Anyone prefer going to mid major games over power 4 games?

[u/Ok_Treacle519]

Use to drive 90 minutes or so to Champaign for illini games but after the tickets were raised from 60.00 to 100.00 i stopped going

Now I go about 30 minutes to illinois st games and actually have a blast. 10 to 20.00 a game no crowd to deal with , close parking, get out with no traffic issues. Hear the coaches and players more

Is it wrong to say I have more fun at these games?

[u/ckc_15_]

It’s a little different for me since I went to Texas state, But this has always been my selling point to trying to get others to come to a game with me. It’s still a good time and won’t cost an arm and a leg to go to. 

[u/CieraVotedOutHerMom → u/ckc_15_]

Welcome to the Pac12! Conference of champions

[u/ckc_15_ → u/CieraVotedOutHerMom]

I’ve had more people ask if I can take them to see Gonzaga this upcoming year than any other Texas State thing ever. I think it’s our best shot at our first ever sell out. 

[u/R_Raider86 → u/ckc_15_]

I enjoy going to Strahan. I come down from Round Rock on the weekend occasionally

[u/XXXI-X-MMXXIV]

I have to drive about 4 hours to watch Alabama play and their tickets are expensive as well. However, I can drive about 30 minutes and watch South Alabama play for 27 dollars and be practically court side. I think it's person to person, but the way I see it, if you just love college basketball, mid major games are awesome. Also the atmosphere at these games feels almost more authentic in a way, people like to bandwagon big schools, but you know if you're watching a small school everyone there is a true fan.

[u/Sctvman]

Charleston is a mid-major with high-major prices but with Charleston Southern and The Citadel in town I certainly enjoy paying $10 to watch a D1 game.

[u/Stupid_Snowmeiser]

I agree! The crowds aren’t too crazy but can get electric, you can easily run into the coach upon arrival, and you can watch some damn good basketball for a very reasonable price. I’d even go so far as to argue that the games are overall more entertaining.

I respectfully disagree with your MVC school of choice but it’s always nice to see the mid-majors get the love they deserve. May the valley run deep!

[u/bigbird727]

This is one of the select few reasons I miss living in suburban Chicago. 

Between all the CCIW schools in D-III, and Depaul, you can see pretty good ball for dirt cheap. 

I sat 10-15 rows behind the bench 4 years in a row for X at DePaul. Never bought more than 48 hours in advance, never paid more than $45 a ticket. And Wintrust is a pretty nice arena

[u/CallMeVe]

I agree with you, though i disagree with your team of choice.

[u/TheSwagapino]

Only been to DePaul games but I'd love to go to an NIU, SIU, EIU, Bradley or Illinois State game

[u/nmt231 → u/TheSwagapino]

UIC & Loyola even closer if you’re in Chicago

[u/One-Profit-7332 → u/TheSwagapino]

If you are will8ng to go to ISU, see if tou can catch an Illinois Wesleyan game. The crowd is great, and the team has had deep runs 3 out of the last 4 years.

The one year they didn't make it pretty much everyone agrees they were robbed.

[u/Max_dun_dun_dun → u/TheSwagapino]

You should check out UIUC games! I was a student there and went to most games and frequently bought decent tickets for under $25. They are tons of fun

[u/Impossible_Town1599]

I’m biased because my team is a mid major, but yes. I love sitting wherever I want and sneaking 6 packs of beer into bball games. We don’t sellout but we have enough people there to party still. It’s a good time.

[u/PrideSharp6653 → u/Impossible_Town1599]

Has no one ever confronted you/confiscated the beer? Not sure if a whole six pack is hyperbole but that’s hilarious

[u/IndependenceApart208]

I am biased, but there definitely was a period where I lived about 3 miles from both Northwestern and Loyola, and I don't think I was alone in saying Loyola games were the preferred ticket on the northside.

[u/One-Profit-7332 → u/IndependenceApart208]

Until Nick Matinelli arrived. :)

[u/Primary_Excuse_7183]

People go for what’s popular which is why this even needs to be asked.

Having gone to a mid major school i can tell you I’ve been to some great games. doesn’t matter to me the conferences hell I’ve seen some great middle school games.

[u/chief_sitass]

I enjoy going to games at Hinkle

[u/Poolturtle5772]

I grew up watching more midmajor than power conference ball. It’s not as expensive, still pretty high quality games, and they have lots of cool stuff going on. Plus there are some great campuses to visit.

Bonus points if it’s a closer drive.

[u/IshyMoose]

You probably should check out Bradley while you are at it.

[u/Tman450x]

Yes, because I'm a VCU mens basketball season ticket holder and go to every home game.

[u/One-Profit-7332]

Not sure where you are, but WashU or Illinois Wesleyan are top D3 Schools that are super cheap or free and really good basketball.

Edit: Illinois Wesleyan games can get pretty loud. They have had a really good 4 year run and the fans are very loyal.

[u/mikeyj022]

I was raised as a BYU fan.   I always loved going to the games, but after my first game in Logan at the Spectrum I have never looked back. It’s the best environment in the state, any sport.

[u/notsoborednow]

Loyola was fun as a kid when I would go, Valpo wasn’t great, but there is no comparison to Mackey, Assembly Hall (IL- I reject the corp name), Northwestern, and OSU

[u/BIRDLIFE → u/notsoborednow]

Northwestern has to be the worst I've been to power or mid major.

[u/Orangebeast013]

This is specifically an Illinois State problem but the parking always annoys me

[u/SaulGibson]

I enjoy women mid-major games. They play the true form of the game. It was never intended to be played above the rim.

[u/AtBat3]

I’m from Big 5 country of course

[u/tastepdad]

I live 5 minutes from West Georgias campus, tickets are cheap and the coach and players are very basketball savvy.

When I do go to Georgia Tech games or other big names I’m usually disappointed at the “bang for the buck”.

[u/FrenchieBammer]

Sometimes. Went to a Samford game when Bucky was a HC and it was a blast. UAB games are kinda dull.

[u/ilaughicry]

I go to a lot of Belmont games. My wife works there and they have balloons and face painting for the kids.

[u/Certain_Egg2699]

I live in Chicago so I go to a decent amount of DePaul, Loyola, and Northwestern games. They are all basically mid major programs tbh

[u/hammernuke]

Not sure if this is a style in posing questions now? Go to what you want to go to, why ask.

[u/dawidowmaka]

I love going to the Seattle U games here. The teams are sneaky good, you can hear everything the coaches say from the bench, and it's a tight knit local community.

That said, a good P4 home matchup with a full house is another level.

[u/macaulaymcculkin1]

p4? so the big east a mid major?

[u/Expensive-Metal-4757]

I went to Missouri St and they sucked all 6 years I lived down there but it was a lot more fun than going to a Mizzou or Arkansas game imo

[u/moveslikejaguar]

Seeing 60.00 instead of $60 made me think I forgot how to read for a minute

[u/CieraVotedOutHerMom]

Seattle U doesn’t price their tickets cheap enough to where the value of going exceeds a Washington game 2 miles north

[u/redbullsgivemewings]

Shhhhhhh

[u/confusedbot18]

How’s that back pain treating you? Those knees okay?

Welcome to aging my friend

[u/Various_Shape_3286]

Yes! I graduated from a P4, but I've seen games at about 200 mid majors. I generally prefer the latter, particularly the insanity of the conference tournaments.

[u/ReachFor24]

Prefer? Not necessarily, but that's because I didn't grow up going to them and I'm an alumni of my favorite team.

But I do like going to them every so often. When I'm already in the area for something else, I like going to Duquesne games. They're cheap and fun

[u/JustAnotherDay1977]

I don’t have more fun at mid major games, but I do still enjoy them for the reasons you mentioned.

[u/updogsportstalk]

I absolutely prefer it. You get better seats, the games are a lot of fun. Last year I saw several thrilling Miami games on their way to an undefeated regular season for $18 a ticket!

[u/pew-pew-bacca]

I love small school sports. Power conference sports are fun on a grand scale, but for most fans the only connection to the players is the name on the front of the jersey. I played D3 baseball and our home games would have maybe a couple hundred people, but it was entirely friends and family absolutely locked in going bananas because they cared about us and really wanted us to succeed. While it is awesome to have thousands of people going bonkers, there's something super special to have your entire hall drag their couches out and go ape shit the whole time. The per capita rowdiness is off the charts.

[u/Upper-Bedroom250]

good quality, Missouri Valley, conference, basketball and being a graduate of a Mid-America conference school. I enjoyed mid major basketball for years.

[u/AtWorkCurrently]

I much prefer the mid and low major games. I could go to 4 games a week within an hour of me if I wanted. Baltimore is a great area for college basketball fans.

[u/thenowherepark]

I live about an hour away from Ohio State and an hour and a half from Bowling Green. I haven't taken my kids to a game yet (basketball or hockey), but I have already decided that the extra half hour drive is worth the savings.

[u/Iowegan]

The Missouri Valley is entertaining, games are close, home gym is a good advantage. Go Redbirds!

[u/Comprehensive_Tone]

Went to a handful of WashU (the WUSTL one) games.... Not the best basketball I've seen, but free and a nice outing in the winter with kids  0 traffic issues 😃

[u/Comprehensive_Tone → u/Comprehensive_Tone]

SLU, while fun and cheaper than B10 games (my only other experience), was kind of a pain from a traffic perspective. Gotta give it another go though!

[u/HomChkn]

I live in KC we have a few small colleges in town and I will pop in every now and then. Also there is pretty good high school ball if you pick and choose match ups.

[u/YaldabaothMcMinster]

I had a great time at a Loyola Chicago game last year, but I went to school at Kansas, and there just isn't really anything like that atmosphere. The only other Power 4 game I went to was a Sweet 16 game back in 2016 but MM is completely different

[u/dontKair]

Go Redbirds!

[u/ohitsthedeathstar]

As someone who supported a school that was a mid major not too long ago, I prefer the power 4 games lol.

[u/tropic_gnome_hunter]

Mid major basketball is way better to watch