A lot of the people around me were complaining that they weren't the kind of stick with the button. I was like, stop complaining about free stuff! But I guess word got around.Originally Posted by CutiePie72
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A lot of the people around me were complaining that they weren't the kind of stick with the button. I was like, stop complaining about free stuff! But I guess word got around.
Well, picky, picky--not you, but the others. Even so, if there were 200 students there not counting the band, it was a miracle.
So, it's possible that the promotion of the game itself needs to improve. However, the real problem is that the game itself is not a big deal, so we have to give people other reasons to attend. Not challenging your thought, just making sure I understand your point.
Also, I agree that our coaches, players, and admin should be more accessible. I have heard it's really hard to get the coaches to do anything and even harder to get the players involved. Should they be forced? I don't know. If it had a positive result, and got more and more effective each time, I would hope they would be more willing to participate.
Exactly. We've pretty much maxed out on getting people to the games who just want to watch good basketball. We have to make the games an event. If Tech wants me to drive 144 miles round trip to watch a basketball game, they have to give me a good reason. I didn't get home til after 11:30 the Thursday night of the ODU game.
First, we have to let people know about the games. Second, we have to give people a reason to come to the games. That means getting exposure and getting folks excited to come. Most importantly, we have to deliver when they show up so they'll come back.
You also have to understand your target market for each game. For a weeknight game, you have to depend on the local market (Ruston and students). On weekends, our games are open to a more regional market from Shreveport to Monroe.
Taking out a full page LTAC ad in The Shreveport Times is a waste of money. Putting up billboards in Bossier that say "Buy tickets today #WeAreLATech" is a waste of money. Putting up a billboard eastbound before you get to Haughton saying "Shreveport is Bulldog Country" is an example of Tech not knowing our market. Now the brand new billboards in Shreveport that say something like, "TECH MEANS BUSINESS: Caddo-Bossier students earn $500K annually in Louisiana Tech College of Business scholarships" are great. Billboards are messaging and knowing your market.
I count 31 Johnny's Pizzas on this map. Champ, Tech XXI, coaches, players, cheerleaders, Regal Blues, and ticket sellers should hit up the lunch buffet rush at each of them at least twice a year.
A prime example of this is the reaction when we hit the Raising Canes point. Now, that's a great promotion, but its obvious that most people are only excited for that, then sit back down and get on their phones.
The effort to increase attendance is not and should not be directed toward the season ticket holders. They have made their commitment. The target should be those that come to maybe one or a few games per year. Mostly we are talking about families. But when the blue seats are $15 per then a family of four or more are going to spend $60 and more before any concessions. A 20 oz. Pepsi is $4, a hot dog is $4 (chili add a $1, cheese add another $1), nachos at least $4, and on and on. This is crazy. People aren't paying these prices.
They need a family plan for every game. For every child at $5 then an accompanying adult gets a blue seat for $5. So a mom and dad and two kids get four blue seats for $20. There needs to be a child under 12 special at the concession stand. Maybe a 6 oz. drink, a small piece of candy and some popcorn for $2. Perhaps this will stimulate mom and dad to pay the outrageous prices for their concessions.
How about recognizing the honor roll kids at our local schools at the games. Pick one or two or three schools per game. The honor roll kids get a free blue seat and the accompanying adult/adults get in for $5. Show the name of the school and the name of the honor roll kids on the video screen during the timeouts and at half time. Perhaps this would stimulate attendance.
Market to the local basketball teams. Give the coaches and the bus drivers a free blue seat and let the players in for $5 each. Parents of the players would also be eligible for a $5 blue seat.
Their are other ideas and opportunities to improve the marketing effort. Perhaps the athletic department should ask the marketing professors to challenge their marketing students to come up with promotions and then try them if they appear to have merit. It can be done but it will require that the athletic staff get outside the nine dots that they currently find themselves within.
First and foremost, the coaches are going to have to put teams on the court that are exciting and fun to watch. And nothing stimulates attendance like winning. Mike White accomplished this in a very short time. Weatherspoon never did. I hope that Konkel and Summit can succeed.
Heck, in my day at TECH (70's) the games scheduled that week at Memorial were written in colored caulk on the sidewalks around campus (outside dorms , the two cafeterias, and the in the quad. And the students showed up en-mass!
Just saying...
Last edited by TYLERTECHSAS; 01-26-2016 at 10:48 PM.
Were those the hills you had to trek up, both ways, in the snow?
Without shoes and hanging free.Were those the hills you had to trek up, both ways, in the snow?
Here's what it took in TYLERTECHSAS' day to get people to the TAC:
Here's what it takes now:
Granted, Tyler was at Tech during the horse and buggy days, when there were no moving picture shows, no "on-the'line" activities, etc.To be clear, I am not criticizing--just making an observation.
Somethings never change in life. Maddawg bitching about marketing and Dawg06 bitching about scheduling. Not that y'all are right or wrong, it just never stops.
I think what Dawg 06 has pointed out is very good strategy and it needs to be implemented. My only question would be this, would players balk at going to give autographs at Academy or somewhere outside of Ruston because of the whole they dont get paid to play thing? I personally think a free education is plenty of "pay" for an athlete, but I'm just wondering with how the world is today.
So you are happy with the overall job our AD is doing? I'm a LaTech fan. I want what is best for LaTech.
I think he is doing OK.
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