Could we market athletics to Rose students?

[treeman]

So this summer I have been working with a current Rose-Hulman student and we've been talking about Terre Haute and what not. I asked if he had ever been to an ISU basketball game and he answered "no" (he is a sports guy too). So it got me thinking "Is there a way to market our athletics to Rose students?"

I realize that first and foremost that Rose students first allegiance should be to Rose-Hulman, whether it be go to their athletic events, donations, parties, or any other school sanctioned function. But if you are a sports fan at Rose-Hulman, I'd assume that you are going to be a fan of a D1 school...Why not cheer for a school that is 5 miles down the road? Why not offer promos for Rose students to come over to ISU games with $5 tickets are something?

I don't know if it would be "pissing in Rose-Hulman's bush" or anything. But it seems like there is a market right next to ISU. With a lot of males on campus and a lot of $$$ with it being a prestigious small private school. It seems like a great doorway to help build ISU's fanbase as well as creating Terre Haute into a lively college town.

It's just a thought and i'm sure there are some "good neighbor" unwritten rules that ISU has with Rose. But if the relationship is mutual it could be a good thing.

 

[bent20]

Sure, but I think we first need to solve the challenge of getting our own students to come to the games.

 

[Sycamore Proud]

So this summer I have been working with a current Rose-Hulman student and we've been talking about Terre Haute and what not. I asked if he had ever been to an ISU basketball game and he answered "no" (he is a sports guy too). So it got me thinking "Is there a way to market our athletics to Rose students?" [/U][/U][/U]

I realize that first and foremost that Rose students first allegiance should be to Rose-Hulman, whether it be go to their athletic events, donations, parties, or any other school sanctioned function. But if you are a sports fan at Rose-Hulman, I'd assume that you are going to be a fan of a D1 school...Why not cheer for a school that is 5 miles down the road? Why not offer promos for Rose students to come over to ISU games with $5 tickets are something?

I don't know if it would be "pissing in Rose-Hulman's bush" or anything. But it seems like there is a market right next to ISU. With a lot of males on campus and a lot of $$$ with it being a prestigious small private school. It seems like a great doorway to help build ISU's fanbase as well as creating Terre Haute into a lively college town.

It's just a thought and i'm sure there are some "good neighbor" unwritten rules that ISU has with Rose. But if the relationship is mutual it could be a good thing.

This absolutely has to start at home. There is no expectation to excite RH students about our athletics when we can't get our own students involved. [/

Good question! However I believe the answer is that they will follow a school that they have some allegiance to or a P5 school.

"Mutual relationship--do you really believe that ISU students are going to attend and support RH activities?


My respo0nce here is not only my beliefs. I have a nephew who is a senior at RH. I have a former student/friend who was a 4 year athlete at RH. Their feelings are included in my remarks. I did not contact other former students who attended RH.

This might very well work, but I have my doubts. Doesn't seem like anything else has worked for our attendance. Who knows?

 

[SycamoreStateofMind]

It's a creative thought but probably not going to have much a return...

As has been already stated above - we can't get our own students to come to games let alone someone elses students. I see no reason why you could offer a student id discount. Any non ISU college student that presents a student ID gets a $5 ticket or something... Why just solicit Rose. Your more likely to pull in Ivy Tech students who often transfer credits to ISU and have no athletic affiliation.