My ten year old is a avid Huskie fan and he recently told me what Athletics should do to provide a better home court advantage. He wants Athletics to not pull down any of the upper bowl unless they can fill all of the lower bowl. He would charge lower bowl prices for Sections 101-105 and 110-114. He would charge upper bowl prices for Sections 115-118 and 106-109 and make a new Student Section right on the West sideline. He would move all the cheerleaders to the East sideline taking out the desk tables that line that sideline and then on the West sideline put seats as close to the floor as possible for rowdy students to terrorize the opposing team in the second half and have more of a fieldhouse effect. He thinks it would be fun to be a student and be that close to the action and more would come to cheer on the Huskies. He would put the Pep Band right behind the basket on the West side at about the same level so they can help razz the second half free throw shooter and to provide more seats with a better view for paying fans where they currently perform.
Interesting thoughts.
I'd add that they give away tickets to students at schools (who will bring paying parents along), have NIU players hand out tickets and invite people while standing outside Walmart, Best Buy, Fatty's, grocery stores, etc. Have free clinics before some games where players can come get on the court and then give them tickets to the game. Have tailgating before some basketball games and make it a big deal for students to stick around on campus and enjoy the festivities (whether they be indoor or outdoor). Promote the games with signs and 'commercials' looped on the tv's around campus. Have more incentives for students to show up - like give away cool things near the end of the games. Find some 'leaders' in the student body who want to not only promote, but lead the student section to have fun at games. Advertise the games more around the Dekalb/Sycamore community. And, of course, put a decent product on the court. But, if done correctly, a win isn't even necessary for people to return to games - just a fun day and a team that represents NIU well.
If it is easy for a 10-year-old and someone like me to figure it out, and for several other posters on here with good ideas, how come the people getting paid at NIU can't figure it out?
(06-07-2010 04:05 PM)High On NIU Hoops Wrote: [ -> ]Interesting thoughts.
I'd add that they give away tickets to students at schools (who will bring paying parents along), have NIU players hand out tickets and invite people while standing outside Walmart, Best Buy, Fatty's, grocery stores, etc. Have free clinics before some games where players can come get on the court and then give them tickets to the game. Have tailgating before some basketball games and make it a big deal for students to stick around on campus and enjoy the festivities (whether they be indoor or outdoor). Promote the games with signs and 'commercials' looped on the tv's around campus. Have more incentives for students to show up - like give away cool things near the end of the games. Find some 'leaders' in the student body who want to not only promote, but lead the student section to have fun at games. Advertise the games more around the Dekalb/Sycamore community. And, of course, put a decent product on the court. But, if done correctly, a win isn't even necessary for people to return to games - just a fun day and a team that represents NIU well.
If it is easy for a 10-year-old and someone like me to figure it out, and for several other posters on here with good ideas, how come the people getting paid at NIU can't figure it out?
NO!NO! THIS MAKES TO MUCH SENSE!
Not to be a downer, but most of these ideas have been tried and haven't helped. We need to start winning a few seasons in a row.
I give your son/daughter credit though on the ideas, no doubt. The clinic idea is cool, but I think the student athletes schedules are hectic enough. They have pregame stuff to worry about and after 40 mins of getting their @ss beat on the court and prob getting ripped a new one by Ricardo, the last thing they need to do is teach a clinic. However, maybe your 10 year old could teach some of our players some fundamentals???
But have they all been tried together? Or even several of them on a consistent basis in a single season? Not just one of them one year, another one a couple years later, etc. ALL OF THEM THE SAME YEAR? I don't think so. Our efforts have gone half-a$$ed all the time. We keep saying "win" "win", etc. That really is only part of it and I still say that winning and better environments both play a part and feed off of each other.
And, in regards to the clinic, I wasn't thinking of our players necessarily out there doing much, if anything, for it. I was thinking Patton saying a few things and the assistants and managers working with the kids (not a huge group) for an hour or so in the morning, giving them tickets to the game and letting them go eat lunch or whatever, then come back for the game. Players could do some PR and minor instruction 'hours' before the game.
Maybe your 10-year-old can teach many of these posters how to be Avid Huskie fans even when things aren't going well.
(06-08-2010 09:23 AM)High On NIU Hoops Wrote: [ -> ]But have they all been tried together? Or even several of them on a consistent basis in a single season? Not just one of them one year, another one a couple years later, etc. ALL OF THEM THE SAME YEAR? I don't think so. Our efforts have gone half-a$$ed all the time. We keep saying "win" "win", etc. That really is only part of it and I still say that winning and better environments both play a part and feed off of each other.
And, in regards to the clinic, I wasn't thinking of our players necessarily out there doing much, if anything, for it. I was thinking Patton saying a few things and the assistants and managers working with the kids (not a huge group) for an hour or so in the morning, giving them tickets to the game and letting them go eat lunch or whatever, then come back for the game. Players could do some PR and minor instruction 'hours' before the game. (Where did you get the 40 minutes from? Players are normally already on the court by that time preparing for the game! There couldn't be a clinic going on at that time.)
Maybe your 10-year-old can teach many of these posters how to be Avid Huskie fans even when things aren't going well.
I will be the first parent to offer/volunteer to help with ANYTHING that I can to help promote our team for the upcoming season.
its a good idea, you got a smart 10 year old
Hopefully he can sit down in the student section some day like he wants. Future red riot president? :)