Since I know that attendance is going to be a big issue for EMU and I finally received my season FB tix renewal in the mail from EMU, it appears that many of the proposals that were sought by the Athletic Promotions and Marketing Dept were approved. Some of the changes and premiums for this season:
**A large tailgate area that will feature supersize TV screens showing the other college football games being televised.
**A kid zone (this was really needed because EMU needs to get more families to the games).
**Giveaways include: $1000 shopping spree at Cabella's; Trip for two to Las Vegas; Roundtrip airline tix to anywhere in the Continental US; Trip for two to the 2004 Rose Bowl; Trip and tickets to the 2004 BCS Championship in New Orleans.
**For Homecoming against Western, all kids under 17 will be admitted free.
Ticket prices are pretty cheap with full season tix ranging anywhere from $70 to $110.
I wish we didn't need these kind of enticements, but the key is to make the games a real happening, an event. Hopefully this works. We'll find out I guess.
It sounds great. Start the promotions now, because in 2004 the attendance rule goes into effect. From 2004 on, you have to average 15k at least once every two years. Its kind of a tall order but its not impossible.
KC
HuronDave Wrote:**A large tailgate area that will feature supersize TV screens showing the other college football games being televised.
You're joking right? :eek:
HuronDave Wrote:**A large tailgate area that will feature supersize TV screens showing the other college football games being televised.
who controls the remote?
Or you could bring in Tony Hawk and his skateboarding buddies for an exhibition like UB did last year for a promotion. It was hilarious,,,,there was a game going on but the thousand or so teenagers that showed up were just there to see Tony. they couldn't have cared less about UB football. uh, i guess I can't blame them. We didn't win a game at home all year.
<a href='http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/ads/hawkjournal.gif' target='_blank'>http://www.ubathletics.buffalo.edu/ads/hawkjournal.gif</a>
As zrb2 so eloquently stated (as usual), UB is also big into promotions and a kids' zone to entice fans to the games. But the promotions do seem successful in drawing "fans" to the games, even if they are Tony Hawk (or the Village People, or whoever that guy from "Saved by the Bell" was) fans rather than UB football fans. It was pretty funny/sad to see the stands empty out after halftime. The pictures in "Tony's Journal" show a full stadium (at least on the home side), in which it almost looks like a real college game and atmosphere. :D
Buffalo is a football town and with the costs and hassles of taking your kids to a Bills game (tickets, parking, language, drunks, etc), I think it is smart marketing to position yourself as a "family friendly" football
alternative.
One of the best deals going is the Jr. Bulls Club pass for kids. For $15.00, they get into any UB athletic event at no charge for the school year. Season FB tickets start at $50.00. Last year, I bought season BB tickets (bleacher seats) for $85.00 and I found out it also included the women's games. I almost hate to see UB have success on the field since the ticket prices will inevidently rise as Buffalo area fans discover how much fun college sports are.
FWIW- I won a gift certificate for a set of tires for my car at an UB-EMU basketball game a few years ago. I sunk 2 of 3 bounce shots into a tire at half court and won the promotion. So I've probably actually made money overall by attending UB athletic events!
<a href='http://www.clubtonyhawk.com/journal/september_02.htm' target='_blank'>http://www.clubtonyhawk.com/journal/september_02.htm</a>
My last post gave a link to an icon.
This should work better. :withstupid:
HuronDave Wrote:**A large tailgate area that will feature supersize TV screens showing the other college football games being televised.
I think that will be great for the people running the tailgate area....I doubt it will put many butts in the seats.
Good luck on the giveaways HuronDave. That's some pretty cool stuff being given away!
Cool link klingon. I should have said a "few thousand" showed up since it really was a huge crowd for a UB game.
That would bring in tons of people...Tony Hawk....not a bad idea, IMO.
I say anthing that might help to improve attendance is a positive step. Rock on.
Tony Hawk would be welcome at Akron games, because there is actually a skate park(which I'm not in favor of, btw) located just before the parking lot.
I'm glad they are trying something. True, nothing sells better then a winner, but It has to be especially hard when you are playing a few miles down the road from UMich. I would say that EMU probably has the hardest sell in IA football. Best of luck. And when you hit on a formula that puts butts in seats, tell the people at Kent what you did.
Of course that large TV would be tuned into the Michigan game for people that can't drive 15 miles to watch the game live. :chair: