Iowa vs Iowa State - Iowa trounces ISU in ticket sales

zenmaster · 06-20-2006, 09:53 AM

They are able to draw season ticket holders from the Quad Cities, Cedar Rapids / Iowa City, Des Moines Metro, Cedar Falls / Waterloo, and Chicago areas because of geography.

We have the Des Moines metro, Ames, Fort Dodge, Cedar Falls / Waterloo, and Caroll. You tell me where there are more people. All of the big markets in our territory are shared markets. That is why it is so important to make Des Moines a Cyclone City if economics are to ever get right in Ames.

Most fans are also front-runners. You can see that by looking at any chat board. "Why can't we be more like (fill-in-the-blank with a power team name)?" Because of the Fry years and Iowa's TV exposure locally during those years, they got the jump on us a bit as a program in the state and the front-runners are currently in their camp because of the pundits drool pools about Captain Kirk and the program he has built. If there comes a time when ISU is being recognized as a top 10 football school year in and year out and Iowa is a middle of the pack Big Ten program, the tables will turn and so will the allegiences of those front-runner fans which make up about 50% of the Iowa (and any team's) fanbase.

CyLyte · 06-20-2006, 09:54 AM

I'm only 29 years old but I've witnessed a fair amount of ISU losing. I can't say that I was ever "kicked in the nuts" at any ISU sporting event. Iowa fans got "kicked in the nuts" for 20+ years. Our "nut kicking" just happened to be more recent. What ISU fans need to do is get over it. There is too much bellyaching, woe is me attitude in our fan base.

BryceC · 06-20-2006, 10:39 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CyLyte @ Jun 20 2006, 08:54 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> I'm only 29 years old but I've witnessed a fair amount of ISU losing. I can't say that I was ever "kicked in the nuts" at any ISU sporting event. Iowa fans got "kicked in the nuts" for 20+ years. Our "nut kicking" just happened to be more recent. What ISU fans need to do is get over it. There is too much bellyaching, woe is me attitude in our fan base.
[/b][/quote]

Apparently you missed the Kansas and Missouri games from the last two years. I almost threw up in Lawrence, and it wasn't because of all the "smug" in the air.

You must have a higher constitution than I do to just shrug off those losses.

CyLyte · 06-20-2006, 10:54 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BryceC @ Jun 20 2006, 09:39 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>

Apparently you missed the Kansas and Missouri games from the last two years. I almost threw up in Lawrence, and it wasn't because of all the "smug" in the air.

You must have a higher constitution than I do to just shrug off those losses. [/b][/quote]

So we lost a football game. Yeah it sucked but we stillhad Christmas, bowl games and New Years. I was in attendance at the Missouri game as well and it was very disappointing but to sit here two years later and lament that stuff is silly. It's over, the 80's are over, everything that has happened before June 20, 2006 is over. As soon as people quit looking back and stop counting the what could-have-beens we can move forward. It is what it is. Always forward never back.

monkeybrow · 06-20-2006, 11:27 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CyLyte @ Jun 20 2006, 08:54 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>

So we lost a football game. Yeah it sucked but we stillhad Christmas, bowl games and New Years. I was in attendance at the Missouri game as well and it was very disappointing but to sit here two years later and lament that stuff is silly. It's over, the 80's are over, everything that has happened before June 20, 2006 is over. As soon as people quit looking back and stop counting the what could-have-beens we can move forward. It is what it is. Always forward never back.

[/b][/quote]

Here is the problem with the above statement....everything that happened prior to June 20, 2006 keeps the fringe fans outside of the hardcore fan base from choosing ISU over Iowa....not heeding the past...we are doomed to repeat it...this all relates to why we are lagging behind in ticket sales...somehow our program has to learn from these mistakes and get over the hump.

bgclone · 06-20-2006, 11:29 AM

I can't imagine a worse thing. 45,000 idiots packed into one place at one time. they can sell as many tickets as they want but I'd still rather sit next to 30,000 ISU fans anyday...

MNclone · 06-20-2006, 11:50 AM

I don't even think it has as much to do with our current consistency at all. Sure we lose some close ones, and some of those hurt, but I don't think that is why we don't sell as many tickets.
If you look at the current demographic of new season ticket purchasers, they are young adults that aren't too far out of college. Which means that they grew up in the 80's. For those of you on here that lived through enough of the 80's to remember ISU football during that time it wasn't pretty. I have one positive memory of Iowa State football before I was in High School. And that was when we beat Nebraska in 92. It was during this time that many of those who would be buying tickets were growing up. It was hard to be a fan of ISU until recently.
I do think things are changing though. With the success of the football program beginning in the late 90's a new generation of kids are growing up in an Iowa in which it is more acceptable to be a clone fan. As this generation grows and starts making money, I think the season ticket count will change.
Longstanding season ticket holders don't come from a couple of great seasons. They come from people growing up cheering for their team for a lifetime.

BryceC · 06-20-2006, 12:55 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(CyLyte @ Jun 20 2006, 09:54 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
So we lost a football game. Yeah it sucked but we stillhad Christmas, bowl games and New Years. I was in attendance at the Missouri game as well and it was very disappointing but to sit here two years later and lament that stuff is silly. It's over, the 80's are over, everything that has happened before June 20, 2006 is over. As soon as people quit looking back and stop counting the what could-have-beens we can move forward. It is what it is. Always forward never back.
[/b][/quote]

Well obviously I didn't shut down my life and go on suicide watch. But you can't be selective either. Should I act like the 99-00 basketball season didn't happen? We might have been the second best team in the country that year and I'm going to remember that until the day I die and I have no problem with that. When we beat UCLA I was freaking out with the best of them. But six years later I'm not just going to sit here and give a crap about it because it happened in the past.

If we beat Iowa, Texas, or Oklahoma this year I'm not just going to say, "Well, Texas is next week, better get home and get a full night's rest." Fans remember huge wins just as much as they remember huge losses, and there is nothing wrong with that. It just so happens that we've had a lot more big losses lately than big wins to talk about, it's draining on fans, and it's certainly not helping the casual fans.

I don't think we're sitting here lamenting it. When people discussed it in this thread as I did, I talked about how that stuff doesn't help season ticket sales (and it doesn't). I wasn't all woe-is-me, I was just stating my opinion on why we don't have the interest in the program that UI does. I have season tickets, probably will until I die, and I hope that ISU does reach the point where we have to turn potential season ticket holders away. We need to win those games to get to that point, and I don't think there is anything whiney in saying so.

CY ST8T · 06-20-2006, 01:06 PM

WHO CARES? I have my season tickets!

St8Grad · 06-20-2006, 02:16 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Cydkar @ Jun 19 2006, 04:51 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> Iowa fans haven't been repeatedly kicked in the nuts either. It's not just money.

[/b][/quote]

Exactly right! Put a winning product on the field & fans will follow.

Ferentz had a DECREASE in sales the first couple years that he won like 2 games. But look at him now! He's put together a powerhouse program that is in the running for a Big10 championship & BCS bid EVERY YEAR! And fans aren't the only ones that are attracted by winning...so are players. Anybody else noticed the awesome recruits Ferentz is getting lately? They're choosing Iowa over Notre Dame, Michigan, Florida, Texas, etc. DMac has had enough time to 'rebuild'. Let's WIN NOW! My nuts can't take anymore...

St8Grad · 06-20-2006, 02:19 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BryceC @ Jun 20 2006, 11:55 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>

Fans remember huge wins just as much as they remember huge losses, and there is nothing wrong with that. [/b][/quote]

Well said BryceC!

URBCLONE · 06-20-2006, 03:07 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BryceC @ Jun 20 2006, 11:55 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>

Well obviously I didn't shut down my life and go on suicide watch. But you can't be selective either. Should I act like the 99-00 basketball season didn't happen? We might have been the second best team in the country that year and I'm going to remember that until the day I die and I have no problem with that. When we beat UCLA I was freaking out with the best of them. But six years later I'm not just going to sit here and give a crap about it because it happened in the past.

If we beat Iowa, Texas, or Oklahoma this year I'm not just going to say, "Well, Texas is next week, better get home and get a full night's rest." Fans remember huge wins just as much as they remember huge losses, and there is nothing wrong with that. It just so happens that we've had a lot more big losses lately than big wins to talk about, it's draining on fans, and it's certainly not helping the casual fans.

I don't think we're sitting here lamenting it. When people discussed it in this thread as I did, I talked about how that stuff doesn't help season ticket sales (and it doesn't). I wasn't all woe-is-me, I was just stating my opinion on why we don't have the interest in the program that UI does. I have season tickets, probably will until I die, and I hope that ISU does reach the point where we have to turn potential season ticket holders away. We need to win those games to get to that point, and I don't think there is anything whiney in saying so. [/b][/quote]

Great stuff, Bryce! Totally agree with your point that disappointing losses are a drag on overall attendance.

cydsho · 06-20-2006, 03:17 PM

I think we have 25k-30k dedicated fans who will buy almost no matter what. (barring a complete collapse of the program) Those people are going to buy tickets as long as we are competing for the b12 north, making a minor bowl, 3 of 4 years.. How do you build on that? Unfortunately you have to look at the last two years because they were missed opportunities. We should have won 10 games, won the b12 north, and gone to a good bowl game. I don't care why it didn't happen, injuries, coaching, whatever, the catalyst to bring in more fans was missed. This is the only way ISU brings in more fans, which will pay for the stadium improvements. Pollard is even alluding to this by pushing out JTS improvements versus immediate improvements for Hilton. I think this is a way of telling McC to get the breakout year. Anyone else see it this way? McC has been here the longest and built something but we seem to be focusing on basketball with a brand new coach who hasn't proved anything at ISU. (I think he will btw)

dbronco7sc · 06-20-2006, 05:25 PM

Well... I like hearing everyone's theories as to why there are more hawkeye fans than cyclone fans... well here's the real story... back in the day... Iowa had a program similar to ISU's free condom wednesdays... except the dorms hand them out and would take a thumb tack and pin them up to the doors of the rooms. Thus Iowa students had faulty protection and they overpopulated and now all of the mistakes that were born are now season ticket buyers. [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/blink.gif[/img]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JHpsyclonz @ Jun 20 2006, 07:41 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> there are more better looking women than in Ames
[/b][/quote]

I just want to give a shout out to the girls that I know here in Ames that look amazing! He's not talking about you girls.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(SlyCy @ Jun 20 2006, 08:16 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>5) There are surprisingly a lot of Cyclone fans in Eastern Iowa however, since I live in Iowa City, you take a risk everytime you display something ISU. I've had my car keyed, beer bottles thrown at me and rude comments made when I walk into a restaurant. It's hard to be a Cyclone in Eastern Iowa when you're losing and swimming up stream.
[/b][/quote]This is just rediculous... When people trash other people's property and do things that can physically harm someone else all because of their sports team preferance... then they are no longer fans... they are mentally instable people that have no place in this world. I as a Cyclone feel that I am better than that kind of behavior and am glad I'm not part of a fanbase that acts like that.

BryceC · 06-20-2006, 06:19 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(dbronco7sc @ Jun 20 2006, 04:25 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
This is just rediculous... When people trash other people's property and do things that can physically harm someone else all because of their sports team preferance... then they are no longer fans... they are mentally instable people that have no place in this world. I as a Cyclone feel that I am better than that kind of behavior and am glad I'm not part of a fanbase that acts like that.
[/b][/quote]

Any Cyclone fan that has made him/herself known as such as experienced something like this in IC. I was in a bar in IC on a bar crawl one time, pretty toasty, and I yelled out that I would buy a drink for any other Cyclone fan in the place... I mean I'm a real jovial guy, no ill-will intended on my part. I seriously fled under duress. If I were Jack Bauer, you could say I was in a heavy Flank 2 position. (for the 24 fans out there).

I'm sure there's militant wings of every fanbase, and a lot more in the soccer world.