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Post by GBR on Nov 21, 2023 11:28:13 GMT -5
The question if you could change one thing about volleyball, what would it be?
For example: For me it is the regional finals being played at home gyms (for the most part). I know that is largely done for attendance purposes, but to make volleyball more legit, I think at least the regional finals should be played at a neutral site. Typically 3 of the 4 regional host schools go to the final 4. With parity being what it is, I expect that would be more like 2 of 4 if the regional finals were played at a neutral site.
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Post by GBR on Nov 21, 2023 11:30:35 GMT -5
I would do this by going against the norm and having a final 8 instead of a final 4. This year the semi-finals are on a Thursday, the finals on a Sunday. You could go with a Wednesday/Friday/Sunday deal, or even a Thursday/Friday/Sunday match instead and bring 8 teams instead of 4 to the final location.
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Post by n00b on Nov 21, 2023 11:49:22 GMT -5
The question if you could change one thing about volleyball, what would it be? For example: For me it is the regional finals being played at home gyms (for the most part). I know that is largely done for attendance purposes, but to make volleyball more legit, I think at least the regional finals should be played at a neutral site. Typically 3 of the 4 regional host schools go to the final 4. With parity being what it is, I expect that would be more like 2 of 4 if the regional finals were played at a neutral site. That's not an uncommon opinion, but I couldn't disagree more. I actually think we should go the opposite direction. All home sites until the Final Four. Outside of inter-continental events like the Olympics and World Cup, there is only one league that plays their playoffs at a neutral site. I think playing for a Top 4 seed increases the importance of the regular season. Wisconsin's matches this week are MASSIVELY more important because of the impact on hosting. And sold-out, raucous arenas are what will continue to grow the sport. In that vein, I'd love to see 100% of matches played on home courts. The logistics aren't easy, but it's doable. Take the Lincoln Regional of the most recent bracketology: (1) Nebraska vs. Jackson State* Northern Iowa vs. (8) Missouri (4) Florida vs. FGCU South Alabama vs. (5) Arizona State* (2) Texas vs. Grand Canyon* Texas State vs. (7) Auburn* (3) Tennessee vs. Wofford High Point vs. (6) Southern California* We'll get something like the following attendance numbers: Lincoln Rd 1 - 8,700 Lincoln Rd 2 - 8,700 Gainesville Rd 1 - 2,600 Gainesville Rd 2 - 3,000 Austin Rd 1 - 4,200 Austin Rd 2 - 4,900 Knoxville Rd 1 - 2,000 Knoxville Rd 2 - 2,600 Lincoln Regional SF - 8,700 Lincoln Regional Final - 8,700 But now take all of those neutral-site matches that are played together in a one-session ticket before the home team plays and put it on a home court... Northern Iowa at #8 Missouri - 2,400 South Alabama at #5 Arizona State - 3,100 Texas State at #7 Auburn - 1,500 High Point at #6 USC - 1,600 That 8,600 more fans Then Tennessee at Texas in the regional semifinal would be an additional 5,000. So we're selling 13,000 more tickets, generating like $200k in revenue, AND playing 5 more matches in loud, home arenas making for a better TV product. |
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Post by txvbcoach on Nov 21, 2023 11:56:08 GMT -5
I would do this by going against the norm and having a final 8 instead of a final 4. This year the semi-finals are on a Thursday, the finals on a Sunday. You could go with a Wednesday/Friday/Sunday deal, or even a Thursday/Friday/Sunday match instead and bring 8 teams instead of 4 to the final location. To throw another level of crazy to this idea. Have two pools of 4 play it out. So you get 12 matches with outstanding play and matchups that would get high ratings. Top team from each pool goes to the Natty. |
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Post by tomclen on Nov 21, 2023 11:59:40 GMT -5
 #1. Restructure the rounds. #2. Keep the early round games at the home of the highest seeds so you get the best attendance. #3. Dump the Final Four, and replace it with a Final Eight. #4. Play the Final Eight in Vegas. #5 (Optional) De-couple the Final Eight from the AVCA convention. Make the Final 8 a real fan event, not a sidebar to the AVCA convention. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2023 12:00:29 GMT -5
The question if you could change one thing about volleyball, what would it be? For example: For me it is the regional finals being played at home gyms (for the most part). I know that is largely done for attendance purposes, but to make volleyball more legit, I think at least the regional finals should be played at a neutral site. Typically 3 of the 4 regional host schools go to the final 4. With parity being what it is, I expect that would be more like 2 of 4 if the regional finals were played at a neutral site. How would this grow the sport larger? |
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Post by GBR on Nov 21, 2023 12:07:25 GMT -5
The question if you could change one thing about volleyball, what would it be? For example: For me it is the regional finals being played at home gyms (for the most part). I know that is largely done for attendance purposes, but to make volleyball more legit, I think at least the regional finals should be played at a neutral site. Typically 3 of the 4 regional host schools go to the final 4. With parity being what it is, I expect that would be more like 2 of 4 if the regional finals were played at a neutral site. How would this grow the sport larger? To me the TV side is how you grow the sport, not home attendance. Lot more watch the matches on TV than in person. The Final 4 is the big draw, making it a Final 8 would draw more interest than a regional final the Sunday before? Plus it legitimizes that round of the tournament. The pool thing is interesting, but not sure how you would televise that. |
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Post by GBR on Nov 21, 2023 12:17:50 GMT -5
Look at college basketball. I am a marginal college basketball fan. Favorite round in the men's basketball tournament is round 1 and 2. Rounds 3 and 4, I don't even watch typically, unless there is an underdog, I want to catch in the evening session. Final 4 I watch. In volleyball, 1st and 2nd rounds are only for the big fans, very few upsets and extremely rare for a top 10 team to lose in these rounds. 3rd and 4th rounds, a bit more interest, but still not many paying attention. The top 4 are playing at home and typically win. Then the Final 4 is where most of the marginal fans start watching. I don't have any numbers to back this up, just my take on it.
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Post by n00b on Nov 21, 2023 13:02:05 GMT -5
How would this grow the sport larger? To me the TV side is how you grow the sport, not home attendance. Lot more watch the matches on TV than in person. The Final 4 is the big draw, making it a Final 8 would draw more interest than a regional final the Sunday before? Plus it legitimizes that round of the tournament. The pool thing is interesting, but not sure how you would televise that. I think you’re underestimating home much in-arena atmosphere translates to a quality broadcast. When regionals were at neutral sites, you could feel the lack of energy through the TV. Not to mention, they often weren’t truly neutral because the host would automatically be in that region, so teams would often get home court advantage without earning it. |
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Post by jcvball22 on Nov 21, 2023 13:07:13 GMT -5
I would do this by going against the norm and having a final 8 instead of a final 4. This year the semi-finals are on a Thursday, the finals on a Sunday. You could go with a Wednesday/Friday/Sunday deal, or even a Thursday/Friday/Sunday match instead and bring 8 teams instead of 4 to the final location. You mean like what we do for the other two divisions? The model already exists. |
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Post by olsarge on Nov 21, 2023 13:19:03 GMT -5
I think Volleyball has a pace of play problem, especially near the end of sets when multiple time outs and challenges occur. It dramatically reduces the game flow and building tension and worsens the product for home and television viewers. I suggest time outs could be shortened and challenges could be timeboxed for the officials - if they can't see an obvious issue quickly then the call stands. Adding in technology like automated line calls like tennis uses to reduce those challenges would help too. I'm sure there are better ideas too. We've seen when baseball took their pace of place issue seriously what a significant effect it had on viewership and fan enjoyment in just in the first year.
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Post by knapplc on Nov 21, 2023 13:29:44 GMT -5
T-shirt cannons.
But if that doesn't work, I think the sport just needs more exposure. This season has shown that when you put the game in front of more eyeballs, more eyeballs tend to come back.
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Post by huskerang74 on Nov 21, 2023 13:36:29 GMT -5
I think Volleyball has a pace of play problem, especially near the end of sets when multiple time outs and challenges occur. It dramatically reduces the game flow and building tension and worsens the product for home and television viewers. I suggest time outs could be shortened and challenges could be timeboxed for the officials - if they can't see an obvious issue quickly then the call stands. Adding in technology like automated line calls like tennis uses to reduce those challenges would help too. I'm sure there are better ideas too. We've seen when baseball took their pace of place issue seriously what a significant effect it had on viewership and fan enjoyment in just in the first year. I disagree with time limiting challenges. I would rather spend an extra minute and know we are getting the correct call. I think limiting the number of challenges effectively limits the disruptions. How about instead make sure the announcers have a clue and are engaging during the review? So many of them are clueless. That being said, I don't see a pace of play problem with volleyball... it's similar to the end of a basketball or football game. |
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Post by anastasia1 on Nov 21, 2023 13:38:49 GMT -5
idk the challenge system needs to change/revamp it takes extremely too long sometimes that is literally my only complaint. will it grow the game if its fixed idk but i cant imagine someone new to volleyball wanting to sit and watch a 5 minute challenge just for the ref to say inconclusive 😭
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Post by n00b on Nov 21, 2023 13:40:51 GMT -5
I think Volleyball has a pace of play problem, especially near the end of sets when multiple time outs and challenges occur. It dramatically reduces the game flow and building tension and worsens the product for home and television viewers. I suggest time outs could be shortened and challenges could be timeboxed for the officials - if they can't see an obvious issue quickly then the call stands. Adding in technology like automated line calls like tennis uses to reduce those challenges would help too. I'm sure there are better ideas too. We've seen when baseball took their pace of place issue seriously what a significant effect it had on viewership and fan enjoyment in just in the first year. I disagree with time limiting challenges. I would rather spend an extra minute and know we are getting the correct call. I think limiting the number of challenges effectively limits the disruptions. How about instead make sure the announcers have a clue and are engaging during the review? So many of them are clueless. That being said, I don't see a pace of play problem with volleyball... it's similar to the end of a basketball or football game. Except it happens five times in a volleyball match, not once. I think non-media timeouts should be reduced to 30 seconds, just like FIVB. |
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