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pvk75 Offline
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Post: #21
RE: facility upgrades
Several years ago I figured it out this way and posted it (not boasting, just repeating): 10,000 each donating $100 is the same $1 million as 100 each donating $10,000.

R.e. what Dog Fan said, NIU never seems to have learned that, in a certain sense, all donors are created equal because they can each only fill one seat, and negligence toward the masses makes attendance and donations drop. So you get the $1 million from the 100 ... . OK, so ... where's the $1 million from the 10,000?

Per what randyfensclub1 said, NIU has long had a Chicago-style governance where all bent a knee to City Hall (Lowden) and in the competition, students were herd headcount. It's almost natural that the attitude of alumni is "I got my degree and I AM OUTA HERE!" A poor foundation for building any kind of loyalty.

Now go around again and add back what Dog Fan said, and NIU actually reinforces the disconnection that alumni felt when they were attending NIU.

NIU is in a uniquely bad situation. Both of the above have dove-tailed and created a massive hill to climb over.

I don't know what the answer is. Maybe just having successful teams to appeal to as many people as possible in as many sports as possible. Of course there are football and basketball fans. But while smaller there are fan groups interested in wrestling and gymnastics and volleyball, etc etc etc.

In that case, Northern MUST always have someone there when the fans are there, paying attention, making them welcome, solving whatever problems. There are a ton of surveys showing Americans hate poor service. Don't add that to the problems NIU already has.

(Apologies for length.)
(This post was last modified: 04-02-2022 08:37 PM by pvk75.)
04-02-2022 08:27 PM
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randyfensfanclub1 Offline
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Post: #22
RE: facility upgrades
(04-02-2022 03:50 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  
(04-02-2022 03:12 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  I just want to know where this money everyone wants is to come from?

I have no idea how much money was raised after the 2012 season. I know that they should have done more to get fans interested in football, buy tickets. That didn't occur.

Once the Orange Bowl passed, most of the Johnny come lately's bailed. And how many of them actually donated? I would say next to to none.

STF has to focus on the whales. How many has he brought on? My guess, not many.

Alumni don't donate. Never have. They don't go to see a successful team now, enrollment is down. So the few that even step foot on campus again is even less. I mean I bet 90% never step foot on campus again that have no relative /friend attending. After 5 years, I bet it's 95+%. People don't care. They move on.

DeKalb is not a big city, It's not Buffalo or Toledo getting local business to donate. Individual NOT alumni. How many who donate to NIU didn't go to NIU? That's what the difference is between P5, some G5 and NIU. On top of generations attending a school the go there because of generations of sports loyalty. It's legacy NIU was a teacher's school 50 years ago or so. One bowl game until 2000's.

I think once again we need to face reality. I go back to the P5 dream. Go back to these threads. Just read the comments of falacy. If you bought the pipe dream, sorry. But I think those who did actually believed in it did so w/o STF saying it. It was always in their mind. It was never going to happen, NIU as a whole never was going there nor did they warrant it.There is no savior coming any time soon to raise 100 million short of one alumnus making it happen. Come to a realization of what NIU is and enjoy it be it football....tennis....golf.....education.....the campus.

Or at least see it for what it is even if you don't like it.


I agree with what you’re saying. However, STF has to go after the whales because he (and the university in general) is disgustingly bad at courting donors smaller than whales. A lot of smaller donors put together is a big donor. They have never seemed to learn this simple fact. Plus, once they can get somebody to donate, it will be easier for that person to donate again - and maybe even more. But, that donor needs to feel important and that his donation really matters.

My understanding from the board is the people in the couple thousand to 10k area are ones he has shunned. I said before I was donating at bottom level, got some free stuff, was getting invites for a couple years to the post spring game reception. That stopped, I stopped donating last year or 2 of Carey. Partly the shun, no follow up from them and not happy to some extent. I reupped the other day, did alumni thing. Side note, I said I didn't have my account # for HAF donating and they had no idea what I was talking about.

Personally, I think all the people leaving lead to chaos. I think STF thinks his time is more well (only to be) spent with the high 5 and 6+ figure donors. I agree, wrong. I have heard your stories, others, it sucks. He needs to wake up in that area.

That said, as far as courting new donors in that area, I don't know what he can do. I mean the 100m/bif 12 thing was PT Barnum like and honestly, in retro, smart. Gave people reason to believe. But I don't see where any new donors are going to come from. Shi%%ing on good ones is on him. But as far as those wanting and demanding more (short of a freaking decent washroom) it is not going to come without a whale. These people are non existent.
04-02-2022 11:52 PM
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randyfensfanclub1 Offline
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Post: #23
RE: facility upgrades
(04-02-2022 08:27 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  Several years ago I figured it out this way and posted it (not boasting, just repeating): 10,000 each donating $100 is the same $1 million as 100 each donating $10,000.

R.e. what Dog Fan said, NIU never seems to have learned that, in a certain sense, all donors are created equal because they can each only fill one seat, and negligence toward the masses makes attendance and donations drop. So you get the $1 million from the 100 ... . OK, so ... where's the $1 million from the 10,000?

Per what randyfensclub1 said, NIU has long had a Chicago-style governance where all bent a knee to City Hall (Lowden) and in the competition, students were herd headcount. It's almost natural that the attitude of alumni is "I got my degree and I AM OUTA HERE!" A poor foundation for building any kind of loyalty.

Now go around again and add back what Dog Fan said, and NIU actually reinforces the disconnection that alumni felt when they were attending NIU.

NIU is in a uniquely bad situation. Both of the above have dove-tailed and created a massive hill to climb over.

I don't know what the answer is. Maybe just having successful teams to appeal to as many people as possible in as many sports as possible. Of course there are football and basketball fans. But while smaller there are fan groups interested in wrestling and gymnastics and volleyball, etc etc etc.

In that case, Northern MUST always have someone there when the fans are there, paying attention, making them welcome, solving whatever problems. There are a ton of surveys showing Americans hate poor service. Don't add that to the problems NIU already has.

(Apologies for length.)

I courted all my NIU friends around 12-13.Ones gloating about NIU. Ones with good 6 figure and more income. I sent links to donate to about 6-7 I am guessing. Not one donated a penny.

I will also add not one person really cared about NIU sports, even football from early 90s to 2010 ish. Honestly, I didn't follow til 2003, not religiously for a another 5 years I guess. Understand we are the few on here. And if it were not for early 2010;s, 1/2 the people on this board would not be here, likely more. And how many came and went around that time? Now think of alumni as a whole. These $1000...$100 dollar donors aren't there. making a difference.
(This post was last modified: 04-03-2022 12:00 AM by randyfensfanclub1.)
04-02-2022 11:59 PM
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Dog Fan Offline
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Post: #24
facility upgrades
It’s a matter of “planting the seeds”. Athletics needs to fundraise and aggressively market it. They need to go after lower level donations - such as $25 or $50. And, most importantly, they need to make each of those donors feel very welcome and important. Doing that will plant the seeds. Having experienced donating, these new donors may very well donate again and even at higher amounts. Plus, Athletics will be able to add them to their donor rolls which looks good. Again, many people donating smaller amounts adds up to a big donation. As part of marketing, Athletics may consider membership cards with some benefits attached (perhaps at local retailers) - or something to put in the hands of donors to give them some tangible evidence of belonging.
04-03-2022 01:19 PM
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Schaefer Beer Offline
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Post: #25
RE: facility upgrades
(04-03-2022 01:19 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  It’s a matter of “planting the seeds”. Athletics needs to fundraise and aggressively market it. They need to go after lower level donations - such as $25 or $50. And, most importantly, they need to make each of those donors feel very welcome and important. Doing that will plant the seeds. Having experienced donating, these new donors may very well donate again and even at higher amounts. Plus, Athletics will be able to add them to their donor rolls which looks good. Again, many people donating smaller amounts adds up to a big donation. As part of marketing, Athletics may consider membership cards with some benefits attached (perhaps at local retailers) - or something to put in the hands of donors to give them some tangible evidence of belonging.
Put something in their hands? Maybe a hot dog when they go to a sporting event at NIU?
04-03-2022 01:36 PM
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Schaefer Beer Offline
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Post: #26
RE: facility upgrades
(04-03-2022 01:19 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  It’s a matter of “planting the seeds”. Athletics needs to fundraise and aggressively market it. They need to go after lower level donations - such as $25 or $50. And, most importantly, they need to make each of those donors feel very welcome and important. Doing that will plant the seeds. Having experienced donating, these new donors may very well donate again and even at higher amounts. Plus, Athletics will be able to add them to their donor rolls which looks good. Again, many people donating smaller amounts adds up to a big donation. As part of marketing, Athletics may consider membership cards with some benefits attached (perhaps at local retailers) - or something to put in the hands of donors to give them some tangible evidence of belonging.

Put something in their hands? Maybe a hot dog when they go to a sporting event at NIU?
04-03-2022 01:37 PM
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Dog Fan Offline
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Post: #27
facility upgrades
(04-03-2022 01:37 PM)Schaefer Beer Wrote:  
(04-03-2022 01:19 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  It’s a matter of “planting the seeds”. Athletics needs to fundraise and aggressively market it. They need to go after lower level donations - such as $25 or $50. And, most importantly, they need to make each of those donors feel very welcome and important. Doing that will plant the seeds. Having experienced donating, these new donors may very well donate again and even at higher amounts. Plus, Athletics will be able to add them to their donor rolls which looks good. Again, many people donating smaller amounts adds up to a big donation. As part of marketing, Athletics may consider membership cards with some benefits attached (perhaps at local retailers) - or something to put in the hands of donors to give them some tangible evidence of belonging.

Put something in their hands? Maybe a hot dog when they go to a sporting event at NIU?


Sure! What’s wrong with coupons for free hot dogs? And, it wouldn’t cost them a penny because they never have hot dogs in stock.
04-03-2022 02:09 PM
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Schaefer Beer Offline
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Post: #28
RE: facility upgrades
(04-03-2022 02:09 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  
(04-03-2022 01:37 PM)Schaefer Beer Wrote:  
(04-03-2022 01:19 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  It’s a matter of “planting the seeds”. Athletics needs to fundraise and aggressively market it. They need to go after lower level donations - such as $25 or $50. And, most importantly, they need to make each of those donors feel very welcome and important. Doing that will plant the seeds. Having experienced donating, these new donors may very well donate again and even at higher amounts. Plus, Athletics will be able to add them to their donor rolls which looks good. Again, many people donating smaller amounts adds up to a big donation. As part of marketing, Athletics may consider membership cards with some benefits attached (perhaps at local retailers) - or something to put in the hands of donors to give them some tangible evidence of belonging.

Put something in their hands? Maybe a hot dog when they go to a sporting event at NIU?


Sure! What’s wrong with coupons for free hot dogs? And, it wouldn’t cost them a penny because they never have hot dogs in stock.

"We ran out of hot dogs, but here is a coupon for a free hot dog when you come to a NIU sporting event. We laminated the coupon because there is a good chance that we already ran out of hot dogs when you try to redeem the coupon."
04-03-2022 02:39 PM
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randyfensfanclub1 Offline
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Post: #29
RE: facility upgrades
(04-03-2022 01:19 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  It’s a matter of “planting the seeds”. Athletics needs to fundraise and aggressively market it. They need to go after lower level donations - such as $25 or $50. And, most importantly, they need to make each of those donors feel very welcome and important. Doing that will plant the seeds. Having experienced donating, these new donors may very well donate again and even at higher amounts. Plus, Athletics will be able to add them to their donor rolls which looks good. Again, many people donating smaller amounts adds up to a big donation. As part of marketing, Athletics may consider membership cards with some benefits attached (perhaps at local retailers) - or something to put in the hands of donors to give them some tangible evidence of belonging.

IMO, worthless. The cost of contacting, maintaining is not worth it. On top of they don't have the man power. Your person who would donate $25-50 would have already. They wouldn't need to be contacted.

Bare minimum is $100. STF era entertained them a while, then put the $300 in hope of getting those people to up as that level of bonuses.

Now, if you want to say mass market and offer something one time (which is kinda what I just explained) for $100.....$300 levels, fine. Maybe 2 tickets to a game....4. And honestly, perhaps donating $1000 you get free season tickets. But I am sure there is some NCAA rule against that.Do they still do license plate holder? Sticker....hat...shirt maybe? Maybe have some signup bonus at games?

Again, I just don't think these small donors add up to enough $spent to get 1/25....50 on board. And again, I also think they would have already. If anything, target grads year one maybe and go from there. But alumni 5....10 years removed, not seeing it.
(This post was last modified: 04-03-2022 02:48 PM by randyfensfanclub1.)
04-03-2022 02:47 PM
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Post: #30
RE: facility upgrades
(04-03-2022 02:47 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  
(04-03-2022 01:19 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  It’s a matter of “planting the seeds”. Athletics needs to fundraise and aggressively market it. They need to go after lower level donations - such as $25 or $50. And, most importantly, they need to make each of those donors feel very welcome and important. Doing that will plant the seeds. Having experienced donating, these new donors may very well donate again and even at higher amounts. Plus, Athletics will be able to add them to their donor rolls which looks good. Again, many people donating smaller amounts adds up to a big donation. As part of marketing, Athletics may consider membership cards with some benefits attached (perhaps at local retailers) - or something to put in the hands of donors to give them some tangible evidence of belonging.

IMO, worthless. The cost of contacting, maintaining is not worth it. On top of they don't have the man power. Your person who would donate $25-50 would have already. They wouldn't need to be contacted.

Bare minimum is $100. STF era entertained them a while, then put the $300 in hope of getting those people to up as that level of bonuses.

Now, if you want to say mass market and offer something one time (which is kinda what I just explained) for $100.....$300 levels, fine. Maybe 2 tickets to a game....4. And honestly, perhaps donating $1000 you get free season tickets. But I am sure there is some NCAA rule against that.Do they still do license plate holder? Sticker....hat...shirt maybe? Maybe have some signup bonus at games?

Again, I just don't think these small donors add up to enough $spent to get 1/25....50 on board. And again, I also think they would have already. If anything, target grads year one maybe and go from there. But alumni 5....10 years removed, not seeing it.

Problem with your last statement is that the median debt amongst students who graduate from northern is 22k. Nobody in their right mind would donate that money when it could go towards debt repayment.
04-03-2022 03:43 PM
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pvk75 Offline
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Post: #31
RE: facility upgrades
One thing is being missed here ...NIU DOES NOT TRY. We DO know that the small-amount donors NIU had are/got tired of being ignored. But when was the last time Athletics went after the small-amount donors? When was the last mass marketing campaign? You can't say it doesn't/won't work because we don't know.

Instead of grousing and making jokes about hot dogs ... THINK.

It will take time time, but NIU has got to get out there! Wave the flag. Show the face. Let the kids pet the dog.

Thirty miles to the east is a chain of towns north-south along the Fox River, and every one of them has a summer festival of some kind. E.g. "Swedish Days" in Geneva is humongous and runs for several days, like DeKalb's corn fest. Does NIU even have a presence at these events?

Then there's the Mid-American Canoe and Kayak Race on the Fox, which runs six miles from St. Charles to Aurora. I think it's in June (cancelled due to high water, then Covid) and has run 59 times/years. Sponsored by the Fox Valley Park District. NIU has a canoe instruction and rental program in the recreation department (which is now under Athletics). Get a team out there in a canoe plastered with NIU logos and compete. That event draws thousands along the riverbanks to watch.

Then there's support for community benefits/events. Last year NIU failed to connect with the Illinois Lyons car show/eye care fundraiser the same day as the Wyoming game. But did NIU even have a presence there?

NIU had got to stop taking it for granted that everybody knows it's there. There are a lot of low-cost events to be at. Try being part of the communities instead of waiting for people to come to you. Show the face. Wave the flag.

And don't say "well I'm sure NIU already does that." No, we're not sure.

Btw: Has Athletics been in contact with the Illinois Lyons about their next car show? Maybe the same Saturday as the EIU game? Just askin'.
(This post was last modified: 04-03-2022 05:59 PM by pvk75.)
04-03-2022 05:45 PM
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pantone1935 Offline
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Post: #32
RE: facility upgrades
Maybe I am senile, but what do car shows have anything to do with getting alumni football fans to come to Huskie stadium. Car geeks are polar opposites from football
fans.

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
04-03-2022 06:41 PM
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randyfensfanclub1 Offline
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Post: #33
RE: facility upgrades
(04-03-2022 03:43 PM)dogdangit Wrote:  
(04-03-2022 02:47 PM)randyfensfanclub1 Wrote:  
(04-03-2022 01:19 PM)Dog Fan Wrote:  It’s a matter of “planting the seeds”. Athletics needs to fundraise and aggressively market it. They need to go after lower level donations - such as $25 or $50. And, most importantly, they need to make each of those donors feel very welcome and important. Doing that will plant the seeds. Having experienced donating, these new donors may very well donate again and even at higher amounts. Plus, Athletics will be able to add them to their donor rolls which looks good. Again, many people donating smaller amounts adds up to a big donation. As part of marketing, Athletics may consider membership cards with some benefits attached (perhaps at local retailers) - or something to put in the hands of donors to give them some tangible evidence of belonging.

IMO, worthless. The cost of contacting, maintaining is not worth it. On top of they don't have the man power. Your person who would donate $25-50 would have already. They wouldn't need to be contacted.

Bare minimum is $100. STF era entertained them a while, then put the $300 in hope of getting those people to up as that level of bonuses.

Now, if you want to say mass market and offer something one time (which is kinda what I just explained) for $100.....$300 levels, fine. Maybe 2 tickets to a game....4. And honestly, perhaps donating $1000 you get free season tickets. But I am sure there is some NCAA rule against that.Do they still do license plate holder? Sticker....hat...shirt maybe? Maybe have some signup bonus at games?

Again, I just don't think these small donors add up to enough $spent to get 1/25....50 on board. And again, I also think they would have already. If anything, target grads year one maybe and go from there. But alumni 5....10 years removed, not seeing it.

Problem with your last statement is that the median debt amongst students who graduate from northern is 22k. Nobody in their right mind would donate that money when it could go towards debt repayment.

It's not targeting for thousands from elite. It's to keep them involved. It's like paying alumni dues. Odds are after a few years, the schools is out of their mind, especially females.

But to your point, while these people are who you want to target small in hopes of keeping interest, til they have $, odds are again you are likely wasting time, resources targeting them.

And demographics, changing demographics of students has some to do with it. Albeit as I have said, I know plenty of suburbonites with cash that will go out ans spend $1000 on a grill, take a $2000 trip and not consider donating a penny.
(This post was last modified: 04-03-2022 07:03 PM by randyfensfanclub1.)
04-03-2022 07:01 PM
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pvk75 Offline
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Post: #34
RE: facility upgrades
(04-03-2022 06:41 PM)pantone1935 Wrote:  Maybe I am senile, but what do car shows have anything to do with getting alumni football fans to come to Huskie stadium. Car geeks are polar opposites from football
fans.

GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not about the damn car show. It's about being involved and staying connected. American love cars, so a car show draws people. People who come to see the cars and maybe contribute to the cause. Some people who may also go to the football game. People who get off their butts and don't sit around all day posting whines and moans and complaints.

All the negative comments on this thread are about we can't, waste of time, don't bother, it won't work. I did some myself. But if that's going to stick as the general attitude, ok then, shut the whole damn thing down and stay home. Save your money. Give up. But don't brag about The Hard Way because it's all Hard Way.

What NIU has going right now isn't much, but it's something. STF came in here with that Wisconsin Big 10 attitude, launched a big splash over a whoopee master plan and ... nothing. He DID try after the Orange Bowl era and ... nothing. Reality set in, and now we're down to dinky projects, a little here and a little there. OK. That's the way it is.

OK, so here's a new master plan. We're getting on with the baseball field infield, the new tennis center, some fix-up at the softball field. OK, what's next? Fix the seats in the Convo? Patch the Convo parking lot? Tell us the specific targets and let's go after it. But tell us. Don't play secrets.

Somebody once said about authors that every one wants to write "the great American potboiler" novel. But what if the real novel is the sum total of all the little stories along the way? Each little story is a step forward? Each one is progress people can see, and it's always going on, dinky project after dinky project.

Take baseball. First it's the infield artificial turf. Then the outfield. Then the pressbox. Then the grandstand. Voila! You got a new baseball stadium.

That may not be the way other schools do it, but it may be the way NIU has to do it. So what?

(Note: not picking on you pantone1935. Much respect. Just getting depressed and tired. Maybe I'm the one who should hang it up. take a hiatus, something.)
(This post was last modified: 04-03-2022 08:04 PM by pvk75.)
04-03-2022 07:56 PM
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randyfensfanclub1 Offline
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Post: #35
RE: facility upgrades
(04-03-2022 07:56 PM)pvk75 Wrote:  
(04-03-2022 06:41 PM)pantone1935 Wrote:  Maybe I am senile, but what do car shows have anything to do with getting alumni football fans to come to Huskie stadium. Car geeks are polar opposites from football
fans.


GO HUSKIES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

It's not about the damn car show.
It's about being involved and staying connected. American love cars, so a car show draws people. People who come to see the cars and maybe contribute to the cause. Some people who may also go to the football game. People who get off their butts and don't sit around all day posting whines and moans and complaints.

All the negative comments on this thread are about we can't, waste of time, don't bother, it won't work. I did some myself. But if that's going to stick as the general attitude, ok then, shut the whole damn thing down and stay home. Save your money. Give up. But don't brag about The Hard Way because it's all Hard Way.

What NIU has going right now isn't much, but it's something. STF came in here with that Wisconsin Big 10 attitude, launched a big splash over a whoopee master plan and ... nothing. He DID try after the Orange Bowl era and ... nothing. Reality set in, and now we're down to dinky projects, a little here and a little there. OK. That's the way it is.

OK, so here's a new master plan. We're getting on with the baseball field infield, the new tennis center, some fix-up at the softball field. OK, what's next? Fix the seats in the Convo? Patch the Convo parking lot? Tell us the specific targets and let's go after it. But tell us. Don't play secrets.

Somebody once said about authors that every one wants to write "the great American potboiler" novel. But what if the real novel is the sum total of all the little stories along the way? Each little story is a step forward? Each one is progress people can see, and it's always going on, dinky project after dinky project.

Take baseball. First it's the infield artificial turf. Then the outfield. Then the pressbox. Then the grandstand. Voila! You got a new baseball stadium.

That may not be the way other schools do it, but it may be the way NIU has to do it. So what?

(Note: not picking on you pantone1935. Much respect. Just getting depressed and tired. Maybe I'm the one who should hang it up. take a hiatus, something.)

Yes it is actually.

You are going to go to a car show, open a booth that says donate to NIU? The best you could do is appeal to buy single game, season tickets and give stuff out. Like one time codes to get free tickets. If alumni aren't handing over money, we think people at a car should would just because of sheer numbers? Have you ever seen a booth anywhere of a school asking for donations?

The biggest reason there was no increase in revenue after the Orange Bowl?

Not appearing in another P5 game.

It's not negativity. It's reality.
04-03-2022 09:43 PM
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pvk75 Offline
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Post: #36
RE: facility upgrades
I wasn't talking about being IN the car show with a booth or whatever. I was talking about HOSTING it in the Convo parking lot, which would draw from the football crowd and also might draw some show crowd to the game. (It was held by the local airport, opposite side of town). I suggested that right after the Wyoming game and got a good response. My bet now is it will never be tried. Negativity + short memory trumps even the least idea.

But the bulk of my post was about today's reality of getting small projects done that add up to what a "whale" donor could do for NIU.

As to the reason why the 2014-15 (more '15 than '14) master plan did not result in what STF thought it would, that plan was too much too late after NIU did not secure a second BCS bowl bid, which it missed by having a great 2013 season but losing the MACC. There was heightened interest in NIU after the January 2013 Orange Bowl, but it faded quickly because of the MACC loss, loss to Utah State in the Poinsettia Bowl, AND no effort for almost two years to capitalize. By then the ennui that is typical NIU settled in once again. And NIU isn't Wisconsin.

Anyway, except for waving my cane and shouting "get off the lawn," napping is my new hobby (no lurking). All this Hard Way enthusiasm is too tiring.
(This post was last modified: 04-04-2022 12:44 PM by pvk75.)
04-04-2022 12:41 PM
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uiniu57 Offline
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Post: #37
RE: facility upgrades
For those people misunderstanding pvk75 citing a car show tie-in as an example, they clearly weren't around or don't recall when Tekla Martin was involved in athletics and got her motorcycle friends to come for a game. Were these leather-clad folks all interested in Huskie football, or did she convince them to incorporate "a weekend ride" with coming to DeKalb and NIU?
Believe the bottom line here is that an effort for some sort of marketing at least be tried. Is everything going to be a hit? NO. But it's like the coaching adage: "you miss 100% of the shots you don't attempt."
04-04-2022 04:53 PM
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randyfensfanclub1 Offline
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Post: #38
RE: facility upgrades
(04-04-2022 04:53 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  For those people misunderstanding pvk75 citing a car show tie-in as an example, they clearly weren't around or don't recall when Tekla Martin was involved in athletics and got her motorcycle friends to come for a game. Were these leather-clad folks all interested in Huskie football, or did she convince them to incorporate "a weekend ride" with coming to DeKalb and NIU?
Believe the bottom line here is that an effort for some sort of marketing at least be tried. Is everything going to be a hit? NO. But it's like the coaching adage: "you miss 100% of the shots you don't attempt."

And what decade, administration was this? Are we talking 100's of athletic donations brought in yearly?
(This post was last modified: 04-04-2022 08:32 PM by randyfensfanclub1.)
04-04-2022 08:30 PM
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Schaefer Beer Offline
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Post: #39
RE: facility upgrades
(04-04-2022 04:53 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  For those people misunderstanding pvk75 citing a car show tie-in as an example, they clearly weren't around or don't recall when Tekla Martin was involved in athletics and got her motorcycle friends to come for a game. Were these leather-clad folks all interested in Huskie football, or did she convince them to incorporate "a weekend ride" with coming to DeKalb and NIU?
Believe the bottom line here is that an effort for some sort of marketing at least be tried. Is everything going to be a hit? NO. But it's like the coaching adage: "you miss 100% of the shots you don't attempt."

Hey DF, maybe you and your leather-clad friends can have a Paperback Grotto Reunion day at a Huskie game.

Seriously, not a bad idea. The Cubs and Sox have Shriners Day or Kiwanis Day to boost their attendances. Clearly NIU student day have not been working to boost attendance.
04-04-2022 11:31 PM
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Dog Fan Offline
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Post: #40
RE: facility upgrades
(04-04-2022 11:31 PM)Schaefer Beer Wrote:  
(04-04-2022 04:53 PM)uiniu57 Wrote:  For those people misunderstanding pvk75 citing a car show tie-in as an example, they clearly weren't around or don't recall when Tekla Martin was involved in athletics and got her motorcycle friends to come for a game. Were these leather-clad folks all interested in Huskie football, or did she convince them to incorporate "a weekend ride" with coming to DeKalb and NIU?
Believe the bottom line here is that an effort for some sort of marketing at least be tried. Is everything going to be a hit? NO. But it's like the coaching adage: "you miss 100% of the shots you don't attempt."

Hey DF, maybe you and your leather-clad friends can have a Paperback Grotto Reunion day at a Huskie game.

Seriously, not a bad idea. The Cubs and Sox have Shriners Day or Kiwanis Day to boost their attendances. Clearly NIU student day have not been working to boost attendance.

I really like this idea. "Paperback Grotto Reunion Day - First Come, First Served". I'd get the old crew there to volunteer. We would give out free souvenir pocket rockets at the Toledo game to the first 15,000 fans through the doors (and you know there would be well over 15,000 fans there). We could sell Deep Throat dogs at the concessions stands - a footlong (of course!) wiener implanted in a moist and sensual bun. In the spirit of DEI, we could have both white and dark rye buns (for those with preferences). Bathrooms would have erotic posters on the walls for those who would like to stay in there longer and enjoy them. We would have booths on the main concourse levels showing erotic films - free (no quarters needed). Damn, this could really work!! 04-jawdrop 02-13-banana
04-05-2022 07:41 AM
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