(09-12-2021 09:45 PM)dc1 Wrote:  Last Saturday was Labor Day weekend if it was yesterday I would’ve said yesterday. I assumed we’d all get that.

I don't know what anybody would have said, but just for my own info, it being Sunday, when does Saturday Sept. 11 become last Saturday? In any case, Labor Day weekend might have affected attendance at IllSt because of the extra day off.

Whatever. My bad. No more argument from me.

(09-12-2021 09:10 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 08:38 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Face it, We have a sh+t fan base

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Since those days when we had 20,000-plus showing up, ticket prices have always gone up, parking locations have been changed, promotions and marketing have been mediocre, loyalty of fans has not been rewarded or even recognized, fortunes always rise and fall, and your simplistic answer is to blame "a sh+t fan base"? Read through this posts and the concerns over lack of concessions, long lines, unclear re-entry rules, the other misc. issues mentioned and just maybe, poor administrations have turned the fan base off.

Tickets were $17. I was able to get 2 for 30 for 2 guests at the last moment.
Price is not an excuse.

Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

(09-12-2021 09:10 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 08:38 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Face it, We have a sh+t fan base

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Since those days when we had 20,000-plus showing up, ticket prices have always gone up, parking locations have been changed, promotions and marketing have been mediocre, loyalty of fans has not been rewarded or even recognized, fortunes always rise and fall, and your simplistic answer is to blame "a sh+t fan base"? Read through this posts and the concerns over lack of concessions, long lines, unclear re-entry rules, the other misc. issues mentioned and just maybe, poor administrations have turned the fan base off.

I’m not saying NIU isn’t at fault as well. But we have been averaging about 12k since 2013. We’ve had 2 MAC champions in that time and we can’t draw more than Kent St. That’s apathy. Of course MACtion is an issue for overall attendance, but these first 2 or 3 beautiful Saturday games should have at least 18k out there. To me it seems like NIU kinda tried in their half a$$ way. Schedule-palooza. Sox park. The soccer place. Social media. Etc. It didn’t move the needle at all. Chicago alumni don’t care. It feels like they’re resigned to the fact that this fan base is locals and die hards. Then if they get another superstar then interest will peak like it did with Lynch. And frankly judging from the dozens of alumni I still know/follow on social media - they’re right.

(09-13-2021 08:49 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 09:10 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 08:38 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Face it, We have a sh+t fan base

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Since those days when we had 20,000-plus showing up, ticket prices have always gone up, parking locations have been changed, promotions and marketing have been mediocre, loyalty of fans has not been rewarded or even recognized, fortunes always rise and fall, and your simplistic answer is to blame "a sh+t fan base"? Read through this posts and the concerns over lack of concessions, long lines, unclear re-entry rules, the other misc. issues mentioned and just maybe, poor administrations have turned the fan base off.

I’m not saying NIU isn’t at fault as well. But we have been averaging about 12k since 2013. We’ve had 2 MAC champions in that time and we can’t draw more than Kent St. That’s apathy. Of course MACtion is an issue for overall attendance, but these first 2 or 3 beautiful Saturday games should have at least 18k out there. To me it seems like NIU kinda tried in their half a$$ way. Schedule-palooza. Sox park. The soccer place. Social media. Etc. It didn’t move the needle at all. Chicago alumni don’t care. It feels like they’re resigned to the fact that this fan base is locals and die hards. Then if they get another superstar then interest will peak like it did with Lynch. And frankly judging from the dozens of alumni I still know/follow on social media - they’re right.

Ironically NIU has done its share of things that have turned off and pissed off locals and die-hards, so it's no surprise our attendance has sunk. And yet, we have folks on here pushing / believing we could be Big XII or AAC members. So I guess you are right. Our Chicago alumni don't care. So you, me, and some others have to accept being what's left of a sh+tty fan base.

NIU's marketing is general is lacking.
I flew in to O'Hare on Thursday to be greeted by a U of I logo in the terminal.

While driving to and from the western suburbs on 88/294 I did not see one billboard for NIU or NIU football. I saw one for Lewis University, though.

NIU is going to draw from the Chicago area but there is no attempt to sell the university there.

I know that advertising is not cheap, and I'm not in marketing, but I do know that good marketing pays for itself.

On another note, it seemed like the crowd was more like 14K, but I guess I was wrong.

I did notice significantly less tailgating on the east side. which was sad.

I always feel like NIU under reports compared to the rest of the MAC/college football. Not to say we don't need to hustle big time to woo our 20,000 crowds back, but we are definitely selling ourselves short, or at least not inflating ourselves as our neighbors do. I've seen too many empty seats at NU and EMU compared to their posted #'s.

Sean Frasier sucks, that has become very apparent, he needs to go.

(09-13-2021 09:11 AM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 08:49 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 09:10 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 08:38 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Face it, We have a sh+t fan base

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Since those days when we had 20,000-plus showing up, ticket prices have always gone up, parking locations have been changed, promotions and marketing have been mediocre, loyalty of fans has not been rewarded or even recognized, fortunes always rise and fall, and your simplistic answer is to blame "a sh+t fan base"? Read through this posts and the concerns over lack of concessions, long lines, unclear re-entry rules, the other misc. issues mentioned and just maybe, poor administrations have turned the fan base off.

I’m not saying NIU isn’t at fault as well. But we have been averaging about 12k since 2013. We’ve had 2 MAC champions in that time and we can’t draw more than Kent St. That’s apathy. Of course MACtion is an issue for overall attendance, but these first 2 or 3 beautiful Saturday games should have at least 18k out there. To me it seems like NIU kinda tried in their half a$$ way. Schedule-palooza. Sox park. The soccer place. Social media. Etc. It didn’t move the needle at all. Chicago alumni don’t care. It feels like they’re resigned to the fact that this fan base is locals and die hards. Then if they get another superstar then interest will peak like it did with Lynch. And frankly judging from the dozens of alumni I still know/follow on social media - they’re right.

Ironically NIU has done its share of things that have turned off and pissed off locals and die-hards, so it's no surprise our attendance has sunk. And yet, we have folks on here pushing / believing we could be Big XII or AAC members. So I guess you are right. Our Chicago alumni don't care. So you, me, and some others have to accept being what's left of a sh+tty fan base.

I just don’t think NIU is qualified to do the marketing themselves and can’t afford to outsource it and then have money left for promotions. The return in investment wouldn’t be worth it. Only one thing has worked (I say this meaning since college football attendance is way down. We can’t use the 80s,90s as a reference anymore. New generations new expectations). NIU is banking on creating a top G5 team to produce an attendance bump. They could have 10k wagyu hotdogs and have hooter girls work the concessions and attendance would maybe move to 14k. To get back to 20k you need to be ranked and make a big bowl.

(09-13-2021 09:49 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 09:11 AM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 08:49 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 09:10 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 08:38 PM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  Face it, We have a sh+t fan base

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Since those days when we had 20,000-plus showing up, ticket prices have always gone up, parking locations have been changed, promotions and marketing have been mediocre, loyalty of fans has not been rewarded or even recognized, fortunes always rise and fall, and your simplistic answer is to blame "a sh+t fan base"? Read through this posts and the concerns over lack of concessions, long lines, unclear re-entry rules, the other misc. issues mentioned and just maybe, poor administrations have turned the fan base off.

I’m not saying NIU isn’t at fault as well. But we have been averaging about 12k since 2013. We’ve had 2 MAC champions in that time and we can’t draw more than Kent St. That’s apathy. Of course MACtion is an issue for overall attendance, but these first 2 or 3 beautiful Saturday games should have at least 18k out there. To me it seems like NIU kinda tried in their half a$$ way. Schedule-palooza. Sox park. The soccer place. Social media. Etc. It didn’t move the needle at all. Chicago alumni don’t care. It feels like they’re resigned to the fact that this fan base is locals and die hards. Then if they get another superstar then interest will peak like it did with Lynch. And frankly judging from the dozens of alumni I still know/follow on social media - they’re right.

Ironically NIU has done its share of things that have turned off and pissed off locals and die-hards, so it's no surprise our attendance has sunk. And yet, we have folks on here pushing / believing we could be Big XII or AAC members. So I guess you are right. Our Chicago alumni don't care. So you, me, and some others have to accept being what's left of a sh+tty fan base.

I just don’t think NIU is qualified to do the marketing themselves and can’t afford to outsource it and then have money left for promotions. The return in investment wouldn’t be worth it. Only one thing has worked (I say this meaning since college football attendance is way down. We can’t use the 80s,90s as a reference anymore. New generations new expectations). NIU is banking on creating a top G5 team to produce an attendance bump. They could have 10k wagyu hotdogs and have hooter girls work the concessions and attendance would maybe move to 14k. To get back to 20k you need to be ranked and make a big bowl.

Were we even drawing 20K during the Lynch days...when we were ranked and made a big bowl? I don't think even that's going to do it.

(09-13-2021 10:07 AM)niu_1087 Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 09:49 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 09:11 AM)uiniu57 Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 08:49 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 09:10 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  Which came first, the chicken or the egg?
Since those days when we had 20,000-plus showing up, ticket prices have always gone up, parking locations have been changed, promotions and marketing have been mediocre, loyalty of fans has not been rewarded or even recognized, fortunes always rise and fall, and your simplistic answer is to blame "a sh+t fan base"? Read through this posts and the concerns over lack of concessions, long lines, unclear re-entry rules, the other misc. issues mentioned and just maybe, poor administrations have turned the fan base off.

I’m not saying NIU isn’t at fault as well. But we have been averaging about 12k since 2013. We’ve had 2 MAC champions in that time and we can’t draw more than Kent St. That’s apathy. Of course MACtion is an issue for overall attendance, but these first 2 or 3 beautiful Saturday games should have at least 18k out there. To me it seems like NIU kinda tried in their half a$$ way. Schedule-palooza. Sox park. The soccer place. Social media. Etc. It didn’t move the needle at all. Chicago alumni don’t care. It feels like they’re resigned to the fact that this fan base is locals and die hards. Then if they get another superstar then interest will peak like it did with Lynch. And frankly judging from the dozens of alumni I still know/follow on social media - they’re right.

Ironically NIU has done its share of things that have turned off and pissed off locals and die-hards, so it's no surprise our attendance has sunk. And yet, we have folks on here pushing / believing we could be Big XII or AAC members. So I guess you are right. Our Chicago alumni don't care. So you, me, and some others have to accept being what's left of a sh+tty fan base.

I just don’t think NIU is qualified to do the marketing themselves and can’t afford to outsource it and then have money left for promotions. The return in investment wouldn’t be worth it. Only one thing has worked (I say this meaning since college football attendance is way down. We can’t use the 80s,90s as a reference anymore. New generations new expectations). NIU is banking on creating a top G5 team to produce an attendance bump. They could have 10k wagyu hotdogs and have hooter girls work the concessions and attendance would maybe move to 14k. To get back to 20k you need to be ranked and make a big bowl.

Were we even drawing 20K during the Lynch days...when we were ranked and made a big bowl? I don't think even that's going to do it.

Attendance avg:

2012 - 20,878
2013 - 20,669
2014 - 13,573

The big question is who were those 7,200 fans? Lynch fans? All College fans? Alumni coming out of the woodwork? That 11-13k is pretty much the core of locals and die hards.

We had a chance to grab extra fans and didn’t. We may not get that chance again until we are a great team.

When we talk about having a direction for the program and thinking big - there’s a reason it’s always Boise as the example. Was it their marketing and hotdogs? No. Boise state has averaged 11 wins a season over the last 20 years! That’s nuts. If Hammock put together 10 years of 10 wins we’d move into the AAC.

Yea, clearly, when it was talked about having a direction for the program, we should have been more specific about which direction.

I think they need to broaden the game day experience to attract other groups to tailgate than just the traditional football fans. We have diverse demographics where many do not even grow up football fans and don't know all the rules of football, they go to one game but don't appreciate all the intricate things going on, so teaching them the game is one way to get fans.The old frats and sororities communities don't have as big as a pull as they used to. They need the Student Associations to pull all the clubs and groups to support and have an open house type booths on the weekend games so more students explore their interest in a welcoming atmosphere, maybe even some demonstrations to attract people to their club. They need to bring in more of the music students other than the marching band to have small performances before the game, an opportunity for them to perform in front of a crowd. A theme for each Saturday home game to have more of a homecoming feel for each game. If ESPN+ is what we have for now, make it consistent and accessible so people can always follow the game to keep them interested. We need an engaged community.

(09-13-2021 10:29 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  When we talk about having a direction for the program and thinking big - there’s a reason it’s always Boise as the example. Was it their marketing and hotdogs? No. Boise state has averaged 11 wins a season over the last 20 years! That’s nuts. If Hammock put together 10 years of 10 wins we’d move into the AAC.

Boise State is a hard comparison for any school to make. It's a sizable city in the middle of nowhere with no professional sports in the area.

There's little competition for the football team there plus, it's the one team the locals can invest their interests in. It's basically their NFL team but they play college ball.

Nebraska is actually a lot like that because of the distance from basically anywhere in the state to any kind of professional team. Also, I'm pretty sure Nebraska is the only FBS team in the state.

Same with Boise State, right? Idaho dropped down to FCS leaving the Broncos as the only team in the state on the highest stage.

(09-13-2021 12:38 PM)HUSKiESbelieve Wrote:  I think they need to broaden the game day experience to attract other groups to tailgate than just the traditional football fans. We have diverse demographics where many do not even grow up football fans and don't know all the rules of football, they go to one game but don't appreciate all the intricate things going on, so teaching them the game is one way to get fans.The old frats and sororities communities don't have as big as a pull as they used to. They need the Student Associations to pull all the clubs and groups to support and have an open house type booths on the weekend games so more students explore their interest in a welcoming atmosphere, maybe even some demonstrations to attract people to their club. They need to bring in more of the music students other than the marching band to have small performances before the game, an opportunity for them to perform in front of a crowd. A theme for each Saturday home game to have more of a homecoming feel for each game. If ESPN+ is what we have for now, make it consistent and accessible so people can always follow the game to keep them interested. We need an engaged community.

I do agree its more than just hot dogs. Its about an experience.

I was talking to a family member who is a UofI alum over the weekend. He lives in Sycamore and we were talking about the dismal state of NIU football attendance.

He was saying UofI has really invested into creating a pre-game experience before the games where there are place for the nutso college tailgating but also areas that cater towards families. Then they have giveaways and appearances to drum up excitement. He also said they had a radio row where different sports stations set up broadcast tents and broadcast live from outside the stadium. Among a lot of other things.

I'm not sure how much of this works for NIU but a push in that direction should be put in place.

We all know there have been attendance declines for some time now & for several reasons. There has to be a way to attract the average fan that has not been thought of yet. That said, the fact we are still in a pandemic. I believe this did affect the draw this weekend. We had the perfect storm of beating a P5 and perfect weather- this without a pandemic and we easily get 16,000+ this past Saturday IMO.

(09-13-2021 12:38 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 10:29 AM)Rabid Squirrel Wrote:  When we talk about having a direction for the program and thinking big - there’s a reason it’s always Boise as the example. Was it their marketing and hotdogs? No. Boise state has averaged 11 wins a season over the last 20 years! That’s nuts. If Hammock put together 10 years of 10 wins we’d move into the AAC.

Boise State is a hard comparison for any school to make. It's a sizable city in the middle of nowhere with no professional sports in the area.

There's little competition for the football team there plus, it's the one team the locals can invest their interests in. It's basically their NFL team but they play college ball.

Nebraska is actually a lot like that because of the distance from basically anywhere in the state to any kind of professional team. Also, I'm pretty sure Nebraska is the only FBS team in the state.

Same with Boise State, right? Idaho dropped down to FCS leaving the Broncos as the only team in the state on the highest stage.

The only reason I bring up Boise is the winning. Boise is in a unique environment. But winning is the biggest marketing there is. And you dont even have to pay for it. Go 11-3 every year as Boise does and your marketing is taken care of by espn, cbs, barstool, etc. go 11-3 every year and P5 fans respect you and will watch your team. Go 11-3 every year and you get on regular espn not some crazy stream site.

It’s a ton to ask(and it’s why almost no teams can do it), but I feel like it’s NIUs only way to be what we all hope. I honestly think even a great game day experience only draws a couple Thousand more fans at best. I go to games for #1-being inside to watch the Huskies. #2-tailgate and pregame. Everything after that is a distant 3rd. Especially with the easy ramp concession stands i get a beer in 2 minutes. That’s 95% of all my game day needs.

(09-12-2021 08:49 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  I don't believe most of those numbers. I saw WMU fans making fun of CMU for having so few fans. I also don't see BG and Kent St. getting those reported numbers. Ohio and WMU numbers seem believable.

Has anyone found pictures from the other MAC games?

pics are irrelevant, attendance is by tickets sold not people in the stands. I have 4 seats and wasn't there. But I'm still part of the 11k who "attended"

(09-12-2021 08:57 PM)Big Red Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 08:49 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  I don't believe most of those numbers. I saw WMU fans making fun of CMU for having so few fans. I also don't see BG and Kent St. getting those reported numbers. Ohio and WMU numbers seem believable.

Has anyone found pictures from the other MAC games?

We have seen issues in the past with other conference foes inflating basketball attendance numbers and I think it was assumed NIU was one of the more honest reporters of the number out there.

With that said, there wasn't 11k in the stadium on Saturday and while all of those numbers are inflated, so is NIU's.

Granted, I didn't watch any of the other games other than a little bit of the Kent State game and, for the life of me, i don't recall what the crowd looked like but I know it wasn't great and definitely not 16k+.

LOL NIU an honest reporter. I knew a guy in the 90s who was in the department, he was the guy responsible for the official attendance. He literally made it up.

(09-13-2021 01:14 PM)calvin12 Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 08:49 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  I don't believe most of those numbers. I saw WMU fans making fun of CMU for having so few fans. I also don't see BG and Kent St. getting those reported numbers. Ohio and WMU numbers seem believable.

Has anyone found pictures from the other MAC games?

pics are irrelevant, attendance is by tickets sold not people in the stands. I have 4 seats and wasn't there. But I'm still part of the 11k who "attended"

How do you know your four tickets were part of those who attended, did you confirm with the athletic department? NIU has never in the past gone by ticket sales, they've gone by tickets scanned.

(09-13-2021 01:29 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  

(09-13-2021 01:14 PM)calvin12 Wrote:  

(09-12-2021 08:49 PM)epasnoopy Wrote:  I don't believe most of those numbers. I saw WMU fans making fun of CMU for having so few fans. I also don't see BG and Kent St. getting those reported numbers. Ohio and WMU numbers seem believable.

Has anyone found pictures from the other MAC games?

pics are irrelevant, attendance is by tickets sold not people in the stands. I have 4 seats and wasn't there. But I'm still part of the 11k who "attended"

How do you know your four tickets were part of those who attended, did you confirm with the athletic department? NIU has never in the past gone by ticket sales, they've gone by tickets scanned.

They should count season tickets. I have 4, and only attend one, maybe two,games a year and give the remainder to people who may or may not attend.

Most programs count all sold tickets as "attending".