I think one of our problems is that many West Little Rock folks are not sports oriented. They'd rather go to wine night, and visit art exhibits than come out and have a hot dog and a Pepsi and watch big young men run around sweating and bouncing a ball and trying to put it through a hoop. It's just not the civilized thing to do.

Oh yes. They'll go to Razorback games, because in Arkansas that's like attending church on Sunday morning. Even if you're an Atheist, you feel obligated to attend church in Arkansas, and it's the same thing with Razorback sports. It's a social thing to do. Attend a Razorback function and you'll get your picture in the social pages of the Demozette, where hardly a word is written about UALR basketball.

However, I think there is an untapped source of fans who might be enticed to become regular attendees at our games. Those fine folks who have moved their kids out to civilized school districts like Benton, Bryant, Sylvan Hills, Sherwood, Jacksonville and other surrounding areas. These are folks who might enjoy family nights at the Jack watching D1 ball. These are probably more the type of people who would enjoy sports more than drinking wine and attending the symphony and art exhibits at the Art Center. Now I'm not knocking those people who do that. I just don't think they're our market for becoming Trojan fans. I enjoy the Rep Theater and live theater, but I'm first and foremost a Trojan basketball fan. But a lot of my friends could care less about sports, including my wife. But that's another story.

So maybe the Welcome Wagon in those areas, or visits to the service clubs in those areas by our coaches and AD's. Speaking at their luncheons. Maybe we already do some of that. I don't know. But I think that's where most of our potential fans are located. It's sort of thinking outside the box, which obviously we're going to have to do since nothing else has been working.

(01-04-2015 11:05 AM)outsideualr Wrote:  I'm first and foremost a Trojan basketball fan. But a lot of my friends could care less about sports, including my wife. But that's another story.

So maybe the Welcome Wagon in those areas, or visits to the service clubs in those areas by our coaches and AD's. Speaking at their luncheons. Maybe we already do some of that. I don't know. But I think that's where most of our potential fans are located. It's sort of thinking outside the box, which obviously we're going to have to do since nothing else has been working.

The new AD and new coach(I hope)is going to have to hit the ground like a politician running for office. The need to visit every club and organization in the central Arkansas area. They've got to beat the bushes. I don't know how much of it is done now, but if any, the patrons have already seen that this current crew hasn't gotten it done, and after twelve years, it ain't gonna happen. Fool me once, fool me twice, but I'm not stupid enough to let you fool me three times. Let alone twelve times.