Will Great Falls Attendance make the CBA web site?

[panchess]

They announced 999 at their game last night against Indiana. With the CBA unofficial 1,000 cut, will it make it?

It certainly sounds like an honest count, at any rate.

[one way]

One problem with Great Falls and their attendance is that the team is never out in the community. Never in any schools or any clubs - and we all know that this type of activity is vital to any CBA club. I think that Great Falls could be a solid franchise with the CBA, but their front office and coach have to get together want to make it work

[MontanaFella]

Ryan Acre is trying, they set up after game parties at a local sports bar, but the players refuse to show up, the dance team has been great but the coach and players are really not acting as if they have a real interest in the future of basketball in great falls.

[psbf]

Why would they not want to work in the community? This is their first year, I would think they would want to do anything to promote the team and the league.

[MontanaFella]

Coach Aggers is a nice man, he doesn't really seem to work the PR end of things. I have heard they have some plans coming up with the grand opening of a sports store in town and some other stuff. It would be better if they could get out some more though, that is for sure. I didn't even know they were here until the second week of the season.

[heavesrock]

The Explorers cancelled the message board on their website because I said they needed to promote more

[kg21obf]

Yakima does very little pr in town, Coach Woolpert is not a regular fixture around town. They do have a camp for kids, but thats about it. They win they Draw

[psbf]

Are you serious, with the crowds that Yakama draws? Imagine what they could get if they promoted more.

[Pounder]

Casinos, baby!

Perhaps they miss their hockey. Junior B still hosts most of the Montana rivalries the AWHL and NAHL used to have. Great Falls is missing from that list.

Great Falls does have Malmstrom AFB. I'd be paying some attention over there, if nothing else.

[psbf]

is so nice, is especially why he should be going with the players to do the pr work that was set up for them. I've seen how nice he is, reading his quotes in the M.S.. He is a class guy.

[Sam Hill]

Are you serious, with the crowds that Yakama draws? Imagine what they could get if they promoted more.

I think they're about at what they're going to get. It's not like they'd draw 6,000 a game if they promoted more.

[psbf]

It just surprises me, with the crowds that I've seen, that they don't really promote.

[panchess]

..and is probably spending his energy learning the pro game. He is doing a good job of learning the game and putting out a competitive team in Great Falls.

I think the whole Apex organization, assuming they are back next year, will be in better shape for 2007-2008. They made some mistakes, and have done some things right, like most startups. Great Falls will likely be a better organization next season. Them and Minot are almost certain to be back. I am assuming Butte will be too, if only because the money man lives there.

[psbf]

for him, which is good for the Explorers.
The Xplosion began the season with a college coach also. Unfortunately, he could only find 2 wins in 17 games so the ownership(and us fans) got frustrated and now we have a new coach with pro experience. The team is improving, though-gradually. The bottom line, having a college coach worked there, it did not here.

[Ken, Steelheads fan]

..and is probably spending his energy learning the pro game. He is doing a good job of learning the game and putting out a competitive team in Great Falls.

I think the whole Apex organization, assuming they are back next year, will be in better shape for 2007-2008. They made some mistakes, and have done some things right, like most startups. Great Falls will likely be a better organization next season. Them and Minot are almost certain to be back. I am assuming Butte will be too, if only because the money man lives there.

Panchess,
I'll hold you to the quote above. I think the entire Apex organization will be in worse shape for 2007-2008 for reasons I've given before. Financial resources have been diluted by their multi-team ownership. Hosting the all*star game will dilute Apex's resources even further because all*star games are seldom worth the money it takes to put them on.

...but that's only my humble opinion.

[bectond]

Players should be required to attend events that help retain fans.
Attracting fans cost a lot more money than keeping the ones you have. Therefore, if Great Falls is throwing an after party, than at least two players or the coach should show-up and shoot the breeze. They should be fined for refusing to attend team sponsored functions. That kind of thing does not cost any money, just some time and people skills.

As far as the all-star game goes, perhaps 400-500 people will travel to Butte, Montana and use their hotels and restaurants. Maybe Butte's chamber of commerce will help with the bill. Maybe Butte has some local attractions in around town and maybe they will also help pay the bills. These type of games can assist the local economy, esspecially in a small town like Butte. 500 outsiders coming to their town would have the same effect as 50,000 people going to Chicago for an event.

[psbf]

I've not seen Great Falls, but I did see a picture of Butte in their newspaper and I think Butte has something to offer. It's much bigger than I thought. I forgot what the distance that seperated them was, but I'm sure they can work together on it. I wish I could travel out there again(I went through it by train once).

[one way]

he may be putting all of his energy into running the club;but even if you have the greatest team in the world and no fans, you have no future. I heard that is one of the main problems with Aggers. He feels that he is above doing the so-called mundane tasks that are associated with being a cba coach. Reading programs, after game parties, coaches shows, hospital visits, etc. all of these things are important for cultivating a fan base, and Aggers refuses to do them. He will not be back next year if this type of behavior continues.