Attendance problem with local D1 college ...

• Heretic

  

  Pick6;904386 wrote:1. The number one and most important reason people don't come to the game is because the team sucks. Nobody wants to pay to see a team get blown out every game. Winning fills the stands, just go to a soccer of mens basketball game.
  
  Bottom Line: Even though its obvious, winning games, or at least being competitive will sell tickets.

  In the mid-90s when I was at THE Ohio U., this was very true there. Football games tended to be ghost towns. In four years, I think I could count all the ones I attended on one hand. One finger if you only count ones I was sober when I went. Basketball with Gary Trent, on the other hand...the Convo was packed on a regular basis.
  
  In other words, walk into that meeting and say, "If your team didn't fucking suck dick, you'd have better attendance. Do something about that, assface!" And then demand payment.
• LJ

  

  Starting with an alumni event would definitely be the place to start. Have a tent with food and beverages before and after the game for alumni. Have it be say for $20 you get a ticket to the game and alumni event. Make a VIP tent then with better food and drink that is say $75 per ticket. It gives the alumni a place to hobnob with other alumni and it becomes a social event. Do this every game, and obviously ramp up the quality for homecoming.
  
  Then after that money starts coming in, use it for gameday promotions to start getting students to the games.
• OSH

  

  Drop the program. It's beyond repair.
  
  Or put the money into it. You can't boost attendance to a program that is terrible and no one cares about. Nor can you boost attendance if you don't invest something into it -- money, local talent, events, fun, freebies, etc.
• Pick6

  

  OSH;904479 wrote:Drop the program. It's beyond repair.
  
  Or put the money into it. You can't boost attendance to a program that is terrible and no one cares about. Nor can you boost attendance if you don't invest something into it -- money, local talent, events, fun, freebies, etc.

  I dont think money is a problem for the university of akron. There are new buildings going up all the time.
  Not to mention a brand new football stadium, that is only in its 3rd season of use.
• ts1227

  

  What is a problem is that everyone leaves town on Friday afternoon.
• O-Trap

  

  Pick6;904554 wrote:I dont think money is a problem for the university of akron. There are new buildings going up all the time.
  Not to mention a brand new football stadium, that is only in its 3rd season of use.

  We brought up the winning thing, but then someone mentioned the Aeros. Not exactly a team you go see only when they're good. Losing Aeros teams still draw crowds.
  
  The football stadium was built with a lot of money that had been donated to that specific project.
• Pick6

  

  O-Trap;904608 wrote:We brought up the winning thing, but then someone mentioned the Aeros. Not exactly a team you go see only when they're good. Losing Aeros teams still draw crowds.
  
  The football stadium was built with a lot of money that had been donated to that specific project.

  by doing a quick search..the latest year I could find for attendance was 08. They averaged about 5100 a game. The stadium holds a little over 9000. Ranked 7th out of 12th in attendance in their league. They finished second in their league that year. I dont think that is that great, but Im not into baseball at all,so I really wouldnt know.
  
  The Aeros also do promotions such as fan appreciation day and have education days for kids. Pretty sure they have dollar beer nights as well. Little things like that will bring people to the games.
  
  Do you have attendance numbers for the Info?
• se-alum

  

  Like many have already said, it has to be an event, not just a football game. Alot working against you here, short time frame, noon game, shitty team, etc....
• OSH

  

  Pick6;904554 wrote:I dont think money is a problem for the university of akron. There are new buildings going up all the time.
  Not to mention a brand new football stadium, that is only in its 3rd season of use.

  I don't believe money is a problem with Akron either.
  
  But money could be an issue with the football team. You don't sink the money into the DI programs...you won't have much of a program. There's a reason why the top programs are the top programs...$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
  
  If they want more out of their football program, put more money into it or settle for being par or sub-par.
  
  EDIT: I guess I should say "resources" instead of money. Using "resources" may be better than money at times.
• I Wear Pants

  karen lotz;904351 wrote:Bouncy castles in the tailgating lots.

  Had these at YSU on Saturday. I was stuck in class whilst others were merrily bouncing away and drinking.
• OneBuckeye

  

  Only way I would go to an Akron game. (I live in Akron)
  
  1. Must have tailgating
  2. Must allow open containers and sell booze at the stadium.
  3. Must not interfere with Ohio State game.
  4. Bus to take my drunk ass home. (Shuttles to fairlawn, cuyahoga falls, etc)
• BigAppleBuckeye

  

  Groupon deal for tickets? Offer a discount based on a large group of folks buying a block of tickets
• karen lotz

  

  BigAppleBuckeye;904646 wrote:Groupon deal for tickets? Offer a discount based on a large group of folks buying a block of tickets

  
  Worked for Boston College already this year.
  
  
  edit: I'm not actually sure if it worked or not, but BC did have tickets for sale through Groupon.
• 1_beast

  

  BRING IN GIBBY and CoA for the coin toss and to sing the Nat'l Anthem....
  
  Hope this helps
• ts1227

  

  BigAppleBuckeye;904646 wrote:Groupon deal for tickets? Offer a discount based on a large group of folks buying a block of tickets

  More cost effective to discount yourself, unless you plan to hit a home run with it. I found out from a business before that Groupon gets half of the money raised (which is usually at a 50% discount), so you only pocket 25% of your "regular" price point.
  
  So, one has to decide if the increased presence Groupon gives you is worth another 25% hit on revenue... or can you promote well enough on your own?
• thavoice

  This is year is the exception but the dayton dragons sell out and usually have crappy teams. They set a record for consecutive sellouts for any sport. When ya go to the dragons it isnst so much the game that most people go to....it has become 'the thing to do' in the dayton area. It really stuck when they got the team and new stadium and just has been that way so that is kinda like the Aero's
  
  
  Tough situation for ya there, no doubt.
  
  How about this....are there midget football teams in that area? If so, reach out to the leagues/coaches to them and have a midget football day where the players can get in for like 5 bucks or very cheap. Ya have a pregame thing where they get to walk down and around the field. I know at some NFL games they have midget football played on the field at the halftime (two 'games' at the same time...one on each end of teh field.).
  
  You get into the midget football arena and ya could get alot of players/adults going to the games, and once a kid goes and has fun he pesters the parents to come back.
  
  COuld also do something in conjunction with local HS's....go into there and offer discount tickets through the schools for that day in working with the AD's.
  
  Granted..some of those individuals may have games those days but it cant hurt to try.
• dave

  thavoice;904685 wrote:This is year is the exception but the dayton dragons sell out and usually have crappy teams. They set a record for consecutive sellouts for any sport. When ya go to the dragons it isnst so much the game that most people go to....it has become 'the thing to do' in the dayton area. It really stuck when they got the team and new stadium and just has been that way so that is kinda like the Aero's
  
  
  Tough situation for ya there, no doubt.
  
  How about this....are there midget football teams in that area? If so, reach out to the leagues/coaches to them and have a midget football day where the players can get in for like 5 bucks or very cheap. Ya have a pregame thing where they get to walk down and around the field. I know at some NFL games they have midget football played on the field at the halftime (two 'games' at the same time...one on each end of teh field.).
  
  You get into the midget football arena and ya could get alot of players/adults going to the games, and once a kid goes and has fun he pesters the parents to come back.
  
  COuld also do something in conjunction with local HS's....go into there and offer discount tickets through the schools for that day in working with the AD's.
  
  Granted..some of those individuals may have games those days but it cant hurt to try.

  I was going to mention the pee wee football idea. Even let those kids in for free. Maybe have 4 teams come, play 2 10min games between 2 teams. Obviously a band show will block this if you have a long one. If you can't do this, still offer free tickets to kids tell them to wear their jerseys. Then the parents have to buy tickets to come and you will get concessions/merch sales from the kids.
• superman

  Find a couple local Upward flag football leagues. Have an upward day. Anyone involved with the league gets in for $10. The upward players get to come on the field and form a tunnel. Most leagues have 300 to 400 kids, that should sell a couple thousand tickets if you find three or leagues.
• SportsAndLady

  

  ts1227;904357 wrote:OU has inflatables in the student tailgate, lol.

  I set those up my senior year...shit sucked, but that was a great job lol
• LJ

  

  ccrunner609;904843 wrote:offer free babysitting......people go for that stuff

  You would like that wouldn't you.....
  
  
  
  
  
  fuckin creep
• Cat Food Flambe'

  

  Topless cheerleaders?
• gerb131

  

  Extended halftime with Akron soccer game or a double header.
• Glory Days

  

  Cat Food Flambe';904864 wrote:Topless cheerleaders?

  clown porn auditions.
• dave

  It's too late for this season, but for next year you need to look at how Toledo does their fan plan. I know Akron football is no comparison to where Toledo is in terms of talent, schedule, or local support so you would have to charge much less. Toledo's was $59 for a season ticket, free parking, and something like a $20 voucher for food or merchandise. They aren't making much but they are banking on getting people in the door to make money inside. Toledo sold out this year, not sure of the number but I think somewhere around 10,000 fan plans were sold.
• krambman

  

  Change the name of the school to The Ohio State University.