One of the ideas from the past that really worked well IMO was to close 11th Street and make it into an entertainment district for several hours before the games. What it did was to funnel a lot of people to the stadium area that wouldn't normally go to the commons area "on campus". Closing 11th was a success imo and became a fun atmosphere with carnival rides and mini concert. It became a happening and was a way to expand the campus into the neighborhood on game day. That needs to be done again on at least a selected game basis - maybe 3-4 times in football and 5-6 in MBB. It could be coordinated with the pregame festivities in the commons area.
Maybe the new AD needs to "review" some of the things TU did in the past that worked to uptick attendence.
Anyone have some other ideas?
This is more of a 2-parter - first of all, I think it's absolutely wonderful that TU caters to its major donors and influetial alumni - all universities should do this. TU does a great job smoozing the folks with deep pockets and it seems to be paying off, just look around at all the new, nice, beautiful stuctures that have been built over the past several years... including the overhaul of our stadium. So TU should abolutely keep doing what they're doing in regards to playing to the needs of the upper tier of society that writes the checks for our great new stuff.
Now, that being said - I also feel like TU could make just as much of an effort to attract regular folks who have no connection to the university. Even though people like you and I aren't going to write TU a check for a million bucks every year, we'll still be at every game cheering for our alma mater. But what about all the casual sports fans and their families that live within walking distance (or just a short drive away) of the stadium. Surely there can be more of an effort to attract those people. More food and beverage vendors, more activities for kiddos, easier ways to enter and exit the campus, close 11th a few times each year for the street party (I loved it when they tried that a few times) - it really connected the community.
I'm sure there are a ton more things that could be done to cater to normal folks that didn't attend TU. But in my opinion, that should be the #1 priority when recruiting fans.
Some good ideas there......I think we should do what an Archbishop in the Catholic church said they do...."give me a kid from birth til they're 12 and they will be Catholic forever." I don't know what is charged for kids now, haven't had any in a long time, but I could see it being free until they are 10....then maybe $2 or $3 until they are 18.......Or maybe just free until they are over 12......get them while they are young and train them to be Tulsa fans. ......and yes, have something fun for them to do before the games, bounce houses, I don't know, ask the kids themselves. Pander to the kids now and have fans forever. Have a high school day, when all high school kids with ID's get in free. Not only could some of this pay off with fans later but might also get us a recruit or two down the road. Have a different local high school band(s) play at every game....they may already do this!!!
I think TU should mimic the Drillers in some regards - look how many people make Drillers games a family pitting because there is something for everyone at the games. Also the Drillers sell out almost every game that features a fireworks show after the game... maybe the new marketing guy at TU should get ahold of Mike or Brian over at Oneok Field and get some tips.
Good stuff.
I like the ideas about getting them while they are young. I'd like a free/reduced section of the stadium just for kids/youth teams that is set aside for certain games that we know won't be sold out otherwise. It would have free giveaways, shirt tosses every timeout (just in that section) and free lollipops when TU scores a FG etc. Kids just love the interaction with their peers and like to have peoples eyes on them. You could even have designated "kids rows" in front of "parents" rows, so they wouldn't be completely undisciplined and in trouble - the parent being the sitting chaparone, so to speak.
BTW, how many of you went down for your Food Pyramid free milk givaway when "the milkman" did his thing a few years ago. I never saw so many TU fans in the checkout lines before. Ha!
Great thread, only problem is my ideas are already posted ! Seriously, many very good ideas here that I very much agree with.
I totally agree that TU should mimic Drillers promotions where applicable. The Drillers have been great with marketing for many years.
I also agree with marketing to kids. I moved here from out of state at 9, was invited to TU games in jr. high when Largent was at WR, & was hooked for life !
I always say that TU likes to mention it is the smallest FBS school, but it needs to remember it is also the best sports entertainment option in a metro area of 960,000 people. I think TU has a lot higher ceiling than many believe. That is why I love discussions like this !
This may sound a little weird, but I was thinking - TU marketing should offer each business along 11th street (or within walking distance to TU) a large TU flag or the two hurricane warning flags to display on the outside of their business on game days. This could be up to the companies to put up or take down or TU marketing interns could do it.
This would show the buisnesses around TU that we're trying to reach out to them and show the fans that come to pre-game festivities which places support TU.
Definitely something little, but it would be cool to see.
(06-17-2013 08:17 AM)goldenhurricane2 Wrote: [ -> ]This may sound a little weird, but I was thinking - TU marketing should offer each business along 11th street (or within walking distance to TU) a large TU flag or the two hurricane warning flags to display on the outside of their business on game days. This could be up to the companies to put up or take down or TU marketing interns could do it.
This would show the buisnesses around TU that we're trying to reach out to them and show the fans that come to pre-game festivities which places support TU.
Definitely something little, but it would be cool to see.
Thats not weird at all - its a great idea. IMO 11th street should be filled with TU flags and TU "stuff". As far as i'm concerned, the closer a person gets to the campus, the more they should experience the TU "feel" (if you get my drift). We give away TU stuff at the games, why not to those businesses that are designed to get most of their customers from TU and the games.
Here's another idea.
Tie in the fact that TU is located on historic Route 66. Make the football jersey number 66 a special item sold near the campus. We could advertise and give away jerseys with that number and even advertise that fact to visitors that don't know much about Route 66 - "america's highway". Also what I'd like to see is a well designed 11th street with islands where both a Route 66 flag and a TU flag are displayed.
We could also have steet markings that direct people toward route 66 and TU - Something like "Route 66 and TU one mile ahead" - something like that.
Just posting as I think of this stuff, but another would be - TU needs to license more of its stuff. There's always 10x more OU/OSU crap at Walmart, Academy, Dicks, Target etc etc.
I heard that TU only licenses merchandise on a limited basis, but there needs to be just as many TU shirts, hats accessories as there are OU/OSU, especially here in Tulsa!
One of my major criticisms about the program has always been something that seems to be touchy with a lot of fans. I'd better not address it at this time because it may take a while to gather everything up on it, but it is something that would almost immediately inject more fans into the program IMO. But I'll save it for now.
It is something that OSU has done and ORU has done in the past as well as Stanford, Georgia Tech, Hawaii and other well known programs including us. Later.
Another idea.
TU uses signage on campus to notify and remind the student body of a MBB game or soccer match or vollyeball contest as a way of getting students to the games. So I"d like to extend that into the entire Kendall-Whitier area and beyond. Not a poster on the wall that hangs there all year so people can just ignore it as legal graffiti, but a real mounted "alert" that a big game is going to be played "tomorrow" or that night. How about approaching the QT corp and having them prominently display a sign in front of every door entrance that reminds folks of the event. And if a person purchases enough at the store (maybe $25), they get a free ticket.
I don't think Tulsa has had a real marketing person since 1963(when I started there) or a ticket to any football or basketball game would be at a premium. To be honest, their marketing attempts have been pathetic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!