(05-06-2013 06:29 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 05:42 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 05:27 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  If they don't at least TRY to get into the deal that a MAC school gets one game a year on Sat on ESPN 2 they have no negotiation skills. 11am kickoff that is fine.

We get less fans for an 11am kickoff on Saturday than a November weeknight kickoff vs Toledo.

That's because we're playing Tennessee-Martin or Cal Poly on Saturday, and Toledo on a weeknight.

I was talking about our 2010 game vs Temple.

(05-06-2013 07:07 PM)GjlNIU Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 06:29 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 05:42 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 05:27 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  If they don't at least TRY to get into the deal that a MAC school gets one game a year on Sat on ESPN 2 they have no negotiation skills. 11am kickoff that is fine.

We get less fans for an 11am kickoff on Saturday than a November weeknight kickoff vs Toledo.

That's because we're playing Tennessee-Martin or Cal Poly on Saturday, and Toledo on a weeknight.

That is a factor, but more students also show up to the weeknight games since they are actually ON campus and not at home.

There are pro's and con's to both. If we compare the Kansas game and the Toledo game both have comparable attendance. The hatred of weeknight games and the attendance issues is a myth for NIU. Sure less of us can make it because of work, family obligations, etc. But so many more students come out to the game.

If DeKalb were exciting enough on the weekend for students to stick around might help attendance quite a bit.

THIS^

(05-06-2013 07:12 PM)HuskieRak Wrote:  Wonder what a FoxSports1 or NBC Sports would offer?
This current deal is such a joke. Sun Belt is making $1mil/school in their deal.

No they are not. They are making less money than us and have much less TV time.

CUSA and MWC both have $1mil+ deals. But who has ever seen a home game of theirs on TV? (Not the CUSA championship game on ABC/ESPN)

(05-06-2013 10:03 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  First and foremost, our student attendance doesn't enter into the equation because they're getting in for free and they don't stick around for the second half. The students in general are bandwagon jumpers, so an NIU vs. Toledo on a Saturday morning can be an excuse for them to have breakfast at some bar. Money -- from tickets, tailgating, concessions, etc. -- is made from season ticket holders and general public. So work, family obligations are a major concern and so is the fact local businesses are less willing to support the program when they get nothing from weeknight games. There's a bigger picture to be considered and DeKalb isn't "exciting" because the students don't make it "exciting."

If the students don't become fans when they are in school there will be no future season ticket holders.

I think the coaches want the weeknight games because it helps with recruiting over CUSA, MWC and Sun Belt schools.

(05-06-2013 10:31 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 10:03 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 07:07 PM)GjlNIU Wrote:  That is a factor, but more students also show up to the weeknight games since they are actually ON campus and not at home.
There are pro's and con's to both. If we compare the Kansas game and the Toledo game both have comparable attendance. The hatred of weeknight games and the attendance issues is a myth for NIU. Sure less of us can make it because of work, family obligations, etc. But so many more students come out to the game.
If DeKalb were exciting enough on the weekend for students to stick around might help attendance quite a bit.

First and foremost, our student attendance doesn't enter into the equation because they're getting in for free and they don't stick around for the second half. The students in general are bandwagon jumpers, so an NIU vs. Toledo on a Saturday morning can be an excuse for them to have breakfast at some bar. Money -- from tickets, tailgating, concessions, etc. -- is made from season ticket holders and general public. So work, family obligations are a major concern and so is the fact local businesses are less willing to support the program when they get nothing from weeknight games. There's a bigger picture to be considered and DeKalb isn't "exciting" because the students don't make it "exciting."

Students do NOT get in FREE. Students (parents) are required to pay just over $500 each year for an athletic fee which includes admission to sporting events. NIU athletic programs are subsidized around $10,000,000 by this athletic fee.

I am sure most students would love to purchase just game tickets. NIU would be lucky to make $400,000 off purchased student tickets for football and basketball games. The Northern Star runs a story every year about this.

Most big time schools do not charge an athletic fee. U of I students do not pay an athletic fee and must purchase sporting event tickets.

Its closer to 9mil

All of the public ACC and old BE schools charged student fees and half of those charged more than NIU did in 2011.

UofI does get around 3mil in student fees (in 2011) under General Fee and Service Fee this goes towards the facilities them selves but it still goes to Athletics.

http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/sports/co...54955804/1

http://www.registrar.illinois.edu/financ...tails.html

"General Fee: A fee comprised of debt service, facility renewal and replacement funds, campus administrative charges, and general University charges; distributed to auxiliary service units (Assembly Hall, Athletic Facilities, Campus Recreation, Career Center, Counseling Center, Illini Union, McKinley Health Center, and Student Services and Arcade Buildings).

Service Fee: A fee composed of categories for salaries, programming, general expenses, and utilities; distributed to auxiliary service units (Assembly Hall, Campus Recreation, Career Center, Illini Union, and Student Services and Arcade Buildings)."

(05-07-2013 04:12 AM)DoubleHuskie84 Wrote:  Be careful what you wish for.

Lots of beer muscles on this thread....

No kidding.

Remember when it was "cool" for our Huskies to be on ESPN. Now, not so much I guess. For some anyway.

We get a ton of national exposure on ESPN...Ask our coaches.

Some of these "other" sports stations are not even close in exposure. Pick your poison.

(05-07-2013 07:32 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 04:12 AM)DoubleHuskie84 Wrote:  Be careful what you wish for.

Lots of beer muscles on this thread....

No kidding.

Remember when it was "cool" for our Huskies to be on ESPN. Now, not so much I guess. For some anyway.

We get a ton of national exposure on ESPN...Ask our coaches.

Some of these "other" sports stations are not even close in exposure. Pick your poison.

Being on ESPN/2/U is great. My only issues are when we play a weeknight game and its on ESPN3.com OR When we host Wisconsin at Soldier field and its only on ESPN3.com.

ESPN3.com should not get first tier rights.

(05-07-2013 07:00 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 06:29 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 05:42 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(05-06-2013 05:27 PM)HuskiePride12 Wrote:  If they don't at least TRY to get into the deal that a MAC school gets one game a year on Sat on ESPN 2 they have no negotiation skills. 11am kickoff that is fine.

We get less fans for an 11am kickoff on Saturday than a November weeknight kickoff vs Toledo.

That's because we're playing Tennessee-Martin or Cal Poly on Saturday, and Toledo on a weeknight.

I was talking about our 2010 game vs Temple.

I think 11 am is a bit early, I can agree with that. Also, we don't seem to do well when we have a home game 1 week before "homecoming". But the only weeknight games that draw are when we're playing Toledo on ESPN2. And we don't know how many we'd get if we played them on Saturday because it's been so long since we played them on Saturday.

(05-07-2013 07:32 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 04:12 AM)DoubleHuskie84 Wrote:  Be careful what you wish for.

Lots of beer muscles on this thread....

No kidding.

Remember when it was "cool" for our Huskies to be on ESPN. Now, not so much I guess. For some anyway.

We get a ton of national exposure on ESPN...Ask our coaches.

Some of these "other" sports stations are not even close in exposure. Pick your poison.

Who are the "other" sport stations and would they offer televised weekend MAC games? More weekend exposure then the crumbs ESPN is giving us?

(05-07-2013 07:55 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  I think 11 am is a bit early, I can agree with that. Also, we don't seem to do well when we have a home game 1 week before "homecoming". But the only weeknight games that draw are when we're playing Toledo on ESPN2. And we don't know how many we'd get if we played them on Saturday because it's been so long since we played them on Saturday.

Its interesting how the B1G teams like an 11am kickoff if its not a prime time game.

(05-07-2013 07:32 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 04:12 AM)DoubleHuskie84 Wrote:  Be careful what you wish for.

Lots of beer muscles on this thread....

No kidding.

Remember when it was "cool" for our Huskies to be on ESPN. Now, not so much I guess. For some anyway.

We get a ton of national exposure on ESPN...Ask our coaches.

Some of these "other" sports stations are not even close in exposure. Pick your poison.

Our coaches also say they want the stands filled.

(05-07-2013 07:55 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  I think 11 am is a bit early, I can agree with that. Also, we don't seem to do well when we have a home game 1 week before "homecoming". But the only weeknight games that draw are when we're playing Toledo on ESPN2. And we don't know how many we'd get if we played them on Saturday because it's been so long since we played them on Saturday.

Saturday 2008 Homecoming vs Toledo - 22k

Tuesday 2004 ranked #22 vs Toledo - 27k
Wednesday 2012 (just outside of rankings) vs Toledo 17k (just dropped out of rankings)

(05-07-2013 08:12 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 07:55 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  I think 11 am is a bit early, I can agree with that. Also, we don't seem to do well when we have a home game 1 week before "homecoming". But the only weeknight games that draw are when we're playing Toledo on ESPN2. And we don't know how many we'd get if we played them on Saturday because it's been so long since we played them on Saturday.

Saturday 2008 Homecoming vs Toledo - 22k

Tuesday 2004 ranked #22 vs Toledo - 27k
Wednesday 2012 (just outside of rankings) vs Toledo 17k (just dropped out of rankings)

Our numbers in general dropped between 2004 and 2008. So it's hard to compare weekend vs. weeknight between those years.

(05-07-2013 08:16 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 08:12 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 07:55 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  I think 11 am is a bit early, I can agree with that. Also, we don't seem to do well when we have a home game 1 week before "homecoming". But the only weeknight games that draw are when we're playing Toledo on ESPN2. And we don't know how many we'd get if we played them on Saturday because it's been so long since we played them on Saturday.

Saturday 2008 Homecoming vs Toledo - 22k

Tuesday 2004 ranked #22 vs Toledo - 27k
Wednesday 2012 (just outside of rankings) vs Toledo 17k (just dropped out of rankings)

Our numbers in general dropped between 2004 and 2008. So it's hard to compare weekend vs. weeknight between those years.

Without a doubt.

I just wonder if either or both of us being ranked for last season would have made a difference. Typically games where a ranked team is playing gets a big attendance boost...though that has not happened many times.

(05-07-2013 08:19 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 08:16 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 08:12 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 07:55 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  I think 11 am is a bit early, I can agree with that. Also, we don't seem to do well when we have a home game 1 week before "homecoming". But the only weeknight games that draw are when we're playing Toledo on ESPN2. And we don't know how many we'd get if we played them on Saturday because it's been so long since we played them on Saturday.

Saturday 2008 Homecoming vs Toledo - 22k

Tuesday 2004 ranked #22 vs Toledo - 27k
Wednesday 2012 (just outside of rankings) vs Toledo 17k (just dropped out of rankings)

Our numbers in general dropped between 2004 and 2008. So it's hard to compare weekend vs. weeknight between those years.

Without a doubt.

I just wonder if either or both of us being ranked for last season would have made a difference. Typically games where a ranked team is playing gets a big attendance boost...though that has not happened many times.

I think it would help a little bit, but we wouldn't get close to that 27K number.

(05-07-2013 08:24 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 08:19 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 08:16 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 08:12 AM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 07:55 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  I think 11 am is a bit early, I can agree with that. Also, we don't seem to do well when we have a home game 1 week before "homecoming". But the only weeknight games that draw are when we're playing Toledo on ESPN2. And we don't know how many we'd get if we played them on Saturday because it's been so long since we played them on Saturday.

Saturday 2008 Homecoming vs Toledo - 22k

Tuesday 2004 ranked #22 vs Toledo - 27k
Wednesday 2012 (just outside of rankings) vs Toledo 17k (just dropped out of rankings)

Our numbers in general dropped between 2004 and 2008. So it's hard to compare weekend vs. weeknight between those years.

Without a doubt.

I just wonder if either or both of us being ranked for last season would have made a difference. Typically games where a ranked team is playing gets a big attendance boost...though that has not happened many times.

I think it would help a little bit, but we wouldn't get close to that 27K number.

Yup...Especially since athletics would have only sold a max of 24k tickets!

(05-06-2013 10:31 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  Students do NOT get in FREE. Students (parents) are required to pay just over $500 each year for an athletic fee which includes admission to sporting events. NIU athletic programs are subsidized around $10,000,000 by this athletic fee.
I am sure most students would love to purchase just game tickets. NIU would be lucky to make $400,000 off purchased student tickets for football and basketball games. The Northern Star runs a story every year about this.

I'm well aware that students pay an athletic fee, but the point is that fee is there whether the students like it or not, hence, the sign at the corner of Annie Glidden & Lucinda telling the students they get "free admission" with their student ID card. If they're not willing to take advantage of something they've already paid for, it's disappointing. IF they'd show up in consistent numbers -- and stay -- then they could make their side as "exciting" as what they see on ESPN. When NIU broke the longest losing streak in a pouring rain, you could see the students literally streaming from the dorms to the field to take down the goal post. That's an example of being bandwagon jumpers.

(05-07-2013 08:04 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 07:32 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 04:12 AM)DoubleHuskie84 Wrote:  Be careful what you wish for.

Lots of beer muscles on this thread....

No kidding.

Remember when it was "cool" for our Huskies to be on ESPN. Now, not so much I guess. For some anyway.

We get a ton of national exposure on ESPN...Ask our coaches.

Some of these "other" sports stations are not even close in exposure. Pick your poison.

Our coaches also say they want the stands filled.

And it's my feeling ESPN is only a very small part of the attendance problem here.

BTW....Kane County had over 10K Saturday. And I'm fairly sure most of those folks were there to see the Cougars and enjoy the game day experience. Not because the Dayton Dragons were in town.

(05-07-2013 09:29 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 08:04 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 07:32 AM)thxjoenovak Wrote:  

(05-07-2013 04:12 AM)DoubleHuskie84 Wrote:  Be careful what you wish for.

Lots of beer muscles on this thread....

No kidding.

Remember when it was "cool" for our Huskies to be on ESPN. Now, not so much I guess. For some anyway.

We get a ton of national exposure on ESPN...Ask our coaches.

Some of these "other" sports stations are not even close in exposure. Pick your poison.

Our coaches also say they want the stands filled.

And it's my feeling ESPN is only a very small part of the attendance problem here.

BTW....Kane County had over 10K Saturday. And I'm fairly sure most of those folks were there to see the Cougars and enjoy the game day experience. Not because the Dayton Dragons were in town.

How many of them will still go to the games in November? Besides NIU already gets 10K+ pretty much every game. And, Kane County is basically the suburbs, instead of being 30 minutes from the suburbs.

(05-07-2013 09:34 AM)NIU007 Wrote:  How many of them will still go to the games in November? Besides NIU already gets 10K+ pretty much every game. And, Kane County is basically the suburbs, instead of being 30 minutes from the suburbs.

Maybe it has to do with Kane County advertising/marketing.

Those 10k have 0 ties to the team.

We get about 14k without reaching out to anyone because of Alums, family of Alums/Players and Students.

Imagine what a modest advertising campaign like Kane County could likely get us to 24k for all Saturday games.