Looking forward to what should be a big 2023, what are some ways the University can improve their football marketing and game day experience? Here are a few thoughts I’ve had:

- increase our presence on 92.9. Focus should be placed on the mid-day show and the drive-home show. With GP leaving in the Spring, it could be a good time to push for a weekly segment on the drive-home show. Quality content to help fill the time with a product and topic the listeners want to hear - feels like a real win-win

- emphasize the players. I think the football team does a fantastic job of having the players and coaches give back to the community, but are there ways to bring more players to interact with the fans? Radio interviews, meet-and-greets, etc. I’m sure the 901Fund and other NIL programs have some great ideas here already that will also benefit the players too

- emphasize the revamped Liberty Bowl and push for getting in on season tickets now to ensure your best seating options post-renovations.

- emphasize our path to the playoffs. That is THE advantage of still being in the AAC. Pump it! This is already true for men’s basketball

- cross market with the other programs. Great things are also happening with women’s basketball and Tiger baseball, women’s soccer, tennis etc., but obviously football and men’s basketball take center stage. Maybe having a meet the players event at another sports game (for example, meet the basketball players at a soccer game).

- in-game experience needs a refresh. Kiss cam and flex cam is good, but the drum thing wore out. I think the school does a good job keeping it kid/family focused, just need some new ideas. The basketball games have been well produced imo. Another little thing - get the volume levels at the Liberty Bowl corrected. It was so hit or miss and there were times when you literally couldn’t have a conversation over the PA. That’s okay when we’re blasting “Whoop that trick”, but not so much when we’re doing a Conway Heating spot during a timeout. Lastly, it would be nice to have more scores and perhaps highlights showing on the video board.

These are a few ideas, what are yours?

Go Tigers!

Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

Win at least 9 games

(12-28-2022 11:59 AM)Eagleonpar Wrote:  Win at least 9 games

Exactly, the key to winning hearts and minds is to win the games. Period. Everybody loves a winner.

(12-28-2022 11:54 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

They do not understand marginal costs so they think they can not afford a real marketing person because it is not in the budget

(12-28-2022 12:12 PM)BinghamptonNed Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 11:54 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

They do not understand marginal costs so they think they can not afford a real marketing person because it is not in the budget

Maybe the sports psychologist understands the mass psychology needed to draw big crowds?

(12-28-2022 12:16 PM)Claw Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 12:12 PM)BinghamptonNed Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 11:54 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

They do not understand marginal costs so they think they can not afford a real marketing person because it is not in the budget

Maybe the sports psychologist understands the mass psychology needed to draw big crowds?

JFC you are a mental piece of work.

It's actually bizarre an AD the size and reputation of ours went so long without one.

This service was available to me, a non-athlete student at UofM, years ago.

(12-28-2022 12:12 PM)BinghamptonNed Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 11:54 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

They do not understand marginal costs so they think they can not afford a real marketing person because it is not in the budget

I’m not in the know for what the various staff members are I charge of, but if there’s ultimately not one person in charge of the overall strategy for marketing and messaging of the athletic department, then that would seem to be a problem. Successful marketing & consistent messaging can’t be a piecemeal approach - has to have an individual in charge. Do we know that’s the case, or are you guys making an assumption?

The letters/emails asking us to donate are all over the place strategy wise, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. People have different triggers.

(12-28-2022 12:42 PM)snowtiger Wrote:  The letters/emails asking us to donate are all over the place strategy wise, but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. People have different triggers.

That’s true. Marketing is multifaceted - times for shotgun blast approach with hopes of hitting something, other times sniper rifle precision is needed. But it has to have an overarching strategy and consistent messaging. Hard to pull off.

Where was all the we need marketing talk from 2014-20?

(12-28-2022 12:49 PM)Eagleonpar Wrote:  Where was all the we need marketing talk from 2014-20?

IMO: 1) winning brought the fans back in 2014. We had gone through the worst of it, and just being competitive and bowl bound excited the masses. This all happened during the Fuente era. 2) Norvell brought a unique energy and took care of the marketing himself. He was everywhere and very media savvy.

Those two things took care of the marketing themselves. Much harder to build and maintain that momentum after a trip to the Cotton Bowl and after people got used to watching from home during Covid. A new and heightened marketing approach must be taken by the school (and programs all over, generally) IMO

(12-28-2022 12:29 PM)tcountytigerfan Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 12:12 PM)BinghamptonNed Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 11:54 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

They do not understand marginal costs so they think they can not afford a real marketing person because it is not in the budget

I’m not in the know for what the various staff members are I charge of, but if there’s ultimately not one person in charge of the overall strategy for marketing and messaging of the athletic department, then that would seem to be a problem. Successful marketing & consistent messaging can’t be a piecemeal approach - has to have an individual in charge. Do we know that’s the case, or are you guys making an assumption?

isn't Tiger Sports Properties responsible for marketing all UofM athletics? Isn't that one of the major reasons for Learfield sports?

(12-28-2022 11:54 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

The best way to increase attendance would be a 42,000 seat stadium.

(12-28-2022 01:11 PM)tcountytigerfan Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 12:49 PM)Eagleonpar Wrote:  Where was all the we need marketing talk from 2014-20?

IMO: 1) winning brought the fans back in 2014. We had gone through the worst of it, and just being competitive and bowl bound excited the masses. This all happened during the Fuente era. 2) Norvell brought a unique energy and took care of the marketing himself. He was everywhere and very media savvy.

Those two things took care of the marketing themselves. Much harder to build and maintain that momentum after a trip to the Cotton Bowl and after people got used to watching from home during Covid. A new and heightened marketing approach must be taken by the school (and programs all over, generally) IMO

Completely agree. If you're winning games, people will come. If a game will likely result in a loss, few people will bother. It really is that simple. It's not like we're trying to convince people that our brand of soap is better than XYZ.

(12-28-2022 01:35 PM)Stammers Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 11:54 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

The best way to increase attendance would be a 42,000 seat stadium.

To carry that idea a little further, an indoor 42,000 seat stadium.

(12-28-2022 01:45 PM)Claw Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 01:35 PM)Stammers Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 11:54 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

The best way to increase attendance would be a 42,000 seat stadium.

To carry that idea a little further, an indoor 42,000 seat stadium.

I feel an indoor facility is the factor that would make the largest difference in this context - take awful (especially wet) weather out of the variables.

(12-28-2022 01:48 PM)msu35 Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 01:45 PM)Claw Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 01:35 PM)Stammers Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 11:54 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

The best way to increase attendance would be a 42,000 seat stadium.

To carry that idea a little further, an indoor 42,000 seat stadium.

I feel an indoor facility is the factor that would make the largest difference in this context - take awful (especially wet) weather out of the variables.

And hot.

(12-28-2022 01:48 PM)msu35 Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 01:45 PM)Claw Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 01:35 PM)Stammers Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 11:54 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

The best way to increase attendance would be a 42,000 seat stadium.

To carry that idea a little further, an indoor 42,000 seat stadium.

I feel an indoor facility is the factor that would make the largest difference in this context - take awful (especially wet) weather out of the variables.

People would find another excuse not to attend.

(12-28-2022 12:12 PM)BinghamptonNed Wrote:  

(12-28-2022 11:54 AM)DallasTiger Wrote:  Just to repeat myself....hire someone experienced who is actually responsible for increasing attendance. They are out there....just have to decide that it is worth the investment. Big stadium...lots of seats....needs butts to go in those seats.

They do not understand marginal costs so they think they can not afford a real marketing person because it is not in the budget

Someone needs to start thinking like its a business. In other words, if we pay $X for a marketing person, how much in added revenue in $X will that person generate. The additional benefits to recruiting, appearance of the fan base on national TV, the extra motivation to the team and coaches, getting into a better conference, come along with the increase in attendance. If the budget is not there, what job or jobs can be eliminated in order to get that person on board. Can some jobs be combined and free up some money (a standard practice in the business community). When it comes to increasing attendance.....you are making a business decision that equates to added revenues. If the Athletic Dept cannot figure that out.....it's probably because they have not traveled that vast distance over to the business school for them to explain it.