Lack of attendence

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SycamoreinTexas

The All-American Level
According to my book for my Finance in Recreation and Sport Management class, here are the following reasons as why sport teams lose fans:
  • They include not feeling important, cost outweighs enjoyment, dirty facilities, boring food service, poor seating, inconvenient parking, no luxury seating, no picnic areas, no non-smoking areas, non non-drinking areas, no place to change the young children, no day care facilities, no playground for young children, souvenirs too expensive, no other entertainment but the game itself, team is not exciting, team fails to win consistently, and no opportunities to meet the players.
 

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Ways to increase audience

According to the book, here are ways to increase audience:

They are pre-event entertainment, youth games at half time, special group promotions, special rates for groups, giveaways, scheduling doubleheaders, reduced ticket fees, shoot-out contests at half time, event buses, special days, student athletes visiting schools as role models, clip-out coupons, radio giveaways to listeners (e.g. tickets), use of pep band at events, team color night (offer half-price admission to anyone dressed in team colors, and face-painting contest.
 
sycamores28 said:
According to my book for my Finance in Recreation and Sport Management class, here are the following reasons as why sport teams lose fans:
  • They include not feeling important, cost outweighs enjoyment, boring food service, poor seating, inconvenient parking, souvenirs too expensive, no other entertainment but the game itself, team fails to win consistently,
Click to expand...

Looks pretty familar to me
 
sycamores28 said:
According to the book, here are ways to increase audience:

They are pre-event entertainment, youth games at half time, special group promotions, special rates for groups, giveaways, scheduling doubleheaders, reduced ticket fees, shoot-out contests at half time, event buses, special days, student athletes visiting schools as role models, clip-out coupons, radio giveaways to listeners (e.g. tickets), use of pep band at events, team color night (offer half-price admission to anyone dressed in team colors, and face-painting contest.
Click to expand...

Hmm...
 
sycamores28 said:
According to my book for my Finance in Recreation and Sport Management class, here are the following reasons as why sport teams lose fans:
  • They include not feeling important, cost outweighs enjoyment, dirty facilities, boring food service, poor seating, inconvenient parking, no luxury seating, no picnic areas, no non-smoking areas, non non-drinking areas, no place to change the young children, no day care facilities, no playground for young children, souvenirs too expensive, no other entertainment but the game itself, team is not exciting, team fails to win consistently, and no opportunities to meet the players.
Click to expand...

:jawdrop: It's like they wrote it about us!
 

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sycamores28 said:
According to the book, here are ways to increase audience:

They are pre-event entertainment, youth games at half time, special group promotions, special rates for groups, giveaways, scheduling doubleheaders, reduced ticket fees, shoot-out contests at half time, event buses, special days, student athletes visiting schools as role models, clip-out coupons, radio giveaways to listeners (e.g. tickets), use of pep band at events, team color night (offer half-price admission to anyone dressed in team colors, and face-painting contest.
Click to expand...

ISU has done (or continues to do) all of the bolded items.
 

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I agree they do some of these things but to what extent most people will tell you in order to walk up and buy a ticket unless you know about the $6.00 ticket they are going to charge you anywhere between $12- $25.00 . I know not sure if they still do because they no longer advertise it but they used to have group rates of about $4.00 per ticket for groups of 25 or more. This was announced during every game i havent heard them annouce this for a couple of years. And yes Bank they could improve the attitude of the Ushers would help alot
 
I haven't been to a bball game this year...the economy and kids have made that very difficult to do, but is it fun to go? That is the question for me...is it fun? I don't remember it being all that fun. Football was more fun this year, but not as fun as it I can remember it being when I in school and even out of school. Winning helps that, but the atmosphere is what I am talking about...is it fun?
 
Is it fun?
Honestly, that kind of comes and goes... when we play good basketball, we are fun to watch - and other things are a little more fun.

I think that your children (and you even) would have a pretty decent time watching Syc. Sam.... those of us that are at every game have seen most of same stuff throughout the year. His "Wipe-Out" routine was very good at the beginning of the year - and I'm sure that is still fun for those that haven't seen it all year long.

It's VERY difficult to do any kind of entertaining well and yet not become stale - especially over the course of the year.

There are specific games that are pretty fun for the kids I think... Sycamore Hoopla is a pretty good time. Lots of things out on the concourse, face painting, polar plunges, window painting, etc.

One thing that I HONESTLY miss... is the baton twirler.
We were the ONLY university in the MVC with one, and she was VERY good.... she received ovations from other universities whenever she would perform on the road. Kids LOVE to watch her throw those batons up in the air and catch them right on cue. (at least mine did)
 
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I was Sam in college, he is a "fun" aspect. But, what about the Varsity Club situation, is it still "stale"? I just think that, from where I stand, it isn't all that fun to attend games because it is a hassle to do much of anything. Its a hassle to park (which is silly) its a hassle to get tickets (which it shouldn't be), its a hassle to get to your seats because the ushers hassle you literally, its a hassle to get refreshments of any kind, its a hassle if and when halftime comes to go to the Varsity Club...etc. And all those hassles would be fine if the game was a fun game to watch and the activities that occur were fun. Again winning would certainly help, but as an alumnus that would have to drive 2 hours to watch a game, the hassle far, far, far outweighs the "fun" currently.
 

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Seems that there are more people in the Varsity club room this year.

I don't know the last time you were in there... but obviously the decor is better, there are some flat-screens in there now that display the stats. Same refreshments down there.... same people serving them.

Occasionally the varsity club (foundation) sets up a table to give things away, or give out information, etc.. They seem to be more involved in conversations now.

Hulman Center is still pretty "blah" inside. They have done a very good job outside for the last couple of years. Inside... not so much. Volunteers still man the concessions... and pre-fill cokes to get watered down, and pre-fill popcorn to get cold. They did add slushies this year (I've suggested that for a number of years... should have blue ones with color changing cups.)

The merchandise "table" is finally converted into a mobile counter area... stands out MUCH more.

But no... there isn't alot of handouts at the door (why put the pink pom-poms in the seats - hand them out as you come in... makes people feel good walking through the door). No blue/white balloons at the door, etc.
 
Parking... I usually don't park in the Varsity Club lot... because it is a HUGE PAIN getting out of those lots on the east side. I always park over on Wabash... There just aren't enough exits coming out of those Varsity Club lots. Now, if they really wanted to make that worth the effort, they could put some Traffic Officers there after the games, and THEN it would be a real benefit.
 
Parking - I agree with you in everyway!

Hulman Center - There are soooo many things they could do to make things fun. For example, they could build a childrens area in the concorse that has a playground type of thing and Sam could spend some time there prior to the game with the kids.
They could get Sam a little car (like the mascot at Western KY has a little corvette) and he could drive it around and give out prizes if the contest invovled a seat number (get it sponsored by Enterprise Rent-a-car or one of the car dealers...make it look like a little Mitsubishi lancer or something.
They could work with alumni advisors for fraternities and sororities to get the student organizations to work at the concession stands or even have the students walking up and down the isles selling "FRESH" popcorn or whatever items they decide on.
They could pick an elementary school from the Valley each week to spotlight and provide free admission to that elementary school...have athletes go to the school and read to the kids that week, have Sam show up and give out ISU stuff, etc.
They could do so, so, so many things. And most of these just require some open discussion and working together for the betterment of ISU in general. This isn't just an athletics thing, this the entire university.

As far as prefilling cokes...I just don't get that. They have multiple machines, use them to order. If that doesn't work, then just use bottled Pepsi instead, i would much rather have a bottled pepsi that is cold than a watered down fountain drink, without question.

I haven't been to a game since last year...but everything you said is about on point with what I remember and what I would assume is the case. Outside looks pretty good...inside (besides the seats and scoreboard) needs some work.
 
Get that guy who use to dance during the Harry and Larry years, even he may be a little old by now, but it would help,,, what was his name??????
 
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