I went to a game in Kalamazoo once where they seemed to be giving out free tickets to anyone who showed up to the game carrying an instrument. It looked like a really popular promotion too, because everyone in the stands was carrying a musical instrument of some sort.

(03-19-2015 08:28 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  Give away as many free tickets to big groups as possible, regardless of what your record at the gate. 15,000 ticket sales with 30,000 fans in the seats works for me.

There you go again, being astute and logical!

Knock it off!

BTW, I agree tickets have to be managed. But I think butts in the seats is woefully ignored as a goal. Maximizing revenue should be the ultimate goal. And not game by game, but over the long term. How do you do that? By creating a great game day atmosphere that people want to be a part of. Game day atmosphere means butts in the seats. Not empty seats.

Empty seats don't pay for parking, or for programs, or for hot dogs, etc. "Free" or greatly reduced tickets can be managed so that they pay for those other things. Buy one get one free, for example is not a bad idea.

Another example. Do you have a smart phone? Do you have any apps? Any of them that you downloaded FOR FREE? Hmmm. How do they make money giving it away for free????

I would think the students would be moved to the south end zone and not the west side.

(03-21-2015 11:13 AM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote:  

(03-21-2015 11:07 AM)huskie2379 Wrote:  You can't give away free tickets. The worse idea ever. No business would ever do that.

Yeah, you need to make your product seem valuable, not worthless. I don't mind giving away some tickets to certain people (rewards/kids/schools stuff like that) but it's not an economically viable plan.
Plus, you want to attract a certain type of fan. The types that only show up when it's free aren't really fans/supporters of the program.

Just want to make certain you guys saw the post from ChiHuskie: ....butts in the seats is woefully ignored as a goal. Maximizing revenue should be the ultimate goal....Game day atmosphere means butts in the seats. Not empty seats.
Empty seats don't pay for parking, or for programs, or for hot dogs, etc. "Free" or greatly reduced tickets can be managed so that they pay for those other things. Buy one get one free, for example is not a bad idea.
Another example. Do you have a smart phone? Do you have any apps? Any of them that you downloaded FOR FREE? Hmmm. How do they make money giving it away for free????

Another aspect of his post is that not only does that person with a free ticket --- or the buy one get one client --- spend monedy for parking, concessions, etc., they'll be more likely to become a ticket buyer (possibly even season tickets) than trying to sell to someone who hasn't had that game day experience. Maybe it's even a former fan who suddenly forgets the reasons he/she stopped attending.

(03-25-2015 10:23 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  Another example. Do you have a smart phone? Do you have any apps? Any of them that you downloaded FOR FREE? Hmmm. How do they make money giving it away for free????

This is not a good comparison. Freemium apps make money because they are addicting and incredibly accessible for the user. There is no cost for the user to open an app. They play the games or use the apps and then eventually pay for other features or upgrades.

People who get into NIU games for free aren't likely to be the ones that buy tickets when it's 30 degrees and windy. I've tried to give tickets away for free before and failed. Even if tickets are free, the person has to drive to Dekalb, park, pay for food, etc. Most of the people using free tickets are going to be those in the local community that will never attend unless it is free to begin with. It seems like it makes more sense to have someone in the stadium rather than an empty seat, but you can't devalue the product to the point that season ticket holders or other paying fans regret their purchase.

Wow.

If we are going back to the "let everyone free who doesn't want to pay" perspective again, I think some people need to go back to Economics 101. Hope you aren't Republicans either.

Maybe you can request a meeting with SF and tell him that the $42 single game ticket should be free. Just tell him if people want to pay, they can, but if it isn't sold out, you should let everyone else in for free.

I hope you don't run businesses either.

(03-25-2015 02:11 PM)armour248 Wrote:  

(03-25-2015 10:23 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  Another example. Do you have a smart phone? Do you have any apps? Any of them that you downloaded FOR FREE? Hmmm. How do they make money giving it away for free????

This is not a good comparison. Freemium apps make money because they are addicting and incredibly accessible for the user. There is no cost for the user to open an app. They play the games or use the apps and then eventually pay for other features or upgrades.

People who get into NIU games for free aren't likely to be the ones that buy tickets when it's 30 degrees and windy. I've tried to give tickets away for free before and failed. Even if tickets are free, the person has to drive to Dekalb, park, pay for food, etc. Most of the people using free tickets are going to be those in the local community that will never attend unless it is free to begin with. It seems like it makes more sense to have someone in the stadium rather than an empty seat, but you can't devalue the product to the point that season ticket holders or other paying fans regret their purchase.

Exactly.

(03-25-2015 02:11 PM)armour248 Wrote:  but you can't devalue the product to the point that season ticket holders or other paying fans regret their purchase.

In all seriousness, do you think paying fans show up to Huskie Stadium and harbor a grudge on Band Day because a 14 year old flautist gets a free ticket to sit up in the corner of the East side? Because on Ag Day a couple good ole' boys with John Deere as their favorite team gets some tickets from their dealer?

I don't.

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  If we are going back to the "let everyone free who doesn't want to pay" perspective again,

We're not. Just saying that targeted applications of free tickets to certain still to be defined groups provides an opportunity to fill seats and collect revenue from concessions, parking and paraphernalia. And, oh yeah, just might make people within those groups future paying fans.

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  I think some people need to go back to Economics 101.

And some people need to go back to Marketing 101.

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Hope you aren't Republicans either.

I am!

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Maybe you can request a meeting with SF and tell him that the $42 single game ticket should be free.

So far, only you have actually made this suggestion. But I would love a one on one with SF, to ask him a number of things including why overall the Athletics programs is so under performing as a whole.

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Just tell him if people want to pay, they can, but if it isn't sold out, you should let everyone else in for free.

That seems like an odd idea. Why would you propose that?

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  I hope you don't run businesses either.

I do actually. I have a small LLC in my spare time. I have done quite well by giving away some product for free and having those clients come back to me for more involved projects. It's like a crack dealer, get them hooked and they will come back for more, with money!

Listen, I am just busting your chops a bit here. No one is suggesting some sort of Ticket Welfare, but instead a tactical application of free tickets to certain groups (townie organizations, high schools, non-profits) to help pack the stands. If those tickets were not sold, they have zero value so give them away.... for now at least.

(03-26-2015 08:59 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  

(03-25-2015 02:11 PM)armour248 Wrote:  but you can't devalue the product to the point that season ticket holders or other paying fans regret their purchase.

In all seriousness, do you think paying fans show up to Huskie Stadium and harbor a grudge on Band Day because a 14 year old flautist gets a free ticket to sit up in the corner of the East side? Because on Ag Day a couple good ole' boys with John Deere as their favorite team gets some tickets from their dealer?

I don't.

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  If we are going back to the "let everyone free who doesn't want to pay" perspective again,

We're not. Just saying that targeted applications of free tickets to certain still to be defined groups provides an opportunity to fill seats and collect revenue from concessions, parking and paraphernalia. And, oh yeah, just might make people within those groups future paying fans.

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  I think some people need to go back to Economics 101.

And some people need to go back to Marketing 101.

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Hope you aren't Republicans either.

I am!

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Maybe you can request a meeting with SF and tell him that the $42 single game ticket should be free.

So far, only you have actually made this suggestion. But I would love a one on one with SF, to ask him a number of things including why overall the Athletics programs is so under performing as a whole.

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Just tell him if people want to pay, they can, but if it isn't sold out, you should let everyone else in for free.

That seems like an odd idea. Why would you propose that?

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  I hope you don't run businesses either.

I do actually. I have a small LLC in my spare time. I have done quite well by giving away some product for free and having those clients come back to me for more involved projects. It's like a crack dealer, get them hooked and they will come back for more, with money!

Listen, I am just busting your chops a bit here. No one is suggesting some sort of Ticket Welfare, but instead a tactical application of free tickets to certain groups (townie organizations, high schools, non-profits) to help pack the stands. If those tickets were not sold, they have zero value so give them away.... for now at least.

If you are talking local schools, bands, jr football, that is fine by me. Give kids some cheap souvy like a towel to hang in their room. That seems your intent, but others on here that is not. You can't keep giving a 2-1, $8 and a can of corn tickets. I'd be the 1st to admit I have taken advantage of it. But I totally see the point of a season ticket holder or the guy paying $42 a ticket. They have a lot of options for multiple game discounts. I think they should really promote the 3 game package and group discounts and put that on local cable outlets. (I AM SICK OF SEEING CHET COPPOCK AND NEW TEAM MEMBER TAJ GIBSON!)

(03-25-2015 10:23 AM)chihuskie Wrote:  BTW, I agree tickets have to be managed. But I think butts in the seats is woefully ignored as a goal. Maximizing revenue should be the ultimate goal. And not game by game, but over the long term. How do you do that? By creating a great game day atmosphere that people want to be a part of. Game day atmosphere means butts in the seats. Not empty seats.

Empty seats don't pay for parking, or for programs, or for hot dogs, etc. "Free" or greatly reduced tickets can be managed so that they pay for those other things. Buy one get one free, for example is not a bad idea.

Another example. Do you have a smart phone? Do you have any apps? Any of them that you downloaded FOR FREE? Hmmm. How do they make money giving it away for free????

Having more attending fans also helps TV ratings. Television typically tries to force reactions out of viewers, like the studio audience on comedy shows, letting the viewer know that something funny just happened, in case the viewer missed it. This must be a really funny show, because it keeps evoking laughter.

Likewise, having a huge crowd at a game, reminds the viewer that they are watching something special. I can't think of any team who is fun to watch on TV, but not so fun to attend, or vice versa.

(03-25-2015 02:18 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  Wow.

If we are going back to the "let everyone free who doesn't want to pay" perspective again, I think some people need to go back to Economics 101. Hope you aren't Republicans either.

Maybe you can request a meeting with SF and tell him that the $42 single game ticket should be free. Just tell him if people want to pay, they can, but if it isn't sold out, you should let everyone else in for free.

I hope you don't run businesses either.

Agreed! Buy tickets, you peasants!