only way BC is ever coming to Fitton is if we win the FCS national title and even then, likely a 2 for 1 or even 3 for 1 favoring Alumni Stadium. Simple "power dynamics." Would that not be less reason to come to Fitton? |
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Post by sader1970 on Feb 8, 2023 16:59:32 GMT -5
I think that the folks atop Mt. St. James aren't too upset about going to Alumni for a big (?) payout because among other things, besides the money, my estimate was 30%-40% of the crowd were Crusader supporters last time out.
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Post by HC92 on Feb 8, 2023 19:22:41 GMT -5
I think that the folks atop Mt. St. James aren't too upset about going to Alumni for a big (?) payout because among other things, besides the money, my estimate was 30%-40% of the crowd were Crusader supporters last time out. Should be a higher percentage this year as we’re coming off a great year and BC is . . . not. |
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Post by bfoley82 on Feb 9, 2023 0:31:43 GMT -5
Sorry but I disagree with you on the scheduling subject. UNH,URI,Maine unlike Lehigh, Lafayette and Bucknell would draw interest from many around Worcester. These teams would also bring a larger crowd to Fitton Field as well. I also believe that William and Mary, Monmouth and the like would also inspire the locals to come to Fitton for a game. If you took a poll of 50 random Worcester/Central Mass people and asked them where Monmouth was located, you might get zero correct responses. If you took a poll of 50 random Worcester/Central Mass people and asked them if they thought Maine had a good football team, 50 would say no. Maybe 40-45 would say no about URI Probably 30-35 no's for UNH. The point is that the casual sports fan in Worcester/Central Mass knows nothing about 1-AA football (typically even very little about 1-A football too). Us wackos around here knowing that the CAA has good football teams does not translate in any way to the larger HC community or local Worcester community. The casual fan who went to the Polar Park game vs Bucknell last year did not care if we were playing Bucknell, Richmond, Monmouth, South Dakota St, or Whatsamatta U -- they were there to (1) have a good time, and (2) (probably a distant second for many) watch some Holy Cross football. Drawing these casual fans to Fiiton to have a good time there, and then showing them a strong HC product is what will keep them coming back. Not any incremental changes to a 1-AA schedule. But you ask 50 people in Worcester if UNH or Maine have good hockey teams, and you would get a big yes. Neither program has been relevant in hockey in 10 plus years. But both football programs have been in the playoffs. |
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Post by bringbackcaro on Feb 9, 2023 13:32:22 GMT -5
If you took a poll of 50 random Worcester/Central Mass people and asked them where Monmouth was located, you might get zero correct responses. If you took a poll of 50 random Worcester/Central Mass people and asked them if they thought Maine had a good football team, 50 would say no. Maybe 40-45 would say no about URI Probably 30-35 no's for UNH. The point is that the casual sports fan in Worcester/Central Mass knows nothing about 1-AA football (typically even very little about 1-A football too). Us wackos around here knowing that the CAA has good football teams does not translate in any way to the larger HC community or local Worcester community. The casual fan who went to the Polar Park game vs Bucknell last year did not care if we were playing Bucknell, Richmond, Monmouth, South Dakota St, or Whatsamatta U -- they were there to (1) have a good time, and (2) (probably a distant second for many) watch some Holy Cross football. Drawing these casual fans to Fiiton to have a good time there, and then showing them a strong HC product is what will keep them coming back. Not any incremental changes to a 1-AA schedule. But you ask 50 people in Worcester if UNH or Maine have good hockey teams, and you would get a big yes. Neither program has been relevant in hockey in 10 plus years. But both football programs have been in the playoffs. Great point, as usual, foles! |
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Post by gks on Feb 9, 2023 15:10:05 GMT -5
Harvard/Holy Cross at Polar Park is the worst kept secret in Central Mass.
Kit obviously doesn't want to go on the record with it until a formal announcement event is held at the ballpark.
It'll be a great event.
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