Observations on and reiterations of issues with attendance.

[NWLB]

Attendance: TV blackouts are not an answer. Not everybody who wants to go, can go. I was later than I wanted to be getting there, and the things I saw made me seriously wonder if I had gotten the start time wrong. I saw lots of BG students downtown, at the Frat houses, and an alarming number of people walking away from the stadium, as I approached. So many were leaving, I honestly thought something had gone horribly wrong. Gripe if you will, but many of us used to note the 12 pm. games sucked long ago. The students DON'T get up before 12, and you can hate it all day long, but it is a hard and fast reality, which no amount of marketing and brow beating will change. At noon on Saturday's the students are walking to the dining halls in their PJs, before sitting in a TV lounge to watch football.

I choose to see the cup half full, not half empty. I see a need for lasting change, not short-term, one game, marketing stunts.

A BGSU home game weekend must be a valued added experience which spans beyond the game and appeals to a wide range of groups. The result of this experience must be such, that people desire to return more than once in a given year, without having to have tons of marketing spent on doing so. The full weight of the University must be thrown into making every football home game a showcase for BGSU, which starts the night before, and ends the morning after.

Different specific groups must be identified and their wants and needs defined. Singles, parents of younger kids, married alumni without kids, locals, etc.

Homecoming must be re-conceptualized to spread the alumni celebration of BGSU over the entire season, focusing on a different segment each game, with an eye on specifically drawing them in large numbers.

The City might gain from working to develop an integrated effort to both boost football, and local stores, bars, eateries, and hotels.

A high concept needs to be developed and guiding things.

[rollalongFF0304]

Different specific groups must be identified and their wants and needs defined. Singles, parents of younger kids, married alumni without kids, locals, etc.

Ooh they could have a singles game with a mixer dance at the ice arena lounge afterwards!

[NWLB]

As silly as it might sound, that would work.

I mean, the point with the singles idea, isn't so much to promote it as a giant dating game, but imply its a good weekend to meet unhitched BG grads.

You can package it as you will, never even mention the word "single." The idea is to have events that appeal to the single types in particular.

Really this is in the context of spreading the same kind of intense homecoming effort out, over the entire season. So staff isn't as totally overwhelmed as they are trying to run around to a dozen events, with the alumni board in town, etc. Plus the University at large must back the efforts.

There is a lot outside of homecoming style events to focus on. The idea is to create a critical mass of things to do, for all age groups we want to attract, that makes going to BG on any game weekend THE thing to do. Something that makes people put our home games on the calendar in advance, to make the kind of plans you don't break. It makes going to BGSU a habit, which is the idea.

[Falconboy]

The only way we might get high and consistent attendance is too clone the Falcon Freak family about 15,000 times. Saw the family at AZZ tent at the game and you guys are one rowdy bunch, wow. If only more fans were like you. We have to figure out a way to clone you guys.

GO BG!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! CRUSH THE ROCKETTES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Class of 61]

Attendance:

I choose to see the cup half full, not half empty. I see a need for lasting change, not short-term, one game, marketing stunts.

A BGSU home game weekend must be a valued added experience which spans beyond the game and appeals to a wide range of groups. The result of this experience must be such, that people desire to return more than once in a given year, without having to have tons of marketing spent on doing so. The full weight of the University must be thrown into making every football home game a showcase for BGSU, which starts the night before, and ends the morning after.

Different specific groups must be identified and their wants and needs defined. Singles, parents of younger kids, married alumni without kids, locals, etc.

Homecoming must be re-conceptualized to spread the alumni celebration of BGSU over the entire season, focusing on a different segment each game, with an eye on specifically drawing them in large numbers.

The City might gain from working to develop an integrated effort to both boost football, and local stores, bars, eateries, and hotels.

A high concept needs to be developed and guiding things.

NWLB:
I've proposed to the Cleve. alum. chapter that they consider a bus trip to BG for a game each fall....if EACH area alum group did this, it could some lasting impact... Many years ago, when a frankly "older" group was in charge of the Cleve. Chapter, they used to set up a basketball/hockey doubleheader trip... bus left W.side of Cleve., got to see a bball game, had a meal at the Ice arena lounge with a "meet the coach" session, then followed by the hockey game... Bus brought everyone back to W.side Shopping mall... made it easier to travel and a lot of socializing on the way. Big thing is that if they targeted FB game and we could add 50-60 people from each chapter to the crowd, we could "bring them back" into the fold so to speak..... Just received a reminder about the Watch Party they're having at Winking Lizard in Independence...I responded with fact that I plan to go see the game IN PERSON, not watch in a bar.... admittedly, people who have to work on Wed. would have a problem this year, but if they were bused to/from game, could 'catnap' on way home.