Attendance Discussion

[jimwwms]

So, based on what I saw at the game, the discussion on the post game, and what I read here, PLAYING IN S'PORT bought us nothing except possibly a loss and a lot of inconvenience to the TRUE FAN BASE.

I sure hope I am not the only one who feels this way. I have been going to "home games" in S'port, and having our team play before "at best" neutral crowds WAY TOO LONG!

NO MORE "HOME" GAMES IN SHREVEPORT .... EVER!!!!!!!!

[dawg80]

To be fair, there was a core of TRUE BLUE Tech fans at the aTm game, and we are certainly not neutral. The 10K+ or so that stayed to the end were loud, proud and never gave up. Of course, it's much the same core of TRUE BLUE Tech fans you see at Aillet for every home game.

[NavyBulldog1]

MY POST FROM 2004

"One of the biggest reasons Tech has such a hard time with fanbase. All of the alumni have to move to get a decent job.
Lincoln Parish NEEDS a light industrial park."


I stand by my post. My guess is that 90% of the stadium on any given Saturday is going to be filled with people from within a 20 mile radius. Until Lincoln parish population grows, home game attendance will always be an issue. With the quality of technological/engineering based degrees that Tech puts out, Lincoln parish leadership needs to put incentives in place to attract those kinds of businesses to the area. Bring in a couple thousand high paying jobs. That will expand service jobs by another few 1000 and the ball gets rolling.

I had a similar conversation with a BBB-board member last night. Bottom Line - ULL consistently draws a decent crowd and ULM draws a large crowd when they look promising.

Here is a primary difference: Tech is growing nation-wide. Our graduates are taking positions from coast to coast, by virtue, marketing our proud university. My fellow classmates live from New Orleans (always makes the games), to Washington State, and myself in Washington DC. It is financially difficult for us to make it to many home games. However, the majority (I'm guessing here based on experience) of UL'U pickem grads within recent years are still within 60 miles of their alma mater.

Guys, national diversity is great for Tech. I can't tell you how many times I've had people comment on my wearing Tech gear all over the northeast (that is northeast USA btw). Just this weekend, I was at a friends house in DC for a Halloween party. I streamed the Tech game from my Iphone to the guy's TV. Everyone was watching and commenting on 49 points early in the second quarter. One guy came up to me and said there was a Tech grad in his DC office who was a hardcore fan. This is the kind of publicity that will stand us apart from other universities and also the kind of publicity that is not a direct result of outreach conducted by the University.

[LookingForResults]

I had a similar conversation with a BBB-board member last night. Bottom Line - ULL consistently draws a decent crowd and ULM draws a large crowd when they look promising.

Here is a primary difference: Tech is growing nation-wide. Our graduates are taking positions from coast to coast, by virtue, marketing our proud university. My fellow classmates live from New Orleans (always makes the games), to Washington State, and myself in Washington DC. It is financially difficult for us to make it to many home games. However, the majority (I'm guessing here based on experience) of UL'U pickem grads within recent years are still within 60 miles of their alma mater.

Guys, national diversity is great for Tech. I can't tell you how many times I've had people comment on my wearing Tech gear all over the northeast (that is northeast USA btw). Just this weekend, I was at a friends house in DC for a Halloween party. I streamed the Tech game from my Iphone to the guy's TV. Everyone was watching and commenting on 49 points early in the second quarter. One guy came up to me and said there was a Tech grad in his DC office who was a hardcore fan. This is the kind of publicity that will stand us apart from other universities and also the kind of publicity that is not a direct result of outreach conducted by the University.

I think you're on to something. I think that Tech, by virtue of our high-profile alums, engineering grads all over the U.S., and large numbers of graduates in DFW and Houston, is in an enviable position relative to most non-AQ, non-flagship schools anywhere in the country to be able to establish a recognizable national brand. Our distinct logo is easily recognizable and the school colors are pleasing, dramatic and patriotic.

Continued success in football combined with a basketball program that may soon begin to garner attention, could combine to annually keep Tech's name in national discussions from September through March. A smart marketing group could have a field day with this 'undiscovered gem in rural North Louisiana.'

[StrongBad]

I think the numbers will be better when we're playing more of the regional match-ups that CUSA will bring us. This is our last year in the WAC, and I don't think a lot of people care to watch any of the games. So, don't judge everything attendance wise by this year.

As I remember it, I was the one that said don't make any hasty decisions about Sonny Dykes until about 3 years out, and I was right on the money. You can listen to me. It's ok.

[domangue]

I think you're on to something. I think that Tech, by virtue of our high-profile alums, engineering grads all over the U.S., and large numbers of graduates in DFW and Houston, is in an enviable position relative to most non-AQ, non-flagship schools anywhere in the country to be able to establish a recognizable national brand. Our distinct logo is easily recognizable and the school colors are pleasing, dramatic and patriotic.

Continued success in football combined with a basketball program that may soon begin to garner attention, could combine to annually keep Tech's name in national discussions from September through March. A smart marketing group could have a field day with this 'undiscovered gem in rural North Louisiana.'

This is right on the money... and never underestimate just how much our tenure in the WAC helped us get on the track to this image. Even though it didn't do much for our home attendance numbers.

Having the opportunity to play Boise/Fresno/Hawaii/Nevada in nationally televised games as a member of arguably the premier non AQ conference over the past decade has done a lot for us to be a nationally identifiable brand.

As opposed to playing UL(X) in a prime time Tuesday night Sun Belt matchup....

[GermDawg]

I had a similar conversation with a BBB-board member last night. Bottom Line - ULL consistently draws a decent crowd and ULM draws a large crowd when they look promising.

Here is a primary difference: Tech is growing nation-wide. Our graduates are taking positions from coast to coast, by virtue, marketing our proud university. My fellow classmates live from New Orleans (always makes the games), to Washington State, and myself in Washington DC. It is financially difficult for us to make it to many home games. However, the majority (I'm guessing here based on experience) of UL'U pickem grads within recent years are still within 60 miles of their alma mater.

Guys, national diversity is great for Tech. I can't tell you how many times I've had people comment on my wearing Tech gear all over the northeast (that is northeast USA btw). Just this weekend, I was at a friends house in DC for a Halloween party. I streamed the Tech game from my Iphone to the guy's TV. Everyone was watching and commenting on 49 points early in the second quarter. One guy came up to me and said there was a Tech grad in his DC office who was a hardcore fan. This is the kind of publicity that will stand us apart from other universities and also the kind of publicity that is not a direct result of outreach conducted by the University.

I think you're on to something. I think that Tech, by virtue of our high-profile alums, engineering grads all over the U.S., and large numbers of graduates in DFW and Houston, is in an enviable position relative to most non-AQ, non-flagship schools anywhere in the country to be able to establish a recognizable national brand. Our distinct logo is easily recognizable and the school colors are pleasing, dramatic and patriotic.

Continued success in football combined with a basketball program that may soon begin to garner attention, could combine to annually keep Tech's name in national discussions from September through March. A smart marketing group could have a field day with this 'undiscovered gem in rural North Louisiana.'

I agree with both of ya'll (surprise) Main thing is to get these far away high-profile alums to pony up, not saying huge contributions but decent ones and get the word out on what the money is being spent on. Tech's main downfall is that it hasn't thought outside Ruston/N. Louisiana when publicizing Tech accomplishments/needs/projects, instead leaving it up to Alums to come find out what's going on. The onset of social media has helped assuage this shortfall but more needs to be done to tap/re-involve these sleeper alums. Mailers are ok, home phone calls are better, and local fundraising/social events even better.

[809miss]

Germ, I certainly agree with you, the Alumni Association has said they are looking to get some active local chapters started in some of the larger areas but it seems to be lagging. I will say that I have several business associates who attended Tech but have been disconnected for 20+ years that are now rekindling their interest because we have started winning. I've had them start asking about season tickets for next year and one is even taking his family to San Marcos for his first Tech game in over 25 years.

[GermDawg]

Germ, I certainly agree with you, the Alumni Association has said they are looking to get some active local chapters started in some of the larger areas but it seems to be lagging. I will say that I have several business associates who attended Tech but have been disconnected for 20+ years that are now rekindling their interest because we have started winning. I've had them start asking about season tickets for next year and one is even taking his family to San Marcos for his first Tech game in over 25 years.

I hope Tech gets a group together in SA to bus up to San Marcos for the game! Their is a pretty good alum presence there.

[bpennark]

do they actually count the kids with the club passes....I know for fact that at one of the previous games the person at the gate just let them in without scanning their pass.

[stodgdog]

20K and about what I expected. It was a great crowd who really got into the game.

There was a lot of complaining on the post game show after the game. Not sure what they were expecting, but all things considered it was a great bunch. IMO, the crowd wouldn't have been much larger if we had gotten the win against A&M last week. True fans are developed over time not made after one big victory.

Enough about regional opponents and how C-USA will help. It's so Sunbelt to talk about how many fans the other team will bring.

Continued winning will help. Some marketing will also help. This fan base is growing. That's what is important.

I thought that was a primary point of a regional conference. CUSA membership should boost attendance with N La area fans because of regionally know teams. Maybe that was your point.

Were playing Tulane, USM, etc. to bring 2k/game and visitors were to increase by 3k/game, that's a significant increase in home attendance. Maybe that increase and stability in attendance would allow us to schedule home and home games with Houston or SMU plus SEC/Big 12. I think 5k/game increase in attendance is conservative.

Were I financially able, I would challenge and guarantee every season ticket holder to buy one extra ticket for each remaining home game this year and take someone to the game. After the game you tell your friend "let's go to the ticket office. You buy yourself a ticket to the next home game and I'll buy a ticket and give to you to bring anybody you want to." I would guarantee an 85% success rate. I think Tech's success this year and regional opponents next year would make treating new folks to a game would be very easy. That gets the process started. As MD said in a thread, Tech has plenty to market right now.

[PawDawg]

Visiting fans only matter to schools like nlulm and lalaff. If we are depending on visitors as part of our future revenue we need to go back to 1AA or Sunbelt.

My dream is to limit the visitors tickets to whatever C-USA says we must give them.

No more globs of the other team colors in the middle of our Blue.

[stodgdog]

Visiting fans only matter to schools like nlulm and lalaff. If we are depending on visitors as part of our future revenue we need to go back to 1AA or Sunbelt.

My dream is to limit the visitors tickets to whatever C-USA says we must give them.

No more globs of the other team colors in the middle of our Blue.

Do you think we will see a sustainable increase in attendance by area fans due to playing regional teams?

[PawDawg]

Do you think we will see a sustainable increase in attendance by area fans due to playing regional teams?

Yes I do, but a gradual increase due to winning and marketing. Substanial over the next 3-5 years.

USM is an excellent example of what winning can do for a program.

Boise is too, but many will agrue they have a captive audience. They do, but winning and marketing helped the most.

[theprofessor]

I thought that was a primary point of a regional conference. CUSA membership should boost attendance with N La area fans because of regionally know teams. Maybe that was your point.

In my opinion, the benefit of being in a regional conference is not for your home attendance, but for your away attendance. You give your fans drivable away games so that they can have more opportunities to support the program.