(photo credit: tiru.biz)These past few years, the sports industry has undergone a retro revolution. Just about every team, whether it be basketball, football, or baseball has done something to pay tribute to its past.
It's not uncommon anymore to see fans wearing vintage jerseys, shoes, headbands, and anything else with their team's logos from the past. In fact, just about every team has 4 sets of uniforms now: Home, Away, Alternate, Throwback. Some teams have even decided to bring back their old uniforms permanently. These teams include...
The Philadelphia 76ers
http://www.sportslogos.net/team.php?id=218
The Utah Jazz
http://www.sportslogos.net/team.php?id=234
The Golden State Warriors
http://www.sportslogos.net/team.php?id=235
The San Diego Chargers (partially)
http://www.sportslogos.net/team.php?id=164
The San Francisco 49ers
http://www.sportslogos.net/team.php?id=179
The New York Jets
http://www.sportslogos.net/team.php?id=152
... and as of this week, The Washington Wizards (went back to old Bullets uniforms)
http://www.sportslogos.net/team.php?id=219
Each year, the retro revolution is getting stronger not weaker. This has caused many teams to focus their entire marketing on retro/throwback images.
The next phase in the retro movement is to have your team go back to their original facility for a game or two. Let's take a look at some teams that have done this...
Durham Bulls- Durham Athletic Park
(photo credit: RoadTripAmerica.com)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durham_Athletic_Park
Durham Athletic Park became one of the most famous minor league ballparks in history, thanks to the 1988 film Bull Durham, featuring Kevin Costner, Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon. Most of the filming was done at the DAP, following the end of the Carolina League season of 1987. The film's wide acclaim helped fuel the burgeoning public interest in minor league ball in general, and in the case of Durham this explosion of popularity caused the DAP to become a victim of its own success; despite expansion with temporary bleachers, it was just too small to handle the increase in crowd size and the Bulls Triple-A ambitions. The Bulls moved to their new home in downtown Durham, the Durham Bulls Athletic Park or "DBAP" for the 1995 season.
On the evening of May 10, 2010, before a crowd of 3,911, the-now Class AAA Durham Bulls returned to The DAP for a single regular-season game against the Toledo Mud Hens. With additional lighting on-hand to raise the field to Triple-A standards, the Bulls fell to the Mud Hens 6-4, mirroring the score of the Single-A club's final game in the stadium 16 years prior.
Among other events scheduled for 2011 is another return to the DAP by the Bulls, again on the second Monday night in May.
Indiana Pacers- Pepsi Coliseum
(photo credit: songkick.com)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pepsi_Coliseum
The arena was once home to the Indiana Pacers of the ABA (American Basketball Association), from 1967 to 1974. They moved into Market Square Arena in 1974, and in 1976, the Indiana Pacers became a franchise within the NBA (National Basketball Association).
The Pacers scheduled their first pre-season game of the 2008-2009 season at the Pepsi Coliseum for October 8, 2008 when they hosted the New Orleans Hornets. 7,439 people watched the Pacers lose to the Hornets 105 to 71. The Pacers wore uniforms based on the 1967 to 1971 uniform design. Former ABA-Pacers George McGinnis, Darnell Hillman, Bob Netolicky, Don Buse, Jerry Harkness, Steve Green, Tom Thacker, Bill Newton, and Wayne Pack, attended the game and were recognized during a half-time ceremony. During the game's first quarter, former Pacers coach and current radio commentator Slick Leonard sat on the Pacers' bench as head coach, while regular Head Coach Jim O'Brien joined Mark Boyle for the radio broadcast.
Los Angeles Lakers- Great Western Forum
(photo credit: nba.com)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LA_Forum
Along with Madison Square Garden, it was one of the most well-known indoor sports venues in the world, during this time. The Forum achieved its greatest fame as the home of the Los Angeles Lakers, of the NBA and of the Los Angeles Kings, of the NHL from 1967–1999, when the teams moved to Staples Center.
The Forum was the site of the 1972 and 1983 NBA All-Star Games, the 1981 NHL All-Star Game, Basketball at the 1984 Summer Olympics and hosted the Big West Conference men's basketball tournament from 1983–1988 and also the 1989 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament.
On October 9, 2009, the Lakers returned to the Forum for a preseason game against the Golden State Warriors to celebrate the start of the team's 50th season in Los Angeles.
North Carolina Tarheels- Carmichaeal Auditorium/Arena
(photo credit: todaysaccheadlines.com)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carmichael_Arena
The arena opened in 1965 as Carmichael Auditorium. It is named for William Donald Carmichael, Jr., a popular former school vice-president and brother of All-America basketball player Cartwright Carmichael.
Carmichael was known as one of the loudest arenas in the country while the Tar Heel men played there, largely because of a low roof and a student section that ringed the court. During a 1982 game against the Virginia Cavaliers, it was so loud that the Virginia players could not even hear their own names being announced prior to the start of the game. In part due to this formidable home court advantage, the men had a record of 169-20 (.894) in just over 20 seasons there.
The Tar Heels played their first round home game of the 2010 National Invitation Tournament at Carmichael due to renovations taking place at the Smith Center. On March 16, 2010, they defeated William & Mary in their first official game at Carmichael in 24 years. Coincidentally, William & Mary was the first-ever opponent for the men's basketball team in Carmichael Arena in 1965.
Kentucky Wildcats- Memorial Coliseum
(photo credit: ask.com)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memorial_Coliseum_(University_of_Kentucky)
The building is known for its air of great tradition. While it was the home of the UK Men's Basketball team, it hosted the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament ten times, four times as a regional site (1957, 1958, 1967, 1968) and six more as a sub-regional site (1955, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1967, 1975). As home to the University of Kentucky Wildcats, it saw 2 NCAA Men's Basketball national championship teams (1951, 1958), 2 NCAA Men's Basketball runner-up teams (1966, 1975), one NIT Men's Basketball champion (1976), and 16 Southeastern Conference (SEC) Men's Basketball regular season champions. Overall, in 26 seasons (1950-51 to 1975-76), the University of Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team posted a remarkable home record of 306-38 (.890).Although the scoreboards may not indicate it, having a team play a game(s) in its old venue always sells the majority, if not all, of the seats available. Fans love to visit a team's old venue every once in a while.
Memorial hosted a first round game in the 2009 National Invitation Tournament on March 17, 2009 between the Wildcats and the UNLV Running Rebels, with the Wildcats winning 70-60. The game was held at Memorial instead of Rupp Arena due to a scheduling conflict with the KHSAA boys' high school basketball state tournament scheduled at Rupp that week.
Here in Evansville, we have that same opportunity with the Aces and Roberts Stadium. Yes, the Aces new home is going to be the downtown arena. No one is disputing that the new arena shall be the new home of the Aces from here on out. However, having a single game back at Roberts Stadium should be an option.
Why should it be an option? Because...
1. It would increase ticket sales for a game that may not normally draw well (Would also help out Kipplee's a little bit).
2. It would be a good option if the new arena is booked during the ACE's postseason. The Aces had to play their postseason tournament last year at USI's PAC Arena due to scheduling conflicts.
3. It would increase marketing revenue for the ACES with its throwback/retro image. The ACES could bring back the jerseys with sleeves for the special game.
4. It would be a great way to commemorate a special ACE's event.
5. Roberts Stadium could be paired with the new arena for tournaments hosted by the ACES.
I look forward to November of this year when our brand new arena opens its doors for the very first time. It will be a great moment in Evansville history. I have no doubt that the ACES will sell a lot of tickets. But, if the new arena is booked or a dull, boring game needs a little excitement injected into it, why don't we play one game a year at Roberts Stadium for old time's sake?
(photo credit: college-basketball-coaches.findthebest.com)
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