Got the acknowledgement from NIU for my season ticket purchase today. Regarding the opportunity to get 2 free tickets to a MAC road game, Greg Herring says that only two MAC schools on our schedule have elected to participate. You can only get free tickets for the games @CMU and @UMass.

I'm really surprised that some of the other MAC schools (at least Toledo and Kent State) have decided not to participate in the program. Anything that boosts attendance even the slightest amount is a huge plus for the MAC.

(06-15-2013 01:22 PM)huskiebob Wrote:  Got the acknowledgement from NIU for my season ticket purchase today. Regarding the opportunity to get 2 free tickets to a MAC road game, Greg Herring says that only two MAC schools on our schedule have elected to participate. You can only get free tickets for the games @CMU and @UMass.

I'm really surprised that some of the other MAC schools (at least Toledo and Kent State) have decided not to participate in the program. Anything that boosts attendance even the slightest amount is a huge plus for the MAC.

+3 This single biggest thing holding this conference back is the small base at all of the schools in the conference. I have been advocating for some market reseach and activities that could be developed for all schools in the conference. OK, they give that a try and nearly all of the schools opt out. Disappointing

Does NIU give tickets to visiting team MAC season ticket holders?

(06-15-2013 05:07 PM)NIU75 Wrote:  Does NIU give tickets to visiting team MAC season ticket holders?

Yes.

(06-15-2013 03:58 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  +3 This single biggest thing holding this conference back is the small base at all of the schools in the conference. I have been advocating for some market reseach and activities that could be developed for all schools in the conference. OK, they give that a try and nearly all of the schools opt out. Disappointing

We don't know how many other schools aren't participating. We know for sure that Toledo and Kent State opted out.

I was surprised to see that, too. Pretty unfortunate. Frankly, I don't think it should be optional.

(06-15-2013 03:58 PM)bikechuck Wrote:  

(06-15-2013 01:22 PM)huskiebob Wrote:  Got the acknowledgement from NIU for my season ticket purchase today. Regarding the opportunity to get 2 free tickets to a MAC road game, Greg Herring says that only two MAC schools on our schedule have elected to participate. You can only get free tickets for the games @CMU and @UMass.

I'm really surprised that some of the other MAC schools (at least Toledo and Kent State) have decided not to participate in the program. Anything that boosts attendance even the slightest amount is a huge plus for the MAC.

+3 This single biggest thing holding this conference back is the small base at all of the schools in the conference. I have been advocating for some market reseach and activities that could be developed for all schools in the conference. OK, they give that a try and nearly all of the schools opt out. Disappointing

+1. Though like HB said, there may be other schools that didn't opt out that aren't on our schedule. Still disappointing.

Is this the same or separate issue of NIU offering free road game tix to season ticket holders?

As a sales and marketing guy this is the crap that pisses me off about the MAC. The one thing holding the conference back from being the elite mid major conference is lack of fan support. Great sports played in the Conf, plenty of guys going to the league, great coaches, great geography and stability, great tradition...just no freaking fan support.

If you don't think it's an obstacle than I recommend watching a mizzou valley bball game next winter and check out the crowds. That's the biggest reason that Conf is where it is in bball.

Get outside of the box, this is a great idea. Get people in the stands at all costs regardless of who they root for.

Until we have the luxury of selling out every game NIU is smart offering up free tix. Come one come all.

(06-16-2013 11:26 AM)scottiep12 Wrote:  Is this the same or separate issue of NIU offering free road game tix to season ticket holders?

Same.

Do you really think that making someone buy a $10-$20 ticket will stop someone from going to an away game (or giving someone a free $10-$20 ticket will cause someone to go)? If you're a big enough fan of that school, having to buy a ticket doesn't matter since MAC tickets are pretty cheap.

(06-16-2013 06:27 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  Do you really think that making someone buy a $10-$20 ticket will stop someone from going to an away game (or giving someone a free $10-$20 ticket will cause someone to go)? If you're a big enough fan of that school, having to buy a ticket doesn't matter since MAC tickets are pretty cheap.

If they're paying for a few other people to go with them (e.g. family), then it very well could stop them. Our tickets were $20-$25 last year, so that would be $80-100 for 4.

(06-16-2013 06:57 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(06-16-2013 06:27 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  Do you really think that making someone buy a $10-$20 ticket will stop someone from going to an away game (or giving someone a free $10-$20 ticket will cause someone to go)? If you're a big enough fan of that school, having to buy a ticket doesn't matter since MAC tickets are pretty cheap.

If they're paying for a few other people to go with them (e.g. family), then it very well could stop them. Our tickets were $20-$25 last year, so that would be $80-100 for 4.

But there aren't many families of 4 that will drive 2-3-4 hrs for a MAC regular season game. UT-EMU-bgSUCKS or Akron-Kent are probable for a family to go, but not other games.

(06-16-2013 07:40 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  

(06-16-2013 06:57 PM)NIU007 Wrote:  

(06-16-2013 06:27 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  Do you really think that making someone buy a $10-$20 ticket will stop someone from going to an away game (or giving someone a free $10-$20 ticket will cause someone to go)? If you're a big enough fan of that school, having to buy a ticket doesn't matter since MAC tickets are pretty cheap.

If they're paying for a few other people to go with them (e.g. family), then it very well could stop them. Our tickets were $20-$25 last year, so that would be $80-100 for 4.

But there aren't many families of 4 that will drive 2-3-4 hrs for a MAC regular season game. UT-EMU-bgSUCKS or Akron-Kent are probable for a family to go, but not other games.

Well, we don't know how many would, if it was free (i.e. already paid for). And it might not be just families. If you want to get friends who otherwise wouldn't go, they might go.

(06-16-2013 06:27 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  Do you really think that making someone buy a $10-$20 ticket will stop someone from going to an away game (or giving someone a free $10-$20 ticket will cause someone to go)? If you're a big enough fan of that school, having to buy a ticket doesn't matter since MAC tickets are pretty cheap.

For our game at Toledo this year, not having free tickets will make zero difference to NIU fans that want to make the trip. It's a weeknight game and there will probably be a lot on the line, as usual.

The NIU turnout will be the same whether the tickets are paid or free.

Toledo has a deal with Learfield Sports for sports marketing including ticket packages, pre-game events, etc.

(06-17-2013 07:10 AM)Boca Rocket Wrote:  Toledo has a deal with Learfield Sports for sports marketing including ticket packages, pre-game events, etc.

So maybe that's why they weren't on board with the free ticket thing. I wonder how many other schools have setups like that.

(06-16-2013 06:27 PM)MidnightBlueGold Wrote:  Do you really think that making someone buy a $10-$20 ticket will stop someone from going to an away game (or giving someone a free $10-$20 ticket will cause someone to go)? If you're a big enough fan of that school, having to buy a ticket doesn't matter since MAC tickets are pretty cheap.

No I agree, it doesn't make a difference. I still LOL'd when I opened the letter saying my options were CMU and UMASS when they used MAC away games as a perk to sell season tickets though. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think you have to take both tickets for the same game too. If that's the case I'll probably take them for UMASS and give one away. CMU is my first MAC game on the chopping block if funds necessitate sitting out away games. Kent is second.

Do any of them have ANY resale value on eBay or StubbyHub? Maybe the UMASS could bring in a few bucks but probably not much more.

(06-21-2013 11:54 AM)pjfleck82 Wrote:  Do any of them have ANY resale value on eBay or StubbyHub? Maybe the UMASS could bring in a few bucks but probably not much more.

I believe that Jeff Compher was the driving force behind getting the MAC to give away road game tickets. Possibly after he left, other AD's realized they weren't so thrilled with the idea ??

Toledo is charging NIU fans $35ea for tickets...

(06-21-2013 12:29 PM)HuskieJohn Wrote:  Toledo is charging NIU fans $35ea for tickets...

Well they want something for the beat down there going to get