In all reality, does anyone know if a demographic profile has ever been done of season ticket holders and if so when was it done and what were its findings ?

Old white people is my guess.

(03-30-2014 10:11 AM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  Old white people is my guess.

Hey!! I'm not THAT old!

And I'm not completely white. My skin is covered with age spots.

NIU has a huge lack of fans age 25-50 of any nationality! This is the number 1 reason that we have a small fan base. This has and will continue to keep the program from growing.

(03-30-2014 10:11 AM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  Old white people is my guess.

add crankly, out of touch by choice with the digital/facebook/twitter/texting mania world and with modest financial means to fit me.

(03-30-2014 11:16 AM)dekalb222 Wrote:  NIU has a huge lack of fans age 25-50 of any nationality! This is the number 1 reason that we have a small fan base. This has and will continue to keep the program from growing.

The young alums 21-24 are a totally separate issue than the older ones. Their issue is cost due to just starting out in life and no young alum discount ticket. Going from free tickets to paying $30 now $20 for an East side ticket per game is hard for most of them. IMO we need to be selling a 1/2 price young alum season ticket in the East stands to keep these people coming back not only to Huskie Stadium but the NIU campus.

I don't think the alums in the 25-33 year old range staying away from NIU football. These were the students during the 2003-2010 seasons. This group if they have the money are coming to the games. It just depends on how many and if they keep coming back when they have their own families.

The 34-48 year old alums are our problem. These people would mirror the dark days of NIU football and they likely have less of a connection to the university than the students who were around during the better years of football. These are the people who likely would have some disposable income and would be taking the family or more importantly coworkers and customers to the games. This is the group which is the most missed right now.

(03-30-2014 05:51 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 11:16 AM)dekalb222 Wrote:  NIU has a huge lack of fans age 25-50 of any nationality! This is the number 1 reason that we have a small fan base. This has and will continue to keep the program from growing.

The young alums 21-24 are a totally separate issue than the older ones. Their issue is cost due to just starting out in life and no young alum discount ticket. Going from free tickets to paying $30 now $20 for an East side ticket per game is hard for most of them. IMO we need to be selling a 1/2 price young alum season ticket in the East stands to keep these people coming back not only to Huskie Stadium but the NIU campus.

I don't think the alums in the 25-33 year old range staying away from NIU football. These were the students during the 2003-2010 seasons. This group if they have the money are coming to the games. It just depends on how many and if they keep coming back when they have their own families.

The 34-48 year old alums are our problem. These people would mirror the dark days of NIU football and they likely have less of a connection to the university than the students who were around during the better years of football. These are the people who likely would have some disposable income and would be taking the family or more importantly coworkers and customers to the games. This is the group which is the most missed right now.

It is vitally important not to lose the group you are talking about. That should be a priority. ( one of many priorities.)

I would say alumni under 30 ARE a problem. It is a chore to get the people that I used to go to every game with during college to come out to anything besides homecoming. Cost of tickets is the big thing. By the time all is said and done, two tickets, some food pre/postgame, gas to DeKalb from Chicago or rockford areas is a solid $100 day. Well worth it for me, but not everyone feels that way. That needs to change.

Sorry Huskie John, but I think you are wrong. NIU athletics is not getting many 25-33 year olds. Its not about income. People generally find money for the things they want. What % of the season ticket base do you think is under 40. I would guess less than 15%.

(03-30-2014 06:12 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  I would say alumni under 30 ARE a problem. It is a chore to get the people that I used to go to every game with during college to come out to anything besides homecoming. Cost of tickets is the big thing. By the time all is said and done, two tickets, some food pre/postgame, gas to DeKalb from Chicago or rockford areas is a solid $100 day. Well worth it for me, but not everyone feels that way. That needs to change.

Would they go if we were playing a team that they've heard of?

(03-30-2014 09:35 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 06:12 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  I would say alumni under 30 ARE a problem. It is a chore to get the people that I used to go to every game with during college to come out to anything besides homecoming. Cost of tickets is the big thing. By the time all is said and done, two tickets, some food pre/postgame, gas to DeKalb from Chicago or rockford areas is a solid $100 day. Well worth it for me, but not everyone feels that way. That needs to change.

Would they go if we were playing a team that they've heard of?

I would say no, because if they are a fan of that team:
1. They probably watch on TV
2. Would have no idea NIU is playing them
3. Still wouldn't buy a season ticket
4. Seems strange to me to go back to your college to see them play a different team(because you like that team better)..

My wife(alumni) and I are white 34 year olds..but also buy 2 additional seats (sometimes taken by my in-laws or friends)..

It would be interesting to see the demographic(i love demographics)... We make more than 75% of our friends(but we are also dual income, where as some of our friends are single income and SAHM, and some friends don't get paid a lot, but love what they do) and everybody likes to spend their money differently (some like new cars, big houses, vacations, electronics, name your expense)...

I wonder how many alumni don't buy tickets because they have no one to go with (wife/husband hates football, no college friends in area, no college friends who can go(kids, money, want).. I know in the past we have brought some Alumni to a game(people that my wife didn't go to school with but now works with) just to introduce them to NIU tailgating and season tickets(again poor marketing by NIU)..

It would also be also interesting to see if season ticket holders drop out because of 1. kids 2. moving/job transfer/retirment 3. large home purchase 4. large vehicle purchases 5 divorce 6 Kid no longer attending NIU(football players parents, band parents, etc) , you know something outside of the normal (lost job, reduction in salary, death, etc)

I know for me, I wouldn't be able to make it to many games if my older daughter's club sport(volleyball) was in the fall..It is from Jan-June and takes up almost every weekend. Luckily for us the middle daughter that plays soccer, her games are over by 10am-12pm, so unless they pull that 11am game crap(then a grandparent takes her for that one game) then it doesn't interfere with the NIU schedule at all. But we have friends who are at soccer tournaments all year long, so they don't have the time to come.

Another issue with kids, is if you don't want to bring them(they hate going, too expensive) is what to do with them(babysitter, friends house, grandparents) and that can be hard to arrange so that it works with the NIU schedule

(03-30-2014 09:52 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  My wife(alumni) and I are white 34 year olds..but also buy 2 additional seats (sometimes taken by my in-laws or friends)..

It would be interesting to see the demographic(i love demographics)... We make more than 75% of our friends(but we are also dual income, where as some of our friends are single income and SAHM, and some friends don't get paid a lot, but love what they do) and everybody likes to spend their money differently (some like new cars, big houses, vacations, electronics, name your expense)...

I wonder how many alumni don't buy tickets because they have no one to go with (wife/husband hates football, no college friends in area, no college friends who can go(kids, money, want).. I know in the past we have brought some Alumni to a game(people that my wife didn't go to school with but now works with) just to introduce them to NIU tailgating and season tickets(again poor marketing by NIU)..

It would also be also interesting to see if season ticket holders drop out because of 1. kids 2. moving/job transfer/retirment 3. large home purchase 4. large vehicle purchases 5 divorce 6 Kid no longer attending NIU(football players parents, band parents, etc) , you know something outside of the normal (lost job, reduction in salary, death, etc)

I know for me, I wouldn't be able to make it to many games if my older daughter's club sport(volleyball) was in the fall..It is from Jan-June and takes up almost every weekend. Luckily for us the middle daughter that plays soccer, her games are over by 10am-12pm, so unless they pull that 11am game crap(then a grandparent takes her for that one game) then it doesn't interfere with the NIU schedule at all. But we have friends who are at soccer tournaments all year long, so they don't have the time to come.

Another issue with kids, is if you don't want to bring them(they hate going, too expensive) is what to do with them(babysitter, friends house, grandparents) and that can be hard to arrange so that it works with the NIU schedule

Well said about the lives of the 25 to 55 year olds. I call them the Black Hole years. Your focus is on the kids and you lose touch with many old friends and do not have the time to make new friends. I wish I had the time to be in DeKalb when I was young but family commitments came first in those years.
It is the over 55 group that has the time now and the financial means to support NIU. Time to reach out to us old guys.

(03-30-2014 06:12 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  I would say alumni under 30 ARE a problem. It is a chore to get the people that I used to go to every game with during college to come out to anything besides homecoming. Cost of tickets is the big thing. By the time all is said and done, two tickets, some food pre/postgame, gas to DeKalb from Chicago or rockford areas is a solid $100 day. Well worth it for me, but not everyone feels that way. That needs to change.

I did say IF they have the money. They are not staying away because they are not interested...its mostly a cost issue.

Very few people have the Huskie passion like we do. To grow the season ticket base, Athletics needs to instill that same passion in new fans. In order to do that, they need to make the game-day experience better and more exciting (and they now seem to be on the right track in doing this). A big part of this, of course, is to improve the home schedule. There also needs to be greater marketing - on a MUCH larger scale. The games also need to be marketed to the students. Make going to the games THE thing to do on campus. Make it so much fun and exciting for them that they would want to come back after they graduate. Institute a very inexpensive season ticket for new grads.

I really thing we are on the right track with Sean T. Frazier to accomplish this.

(03-30-2014 09:39 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:35 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 06:12 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  I would say alumni under 30 ARE a problem. It is a chore to get the people that I used to go to every game with during college to come out to anything besides homecoming. Cost of tickets is the big thing. By the time all is said and done, two tickets, some food pre/postgame, gas to DeKalb from Chicago or rockford areas is a solid $100 day. Well worth it for me, but not everyone feels that way. That needs to change.

Would they go if we were playing a team that they've heard of?

I would say no, because if they are a fan of that team:
1. They probably watch on TV
2. Would have no idea NIU is playing them
3. Still wouldn't buy a season ticket
4. Seems strange to me to go back to your college to see them play a different team(because you like that team better)..

I was asking Bleeds his situation in particular. I know one guy (not an NIU alum) that has gone to a couple games with me. If I told him we were playing a ranked team I know he'd be more interested than seeing us play Presbyterian. So I think some people would care who they're playing, some wouldn't.

(03-31-2014 09:06 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:39 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:35 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 06:12 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  I would say alumni under 30 ARE a problem. It is a chore to get the people that I used to go to every game with during college to come out to anything besides homecoming. Cost of tickets is the big thing. By the time all is said and done, two tickets, some food pre/postgame, gas to DeKalb from Chicago or rockford areas is a solid $100 day. Well worth it for me, but not everyone feels that way. That needs to change.

Would they go if we were playing a team that they've heard of?

I would say no, because if they are a fan of that team:
1. They probably watch on TV
2. Would have no idea NIU is playing them
3. Still wouldn't buy a season ticket
4. Seems strange to me to go back to your college to see them play a different team(because you like that team better)..

I was asking Bleeds his situation in particular. I know one guy (not an NIU alum) that has gone to a couple games with me. If I told him we were playing a ranked team I know he'd be more interested than seeing us play Presbyterian. So I think some people would care who they're playing, some wouldn't.

I don't understand this logic...Are they coming to see NIU or who NIU plays.. How is getting our butt kicked by Wisc, Ohio St, Florida, Alabama fun for a NIU fan...?

I have a friend who has season tickets to bears games just to see the GB game(he is a GB fan) and sells the rest of his tickets..

(03-31-2014 11:14 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  

(03-31-2014 09:06 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:39 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:35 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 06:12 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  I would say alumni under 30 ARE a problem. It is a chore to get the people that I used to go to every game with during college to come out to anything besides homecoming. Cost of tickets is the big thing. By the time all is said and done, two tickets, some food pre/postgame, gas to DeKalb from Chicago or rockford areas is a solid $100 day. Well worth it for me, but not everyone feels that way. That needs to change.

Would they go if we were playing a team that they've heard of?

I would say no, because if they are a fan of that team:
1. They probably watch on TV
2. Would have no idea NIU is playing them
3. Still wouldn't buy a season ticket
4. Seems strange to me to go back to your college to see them play a different team(because you like that team better)..

I was asking Bleeds his situation in particular. I know one guy (not an NIU alum) that has gone to a couple games with me. If I told him we were playing a ranked team I know he'd be more interested than seeing us play Presbyterian. So I think some people would care who they're playing, some wouldn't.

I don't understand this logic...Are they coming to see NIU or who NIU plays.. How is getting our butt kicked by Wisc, Ohio St, Florida, Alabama fun for a NIU fan...?

I have a friend who has season tickets to bears games just to see the GB game(he is a GB fan) and sells the rest of his tickets..

Why are you surprised? This happens in every sport. Most figure the game means more if you win, if playing a top opponent instead of Tennessee Tech or Cal Poly. And you're missing the point. Ohio State, Alabama, those guys aren't playing us in DeKalb anyway. The middle-tier P5 teams or top G5 teams that might, we have a decent chance against, especially if playing them at home. Most of our games against those teams on the road have been close.

(03-31-2014 11:14 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  

(03-31-2014 09:06 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:39 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:35 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 06:12 PM)BleedsHuskieRed Wrote:  I would say alumni under 30 ARE a problem. It is a chore to get the people that I used to go to every game with during college to come out to anything besides homecoming. Cost of tickets is the big thing. By the time all is said and done, two tickets, some food pre/postgame, gas to DeKalb from Chicago or rockford areas is a solid $100 day. Well worth it for me, but not everyone feels that way. That needs to change.

Would they go if we were playing a team that they've heard of?

I would say no, because if they are a fan of that team:
1. They probably watch on TV
2. Would have no idea NIU is playing them
3. Still wouldn't buy a season ticket
4. Seems strange to me to go back to your college to see them play a different team(because you like that team better)..

I was asking Bleeds his situation in particular. I know one guy (not an NIU alum) that has gone to a couple games with me. If I told him we were playing a ranked team I know he'd be more interested than seeing us play Presbyterian. So I think some people would care who they're playing, some wouldn't.

I don't understand this logic...Are they coming to see NIU or who NIU plays.. How is getting our butt kicked by Wisc, Ohio St, Florida, Alabama fun for a NIU fan...?

I have a friend who has season tickets to bears games just to see the GB game(he is a GB fan) and sells the rest of his tickets..

No not really. I have a family friend that does the same thing. We invite him all the time with a free ticket and tailgating food yet he is only interested in games where we are playing AQ or other big name teams (Maryland/Army/Kansas) or for Homecoming when the typical crowd is larger and makes the game more exciting. He last made it to homecoming in 2012 when it rained vs Buffalo. He did not come back at all for last year since he was busy on homecoming and we didn't have any other good Saturday games.

(03-31-2014 11:23 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(03-31-2014 11:14 AM)cartershaw Wrote:  

(03-31-2014 09:06 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:39 PM)cartershaw Wrote:  

(03-30-2014 09:35 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  Would they go if we were playing a team that they've heard of?

I would say no, because if they are a fan of that team:
1. They probably watch on TV
2. Would have no idea NIU is playing them
3. Still wouldn't buy a season ticket
4. Seems strange to me to go back to your college to see them play a different team(because you like that team better)..

I was asking Bleeds his situation in particular. I know one guy (not an NIU alum) that has gone to a couple games with me. If I told him we were playing a ranked team I know he'd be more interested than seeing us play Presbyterian. So I think some people would care who they're playing, some wouldn't.

I don't understand this logic...Are they coming to see NIU or who NIU plays.. How is getting our butt kicked by Wisc, Ohio St, Florida, Alabama fun for a NIU fan...?

I have a friend who has season tickets to bears games just to see the GB game(he is a GB fan) and sells the rest of his tickets..

Why are you surprised? This happens in every sport. Most figure the game means more if you win, if playing a top opponent instead of Tennessee Tech or Cal Poly. And you're missing the point. Ohio State, Alabama, those guys aren't playing us in DeKalb anyway. The middle-tier P5 teams or top G5 teams that might, we have a decent chance against, especially if playing them at home. Most of our games against those teams on the road have been close.

I just wanted to make sure you weren't talking about the Auburn, Alabama, FSU, Ohio St teams..

So you are talking low end P5 schools(kansas, iowa st, minnesota, wake forest, etc)?

I guess i didn't realize people got excited playing kansas(now, not 4 years ago with Mangino) or wake forest...

Now G5 teams I understand but the travel involved(MWC) to come to a bad stadium is a tough sell..and I am not sure how many more people you get with UNLV, Utah St(though a great team)...