Exciting schedule is needed to pack the house

Of the many factors that bring sports fans to the arena, the opposing team is certainly a major motivation.

If your team is good, watching an intense matchup against a top contender is highly enticing. And if your team is bad, heading to the stadium to watch a strong opponent might be your only chance to see the game played correctly for the entire season.

Such was certainly the case two weekends ago when students took the advice of my colleague, Bart Lopez, and “packed the house” for the men’s basketball game against Cornell (which was just ranked No. 25 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches Poll). While Columbia’s chances of winning were slim, many students wanted to get a glimpse at the best Ivy League team in over a decade, the team that almost knocked off No. 1 Kansas over winter break.

“It was pretty cool that we got to see them. They’re not bad for a state school,” my suitemate, Mike Landes, said.

Case in point: Saturday’s contest against Dartmouth—where Columbia won its first conference game—was only sparsely attended. However, the “packed house,” from which many (my girlfriend included) were turned away in the end, demonstrates that Columbia students can and will fill the gym on certain occasions.

It is my contention that an improved schedule would draw more fans to games, not just at Columbia, but in all sports.

Playing all of the teams in your conference or division a certain number of times is a staple of organized athletic competition and required to ensure fair results. Each team needs to have ample opportunity to play others that are in direct competition for playoff spaces. But many times these games are boring and stale.

Baseball teams must play each division opponent 18 times. That said, those games against the Royals, Pirates, and Orioles are hard to sit through, even if your team is in a tight race for the postseason.

Interleague play, which was initiated in 1997, is widely viewed to be a major success for baseball, although it was highly controversial at the time. Each season, teams are scheduled to play six series against teams from the other league.

Aside from the ability to take on rivals from the same city, fans get to enjoy seeing different players and teams from other divisions. Additionally, when a team is away, fans are treated to seeing their teams in different stadiums that make the game more interesting.

The NHL instituted schedule changes a few years back to plan more matchups between the Eastern and Western Conferences, but the league needs to do more. Hockey is making a solid comeback right now—it must give fans across the country opportunities to see young stars like Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, and Jonathan Toews up close.

For example, my Blackhawks—who are one of the top teams in the league—will not make a trip to Madison Square Garden all season. Fans of the NHL’s “Original Six” teams (Blackhawks, Red Wings, Rangers, Bruins, Maple Leafs, and Canadiens) are always purists who would prefer more matchups between the old rivals.

Returning to Columbia for a moment: If certain scheduling tweaks were made, attendance and excitement could improve dramatically.

Most of our teams play some nonconference games against serious teams each season. Unfortunately, these games often take place away from Columbia, and so students don’t have an opportunity to attend. When I remind some students that our basketball team played Syracuse, for instance, I usually receive blank stares.

People attend events when there is a buzz on campus. Our basketball team isn’t good enough to justify watching their pre-Ivy season games on the road. But if Duke, Syracuse, or Ohio State (all teams Columbia has played over the past few seasons) made appearances at Levien Gymnasium early in the season, the place would be packed, and it would build interest for the rest of the season.

The better teams don’t need to host the games on their campus either. If I’m a Duke student, I’m not showing up to a game against Columbia, no matter what.

I spoke with several students at the Cornell game who were at their first Columbia basketball game—or sporting event—ever. Let’s just say it wasn’t Columbia athletics that brought them to the game.