Wanted to come on here and post about what Clemson does for its atmosphere
I went to the Clemson SMU game last night that tipped at 9 pm. As you can expect, fan attendance was low because Clemson (like Blacksburg) is a small town and most fans would have to travel relatively far to make a mid week 9 pm tip.
So what does Clemson do? It uses its best friend -students- to fill empty seats. Unlike the money hungry athletic department at Virginia Tech, all Clemson basketball games are first come first serve for students and all are permitted to enter until the stadium is full. This meant students surrounded almost half of the upper bowl. It created a much needed energy boost and likely doubled the game’s attendance.
Obviously, Virginia Tech students do not get back from break until the 17th (earliest), but there is NO reason Cassell can’t have this system aswell. It’s just pathetic, laziness from the AD, and would be a difference maker in games.
42 Replies
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bgna
6mo
that bought seats. We don't have an empty "upper bowl" for students to "fill in." Also, I do give my extra ticket(s) away to students, but it's hard to do that for basketball. They want to go with friends and 1 ticket is not attractive for basketball because they want to sit together. I have trouble giving away even 2 free tickets to students. Unless they can find seats with friends, they aren't as interested in a free basketball ticket as they are with a free football ticket. Need a bigger arena to do this in Blacksburg and let students sit general admission for free.....
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
6mo
Students can enter 90 minutes before the game. Their sections are behind the baskets (lower and upper seating).
They might have snuck into non student seating or someone turned away from enforcing the seating due to poor attendance, but they don’t allow that most games.
They are actually pretty tough on folks trying to get into the lower bowl sides without tickets for those sections.
Many people who have season tickets live in Greenville which isn’t a bad drive at all. Often those tickets are given to students or friends who may look like students for the weaker games. I know a lot of local college kids are home for the holidays so I would be surprised if they were using dad’s tickets last night. They generally don’t have many open seats for any game given the proximity of Greenville. It’s not really comparable to va techs issues with mid week games.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
6mo
We got there 10 minutes before tip off to a line of students stretching almost to the street. None of them got turned away. It’s first come first serve, and they were still letting students in even when the student section was full.
To get a ticket at Virginia Tech: students either had to buy season tickets for $150 (most don’t) or you have to enter the lottery for a game.
This alone reduces interest, there is ZERO reasoning for why our basketball games can’t have an increased student section when attendance is going to be low, and they KNOW it will be low.
I’ll also note: I have been to 5 games in LittleJohn in the last couple of years, this has happened twice. Regardless, the frequency of them using this system is irrelevant to my main points.
Greenville and Clemson are about a 40 minute drive from one another, roughly.
Roanoke and Blacksburg are about 45 minutes apart.
Of course, Greenville is much bigger, but Cassell and LJC both only hold about 9,000 anyway.
It’s definitely a comparable situation and honestly more embarrassing considering we are abt 10,000 students larger than Clemson. No reason we can’t get 3,000 students in there every night, other than they currently aren’t even allotted that many tickets, despite Cassel regularly failing to fill 60% capacity.
(In response to this post by GreenvilleVT)
6mo
Clemson is more comparable to auburn as far as mid week attendance than VT.
Rarely do you go to a Clemson game even in the week with many empty seats. I’ve been able to sell midweek tickets easily at Clemson but it’s a struggle to get rid of midweek tickets unless we are playing a top 15 team.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
6mo
the kids moved?
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
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DCL
6mo
Guy should have had very little input into any football decision so the sooner he and others like Ballein are moving on the better
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
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Stech
6mo
He’s a three degree Cal guy, where football doesn’t mean more. He way underrated what it means to the Virginia Tech nation. So J. Pierce is saying that Whit was telling him, but he wouldn’t listen. So now he gets to stay a while longer, many have the expiration date no later than when we hire a new President next year. They could easily ride out together, since Whit is covering Sands for the football debacle.
(In response to this post by DCL)
S
Stech
6mo
Sands and the Board face up to the situation. Unfortunately, we are covering it up instead of facing it with the Franklin hire. I mean he couldn’t even lead the Franklin hire, his most important job is hiring a football coach(not doing analytics for it), and he couldn’t lead it, but that’s okay we will continue to sweep his ineptitude under the rug, and act like it is not there.
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
6mo
when we played Maryand in Blacksburg. May have been the 2010 game but not sure. VT opened it up to students and the place was packed. I had season tickets and students could not sit in those seats as long as a season ticket holder showed up. Atmosphere was off the charts amazing. Vazquez for Maryland was good as well as Delaney and Allen for us.
A packed Cassell is almost if not better than a full lane
(In response to this post by SC_Hokie)
R
rmhokie
6mo
to game. Turned it around in spin on 81 at 2nd Salem exit. Got off at C'burg exit, NO snow/ice on roads. Couldn't believe it! And best part was WE WON. Great drive back home.
(In response to this post by VintonHokies)
8
804Hokie
6mo
Bimbo went off for 50some points. And Wally World had close to 40 (smooth stroke!).
** Edited by 804Hokie at 1/9/2026, 12:37:53 PM
(In response to this post by VintonHokies)
2
2hhoop3
6mo
if my memory hasn't deserted me. I believe Bimbo and Wally went for 51 and 39, respectively. A great game. Likely to remain the highest scoring game in VT basketball history, barring something very, very out of the ordinary.
(In response to this post by 804Hokie)
8
804Hokie
6mo
Just those two. Greg Brink was on that team as well I believe. Now his daughter is the bball star.
(In response to this post by 2hhoop3)
2
2hhoop3
6mo
was another. Frankie Allen had some rough times but, that game was a higher point.
(In response to this post by 804Hokie)
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gr8fuljj
6mo
I may have mis remembered. I think there was a game with FSU similar to this but I could very well be wrong
(In response to this post by 804Hokie)
8
804Hokie
6mo
We had the best seats for every game. The old metro was a fun tough conference. Remember Frankie Allen’s “55”?!
(In response to this post by gr8fuljj)
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gr8fuljj
6mo
I remember watching it on TV and couldn’t wait to get to Cassell and see a game. I just got confused with the dates
(In response to this post by 804Hokie)
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gr8fuljj
6mo
I was a senior in high school and watched on TV. Started VT the next year
(In response to this post by 804Hokie)
6mo
Delaney and Allen weren't here yet.
(In response to this post by VintonHokies)
6mo
that probably would have won it. I remember thinking that he wasn't any good and didn't want him in the game. Things really changed his last 2 years!
(In response to this post by VintonHokies)
6mo
In the game you are referring to, the game started about five hours late because a water line busted, and then the game went to triple OT.
(In response to this post by 8675309Hokie)
6mo
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
6mo
(In response to this post by Chris Coleman)
6mo
himself into an excellent player or a bunch of terrible teams.
(In response to this post by 8675309Hokie)
6mo
Darrell Griffith’s turn around 20’ jumper as time expired in overtime, won it for the #3 Cardinals.
They went on to win the National Championship that year.
** Edited by Stork at 1/9/2026, 9:41:32 AM
(In response to this post by VintonHokies)
6mo
Waited in line for those tickets. Roommate game me his ID so all I wanted was two tickets. Those with 4 or more IDs ended up several rows higher.
Loved it. It was my senior year so I was determined to see every game with best seats.
(In response to this post by Stork)
6mo
Just hours after they had ascended to #1 ranking was my best in person game at the Cassell! Cannot remember the year but it was a Metro game.
(In response to this post by Stork)
6mo
That was my freshman year at VT and one of the first games I attended as a student.
My second favorite game while a student was also vs Memphis... the Bob Uecker Mask game.
(In response to this post by 132807Hokie)
8
804Hokie
6mo
then. our hall in pritchard got those first couple rows. played alot of spades and rook while camping out!
(In response to this post by 132807Hokie)
6mo
Front row, left side of midcourt line. Roommate and I just needed 2 tickets, so we got lucky.
Great game.
(In response to this post by 804Hokie)
6mo
really played to the crowd that game and, unfortunately, came out on top.
(In response to this post by VintonHokies)
6mo
** Edited by VermontDDS at 1/8/2026, 9:14:03 PM
(In response to this post by VintonHokies)
6mo
and at the stadiums for baseball and softball
(In response to this post by VermontDDS)
