Ways to promote basketball games

[UNIhoops]

-Have teachers on campus encourage students to attend basketball games. Many teachers are big fans of the program.

-UNI has a lot of teachers throughout Iowa and especially in the Cedar Valley some how get them involved. Teachers are some of the best volunteers and promoters.

-Have sorority and fraternity nights at the games.

-Have RA’s get involved with bringing students. (Dancer night, Bender night, Campbell night) Or what dorm can bring the most students.

-When I attended school coach Mac would send out an email before most of the games. I always thought it was neat receiving an email from the head coach. These emails also kept students up to date when they would be away for a while. I also remember Mac waving and thanking students for coming before and after games.

-Have the Student Alumni Ambassadors promote the games. When I was in school many of them attended the games. They also set up the bus trip to Iowa City.

-Have players go dorm to dorm asking for students to come. I think my freshman year (2003) at UNI a group of players came and asked us to come to the games. I honestly think if they went to some of the dorm floors and politely ask students to come – they would come. If I was a freshman in college and Lucus O’Rear came to my dorm and asked me to attend a basketball game. I would certainly think about it.

-I also know the players on the team have lots of friends on campus. I am pretty sure they would come if they just were asked. Jersey chasers could be some of the best fans.

-Until it sells out - only allow the students to stand in the middle bleachers. This way general admission people aren’t yelling at the students to sit down. Also general admission people won’t be upset with students in front of them. Students that just want to watch the game also could sit and watch instead of being forced to stand if they want to see.

-Have other athletes on campus attend games. I know the men’s basketball team attends all home football and most volleyball games.

-Have cheerleaders and dance team promoting games.

-Get Cedar Falls high schools involved. I am guessing next year people will come to watch Austin Pehl play.

-Have the ticket system go back to students only needing an ID to attend the game.

-Win at home


I think MCleod Center could have a wonderful atmosphere. It might just take one game to get a fan to come and hopefully they come back.

[clenz]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

-Have teachers on campus encourage students to attend basketball games. Many teachers are big fans of the program.

-UNI has a lot of teachers throughout Iowa and especially in the Cedar Valley some how get them involved. Teachers are some of the best volunteers and promoters.

-Have sorority and fraternity nights at the games.

-Have RA’s get involved with bringing students. (Dancer night, Bender night, Campbell night) Or what dorm can bring the most students.

-When I attended school coach Mac would send out an email before most of the games. I always thought it was neat receiving an email from the head coach. These emails also kept students up to date when they would be away for a while. I also remember Mac waving and thanking students for coming before and after games.

-Have the Student Alumni Ambassadors promote the games. When I was in school many of them attended the games. They also set up the bus trip to Iowa City.

-Have players go dorm to dorm asking for students to come. I think my freshman year (2003) at UNI a group of players came and asked us to come to the games. I honestly think if they went to some of the dorm floors and politely ask students to come – they would come. If I was a freshman in college and Lucus O’Rear came to my dorm and asked me to attend a basketball game. I would certainly think about it.

-I also know the players on the team have lots of friends on campus. I am pretty sure they would come if they just were asked. Jersey chasers could be some of the best fans.

-Until it sells out - only allow the students to stand in the middle bleachers. This way general admission people aren’t yelling at the students to sit down. Also general admission people won’t be upset with students in front of them. Students that just want to watch the game also could sit and watch instead of being forced to stand if they want to see.

-Have other athletes on campus attend games. I know the men’s basketball team attends all home football and most volleyball games.

-Have cheerleaders and dance team promoting games.

-Get Cedar Falls high schools involved. I am guessing next year people will come to watch Austin Pehl play.

-Have the ticket system go back to students only needing an ID to attend the game.

-Win at home


I think MCleod Center could have a wonderful atmosphere. It might just take one game to get a fan to come and hopefully they come back.

-Have the ticket system go back to students only needing an ID to attend the game.


Already done. However, the student just ignore the emails UNI sends out. Thus the instructions and the personal pin of each person gets deleted with the email. Students are now *****ing they can't register online, when told about the email they know they are wrong but get more defensive because they are wrong...which happens a lot, and not just with students.

[9YRPLAN]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

that was a ton of typing to not include the word "beer"

[Victory_For_UNI]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

-Have teachers on campus encourage students to attend basketball games. Many teachers are big fans of the program.

-UNI has a lot of teachers throughout Iowa and especially in the Cedar Valley some how get them involved. Teachers are some of the best volunteers and promoters.

-Have sorority and fraternity nights at the games.

-Have RA’s get involved with bringing students. (Dancer night, Bender night, Campbell night) Or what dorm can bring the most students.

-When I attended school coach Mac would send out an email before most of the games. I always thought it was neat receiving an email from the head coach. These emails also kept students up to date when they would be away for a while. I also remember Mac waving and thanking students for coming before and after games.

-Have the Student Alumni Ambassadors promote the games. When I was in school many of them attended the games. They also set up the bus trip to Iowa City.

-Have players go dorm to dorm asking for students to come. I think my freshman year (2003) at UNI a group of players came and asked us to come to the games. I honestly think if they went to some of the dorm floors and politely ask students to come – they would come. If I was a freshman in college and Lucus O’Rear came to my dorm and asked me to attend a basketball game. I would certainly think about it.

-I also know the players on the team have lots of friends on campus. I am pretty sure they would come if they just were asked. Jersey chasers could be some of the best fans.

-Until it sells out - only allow the students to stand in the middle bleachers. This way general admission people aren’t yelling at the students to sit down. Also general admission people won’t be upset with students in front of them. Students that just want to watch the game also could sit and watch instead of being forced to stand if they want to see.

-Have other athletes on campus attend games. I know the men’s basketball team attends all home football and most volleyball games.

-Have cheerleaders and dance team promoting games.

-Get Cedar Falls high schools involved. I am guessing next year people will come to watch Austin Pehl play.

-Have the ticket system go back to students only needing an ID to attend the game.

-Win at home


I think MCleod Center could have a wonderful atmosphere. It might just take one game to get a fan to come and hopefully they come back.

Living on 4th floor Rider that year was the single biggest reason I am a fan of UNI to this date.

[06panther10]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

-Have the ticket system go back to students only needing an ID to attend the game.


Already done. However, the student just ignore the emails UNI sends out. Thus the instructions and the personal pin of each person gets deleted with the email. Students are now *****ing they can't register online, when told about the email they know they are wrong but get more defensive because they are wrong...which happens a lot, and not just with students.

The student ticketing has been a joke. I don't blame students for not coming for that reason. Its hard to even know how a student can get to the game. The way students get in has changed about three times this year, and it is hard to keep up.

I don't know why you can't just bring your ID like it used to be. The whole reason to do the online stuff was because they didn't want people being turned away at the door because there were too many people. They wanted you to know for sure that you could get into the game. But right now, that sure as hell is not a problem.

[Panther78]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

At the school I'm at the majority of teachers are UNI grads. There are about four who are sport fans and two of the four are hawk fans who wouldn't go to a Panther game unless the hawks were playing them. I think there are a lot those kind of fans around. The two have been rather quiet the last couple of months. When I see them I like to trip them. They are really a couple of morons. They really are. Has nothing to do with their fan allegiance.

[Panther-at-Arms]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

I agree with the facebook...that's a great idea.

What about some sort of podcast?

[achrist70]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

There is already a facebook group, Hrubes runs it a he gives a lot of info. I think the bigger problem is students not showing school pride. To many Hawkeye fans. How has that treated you? 13-12 and 2-a lot big ten. Even with football other than homecoming students didn't come out to the games.

[9YRPLAN]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

There is already a facebook group, Hrubes runs it a he gives a lot of info. I think the bigger problem is students not showing school pride. To many Hawkeye fans. How has that treated you? 13-12 and 2-a lot big ten. Even with football other than homecoming students didn't come out to the games.

what does this mean

[clenz]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

The student ticketing has been a joke. I don't blame students for not coming for that reason. Its hard to even know how a student can get to the game. The way students get in has changed about three times this year, and it is hard to keep up.

I don't know why you can't just bring your ID like it used to be. The whole reason to do the online stuff was because they didn't want people being turned away at the door because there were too many people. They wanted you to know for sure that you could get into the game. But right now, that sure as hell is not a problem.

It has changed once during basketball, and that was last week. The tickets, up until this point had to be picked up at a ticket office....not that damn hard to get a ticket, I never had a problem getting one. Now it has changed to do it so it gets put on your student ID, and again, I didn't have a problem with it working for the SIU or Creighton game. I don't buy the "it's hard to keep up on how to get a ticket, woe is me". There is e-mails sent out weekly, sometimes two a week, about basketball games and how to get tickets for them. The instructions for how to register online and the PIN were sent out during football season. I, and many others, registered online with no problem them to do our tickets that way. With the change in the ticketing system it didn't carry over to basketball, so there was an e-mail sent out BEFORE basketball season saying students would have to pick tickets up AT ONE OF THE TICKET OFFICES. Then about 2 or 3 weeks ago there were 2 e-mails sent out that included the PIN number again, and the instructions how to do it. I'm assuming students just deleted it and didn't actually loook at it. At this point I don't feel bad for the students who can't keep up with the ticket office and marketing e-mails. It isn't that damn hard to get a ****ing ticket to a basketball game if you really wanted to go. Hell, Wednesday night they had the actual tickets for students preprinted, and if it wasn't on your ID they gave you the tickets at the freaking door. What more do you want? Do you want them to go door to ****ing door to give the students their tickets?

UNI needs to create an Athletics Page on Facebook, get students to become fans of the page and then send out reminders about games. Students ignore e-mails...I work at a college...I know. You have to find ways to communicate with students in the way they want to be communicated with. E-mail is a good start, but you better find other ways, text messages, Facebook, Twitter...use all of the mediums to get things across.

UNI already has about 3 applications for Facebook. I have the football fan, basketball fan, and UNI (In general fan). There is also multiple UNI Facebook groups, like mentioned. 08-09 Panther Posse, 1,000,000 UNI Panther Fans, Northern Iowa Football, are just a couple of the facebook groups. I get messages on facebook from Eric Hrubes a day or 2 before every home game about the up coming game and how to get tickets. Heck, here is the message from the CU game, as you can see, even he tells students how to get tickets


MBB GAME VS. CREIGHTON/ T.C.’S BIRTHDAY PARTY
So far this year, the men's basketball team has had a great season and we appreciate all your support! This coming Sunday, February 8, 2009 at 11:30 to Tip-off, T.C. is inviting you to join him in his birthday bash! Come help celebrate with T.C. and enjoy complimentary Papa John's pizza, beverages, and homemade cupcakes up in the East Observation deck in the McLeod center. There will also be bean bags for people to play. Afterwards, grab your seat to help cheer on the Panthers vs. Creighton at 1:05 PM.


GETTING TICKETS TO THE BASKETBALL GAME MADE EASY!!!!!!!
The ticket system has just made getting tickets very efficient for students to get. There are TWO ways of getting your tickets to the Men’s Basketball game.


1ST WAY
You will be able to secure your seat in the student section by logging onto www.unipanthers.com/Tickets and clicking on ‘UNI STUDENTS ONLINE TICKETING. You will no longer have to walk ALL the way to the ticket office to redeem your ticket. When you log on and request your seat for each game your ticket will automatically be loaded onto your Student ID card.


2ND WAY
Just show up the night of the game and present your STUDENT ID CARD and you will be able gain admission. Who knew it would be that easy to get into a UNI Basketball game.


IT’S SO EASY TO RECEIVE A TICKET EVERYONE. PLEASE DON’T MISS OUT ON A UNI ATHLETIC EVENT!!!!


We hope to see everyone this Sunday!!


Go Panthers!!!!!!


Eric Hrubes
Graduate Assistant
University of Northern Iowa Athletics

[Newsbreaker]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

Good ideas, almost all of them.

The thing is you have to find a way to target more than just the dorms - UNI has fewer and fewer kids living on-campus all the time. Signs, announcements, events in the Union would help some, as would some sort of signage on the Hill reminding people about the upcoming schedule.

Personally, I think student attendance is down in part because of a lack of community interest, and community interest is down because UNI does a pathetic job of marketing basketball to the Cedar Valley and state.

Step 1 - stop paying ME&V (or trading with them, or whatever UNI ends up doing) to produce commercials that can be made more cheaply elsewhere.

Step 2 - Media blitz before home games. We're not selling out, so give away a bunch of tickets (and then sell them concessions, etc).

Step 3 - Fix that nasty as sign out in front of the UNI-Dome. If you can't put in something that looks like it's from 2009, try something that's from 1999. A LOT of people drive by those buildings daily, and the way the campus announces its presence is disgusting.

There are a million other things you can do - but those are a very basic start.

[fur ball]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

[QUOTE=clenz;159729] Do you want them to go door to ****ing door to give the students their tickets? [quote]

Maybe the players and coach should be going door to door to give some out
some student tickets.

[bigticket]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

Being down in CR, I would like to see a bus trip from down here up to UNI for a couple games a year. The trip would include some "pre-game" stuff as well as a ticket. Not sure who would set it up or sponsor it, or even getting the word out, but that's how I'd goto a mid-week game. This would probably work out of DM too.

I also agree with teaming up with the Isle of Capri.

[GoCatz!]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

Bringing back the family four pack was a great idea, but the only promotion for that I have seen is on the UNI athletics web page. That makes no sense...people going to that web page already follow UNI athletics, they need to bring in fresh faces.

The empty corporate seats are bothersome, and should be easily fixed except the scanners don't work on the tickets from the booklets...come on, how hard is it to figure out a freaking bar code. Get that figured out and if you don't use your tix, you get moved up to the corners. I know its a novel idea, but people who go to the games deserve better seats.

Advertise locally on the radio, not 1540 during Rima's show...again the people listening already know...advertise during Bob & Tom in the morning or during Rush Limbaugh or on 1650 (sports talk...sports fans, I think I see a connection).

If your going to spend money on TV spots, get rid of the stupid spinning panther head and do it while your potential target audience is watching...during the local news, during college basketball games on espn, fsn, cbs, etc.

And... all of the above.

[wloopanther]

Re: Ways to promote basketball games

Apparently the people taking the tickets didn't get the memo about letting students in with their ID's on Sunday.

While waiting in line to get in the game, there was about 10 male students all trying to get in the door with just their ID. They were turned away and told they had to get a ticket outside. The line was still very long at this point to buy tickets. I wouldnt be surprised if they all just walked back to the dorms in disgust...