Ideas to Improve Spring Game Experience
- Thread starter CYKID
- Start date
So I'm trying to figure out why your so mad that we have a large management staff just like every other major college...
When it comes down to it it's just another scrimmage, just like the other ones they have been doing the last month the only change is people are in the stands. The team doesn't care about the spring game they are more excited to get it done with so they can go drink. People make these spring games too much of a big deal, they aren't that exciting.
This might be the worst post in this thread. Strategy to make the spring game what it should be? How about the fact that the spring game was EXTREMELY well attended by Iowa State standards. Comparing us to Iowa or Nebraska when it comes to football is hilarious. We don't even have close to the tradition they do. $25,000 we could do if you're willing to sell out. For $5, I can see 5,000 people still going, but do you sell out that $25,000 to put 10,000 fans in the seats? If you got 50-100 people into the spring game and they turn around and buy tickets, you might very easily make that $25,000 back. You're simplifying something that is much more complex than you give credit for.
Perfect weather? Yeah, and we knew that as of the morning of the game (circumstance). VEISHEA Saturday is part of the problem just as much as it is the solution because there is a ton of other things going on at the same time, not to mention there are people who will avoid Ames like the plague during VEISHEA. Throw in the few college students that are still hung over and don't feel like moving.
I'm sure those 10 people you talk about don't have ANYTHING better to do than work towards things that actually DO generate revenue. Basically any money you put into the spring game you're going to lose, and with as tight as our budget already is, you don't push it. It could've very easily been 45 and miserable Saturday and any extra work could've gone to waste. I'm still trying to figure out how the AD messed everything up.
This might be the worst post in this thread. Strategy to make the spring game what it should be? How about the fact that the spring game was EXTREMELY well attended by Iowa State standards. Comparing us to Iowa or Nebraska when it comes to football is hilarious. We don't even have close to the tradition they do. $25,000 we could do if you're willing to sell out. For $5, I can see 5,000 people still going, but do you sell out that $25,000 to put 10,000 fans in the seats? If you got 50-100 people into the spring game and they turn around and buy tickets, you might very easily make that $25,000 back. You're simplifying something that is much more complex than you give credit for.
Perfect weather? Yeah, and we knew that as of the morning of the game (circumstance). VEISHEA Saturday is part of the problem just as much as it is the solution because there is a ton of other things going on at the same time, not to mention there are people who will avoid Ames like the plague during VEISHEA. Throw in the few college students that are still hung over and don't feel like moving.
I'm sure those 10 people you talk about don't have ANYTHING better to do than work towards things that actually DO generate revenue. Basically any money you put into the spring game you're going to lose, and with as tight as our budget already is, you don't push it. It could've very easily been 45 and miserable Saturday and any extra work could've gone to waste. I'm still trying to figure out how the AD messed everything up.
If you are going to have a spring game, have a spring game, make it an event. Many people mentioned good ideas to make it better. A spring game is more than just budgets and spending money. It's about marketing your program. You say ISU has no where near the tradition, well maybe there is a reason for that.
What kind of marketing and PR does ISU do for the spring game. Do they do anything or communicate anything to students. Do they take advantage of having the largest populated market in Iowa 30 minutes away. Do they take advantage of the fact it is the same weekend as Veishea? Do they promote it to local High Schools? Do they promote season ticket sales, merchandise sales, food sales?
I don't know the answer to any of those questions, but I would guess that with 10,000 in attendance, the answer is probably no. I would assume they limit their marketing to current donors and ticket holders. That doesn't make much sense to me.
I think the spring game is fine the way it is. I went there to watch the team progress and thats what I saw. Until we get crowds of 20-30 thousand comming to this, then we can make it more of an event. But until, then it's not a big deal. It would have been nice if they opened the second deck because I like sitting on the second deck than the first deck.
Good ideas cost money. You're not going to make any. Throwing a ton of money at it is not intelligent when we don't exactly have it just sitting all over the place. The "Spring Game" is a glorified practice, and every person in attendance knows that.
ISU doesn't have the program, and it isn't due to marketing, it's due to Nebraska wins football games, and Iowa wins football games. Iowa State doesn't have any sort of sustained success. Both of those programs do. You make this sound so much easier than it actually is.
Students got an e-mail (cheap, takes little time, intern can do)
Advertising in DSM = $$$$$ The people who will go are already going.
It being the same weekend as VEISHEA helps as much as it hurts.
Why promote it to high schools? There's no money to be made there. The people with the money who would spend it at Iowa State already are aware.
Obviously they promoted ticket sales and food sales, UBS does the merchandising part outside the stadium (not present) and I wasn't on the concourse to see if Cy's Locker Room was open.
The fact that there were 10,000 in attendance (which is higher than it's been any time in recent memory) TELLS me they marketed it well enough for a record turnout to show up. Additionally, you market to the people who already have the stuff, because that's where the vast majority of your business is coming from. Each One Bring One is a HUGE marketing tool. My question is have you ever taken marketing classes or have any clue about marketing.
Have a tailgate cuisine contest. Throw it wide open to any recipe and award prizes (tickets, sideline passes, autographed gear). I would travel from Florida to participate.
Good ideas cost money. You're not going to make any. Throwing a ton of money at it is not intelligent when we don't exactly have it just sitting all over the place. The "Spring Game" is a glorified practice, and every person in attendance knows that.
ISU doesn't have the program, and it isn't due to marketing, it's due to Nebraska wins football games, and Iowa wins football games. Iowa State doesn't have any sort of sustained success. Both of those programs do. You make this sound so much easier than it actually is.
Students got an e-mail (cheap, takes little time, intern can do)
Advertising in DSM = $$$$$ The people who will go are already going.
It being the same weekend as VEISHEA helps as much as it hurts.
Why promote it to high schools? There's no money to be made there. The people with the money who would spend it at Iowa State already are aware.
Obviously they promoted ticket sales and food sales, UBS does the merchandising part outside the stadium (not present) and I wasn't on the concourse to see if Cy's Locker Room was open.
The fact that there were 10,000 in attendance (which is higher than it's been any time in recent memory) TELLS me they marketed it well enough for a record turnout to show up. Additionally, you market to the people who already have the stuff, because that's where the vast majority of your business is coming from. Each One Bring One is a HUGE marketing tool. My question is have you ever taken marketing classes or have any clue about marketing.
I have a strong disdain for Marketing, but, I do have a BBA in Marketing from Iowa State University. I have also taught Marketing seminars, and have been involved with several successful business ventures dating back to 1988. You don't really need to see my resume to disagree with me. People have different viewpoints on certain things. I was playing devils advocate regarding something that is a microcosm of ISU athletics. At no point did I call your ideas stupid, or question your background.
Iowa State has finished the football season ranked 25 or better 3 times in history. That places them last among all BCS schools, and behind several temporary football programs, and programs that don't even exist anymore. I'm not stupid enough to think a spring game will change the outcome of next season. My whole point is that many fans are making suggestions that our AD should be on top of. If they are so concerned about cost, benefit coefficients, maybe they should take a look at their budgeted payroll.
You can look historically at anything to justify a reason to do, or not do something. A leader in business looks forward proactively and try's to forecast climates that allow them to increase, sales, profits, or progress. If you would take a second (I have not yet) you would probably see that schools Spring Games (practices) across the country are seeing an increased level of attendance, interest among fans. There could be several factors contributing to that if it is the case. I don't see it as a glorified practice. I see it as an opportunity to develop a brand.
This is true everywhere but ESPECIALLY at ISU. Anything that costs will be poorly attended compared to free. People love free, and ISU fans love free more than most.
I'm not sure how possible this is either before, during or after the game: but what about a tour of Jack Trice. Take small groups into the suites, press box, Jacobsen Building and other places the 'avg joe' never gets to see.
I think they would just need enough band members there to play fights and some stand cheers. With alumni in town for VEISHEA you could probably get some of them to come. It would in no way be a formal band performance, but would just need to be ok'ed by the AD. That way you could tailgate all you wanted and just bring your instrument with you to the game and sit with the rest of the volunteer band. No uniforms necessary. I think the main challenge would be to get some drums there. Everyone else who has their own instruments would probably show up.
The band did go a few years ago, I got interviewed by TV 13 that year. I want to say it was Chiz's first year, I think that stopped when they moved it to VEISHEA weekend.
Isn't that big of a deal logistically. They did it on a volunteer basis and got a pretty large turnout. The problem would be finding that many that wanted to do it on VEISHEA weekend.
Plus there would likely be just as many people annoyed with the band being there as there would be people who liked it.
Just because there are some fans that don't care for the band and view it more as something that get's in the way of the football game. And I'd imagine they are the type that would be more likely to take that attitude would be more likely to be the folks that go to the spring game.
Not meaning to knock the people that aren't fans of the band, it's just not everybodys thing. Also, not saying that a good deal of the fans at the spring game don't like the band, I know I and many other former band members were there.
I don't think it's by any means a large percentage of the fan base. But there is a vocal minority.
