Marketing idea to increase attendance

[gmartin]

I wasn't sure which forum to place this in because this is for football, basketball and hockey. I was watching several basketball games last night and on two seperate broadcasts, Kent State and Western Michigan, they each mentioned how they were giving away free tickets to put butts in the seats as students were on Spring break. Kent State was giving away 4 tickets to all season ticket holders. Western gave away tickets to parents of students. So it got me thinking. What could BG do to increase its fan base.

BG only had 3 football games over the last 2 years to draw over 50% capacity. Men's basketball had 2 games over last 2 years to draw over 2500 fans. That's 4 games out of 39 games that we had more than half filled stadium/arena. That's about 10 percent. Here is my idea.

Every August we welcome 4000 new students to the university. Each freshman has orientation and during that orientation is given a packet. How about as a university that we give a packet to the parents of these incoming freshman. In each parent packet are vouchers for 2 tickets of their choice of any game except Toledo. Each students parents would receive 2 ticket vouchers for a football, basketball (men's and womens), and hockey game of their choice. 8 ticket vouchers total. These would be GA seats only, unless they wanted to pay an upgrade to reserve seats. Also in this packet include a voucher for discounts to hotels and restaurants in the area. Let's give the parents an incentive to come back to BG other than just parents day. The stadium/arena is only half full anyways so why not hand out free ticket vouchers to try and increase attendance and build up our fan base. Many of our students are within 90 minutes of campus. If you get their parents to one game they may enjoy themselves and come back for another game. It's time our marketing gets more creative and this is my idea. Thoughts?

[MarkL]

Send it to the AD or marketing. I think it is a great idea - give parents a good first fan experience and you might have new fans for life.

[Redwingtom]

1. Win.
2. Put games at times and on days when people want them.
3. Stop showing games for free online.
/thread

[FalconTurf]

LOVE the idea - it might take some resources to get a person to direct such an initiative but would be well worth it. Businesses might even kick in to buy a block of group tickets every weekend specifically for this purpose with coupons/discounts attached. This really should be a university initiative with athletics, arts and every other activity on campus that might attract a student's family open for free to create loyalty for the whole family with a hungry business community looking to capitalize on the opportunity.

[FalconTurf]

1. Win.
2. Put games at times and on days when people want them.
3. Stop showing games for free online.
/thread

When the football team won their last 2 championships there wasn't a game in which fewer than 4,000 seats sat empty. The last regular season men's basketball regular season championship had average attendance below 2,500 in AA. Why wait to win to fill the venues because I'm not convinced there will be consistent sell outs then either. Fill the venues any time, any way you can and never fret that it might sell out.

[Bassdrummin]

I like your idea, I think short term that that idea could have an impact. I think the only way you keep those parents involved is by winning Or by having an entertaining product , which would be nice. Long term, I've done a lot of thinking on the subject and if you look around on this board you'll notice one major commonality between all of us. At some point when we attended BGSU and we got emotionally invested into a sports team on campus. In my case, it was because I was in the FMB. I believe that the key to building a better base lives and dies with the current students at Bowling Green. Get campus organizations involved in the game, get them engaged emotionally, and later down the road they'll bring their families to the game… whether the team is good or bad. That's my two cents

[kdog27]

1. Win.
2. Put games at times and on days when people want them.
3. Stop showing games for free online.
/thread

Have you ever listened to those commentators?

Not paying for that s**t

[Class of 61]

FWIW,

I've suggested SEVERAL TIMES to BG alum dept. to sponsor a special alum. Deal outside of HC. Many yrs ago, the CLE chapter sponsored a bus back to campus for a baskerball-hockey double header. The bus was filled. We didn't have to worry about driving, got home shortly after mid nite. We even had a small meal at ice arena, w/ meet the coaches.

I proposed something similar but bring in 4 or 5 of larger alum chapters to build a better crowd etc.
The reaction was... "Great idea! Who'll do it?" I even volunteered to help out. Its as far the idea got.
Perhaps your idea will get a better and more active, positive response. I think it makes a lot of sense.

[Class of 61]

FWIW, oops ! Sorry for double post

I've suggested SEVERAL TIMES to BG alum dept. to sponsor a special alum. Deal outside of HC. Many yrs ago, the CLE chapter sponsored a bus back to campus for a baskerball-hockey double header. The bus was filled. We didn't have to worry about driving, got home shortly after mid nite. We even had a small meal at ice arena, w/ meet the coaches.

I proposed something similar but bring in 4 or 5 of larger alum chapters to build a better crowd etc.
The reaction was... "Great idea! Who'll do it?" I even volunteered to help out. Its as far the idea got.
Perhaps your idea will get a better and more active, positive response. I think it makes a lot of sense.

[gmartin]

Its ok 61!! You liked my idea so well you had to double post. I mean we have our arenas half empty so why not hand out tickets to parents of incoming freshman to each major sport. Let them decide what game to attend. Give them an incentive to come back other than HC or parents weekend. Get a discounted hotel rate and a nice meal. Everyone wins and you get the parents involved.

[Tech2000]

What do you all think about the purchase of one reasonably priced season ticket that was for all sports?

[footballguy51]

I think a lot of these ideas should be presented. We have a new-ish AD who is known for fund raising. Anything that will get butts in the seats he should be receptive to, I would expect.

[factman]

What do you all think about the purchase of one reasonably priced season ticket that was for all sports?

[factman]

What do you all think about the purchase of one reasonably priced season ticket that was for all sports?

. .........as long it is general admission only and ENFORCED!

[Orange Fuzz]

What do you all think about the purchase of one reasonably priced season ticket that was for all sports?

. .........as long it is general admission only and ENFORCED!

I spoke with one of the ticket office guys (Michael I think it was) earlier this year at a hockey game and he said they offer a "Flex Plan" which was 10 ticket vouchers for any sport for $90. That sounds like something that would be useful for out of town parents who can only attend a handful of games a year.