Plain and simple, a Saturday in DeKalb needs to be an entire experience. It's the only way to attract visitors - and students - in an area where people really don't give a damn about college football. And yes, it starts and ends with tailgating. Have events and entertainment before and after the game on the tailgating lots (concerts, beer tents, food festivals etc). The Yard on steroids.

Better concessions food.
Sell beer. On both sides. It's been an overwhelming success everywhere it's been implemented.
In-Stadium wifi. Sure it's dumb but it's something people want.
Pretty much anything you old folks will hate, students will probably love.

Student-loyalty seating (Ranking based on what students come to the most games/events for any sport) Instead of GA seating, reserve some 50-yd line seats.
Student-tees (EVERYONE CAN MATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

And I'm sure I can come up with other ideas, but i'm hungry and going to lunch now

(03-17-2015 11:14 AM)HuskieRak Wrote:  Plain and simple, a Saturday in DeKalb needs to be an entire experience. It's the only way to attract visitors - and students - in an area where people really don't give a damn about college football. And yes, it starts and ends with tailgating. Have events and entertainment before and after the game on the tailgating lots (concerts, beer tents, food festivals etc). The Yard on steroids.

Better concessions food.
Sell beer. On both sides. It's been an overwhelming success everywhere it's been implemented.
In-Stadium wifi. Sure it's dumb but it's something people want.
Pretty much anything you old folks will hate, students will probably love.

Student-loyalty seating (Ranking based on what students come to the most games/events for any sport) Instead of GA seating, reserve some 50-yd line seats.
Student-tees (EVERYONE CAN MATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

And I'm sure I can come up with other ideas, but i'm hungry and going to lunch now

Well, I'd sure love naked coeds parading around the field during the second half. That would certainly prevent me from leaving the stadium during the second half - even (especially) if it's frigid out. Too bad the students will have to wait until they mature to appreciate that!

Can they put a student yard on east side??? Would that help?? Also I think they need to have sections for the students. Sometimes you have family sitting on the east side and I think they be better off not with the students!! That's just me though.

Sell liquor, I bet students will stay the whole game!

Building attendance takes creativity & effort. NU schedules HS Band Day Games in the non conference portion of the schedule and that game consistently outdraws the other non conference games and even approaches attendance for conference games.

Getting as many HS kids to your campus is important for any university in a number of ways; building future enrollment, growing the alumni base, increasing donations for academic and athletic initiatives. If I were the AD at either program, every Saturday game with few exceptions would be a Band Day Game. There are so many outstanding HS bands in metro Chicago and those who participate in them are also the caliber of student you want committing to your university because they are active participants.

For what little cost Band Days incur they make up for it many times over IMO

Wildcat Alley has been a huge success for NU and it doesn't require that much effort to put on. A few face painters, jugglers, a cover band, relay races, etc. Small children to JR High students enjoy it and it helps bring in parents with children. Several food vendors exhibit and the university makes nice $ from them being there.

NIU could very easily start a Huskie Hotbed to make a football game experience and all day event

(03-17-2015 10:04 AM)Dog Fan Wrote:  Maybe we can also "pay" community members to show up to the games.

Assuming everything is compliant, how about if a big Huskie campaign sign for your front yard in exchange for 2 general admission tickets to a OOC game and a MAC game? The sign goes out Friday night through Sunday morning.

Something this size:

(03-17-2015 12:18 PM)Policiious Wrote:  Building attendance takes creativity & effort. NU schedules HS Band Day Games in the non conference portion of the schedule and that game consistently outdraws the other non conference games and even approaches attendance for conference games.

Getting as many HS kids to your campus is important for any university in a number of ways; building future enrollment, growing the alumni base, increasing donations for academic and athletic initiatives. If I were the AD at either program, every Saturday game with few exceptions would be a Band Day Game. There are so many outstanding HS bands in metro Chicago and those who participate in them are also the caliber of student you want committing to your university because they are active participants.

For what little cost Band Days incur they make up for it many times over IMO

Unless NIU completely got rid of band day recently, the school has been doing this.

That said, NIU prolly doesn't need to take lessons from increasing attendance from a school like NU, LOL.

(03-17-2015 12:27 PM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(03-17-2015 12:18 PM)Policiious Wrote:  Building attendance takes creativity & effort. NU schedules HS Band Day Games in the non conference portion of the schedule and that game consistently outdraws the other non conference games and even approaches attendance for conference games.

Getting as many HS kids to your campus is important for any university in a number of ways; building future enrollment, growing the alumni base, increasing donations for academic and athletic initiatives. If I were the AD at either program, every Saturday game with few exceptions would be a Band Day Game. There are so many outstanding HS bands in metro Chicago and those who participate in them are also the caliber of student you want committing to your university because they are active participants.

For what little cost Band Days incur they make up for it many times over IMO

Unless NIU completely got rid of band day recently, the school has been doing this.

That said, NIU prolly doesn't need to take lessons from increasing attendance from a school like NU, LOL.

NU's football attendance has grown 24190 in 07 to 39307 in 13, 2014 attendance numbers for the first 5 weeks (all that I can find) show NU up 3% over 2013 total (NIU game absolutely helped); NU had 2nd highest attendance growth from 09 to 10 24190 to 36449) 22nd from 11 to 12 (33442 to 35647) and 19th from 12 to 13 ( 35647 to 39307). Huskies have done well growing the average from a low of 14889 in 09 to 20877 in 2012 (#26 increase from 09 14889 to 10 17760 & #23 growth from 11 188903 to 12 20877) but have hit a wall since then despite outstanding on field results.

NU has passed Purdue and is approaching Indiana & Illinois's attendance numbers despite some poor play in 13 & 14 so at least considering what NU is doing should be up for discussion.

(03-17-2015 12:27 PM)HuskieAlumnus03 Wrote:  

(03-17-2015 12:18 PM)Policiious Wrote:  Building attendance takes creativity & effort. NU schedules HS Band Day Games in the non conference portion of the schedule and that game consistently outdraws the other non conference games and even approaches attendance for conference games.

Getting as many HS kids to your campus is important for any university in a number of ways; building future enrollment, growing the alumni base, increasing donations for academic and athletic initiatives. If I were the AD at either program, every Saturday game with few exceptions would be a Band Day Game. There are so many outstanding HS bands in metro Chicago and those who participate in them are also the caliber of student you want committing to your university because they are active participants.

For what little cost Band Days incur they make up for it many times over IMO

Unless NIU completely got rid of band day recently, the school has been doing this.

That said, NIU prolly doesn't need to take lessons from increasing attendance from a school like NU, LOL.

Haha, well said!

(03-17-2015 11:14 AM)HuskieRak Wrote:  Plain and simple, a Saturday in DeKalb needs to be an entire experience. It's the only way to attract visitors - and students - in an area where people really don't give a damn about college football. And yes, it starts and ends with tailgating. Have events and entertainment before and after the game on the tailgating lots (concerts, beer tents, food festivals etc). The Yard on steroids.

Better concessions food.
Sell beer. On both sides. It's been an overwhelming success everywhere it's been implemented.
In-Stadium wifi. Sure it's dumb but it's something people want.
Pretty much anything you old folks will hate, students will probably love.

Student-loyalty seating (Ranking based on what students come to the most games/events for any sport) Instead of GA seating, reserve some 50-yd line seats.
Student-tees (EVERYONE CAN MATCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

And I'm sure I can come up with other ideas, but i'm hungry and going to lunch now

This, all of this.

And when you consider that students and old people are literally on opposite ends of the stadium, that dynamic shouldn't be much of an issue.

(03-16-2015 05:40 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(03-16-2015 05:14 PM)dekalb222 Wrote:  Two 20 win seasons and they are drawing 5k. Football, I have no idea how our attendance can be so bad!

Because...

1 The university had an extremely poor relationship with DeKalb/Sycamore

2 So few Alums who were at NIU from 84-98 have any fond memory of Huskie football and have any desire to come back. Because the team sucked for 15 years and had no conference identity for 10 of those years we lost a lot of potential Alums and their families who would have been coming to the games.

A few more reasons:

1) This
2) Whoring out the football season to the weeknights
3) Basketball - try winning

(03-17-2015 12:18 PM)Policiious Wrote:  For what little cost Band Days incur they make up for it many times over IMO

Maybe.
Are you assuming some things. Yes, there is a group discount rate, but maybe the Huskie Marching Band invites the high school bands for free -- in which case, they do not count in the attendance. Tickets can only count if they are half price or higher.
Maybe the Huskie Marching Band is feeding the high school bands, pizzas/sodas/bottled water? That can add up for 200, 300, etc.
Not trying to be contrary, just asking, do you actually know "what little cost Band Days" involve?
I like the Huskie Marching Band (actually own CDs from various years), but are they that well known among the high school community? Meaning if you are the director at Suburban High, what's you're incentive to get your kids to your school early Saturday morning perhaps after playing late Friday at a home game, use money from your budget for the bus to transport you to DeKalb early enough to practice with NIU's band long before the football teams get on the field, keep your kids entertained for a few hours, then take part in a pregame for the national anthem, get situated in the stands, get back in position for halftime, most likely leave then or shortly after so you get back to your school early evening and make sure everything gets checked back in.
It's logical to schedule High School Band Day for one of the non-conference dates because if you're giving away seats -- or even getting half price / group discount -- it makes more sense then as opposed to a game where more tickets will be sold.

I believe, the NIU Band, High School bands, Cheerleaders and Media all our counted in attendance. I wouldn't be surprised if the Fireman were counted.

(03-16-2015 07:30 PM)Illinoisan Wrote:  Why wouldn't people support such a recently successful program?

I'm not even an NIU student (I've got my list down to 3 schools), NIU isn't one of them but I really enjoy NIU football!

It's a shame if the kids wouldn't come out to watch such a great brand of football.

I grew up an Illini fan, but NIU football caught my eye about 3 seasons ago and i've loved watching ever since.

You're just the type pf person we need!!! Thanks for watching.

(03-17-2015 09:53 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(03-17-2015 12:18 PM)Policiious Wrote:  For what little cost Band Days incur they make up for it many times over IMO

Maybe.
Are you assuming some things. Yes, there is a group discount rate, but maybe the Huskie Marching Band invites the high school bands for free -- in which case, they do not count in the attendance. Tickets can only count if they are half price or higher.
Maybe the Huskie Marching Band is feeding the high school bands, pizzas/sodas/bottled water? That can add up for 200, 300, etc.
Not trying to be contrary, just asking, do you actually know "what little cost Band Days" involve?
I like the Huskie Marching Band (actually own CDs from various years), but are they that well known among the high school community? Meaning if you are the director at Suburban High, what's you're incentive to get your kids to your school early Saturday morning perhaps after playing late Friday at a home game, use money from your budget for the bus to transport you to DeKalb early enough to practice with NIU's band long before the football teams get on the field, keep your kids entertained for a few hours, then take part in a pregame for the national anthem, get situated in the stands, get back in position for halftime, most likely leave then or shortly after so you get back to your school early evening and make sure everything gets checked back in.
It's logical to schedule High School Band Day for one of the non-conference dates because if you're giving away seats -- or even getting half price / group discount -- it makes more sense then as opposed to a game where more tickets will be sold.

What I meant by the statement you highlighted is that HS Band Kids are the kind of students that NIU should want to apply for admission to the university. Public university enrollments are down at most institutions in this state (except for UIUC, UIC & SIUE) Students involved in extra curricular activities have learned how to budget their time and priorities to be successful academically and be involved in activities they love which benefit the entire student body.

It's easier for a university to get HS students to apply to that university if they get them to visit the university. HS Band Days are a great way for NIU to showcase it's best attributes to exactly the type of HS students it should want to attract.

Regarding attendance, in addition to the Band Students themselves; many of their parents would probably attend a game at which their children are performing and possibly family members as well.

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.

(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.

I think that is exactly the opposite philosophy that SF has.

You can't give away free tickets. The worse idea ever. No business would ever do that.

(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.

As to students leaving at half-time, I think they leave sometimes due to score, but mostly due to alcohol being readily available about 500 feet from their seat. They can leave, re-enter as they please. My guess is some have the intention to come back in, but that additional cold beer and shot gets more appealing after each one.

While it's nice to have students close, involved in game day it does have it's setbacks. Personally, I don't think they should be that close to the stadium and have that much area. I like to drink and have a good time like the next guy, but the scene next to the stadium is more of a frat/off campus party than a tailgate. I know other schools do it, it is college. I get that. But in a premium area I think is a bit much. I would think in the future they would get moved to another concentrated area, just not right next to the stadium, especially since it would appear students are going back to the west side if things go as planned.