Dome Environment

[clenz]

Re: Dome Environment

And you think the beer was the cause of this?

I lived in Louisville for 5 years. As my friend once stated "The Kentucky State Fair (hosted in Louisville) is the only place where the carnies are afraid of the locals."

No, I'm not saying it was strictly because of selling beer in the stadium. However, it sure as hell didn't help. The guys next to me had at least 7 in the hour and a half between the gates opening and kick off.....


I don't expect the same issues in the dome - as I also don't think our fan base has the same "base" as Kentucky and Louisville. However, just my take on what I came across.


Also, Louisville is one of the least "hickish" areas of the state. Get more than an hour outside of it, and it's like a whole new world.

[Trapped in California]

Re: Dome Environment

Try twenty minutes south of Louisville in Bullit County - sandwiched between Louisville & Fort Knox. Banjo country.

Head straight east for an hour, and you get to the part of the country that views Deliverance as a documentary film.

[Trapped in California]

Re: Dome Environment

BTW - please take my comments with this in mind - I love that town. I wish we still lived there. I'm going back in two weeks. Jazzed about the BBQ binge that will ensue.

[clenz]

Re: Dome Environment

BTW - please take my comments with this in mind - I love that town. I wish we still lived there. I'm going back in two weeks. Jazzed about the BBQ binge that will ensue.

I love Louisville as well. On the drive home today I asked my wife when the next time we can go back is. We have family about a half hour east of Louisville. I have been a couple times, and love every single second of it.


BTW, the way that city embraces the U of L is CRAZY. Yes, I realize apple and oranges and what not...but it is impossible to go anywhere in that city without having U of L involved some how.

[9YRPLAN]

Re: Dome Environment

I think iowa attendance is hurting uni attendance more over the past 6-8 years.

[clenz]

Re: Dome Environment

This is going to be long, and possible confusing at times, but here’s my take on it. Not much deals with the dome directly, but the marketing of UNI and how to make UNI a place to be, which will better the inside environment.

1. MARKET THE UNIVERSITY BETTER. UNI has a terrible marketing department, apparently. The marketing ploy has gone from nothing, to Paint This Town Purple, to Panther Town, to UNIam, back to Panther Town, and now a combination of all of those in an really strange way. Market the university not just as Panther Town, but PANTHER NATION. Yes, I'm FULLY aware of the “issues” those in the athletic department have issues with this site. They act like they don't read the site, don’t care what is said here, and what not. However, I can promise you that is not the case (back when I worked in the ticket office I got talked to multiple times about opinions I expressed on the website with printouts of my posts). I know for a fact members of the athletic department are members here and post from offices on campus. However, they mistakenly let their issues with opinions expressed on a site called Panther Nation keep them from using the best possible marketing scheme. Paint This Town Purple would have been great had they stuck with it. I only remember seeing it at the spring game in 2010, but not really again after that. It would allow the university to push for every game (minus the “special” games) to be PURPLE OUTS. Step 1 of picking an identity. Back to Panther Nation issue…Panther Town (which I find funny for reasons I won’t get into in this post, but it directly relates to how the university handled B&B West putting up their Panther Town sign and what they didn’t let them use, only to turn around and “steal” Panther Town after that went up) is far to exclusive. It insinuates Cedar Falls alone. It leaves out Waterloo, Evansdale, Dike, Waverly, Hudson, etc… I also get it plays off of the Black Hawks “Party Town” theme, but the Black Hawks very much like being Waterloo’s team, and they play the marketing game nearly perfectly. Panther Nation allows UNI to grow and expand its marketing area. It shows the university wants to be known all over, rather than just Cedar Falls. To use a phrase that gets used here a lot, Panther Town is “small time”. The football commercials, while cool and nostalgic, build almost NO HYPE for the coming season. Watching members of the “good ol boys club” as some I know call them (I’ll get there) reminisce about the Idaho, UNH, etc.. games seems like a great marketing ploy it doesn’t build hype for the coming year – especially when the commercials are only run a handful of times a week starting a week or two before the season on TV.

1B. Market the ENTIRE university, not just the athletic department, to the Cedar Valley a billion times harder than we currently do. Yes, I just spend a large paragraph about how Panther Town is “small time” and we need to get a true focus as far as expanding who we market too. It needs to start with Cedar Falls, Waterloo, Dike, Evansdale, Waverly, Hudson, Applington, Parkersburg, Clarksville, any town within an hour really. I’ve now lived in Cedar Falls for 6 years (yes, a relatively short amount of time compared to many here) and I am still amazed at how little presence UNI has in the CV on a daily basis. I can only currently think of ONE billboard advertisement for UNI in Cedar Falls….it’s a PSC sign asking for people to donate (my next point) and it’s on Main and 22nd (I believe). That’s it. I see more billboards for Hawkeye Community College, Upper Iowa’s satellite campus, Kaplan, etc… If I was a visitor that had no idea UNI was here, I’m not sure I would know it was a D1 school with the academic and athletic history that we do. The university has no presence. The university needs to run commercials more touting academic programs (see how Hawkeye runs about 1500 commercials a day about how easy their credits transfer. UNI could do that with job placements, academic rankings, faculty achievements, etc…) Get billboards up advertising everything that is UNI. Encourage businesses to participate in Panther Friday’s (how many of you even know what that is?). Build a base. The reason UNI struggles with dual fan-ship is because it seems like the university is okay with “just being” in Cedar Falls. There is NO day to day connection it seems like. Working where I do, and coming in contact with as many people as I do I push UNI to anyone that will listen. However, there is a common theme from many – the university only reaches out to us when they want money. Sadly, I can’t disagree.

1C. Stop asking for money and only that. I’ve already said there is a sever lack of anything to do with the Cedar Valley with any marketing scheme…the only time the university seems to reach out is to ask for money. The PSC, Alumni Association, UNI Foundation, etc… Here is a clue for anyone involved with those (high enough for it to matter), you will drive more people away than you draw in by only asking for money a couple times a year. The only time I hear from the alumni association, UNI Foundation, PSC (I know his has been discussed elsewhere on PN, but it is very much true for many), etc.. is their yearly/bi-yearly fund drive. No mailers during the year, radio spots, billboards (all things already talked about) at how these things benefit the community. Getting the ENTIRE university out to the community and showing (so all can see) the benefits it has to the community is huge to getting people to support it. What does the PSC do for the community? Sure, it gives scholarships to players, but what does that do for the community? Run ads stating numbers of people, revenue, etc… athletics bring into the university/community. Run ads/mailers/etc… stating the economic impact of the Cedar Valley by having successful athletic and academic programs bring in. What does giving back to the Alumni Association do? How does these not only impact the university, but the community? Again, it makes UNI part of the community, rather than how many view it now, “The University that just happens to be in town”. Does these things cost money? You bet, and I won’t deny that. However, there is an old saying that is more than true “You need to spend money to make money”. UNI needs to spend money promoting why donations are needed to keep the university, and thus the Cedar Valley, strong.

1Ca. Touching briefly on the “good ol boys club” I referred too earlier, and how that ties in – especially with the PSC. This has been discussed multiple times on here, and typically the person that brings it up quickly gets shot down and put “back in their place”. There is very much a “Good ol boys club” between the athletic department, PSC, and big time donors. There is a very clear separation between the groups. Does this need to happen, to a certain extent? You bet it does. Keep the big donors happy so they keep donating. However, their happiness seems to come at the expense of the rest of the PSC at times. I’m not saying the person giving $200 a year because that is all they can, should get the “same” treatment as those in the in the directors/V.I.P and up, but there should be an effort to keep them involved in things. The mailers, emails, etc… are great, however, there is a large chunk of PSC members that only hear from the PSC, other than the mailers, when it’s time to ask for more money. I know a good number of donors who have stopped giving because they felt “disrespected” because there is a feeling of “you aren’t as important to us” in them. Are their feelings over stated some? Sure. Do they have a legitimate gripe as well? Yep. Yes, there are these functions, golf outings, rally in the valley, etc… throughout the year. However, I’m willing to bet that it is mostly the same people at each event every year with most of them being “higher” ranking PSC members. How does the PSC go about fixing these hard feelings? I’m not totally sure, but taking the time to bridge the gap between the two “groups” and taking time for members other than “Hey, it’s time to donate again” would be huge first steps.




How does this all relate to the dome environment? Increasing the presence, and connection, in the Cedar Valley will make families more willing to spend money to go to UNI games. More people at the games, the more the fan base grows and the more fun games are. Do any of these have an impact this year? Nope….so I’m sure I didn’t answer the intended point of the thread. Will this post be quickly discarded as “sour grapes”, complaining, etc… (especially because it is coming from me)? I can promise you that is the case, which is unfortunate. It seems like the university has placed itself over the Cedar Valley, and while attempts are made to connect they are weak most of the time.


Sorry for the rant….I’ll stop now.

[clenz]

Re: Dome Environment

I actually think the more important thing is improving the atmosphere outside the dome. Create a better college football excitement outside and it will follow the crowd inside.

One last thing....THIS ALSO.


UNI's tailgate scene is okay, but lacks big time. The 4 hour tailgate rule? GET RID OF IT! ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND TAILGATE! Spend some money (yes, again I'm suggesting spend money to make money) and get local businesses to sponsor tailgate parties, "centralize" tailgating to an area and expand as needed. Create an atmosphere inside and out!

I realize there have been things done in the past on the west side next to the PSC lots, but many of the "Average joe schmoe fans" don't go to the PSC lots. Take the grass lot to the south of the dome and start a giant party atmosphere there and grow it out from that spot.

[DomeIsHome]

Re: Dome Environment

One last thing....THIS ALSO.


UNI's tailgate scene is okay, but lacks big time. The 4 hour tailgate rule? GET RID OF IT! ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO COME OUT AND TAILGATE! Spend some money (yes, again I'm suggesting spend money to make money) and get local businesses to sponsor tailgate parties, "centralize" tailgating to an area and expand as needed. Create an atmosphere inside and out!

I realize there have been things done in the past on the west side next to the PSC lots, but many of the "Average joe schmoe fans" don't go to the PSC lots. Take the grass lot to the south of the dome and start a giant party atmosphere there and grow it out from that spot.

Yeah this is probably the biggest thing I have with the gameday "atmosphere." Not having tailgating/having a tailgating "limit," even if it isn't enforced ever, is just dumb.

Also, the seat backs. I mean come on, what were they thinking when they put those in?

[Panther-Sheik]

Re: Dome Environment

We have a blast on gameday with our tents, grill, music and about 40 people. We are constantly inviting more and more people to join us, too. In the past 5 years we have gone from about 8 people to as many as 50 people at a pregame. Always room for more , too. At least once a year a friend will ask, "You actually tailgate at a UNI game?" I tell them yes and that we have a great time and to join us. Once they do, they usually come back at least one more time. We need more groups out there doing this. I have just as much fun or more at a home UNI tailgate as I have ever had in Iowa City, Wisconsin, ISU etc.

[Newsbreaker]

Re: Dome Environment

Clenz, that was a fantastic post, and you're almost totally dead on. Really, really great points.

[clenz]

Re: Dome Environment

Clenz, that was a fantastic post, and you're almost totally dead on. Really, really great points.

Thank you. I was worried it would be tough to follow, because I type as I think rather than thinking that typing (make your jokes now). It leads to point a going to point g some times.

That, and I spoke very bluntly - that tends not to go over well here.

[Newsbreaker]

Re: Dome Environment

No it doesn't, but I agree with your points. The marketing of UNI is a long-running disaster. It's only been a few years since we were playing logo roulette, for example.

You're also completely right about the presence of the school in town, both Waterloo and Cedar Falls. I think too often the university sees it as a one-way street. Everyone is to come to them. It doesn't work that way.

There have been improvements, especially in how they approach Des Moines, but a lot more is needed.

Let me draw an example. Drake celebrates the relays in true Drake fashion (making a big deal out of not much). They do a few things right though. A long-standing tradition is painting a street with blocks assigned to different organizations. Then they added the same thing, but with businesses, on Court Avenue. Its a permanent reminder anytime you're down there that Drake is around. They also have a big street party/concert on Court Ave, far from campus, during the relays. UNI can and should be engaging Main Street like this - the whole community.

Part of what attracted me to UNI was that it felt like a self-contained world in one giant block. Too often, however, that block is terribly insulated.

[06panther10]

Re: Dome Environment

Something that I would add to Clenz's post (good post btw, and I agree with a whole lot of it), I would like to see is an increased presence in Waterloo. Easier said than done, I completely understand this (and this goes back to a lot of the marketing points made earlier). But it is frustrating to me that we have one of the larger cities in Iowa right next to us, and I feel as though there is virtually NO UNI presence in that town, and there is very little involvement from Waterloo with the University. There is just WAY too much separation between UNI and Waterloo. It, IMO, feels like Waterloo is 100 miles away. We should be drawing off of that population a lot more than we are (attendance, fans, dollars, ect).

[DomeIsHome]

Re: Dome Environment

We have a blast on gameday with our tents, grill, music and about 40 people. We are constantly inviting more and more people to join us, too. In the past 5 years we have gone from about 8 people to as many as 50 people at a pregame. Always room for more , too. At least once a year a friend will ask, "You actually tailgate at a UNI game?" I tell them yes and that we have a great time and to join us. Once they do, they usually come back at least one more time. We need more groups out there doing this. I have just as much fun or more at a home UNI tailgate as I have ever had in Iowa City, Wisconsin, ISU etc.

Which lot do you tailgate in? I'm actually going to tailgate in a lot this year (for the last 5 just did it at my house because I lived in CF, now I don't) and I'm trying to figure out which one to set up shop in.

[FOTY]

Re: Dome Environment

Each lot is a little different. Are you looking for where the college-aged group hangs, the area where the money hangs, or the "family orientated" area? Do you prefer concrete or grass? What are you looking for in a tailgate?

I've used them all and have found my place South of the "Dike" lot (grassy area).