FLHoya
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Post by FLHoya on Nov 9, 2006 1:42:17 GMT -5
Alright. I just read through all of this and I actually have something to say: My roommates are not into sports. Between the three of them, they went to 5 games TOTAL last season. (Only one went to the Duke game.) When the TV was set up in Leo's last Thursday, one asked, "Why is the TV here? Is it the Super Bowl?" I'm telling you, for all intents and purposes, they definitely qualify as "casual fans." (Maybe even lower than that.) This year? Two bought season tickets. When they heard about the FREE metro tickets, they said, and I quote, "COOL!" The one who doesn't have season tickets, because of her very busy schedule of saving the world, has already gone about finding tickets to games she does have time for, including cupcake games. I also know some people who didn't go to a single game last year, but still followed along closely on TV or espn.com. They have season tickets this year and are definitely planning on going to the games via the Metro. Next, especially after the Duke game last year, kids started showing up earlier and earlier, taking the Metro in the first place and forgetting about the buses. These kids are thrilled because now the AD has paid for the trips they were going to take anyway. Finally, the buses back to campus never fit all the students, and tons of kids were forced to take the metro and the GUTS bus back to campus. At least this way the AD pays for it and the GUTS buses won't be as crazy packed. Give our peers a chance, guys, they're not nearly as lazy or stupid as you're making them out to be. At the very least, wait to see what happens Saturday and THEN complain. Alright you win that one, I hadn't really thought of it from the angle of fans who have never gone to games or early-going fans who all of a sudden have their Metro expenses subsidized. Good stuff. Actually the one thing that never did come up in this discussion from anyone who isn't a fan of the new system: how would you improve it? It does seem like the AD got it pretty close to as good as they could.
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Eurostar
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Post by Eurostar on Nov 9, 2006 9:14:22 GMT -5
Alright you win that one, I hadn't really thought of it from the angle of fans who have never gone to games or early-going fans who all of a sudden have their Metro expenses subsidized. Good stuff. Actually the one thing that never did come up in this discussion from anyone who isn't a fan of the new system: how would you improve it? It does seem like the AD got it pretty close to as good as they could. i posted some ideas on improvements a few pages up. maybe promote the fact that the D6 runs from 37th and Reservoir to metro center which is a 5min walk to Verizon. i bet less than 25% of students know that this exists. make bus passes available as well (u can pick which ones u want, bus or metro pass). also, you could offer "premium" season tickets. these people will be able to get buses direct back/forth from campus to the stadium. have the bus make a few stops on the way back to campus for added convenience. charge a competitive price for this service so as to accommodate around ~1000 people (10-15 buses?). maybe like $30-$50?
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Nov 9, 2006 9:21:42 GMT -5
Alright you win that one, I hadn't really thought of it from the angle of fans who have never gone to games or early-going fans who all of a sudden have their Metro expenses subsidized. Good stuff. Actually the one thing that never did come up in this discussion from anyone who isn't a fan of the new system: how would you improve it? It does seem like the AD got it pretty close to as good as they could. i posted some ideas on improvements a few pages up. maybe promote the fact that the D6 runs from 37th and Reservoir to metro center which is a 5min walk to Verizon. i bet less than 25% of students know that this exists. make bus passes available as well (u can pick which ones u want, bus or metro pass). also, you could offer "premium" season tickets. these people will be able to get buses direct back/forth from campus to the stadium. have the bus make a few stops on the way back to campus for added convenience. charge a competitive price for this service so as to accommodate around ~1000 people (10-15 buses?). maybe like $30-$50? If students have a smarttrip card, then they can use the metropasses from the AD for either busses or metro
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Bando
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Post by Bando on Nov 9, 2006 14:02:50 GMT -5
Ray, people will come Ray. They'll come to Verizon for reasons they can't even fathom. They'll turn up in Chinatown not knowing for sure why they're doing it. They'll arrive at the doors as innocent as children, longing for 1984. Of course, we won't mind if you look around, you'll say. It's only $50 per person. They'll pass over the money without even thinking about it: for it is money they have and peace they lack. And they'll walk out to the seats; sit inside on a chilly winter day. They'll find they have reserved seats somewhere along one of the baselines, where they sat when they were children and cheered their heroes. And they'll watch the game and it'll be as if they dipped themselves in magic waters. The memories will be so thick they'll have to brush them away from their faces. People will come Ray. The one constant through all the years, Ray, has been Hoyas basketball. America has rolled by like an army of steamrollers. It has been erased like a blackboard, rebuilt and erased again. But Hoya Paranoia has marked the time. This court, this game: it's a part of our past, Ray. It reminds of us of all that once was good and will be again. Oh... people will come Ray. People will most definitely come. I cried after reading this. Well done, sir, well done. I second the POY nomination.
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doublehoya
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That's Right, I Said Minivan!
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Post by doublehoya on Nov 9, 2006 14:05:20 GMT -5
Are students getting as smarttrip card that they can use whenever they want, or is it somehow limited to just gamedays?
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hoyatables
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Post by hoyatables on Nov 9, 2006 16:10:54 GMT -5
i posted some ideas on improvements a few pages up. maybe promote the fact that the D6 runs from 37th and Reservoir to metro center which is a 5min walk to Verizon. i bet less than 25% of students know that this exists. make bus passes available as well (u can pick which ones u want, bus or metro pass). D6 is a great call, though truth be told you probably get there quicker transferring to the Red line at Dupont. D6 stops right at 7th and E Street -- one block from Verizon Center. The other D buses run to Dupont as well (D1 and D2 most notably) -- you can get them at 35th and Reservoir, or 35th and Q. And the G2 bus stops at Dupont too--leaves in front of the gates.
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Post by NickSixers on Nov 9, 2006 17:53:08 GMT -5
Are students getting as smarttrip card that they can use whenever they want, or is it somehow limited to just gamedays? Students received 6 Metropasses each for 2.70, which I was told by a fellow student is equivalent to the cheapest round trip on the Metro. These are apparently for the first semester, and we'll get to line up again for the second semester cards. I thought that it might be easier to give out a SmartTrip card that they could add funds to during the year, but perhaps they will plan with Metro to have that in the future. I plan on putting them all on my SmartTrip card so I appreciate the cards, but I will miss the door-to-door service of the buses.
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Nov 9, 2006 18:00:57 GMT -5
well see a metro card just cost them face value. Buying each kid a smart trip costs an extra what $20. It's just more ocst efficient for them.
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Post by NickSixers on Nov 9, 2006 20:16:12 GMT -5
I thought SmartTrip cards cost a $5 fee when purchased online and are no extra charge if bought in person or at special events (first Nats game comes to mind). My mistake.
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Post by HoyaSinceBirth on Nov 9, 2006 21:34:23 GMT -5
i wasn't sure about how much but there's defiently a charge to get them online or in person.
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PhillyHoya
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Post by PhillyHoya on Nov 10, 2006 0:37:23 GMT -5
i wasn't sure about how much but there's defiently a charge to get them online or in person. It's usually 25 bucks - 5 dollars for the card and then 20 dollars gets put on the card.
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jacko
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Post by jacko on Nov 10, 2006 2:47:26 GMT -5
I'm a little late on this thread, and I'm about to build on DFW's proposition. It might seem insane that I'm taking this seriously, but just bear with me:
DFW suggested walking to Verizon - he said it takes about 40 minutes. This was actually one of the first things that crossed my mind.
If 2-3000 people walk across the city (I'm suggesting prominent roads like PA Av. and Constitution) for every home game (or at least when the weather is bearable), it could become a major event/tradition for Georgetown and something that will become notable for all of DC. Not that anything that the fans do outside of the arena matters, but it could be a sort of a gimmick that might create a "warrior image" for our student fan base. It could also be a leisurely thing, spread out over 1 1/2 to 2 hours.
When I was in Milan for the semester and the major German soccer teams were in town, their thousands of fans would hang out in the center of the city all day and then walk over to the stadium together (a distance similar to that between GU and Verizon, if not longer) about two hours before the game. I thought the whole massive migration concept looked VERY cool, and I just wanted to mention that in case it could possibly catch on.
Speaking realistically, I don't think it will catch on and that's fine, but I think it deserves more consideration than it has received so far.
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CAHoya07
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Post by CAHoya07 on Nov 10, 2006 2:54:34 GMT -5
I'm a little late on this thread, and I'm about to build on DFW's proposition. It might seem insane that I'm taking this seriously, but just bear with me: DFW suggested walking to Verizon - he said it takes about 40 minutes. This was actually one of the first things that crossed my mind. If 2-3000 people walk across the city (I'm suggesting prominent roads like PA Av. and Constitution) for every home game (or at least when the weather is bearable), it could become a major event/tradition for Georgetown and something that will become notable for all of DC. Not that anything that the fans do outside of the arena matters, but it could be a sort of a gimmick that might create a "warrior image" for our student fan base. It could also be a leisurely thing, spread out over 1 1/2 to 2 hours. When I was in Milan for the semester and the major German soccer teams were in town, their thousands of fans would hang out in the center of the city all day and then walk over to the stadium together (a distance similar to that between GU and Verizon, if not longer) about two hours before the game. I thought the whole massive migration concept looked VERY cool, and I just wanted to mention that in case it could possibly catch on. Speaking realistically, I don't think it will catch on and that's fine, but I think it deserves more consideration than it has received so far. Yeah, a nice idea, but definitely not gonna happen.
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Post by hoyas2008 on Nov 10, 2006 7:34:51 GMT -5
I'll gladly take anybodys tickets who is too lazy to get from campus to the metro. GLADLY
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 10, 2006 9:16:39 GMT -5
i posted some ideas on improvements a few pages up. maybe promote the fact that the D6 runs from 37th and Reservoir to metro center which is a 5min walk to Verizon. i bet less than 25% of students know that this exists. make bus passes available as well (u can pick which ones u want, bus or metro pass). Not only did I consistently use the D6 the summer I lived in G'Town and worked on K Street (rush hour IS NOT BAD AT ALL getting to DuPont), in my four years on The Hilltop my one friend and I who never missed a game (maybe one?) took the D6 almost exclusively and we were never late, the buses were never overcrowded, nada. And that was when the MCI area was still a bit sketchy. These days, we'd probably leave earlier, grab a Unibrou or nine at RFD, and make the same EASY trip back afterwards. The money you'll spend on transportation equates to what... two less pitchers of High Life at The Tombs over the COURSE OF THE ENTIRE YEAR??? That's what rich friends from Short Hills or Westchester are for, anywho. Suck it up, people. Plan ahead.
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Post by LizziebethHoya on Nov 11, 2006 15:27:40 GMT -5
Okay, I tried to be optimistic about this because some of the postive comments on this thread make sense. A lot of sense.
I enjoyed not rushing out of Verizon after the game, and while leisurely walking to the Metro, I decided I changed my mind and liked this new system. Then I got to the Metro....
1) the Metro did not run more trains. The platform was packed with students and other fans, and when the trains actually came, the people trying to get off were being pushed by students who were pushing their way onto the cars. Fans getting on the trains were having hard times dealing with the students who were pushing and shoving everywhere. This occurred for 2 trains before I could actually get on one. 2) after spending a lot of time waiting for trains and taking them, when we got off the metro, it took at least 10 minutes to get out of the station itself because it was just a constant line to get on escalators 3) students were running up down escalators, and down up escalators, and generally not doing "safe" things 4) after getting out of the metro station, there was another wait for the buses and when the buses came, the students pushed and shoved to get on them per usual. And then it took 20 minutes to get from Roslyn to Georgetown.
All in all, it took more than double the time to get back to campus, students were still packing on the cars and buses, and along the way were pushing other fans and random other metro passengers. And a good chuck of students were not at the game, so the problems are just going to be worse the next time around.
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miamihoya
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Post by miamihoya on Nov 11, 2006 16:29:09 GMT -5
I took a cab to the game, so i can't judge how it worked on the way there, but I have to be honest that on the way back, it was plain terrible. It took a total of one hour to get back to campus and the whole thing was just a hassle. I agree it was nice not rushing out of Verizon to get on buses, but once u reached the metro platform, all hell broke loose. It just doesn't seem like a good idea to have 3000+ students pushing and shoving on a small metro platform. Other people were clearly annoyed by the whole thing, especially those trying to get off the trains. Had to do the whole thing twice because of the change at metro center. Then another long wait at Rossyln for buses. All in all, it just didnt seem to work. Universally, it seemed like all students were upset and annoyed by the new system. I guess we'll have to see if it clears up as the season goes on, or just gets worse as attendence improves.
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GUHoya07
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Post by GUHoya07 on Nov 11, 2006 17:17:38 GMT -5
I took a cab to the game, so i can't judge how it worked on the way there, but I have to be honest that on the way back, it was plain terrible. It took a total of one hour to get back to campus and the whole thing was just a hassle. I agree it was nice not rushing out of Verizon to get on buses, but once u reached the metro platform, all hell broke loose. It just doesn't seem like a good idea to have 3000+ students pushing and shoving on a small metro platform. Other people were clearly annoyed by the whole thing, especially those trying to get off the trains. Had to do the whole thing twice because of the change at metro center. Then another long wait at Rossyln for buses. All in all, it just didnt seem to work. Universally, it seemed like all students were upset and annoyed by the new system. I guess we'll have to see if it clears up as the season goes on, or just gets worse as attendence improves. I had a completely different experience. The group of people I was with walked to Metro Center, walked down and got into a pretty much empty car, got to Rosslyn, came out and walked directly out to a number of waiting buses with plenty of room, and we were back on campus in 35 minutes total. Worked great for us. I'll say this one more time, before you start bitching why dont you suggest some alternatives? People like complaining, but no one has pointed out a better option.
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Post by LizziebethHoya on Nov 11, 2006 17:23:58 GMT -5
If you walk to Metro center, its a different story. But the truth of the matter is, most students wont walk to Metro center, and thats why all hell broke lose at Chinatown. If everyone walked to Metro center, the same problem would have occured. I heard stories of kids getting their heads stuck in train car doors, etc.
The solution is not simple, but something else needs to be done that doesn't involve other metro passengers and fans. In my opinion, have the buses meet at a specific place away from the crowds at Verizon. Or where they were, whereever is safest. But make sure that there are enough buses and there are constant buses so students don't have to rush out of the game.
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TBird41
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Post by TBird41 on Nov 11, 2006 17:40:43 GMT -5
If you walk to Metro center, its a different story. But the truth of the matter is, most students wont walk to Metro center, and thats why all hell broke lose at Chinatown. If everyone walked to Metro center, the same problem would have occured. I heard stories of kids getting their heads stuck in train car doors, etc. The solution is not simple, but something else needs to be done that doesn't involve other metro passengers and fans. In my opinion, have the buses meet at a specific place away from the crowds at Verizon. Or where they were, whereever is safest. But make sure that there are enough buses and there are constant buses so students don't have to rush out of the game. That or Georgetown students should act like they are students at a top 25 university and not from 'Cuse--Metro is not hard, even during rush hour at the busiest stations, or after Nats games. If some dumb@$$ gets his head stuck in a metrocar door, he deserves it.
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