Sign up, and you can customize which countdowns you see. Sign upIt appears that your browser timezone is different than what is currently being used. Do you want to switch to UTC? Change timezone
Jan 29, 2025
2:56:02pm
Trappist1F Redshirt Freshman
A lot is said about the Marriott Center environment, but...
I actually think that the crowd is quieter, less crazy than it was even 10 years ago.

While the gameday production has been dramatically improved since the late 1970's and early 80's (when I started attending games as a kid), I think the crowd has become more subdued as it has become more affluent. The ROC is louder and more organized than student sections of old, but I think the rest of the crowd is lacking. People aren't really showing up until close to halftime anymore, and there are large swaths of expensive seats near me in the lower bowl that go unused most of the time. It's very rare that anyone in my section stands up and cheers, even during critical points in the game.

The loudest I have heard the Marriott Center during the last decade was during the second round NIT game against Virginia Tech in 2016. That game was even louder than Gonzaga 2020 (and it was loud for longer stretches, not just during exciting moments). My ears rang for hours afterwards. That crowd was noticeably younger and less affluent than the regular season games and there was a tangible difference in the noise level and energy in the building because of that.

I don't know that I have a point. I'm just sharing an observation. I think the Marriott Crowd is slowly becoming too old and too rich to be as fun as it was during the 80's, 90's, and early 2000's. The ROC always brings it, but I think the rest of the crowd has a long way to go to match places like Phog Allen, or Rupp Arena.
Trappist1F
Bio page
Trappist1F
Joined
May 3, 2024
Last login
Feb 18, 2025
Total posts
127 (0 FO)
Messages
Author
Time
Jan 29, 2:59pm
Jan 29, 4:30pm

Posting on CougarBoard

In order to post, you will need to either sign up or log in.