http://www.niuhuskies.com/genrel/061614aab.html

Frazier's Corner: Survey On Its Way
We Want Your Input on Huskie Stadium Seating

Hello Huskies!

Today, many Huskie fans, alumni, season ticket holders and donors will be receiving an e-mail from NIU Athletics which contains a link to a survey regarding future seating areas at Huskie Stadium. This survey was put together by our staff along with AECOM Sport + Venue, the architectural firm we are working with on our new facilities master plan.

I've mentioned our master plan in previous editions of this column, and am happy to report that work on the plan is underway. There have been meetings, and tours of current facilities, and more meetings and now we've reached the point in the process where it's time to hear from you.

The survey specifically deals with new seating opportunities and other amenities (suites, club areas) at Huskie Stadium. As part of the master plan, it is imperative that we take a close look at the building which is the centerpiece of our athletics footprint on the west side of campus. Huskie Stadium turns 50 in 2015, and while it has held up well over the years, our teams and our fans deserve a facility that will move this program forward. Premium seating areas and your interest in them are an important consideration as we look toward the future.

I encourage you to fill out the survey honestly and completely. Because of our accelerated timetable to complete the plan this summer, we would appreciate receiving all responses as soon as possible and no later than July 1. This is a chance for your voice to be heard. Please do not complete more than once. We WILL use the results of this survey as we continue to work on the facilities master plan throughout the summer.

If you did not receive the survey via e-mail but wish to participate, please click on the link below or paste the URL into your browser. You can also click here to view a copy of the letter.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HuskieStadiumSurvey

On another note, thanks to everyone who came out for the 2014 Huskie Summer Circuit. I enjoyed meeting many of our most dedicated Huskie fans in Chicago, Rockford and Aurora. I hope you left those events as energized by the coaches and excited about the future of NIU Athletics as I am! We are already reviewing those events and are determined to make them even better in 2015.

Our final stop on the Huskie Summer Circuit will take place right here in DeKalb on Friday, August 1st as part of Movie Night at Huskie Stadium. Fans will have a chance to choose from three family-friendly movies by voting on Facebook (NIU Huskies) and on our website at http://www.NIUHuskies.com. Look for all the details in your e-mail inbox and online soon.

It is truly a great time to be a Huskie. We appreciate you, and look forward to getting your input on this survey and to seeing you at Huskie Stadium in 2014!

Go Huskies! Forward!

Sean T. Frazier
Associate Vice-President/Director of Athletics

Here is the first page when you click on the link...

Since its opening in 1965, Huskie Stadium has undergone multiple renovations and expansions in order to better serve NIU, the athletics department, and the community. We are continually striving to improve its operations and functionality, and its ability to provide a first-class gameday experience and generate revenues.

As an early step in the planning process for the next stage of improvements, we are very interested in your feedback. The survey questions will ask about your interest in private suites, indoor and outdoor club seats, and loge boxes.

• Private suites are private, enclosed suites that generally include an indoor kitchen and seating/entertaining area, as well as indoor or outdoor seats for game viewing,

• Club seats can be located indoors or outdoors and are generally higher-quality seats in prime locations that include access to an indoor club, and

• Loge boxes are a hybrid of private suites and club seats, in that they are smaller than suites (typically 4 to 6 seats) and are semi-private, upgraded group seating areas.

All of these premium seating types would include access to a private, indoor club that is only accessible by premium seat holders and includes amenities such as upgraded food and beverage offerings, private restrooms, and others.

Please note that depending on your answers, you may be asked about all seating options. We recognize that most people would not buy multiple types of premium seats; therefore, please provide your thoughts on each type assuming that it is the only seating option available to you. At the end of the survey, you will then be asked to prioritize your interest.

Your participation in this survey is very important to the university, and we thank you for your time. Please answer all questions to complete the survey, and note that your answers will be confidential and no personal information will be collected from you, unless you choose to provide contact information to receive more information on the project.

Please click "Next" to start the survey.

I see a big point system coming. Show me the money and you will get a better seat. Welcome to the big time.

Took the survey and I highly recommend everyone who is willing to spend $1500+ per seat for this new seating or is willing to donate any money towards towards a new skybox project to take this survey.

(06-16-2014 09:51 AM)NIU75 Wrote:  I see a big point system coming. Show me the money and you will get a better seat. Welcome to the big time.

Yes there is a plan to go that route but the timeline is not set.

I just received the survey.

(06-16-2014 09:38 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  http://www.niuhuskies.com/genrel/061614aab.html

Frazier's Corner: Survey On Its Way
We Want Your Input on Huskie Stadium Seating

Hello Huskies!

Today, many Huskie fans, alumni, season ticket holders and donors will be receiving an e-mail from NIU Athletics which contains a link to a survey regarding future seating areas at Huskie Stadium. This survey was put together by our staff along with AECOM Sport + Venue, the architectural firm we are working with on our new facilities master plan.

I've mentioned our master plan in previous editions of this column, and am happy to report that work on the plan is underway. There have been meetings, and tours of current facilities, and more meetings and now we've reached the point in the process where it's time to hear from you.

The survey specifically deals with new seating opportunities and other amenities (suites, club areas) at Huskie Stadium. As part of the master plan, it is imperative that we take a close look at the building which is the centerpiece of our athletics footprint on the west side of campus. Huskie Stadium turns 50 in 2015, and while it has held up well over the years, our teams and our fans deserve a facility that will move this program forward. Premium seating areas and your interest in them are an important consideration as we look toward the future.

I encourage you to fill out the survey honestly and completely. Because of our accelerated timetable to complete the plan this summer, we would appreciate receiving all responses as soon as possible and no later than July 1. This is a chance for your voice to be heard. Please do not complete more than once. We WILL use the results of this survey as we continue to work on the facilities master plan throughout the summer.

If you did not receive the survey via e-mail but wish to participate, please click on the link below or paste the URL into your browser. You can also click here to view a copy of the letter.

https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HuskieStadiumSurvey

On another note, thanks to everyone who came out for the 2014 Huskie Summer Circuit. I enjoyed meeting many of our most dedicated Huskie fans in Chicago, Rockford and Aurora. I hope you left those events as energized by the coaches and excited about the future of NIU Athletics as I am! We are already reviewing those events and are determined to make them even better in 2015.

Our final stop on the Huskie Summer Circuit will take place right here in DeKalb on Friday, August 1st as part of Movie Night at Huskie Stadium. Fans will have a chance to choose from three family-friendly movies by voting on Facebook (NIU Huskies) and on our website at http://www.NIUHuskies.com. Look for all the details in your e-mail inbox and online soon.

It is truly a great time to be a Huskie. We appreciate you, and look forward to getting your input on this survey and to seeing you at Huskie Stadium in 2014!

Go Huskies! Forward!

Sean T. Frazier
Associate Vice-President/Director of Athletics

The bolded part made me raise an eyebrow...

I haven't taken the survey- just responding to some observations of others. My two cents worth:

NIU needs to reach out to ALL level of fans.

Yes, the large donors. Absolutely. Frazier and Baker personally involve yourself.

The medium donors. Frazier personally involve yourself as much as possible.

Small donors- Frazier, be involved. Marketing plans in place. Execute short, medium, and long term plans to build the base. It does not have to be a "follow the big program's plan." Think outside the box. What worked there may not work here. 60,000 season ticket holders may be nice, but may not happen in our fan base. But maybe 35,000 in attendance on a given game day in Huskie stadium IS attainable in the near future. Let's focus on what WE can do, not on what others have done.

Students- concerted, continual, persistent, all out effort. Failure is not an option mentality.

The greater DeKalb community- see students. Same as above.

Casual fan- Marketing efforts - backed up and supported by game day promotions, fan-friendly scheduling, etc.

Media- marketing efforts to have them see the value of covering NIU sports. Don't look for media coverage to create value. Rather, create value so that you can show the media NIU athletics is worthy of coverage.

And importantly, self-asses to budget to get the most bang for your buck.

Just FWIW....I am what would be described as "entry level" and I rec'd the survey. I agree with "chihuskie", and hope this goes to anyone they have contact info for.

Posting a link to the Survey on the NIU Athletics page may get them feedback from those who are not current donors if they wish.

(06-16-2014 09:51 AM)NIU75 Wrote:  I see a big point system coming. Show me the money and you will get a better seat. Welcome to the big time.

And why not? Big $ is needed to fund West Side renovations/replacement. Makes perfect sense for season ticket holders to fund at least a part of it.

Expect a points system to be in place for 2015.

I stopped on question 20, kind of ridiculous. To summarize, best describe how we can get your money. Until NIU athletics shows its dedicated to a 2-way give and take with fans, this type of survey makes no sense to me. Build the interest first, then you will be able to sell your product.

(06-16-2014 11:06 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I stopped on question 20, kind of ridiculous. To summarize, best describe how we can get your money. Until NIU athletics shows its dedicated to a 2-way give and take with fans, this type of survey makes no sense to me. Build the interest first, then you will be able to sell your product.

The interest is there. The Huskies have been a top 30 team the past four seasons. Why wait to upgrade the stadium? I'm sure the NIU Athletics department can multitask on the schedule and the stadium.

(06-16-2014 10:52 AM)huskiebob Wrote:  

(06-16-2014 09:51 AM)NIU75 Wrote:  I see a big point system coming. Show me the money and you will get a better seat. Welcome to the big time.

And why not? Big $ is needed to fund West Side renovations/replacement. Makes perfect sense for season ticket holders to fund at least a part of it.

Expect a points system to be in place for 2015.

Exactly. And since there is such a waiting list to get season tickets, if someone doesn't want to participate, you can go to the next person on the waiting list.

Oh, wait, there is no such thing.

Yes, improvements cost money. However, when you have problems selling tickets already, you can't dramatically ratchet up fees, etc. today. Benchback season tickets weren't even sold out last year.

There need to be reasonable expectations.

(06-16-2014 11:06 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I stopped on question 20, kind of ridiculous. To summarize, best describe how we can get your money. Until NIU athletics shows its dedicated to a 2-way give and take with fans, this type of survey makes no sense to me. Build the interest first, then you will be able to sell your product.

It's a SURVEY!

Took the survey, highly recommend it for everyone on the board. Things seem to be moving along for this project faster than I was anticipating.

(06-16-2014 10:23 AM)NIUslumo Wrote:  

(06-16-2014 09:38 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  ...
As part of the master plan, it is imperative that we take a close look at the building which is the centerpiece of our athletics footprint on the west side of campus. Huskie Stadium turns 50 in 2015, and while it has held up well over the years, our teams and our fans deserve a facility that will move this program forward. ...

The bolded part made me raise an eyebrow...

You didn't expect that the West stands was the next thing on the major to do list?

(06-16-2014 10:36 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  Just FWIW....I am what would be described as "entry level" and I rec'd the survey. I agree with "chihuskie", and hope this goes to anyone they have contact info for.

Posting a link to the Survey on the NIU Athletics page may get them feedback from those who are not current donors if they wish.

They did...the info posted on the first post in this thread is from the athletic site.

(06-16-2014 11:06 AM)MaddDawgz02 Wrote:  I stopped on question 20, kind of ridiculous. To summarize, best describe how we can get your money. Until NIU athletics shows its dedicated to a 2-way give and take with fans, this type of survey makes no sense to me. Build the interest first, then you will be able to sell your product.

The skybox, chairbacks & benchbacks for football games are our best sellers...how is there no interest in premium seating?

As I have said before I doubt I could ever afford to pay for a skybox but I definitely think its important to the program and would be willing to donate some money towards it.

(06-16-2014 11:16 AM)GeorgeBorkFan Wrote:  

(06-16-2014 10:52 AM)huskiebob Wrote:  

(06-16-2014 09:51 AM)NIU75 Wrote:  I see a big point system coming. Show me the money and you will get a better seat. Welcome to the big time.

And why not? Big $ is needed to fund West Side renovations/replacement. Makes perfect sense for season ticket holders to fund at least a part of it.

Expect a points system to be in place for 2015.

Exactly. And since there is such a waiting list to get season tickets, if someone doesn't want to participate, you can go to the next person on the waiting list.

Oh, wait, there is no such thing.

Yes, improvements cost money. However, when you have problems selling tickets already, you can't dramatically ratchet up fees, etc. today. Benchback season tickets weren't even sold out last year.

There need to be reasonable expectations.

The survey is there to gauge interest in the different options for upgrades as well as determine what people would be willing to pay for those upgrades.
How anyone could object to that is incomprehensible to me..it seems to me a very prudent way to plan.