If you could market the Bucs basketball team and oversee the move to Freedom Hall, what would you do to bring in the fans? (Aside of the obvious renovations that need to be done)

(05-03-2014 04:33 PM)squeak Wrote:  If you could market the Bucs basketball team and oversee the move to Freedom Hall, what would you do to bring in the fans? (Aside of the obvious renovations that need to be done)

I would put spotlights atop the hall, crisscrossing blue and gold, letting everyone in JC know the Bucs are playing in town that night. All the walls would be adorned with past players, and have a concert atmosphere. Better halftime shows bringing in local talent. More participation in the community, along with Mubar. Throwback uniforms. Exhibition games with past players. Contract with one of the restaraunts in town, or different businesses, to serve BBQ, Chicken Wings, Pizza, etc.
The list could go on and on.

1. Focus on the students. Bribe them, beg them, have the coaches go to the Culp center during their spare time and just talk to students. Whatever you have to do to get students to the game. Start a tradition of students going to Knights Pizza and having fun before they get on the trolley and head to the game.

2. Focus on the faculty and staff. We have 11 colleges at ETSU (I think?). Have a home game that focuses on each college. For example, have a game where the faculty and staff from the college of business is invited to come for free, is introduced at halftime on the floor, etc. This would get the faculty to the games and might even make a few of them fans of the team. It might even make faculty less resistant to athletics. Finally, it would introduce the fans to the academic programs that we have at ETSU.

(05-03-2014 04:33 PM)squeak Wrote:  If you could market the Bucs basketball team and oversee the move to Freedom Hall, what would you do to bring in the fans? (Aside of the obvious renovations that need to be done)

ETSU BASKETBALL
New Conference, New Attitude
New Home, New Excitement


Would run some new and exciting promos that would appeal to the students.

Get the excitement up AT the games. I didn't get a chance to go to a game at Freedom Hall. Is the sound system better than at the dome? The music and announcing over the speaker at the dome was bad quite often. If you can improve the experience of the game, even losing games occasionally won't hurt so bad.

The spirit squad (cheer and dance) needs to try and actually get the crowd involved rather than preforming. Same with Bucky and the band. Bucky should mingle more if he can, especially with the younger crowd.

Do we sell any spirit items AT the games? I only saw t-shirts available at the UTC game. Poms, #1 signs, mini-megaphones to purchase. If anyone can find those glow in the dark items in ETSU colors, those would be awesome for the lineup darkness time.

Give out a number of free tickets to folks about town who are adorning themselves with BUC paraphernalia.

Really no input? Waiting for everyone to weigh in!

(05-04-2014 12:24 AM)squeak Wrote:  

(05-03-2014 04:33 PM)squeak Wrote:  If you could market the Bucs basketball team and oversee the move to Freedom Hall, what would you do to bring in the fans? (Aside of the obvious renovations that need to be done)

I would put spotlights atop the hall, crisscrossing blue and gold, letting everyone in JC know the Bucs are playing in town that night. All the walls would be adorned with past players, and have a concert atmosphere. Better halftime shows bringing in local talent. More participation in the community, along with Mubar. Throwback uniforms. Exhibition games with past players. Contract with one of the restaraunts in town, or different businesses, to serve BBQ, Chicken Wings, Pizza, etc.
The list could go on and on.

All of that sounds great, and relatively cheap. For the students, give them free t-shirts & pizza if they come to the game. Essentially, shower them with as much 'schwag' as you can when they show up. Give them a coupon book for local restaurants. I know that's just a small token, but basically they will 'get stuff' to come to the game. Also, have a point system assigned to their ID, such that when they attend games & university events points accrue, and they get rewards as they go. Biggest point getters could be in a raffle for an iPad or something similar.

(05-03-2014 04:33 PM)squeak Wrote:  If you could market the Bucs basketball team and oversee the move to Freedom Hall, what would you do to bring in the fans? (Aside of the obvious renovations that need to be done)

Win games. People will come if they see a winner.

It should be an unwritten rule that ETSU employees and students have to attend. Unwritten, not in the syllabus....but it should be known if you want to be successful in my class....you attend. Teachers should have assignments about the game that require attendance. When I was a student, a few of my teachers made fun of ETSU athletics....and even fun of the school. That kind of ETSU worker needs to be dealt with.

(05-06-2014 07:47 AM)Mister Jennings Wrote:  It should be an unwritten rule that ETSU employees and students have to attend. Unwritten, not in the syllabus....but it should be known if you want to be successful in my class....you attend. Teachers should have assignments about the game that require attendance. When I was a student, a few of my teachers made fun of ETSU athletics....and even fun of the school. That kind of ETSU worker needs to be dealt with.

Are you kidding me? As much as I am an ETSU athletic supporter, assignments in a non-sports class that would require attendance to an athletic event is a terrible idea.

The exception might be a freshman seminar course meant to help students adjust to the college, which is common among many universities. In that type of a setting, an athletics related assignment might be acceptable.

The way to increase the teachers' positive perspective is to 1) engage them like I proposed above and 2) more effectively communicate that football is not significantly lowering their paychecks.

How about the BUC bus? Load the bus up with the Mascot, (whatever he's called these days) cheerleaders, players and coaches. Make surprise visits at malls, shopping centers, restauraunts, schools, etc. These are no-brainers if you're trying to increase your fanbase. Reward with loyalty points for fans who come to the games. Points can be redeemed for BUC shirts, sweaters, football tkts, golf lessons from BUC golfers, one on one games with basketball players, etc. There can be lots of inexpensive ways to garner interest in the program. For students, a drawing for a year's free tuition, but must attend a number of games to be eligible.