CSNbbs

"Northern Illinois kicked off its 2013 season ticket campaign by announcing lower football season ticket prices, including a $50 season ticket with $50 in parking and concessions coupons, and a marketing campaign using the theme "Be Proud, Be NIU." In addition to the lower ticket prices, Huskie season ticket holders will receive two free tickets to one of Northern Illinois' Mid-American Conference road games and a free ticket to a Northern Illinois postseason contest."

http://www.niuhuskies.com/sports/m-footb...13aab.html

$50 for season tickets, with $50 in free parking and concessions? Thats Huskielicious!

I have to say, when I first heard of the package I was excited, but looking at the details I may consider just doing a regular season ticket. The sections A and G are fine, but the water tower lot for parking......at least allow it in the convo parking lot. Who the heck wants to be there. As a result, there is only so many stadium hot dogs I could eat as tailgating parking is important to me and I wouldn't use the doggie bucks for that.

Id be "prouder" if we paid what normal schools pay for season tickets with a full, and non-embarassing home schedule. Ok im done complaining, hopefully the new AD will fix the problem.

I am just as frustrated as many with the home schedule but the more I think about it the more I decided to take a long approach. We really need to get our ticket numbers up substantially before we can expect decent OOC names to show up on the schedule with regularity. I still think the cost of any of our ticket options is worth it given the product on the field. We need as many people as possible to buy into these plans. I probably won't make every game but the program needs every dollar it can get.

On a side note I saw Boise and Florida State just inked a home and home. Anyone know what Boise's season ticket base is? We know where roughly Toledo stands (10K) but would be interesting to see where Boise is. If anything it sets an idea of what level we need to start grow our season ticket base to be able to schedule like those programs.

Every fan appreciates a large, well put together package.

(03-05-2013 08:16 PM)The Frisky Biscuit Wrote: [ -> ]Every fan appreciates a large, well put together package.

Amen to that!!!!

(03-05-2013 08:07 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote: [ -> ]I am just as frustrated as many with the home schedule but the more I think about it the more I decided to take a long approach. We really need to get our ticket numbers up substantially before we can expect decent OOC names to show up on the schedule with regularity. I still think the cost of any of our ticket options is worth it given the product on the field. We need as many people as possible to buy into these plans. I probably won't make every game but the program needs every dollar it can get.

On a side note I saw Boise and Florida State just inked a home and home. Anyone know what Boise's season ticket base is? We know where roughly Toledo stands (10K) but would be interesting to see where Boise is. If anything it sets an idea of what level we need to start grow our season ticket base to be able to schedule like those programs.

Your thinking is backwards, ticket numbers wont go up without a respectable OOC.

(03-05-2013 07:17 PM)NIUfilmmaker Wrote: [ -> ]"Northern Illinois kicked off its 2013 season ticket campaign by announcing lower football season ticket prices, including a $50 season ticket with $50 in parking and concessions coupons, and a marketing campaign using the theme "Be Proud, Be NIU." In addition to the lower ticket prices, Huskie season ticket holders will receive two free tickets to one of Northern Illinois' Mid-American Conference road games and a free ticket to a Northern Illinois postseason contest."

http://www.niuhuskies.com/sports/m-footb...13aab.html

$50 for season tickets, with $50 in free parking and concessions? Thats Huskielicious!

A terrific sports entertainment value!

Commentary about lowering ticket prices

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-s...ncaaf.html

Just curious. Can you still buy West Side Reserved tickets and enter on the East Side? This might be a great option for someone who wants to sit on the East Side like myself.

(03-07-2013 02:50 PM)JCCNIU31 Wrote: [ -> ]Commentary about lowering ticket prices

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-s...ncaaf.html

Good find. That link is on the front page of Yahoo's NCAA page. Great press when every other article on the page right now is BCS related. A couple months after the Orange Bowl and we are still popping up. I really hope we can keep it rolling this season.

(03-07-2013 03:09 PM)HuskieTap22 Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-07-2013 02:50 PM)JCCNIU31 Wrote: [ -> ]Commentary about lowering ticket prices

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaaf-dr-s...ncaaf.html

Good find. That link is on the front page of Yahoo's NCAA page. Great press when every other article on the page right now is BCS related. A couple months after the Orange Bowl and we are still popping up. I really hope we can keep it rolling this season.

This is the third article I have seen about this. The press is worth the 1000 of so tickets offered at this price....just as long as no of them mentions our home schedule!

Home Att. Ave. OOC Opponents
2003 23,575 MD - Iowa St
2004 27,052 SIU
2005 22,176 Tenn Tech
2006 20,771 Indiana St
2007 25,137 SIU
2008 18,185 Indiana St - Navy
2009 14,889 WIU - Idaho
2010 17,760 North Dakota
2011 18,903 Army - Cal Poly
2012 15,670 TN Martin - Kansas

Better look for another reason than OOC schedule for attendance woes.
Not much correlation here.

SIU seems our best scheduling bet - for that one game that changes everything.

(03-07-2013 04:23 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote: [ -> ]Home Att. Ave. OOC Opponents
2003 23,575 MD - Iowa St
2004 27,052 SIU
2005 22,176 Tenn Tech
2006 20,771 Indiana St
2007 25,137 SIU
2008 18,185 Indiana St - Navy
2009 14,889 WIU - Idaho
2010 17,760 North Dakota
2011 18,903 Army - Cal Poly
2012 15,670 TN Martin - Kansas

Better look for another reason than OOC schedule for attendance woes.
Not much correlation here.

SIU seems our best scheduling bet - for that one game that changes

Here are the top 32 games (over 20k) since 1995. (Most of this list is from R&BA)
Sadly not a single game from the Orange Bowl season made it over the 20k mark.

1 Western Michigan 28,221 10/18/2003 Homecoming, #12 in AP, Entered 6-0
2 Iowa State 28,218 9/27/2003 #20 in AP, Entered 3-0 after win @ #21 Alabama
3 Southern Illinois 28,071 9/11/2004 Home opener after 10-2 season
4 #15 Maryland 28,018 8/28/2003 Home opener after 8-4 season
5 Toledo 27,719 11/9/2004 Entered 6-0 in MAC
6 Eastern Michigan 27,641 10/15/2005 Homecoming, Entered 2-3 after 38-24 Miami win
7 Central Michigan 27,385 10/16/2004 Homecoming, Entered 4-0 in MAC
8 Temple 27,039 10/21/2006 Homecoming, Entered 4-3 after 14-16 WMU loss
9 #21 Kansas State 26,873 9/6/1997 Home opener, Novak's 2nd season
10 Akron 26,266 10/2/2004 Entered 2-2 after 34-17 BG win
11 Tennessee Tech 26,123 9/17/2005 Home opener after 9-3 season
12 #20 Bowling Green 25,822 11/9/2002 Entered 5-0 in MAC
13 Bowling Green 25,819 9/24/2004 Revenge game from 2003 loss
14 Illinois State 24,682 9/9/2000 Home opener after 5-6 season
15 Southern Illinois 24,182 9/8/2007 Home opener after 7-6 season
16 Ball State 24,121 11/1/2003 #21 in AP, Entered 5-0 in MAC
17 Western Illinois 23,598 9/21/2002 Entered 1-2 after 21-24 Wisconsin loss
18 Western Michigan 23,057 10/13/2007 Homecoming, Entered 1-5
19 Louisville 22,357 9/9/1995 Home opener
20 Toledo 22,092 10/18/2008 Homecoming, Entered 3-3 after 17-13 Miami win
21 Ohio 21,736 10/4/2003 #17 in AP, Entered 4-0 after 24-16 Iowa St win
22 Western Illinois 21,427 9/12/2009 Home opener after 6-7 season
23 Western Illinois 21,370 9/7/1996 Home opener, Novak's 1st season
24 Buffalo 21,230 10/16/2010 Homecoming, Entered 4-2 (2-0 MAC) after big home victory over Temple
25 Buffalo 21,117 9/16/2006 Entered 0-1 after painful 23-35 Ohio loss
26 Indiana State 20,936 9/20/2008 Home opener after 2-10 season, Kill's 1st year
27 Western Michigan 20,277 10/15/2011 Homecoming, Entered 3-3 in a disappointing start to the season that would end to be the greatest since 83.
28 Central Michigan 20,186 10/19/2002 Homecoming, Entered 3-0 in MAC
29 Eastern Illinois 20,184 9/19/1998 Home opener after 0-11 season
30 Toledo 20,154 11/23/2002 Entered 7-0 in MAC, for West title
31 Miami OH 20,023 10/5/2005 Entered 1-3 after 42-48 Akron loss
32 Eastern Michigan 20,012 9/15/2007 Entered 0-2 after 31-34 painful SIU loss

(03-07-2013 04:33 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote: [ -> ]

(03-07-2013 04:23 PM)sarasotahuskie Wrote: [ -> ]Home Att. Ave. OOC Opponents
2003 23,575 MD - Iowa St
2004 27,052 SIU
2005 22,176 Tenn Tech
2006 20,771 Indiana St
2007 25,137 SIU
2008 18,185 Indiana St - Navy
2009 14,889 WIU - Idaho
2010 17,760 North Dakota
2011 18,903 Army - Cal Poly
2012 15,670 TN Martin - Kansas

Better look for another reason than OOC schedule for attendance woes.
Not much correlation here.

SIU seems our best scheduling bet - for that one game that changes

Here are the top 32 games (over 20k) since 1995. (Most of this list is from R&BA)
Sadly not a single game from the Orange Bowl season made it over the 20k mark.

1 Western Michigan 28,221 10/18/2003 Homecoming, #12 in AP, Entered 6-0
2 Iowa State 28,218 9/27/2003 #20 in AP, Entered 3-0 after win @ #21 Alabama
3 Southern Illinois 28,071 9/11/2004 Home opener after 10-2 season
4 #15 Maryland 28,018 8/28/2003 Home opener after 8-4 season
5 Toledo 27,719 11/9/2004 Entered 6-0 in MAC
6 Eastern Michigan 27,641 10/15/2005 Homecoming, Entered 2-3 after 38-24 Miami win
7 Central Michigan 27,385 10/16/2004 Homecoming, Entered 4-0 in MAC
8 Temple 27,039 10/21/2006 Homecoming, Entered 4-3 after 14-16 WMU loss
9 #21 Kansas State 26,873 9/6/1997 Home opener, Novak's 2nd season
10 Akron 26,266 10/2/2004 Entered 2-2 after 34-17 BG win
11 Tennessee Tech 26,123 9/17/2005 Home opener after 9-3 season
12 #20 Bowling Green 25,822 11/9/2002 Entered 5-0 in MAC
13 Bowling Green 25,819 9/24/2004 Revenge game from 2003 loss
14 Illinois State 24,682 9/9/2000 Home opener after 5-6 season
15 Southern Illinois 24,182 9/8/2007 Home opener after 7-6 season
16 Ball State 24,121 11/1/2003 #21 in AP, Entered 5-0 in MAC
17 Western Illinois 23,598 9/21/2002 Entered 1-2 after 21-24 Wisconsin loss
18 Western Michigan 23,057 10/13/2007 Homecoming, Entered 1-5
19 Louisville 22,357 9/9/1995 Home opener
20 Toledo 22,092 10/18/2008 Homecoming, Entered 3-3 after 17-13 Miami win
21 Ohio 21,736 10/4/2003 #17 in AP, Entered 4-0 after 24-16 Iowa St win
22 Western Illinois 21,427 9/12/2009 Home opener after 6-7 season
23 Western Illinois 21,370 9/7/1996 Home opener, Novak's 1st season
24 Buffalo 21,230 10/16/2010 Homecoming, Entered 4-2 (2-0 MAC) after big home victory over Temple
25 Buffalo 21,117 9/16/2006 Entered 0-1 after painful 23-35 Ohio loss
26 Indiana State 20,936 9/20/2008 Home opener after 2-10 season, Kill's 1st year
27 Western Michigan 20,277 10/15/2011 Homecoming, Entered 3-3 in a disappointing start to the season that would end to be the greatest since 83.
28 Central Michigan 20,186 10/19/2002 Homecoming, Entered 3-0 in MAC
29 Eastern Illinois 20,184 9/19/1998 Home opener after 0-11 season
30 Toledo 20,154 11/23/2002 Entered 7-0 in MAC, for West title
31 Miami OH 20,023 10/5/2005 Entered 1-3 after 42-48 Akron loss
32 Eastern Michigan 20,012 9/15/2007 Entered 0-2 after 31-34 painful SIU loss

Good lists.

Good conclusions. I think some people's bubble get bursts, but they won't admit it.



Things that stick out:

0- # games in top 19 since 2008
1- # Tenn Tech games, Indiana St games
3- # WIU games (same as Toledo)
4- # November games
5- # times NIU entered the game under .500
7- # games vs D-2 State Schools
9- # Homecoming games, D-2 teams
11- # Home openers
12- #October games
16- # games in August or September

I think it can be concluded weather, time of year are most relevant.

While opponent is nice, unless they are ranked, really doesn't matter.

I'd really like to know the weather for each game. I'd also like to know the weather and date for the bottom 32.

OOC Schedule priorities for the first 5 weeks...

#1 Sign with any team that will pay us the most for us to come to their place.

#2 Sign with any AQ willing to do a 1-1 for even money or better.

#3 Make up financially for #2 by signing with a low lever AQ money game.

#4 Sign a 1-1 with a non-AQ to alternate with #2.

#5 No excuses.

Not sure anyone posted this yet, I would like to see this made into a 30 or 40 sec. commercial.

NIU Football 2013 - Be Proud. Be NIU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nFBWnpXBaVY

Nice list HJ, this really hammers home the point how important and critical home scheduling is.

2003 23,575 MD - Iowa St
2004 27,052 SIU
2005 22,176 Tenn Tech
2006 20,771 Indiana St
2007 25,137 SIU
2008 18,185 Indiana St - Navy
2009 14,889 WIU - Idaho
2010 17,760 North Dakota
2011 18,903 Army - Cal Poly
2012 15,670 TN Martin - Kansas

Important to see how attendance boomed after and during the MD and Iowa St years, eventually once opponents started tailing off you get a pretty big drop off once the benefits wore off from getting those opponents in. They key here is to not just have a 2003 season for scheduling once every 10 years or it fades, you have to follow it up, Ive been saying that for some time. 2007 needs a big asterisk because that might include the Iowa game, if you take that out, you can see a pretty steady decline after the opponent quality dropped off. This should be a wake up call for any new AD, but we really dont need stats to show us this, we know how electric dekalb was for Iowa St/Maryland, make that happen again, bring those fans back.