Attendance

[Victory_For_UNI]

Re: Attendance

I think selling beer is a good way to raise money for the department, but the claim that doing so will improve (or maintain) UNI's academic reputation is one of the more rediculous ones ever made.

I agree that is "rediculous," and that's not what I was saying at all. I'm saying that we are asking faculty to take unpaid leaves, and slimming down/dropping programs. I'm also saying it is "rediculous" to sit idly by as our football program loses 500k a year and refuse to look at other options for revenue raising because we are in Iowa and have values. You can try to justify it by saying it creates exposure, adds to the collegiate atmosphere, etc. But at the end of the day, if it doesn't make dollars, it doesn't make sense, especially in this economic climate.

[TH1974]

Re: Attendance

I agree that is "rediculous," and that's not what I was saying at all. I'm saying that we are asking faculty to take unpaid leaves, and slimming down/dropping programs. I'm also saying it is "rediculous" to sit idly by as our football program loses 500k a year and refuse to look at other options for revenue raising because we are in Iowa and have values. You can try to justify it by saying it creates exposure, adds to the collegiate atmosphere, etc. But at the end of the day, if it doesn't make dollars, it doesn't make sense, especially in this economic climate.

Gotcha. I misinterpreted your "If we're going to continue claim to be a serious academic institution..." line in the earlier post.

[JayJ79]

Re: Attendance

Nebraska charges a fee of $8 on their ticket orders (now whether that is per ticket or per order, I don't know as I only got one). And that's on top of having ticket prices $12 higher than any of the other 15 sites hosting NCAA volleyball first/second round matches.

[panther84]

Re: Attendance

I had a beer at the Jewel concert in the Mcleod Center...I'm just saying.

[TH1974]

Re: Attendance

FWIW, I think there are two separate arguments for selling beer at games:

-That it will improve attendance
-That it will raise money

I'm sure the second one would happen, but I doubt the first would change drastically.

[Victory_For_UNI]

Re: Attendance

Gotcha. I misinterpreted your "If we're going to continue claim to be a serious academic institution..." line in the earlier post.

I just meant that to lessen the integrity of academic programs in the name of money, it is foolish to turn a blind eye to the $500k elephant in the dome that has the potential to at least break even with a little creativity.

[Victory_For_UNI]

Re: Attendance

FWIW, I think there are two separate arguments for selling beer at games:

-That it will improve attendance
-That it will raise money

I'm sure the second one would happen, but I doubt the first would change drastically.

Agreed. Kaboom.

[TH1974]

Re: Attendance

From the NCAA Division I manual p. 380-81 (390-91 of the pdf) :

31.6.2 Concessions. The following conditions or restrictions apply to all concession items sold at any event
sponsored or administered by the Association:
(a) Any merchandise or material bearing any name, logo, trademarks or service marks of the Association that is
to be sold or distributed at an event sponsored or administered by the Association must have the prior approval
of the NCAA president before being sold or distributed. No such merchandise or material shall be sold
or distributed by anyone except as designated by the NCAA. The host institution may sell merchandise that
features an institutional mark or logo at NCAA competition only if it has guaranteed a sellout of the NCAA
merchandise at the site of the competition and has agreed to provide the NCAA championship 25 percent
of gross sales (after sales taxes) of all non-NCAA championship merchandise. The quantity of NCAA merchandise
sent to the site shall have the prior approval of the president and shall not be less than a comparable
shipment to a comparable site of the previous year’s championship. (Revised: 12/4/89)
(b) The NCAA owns the rights to all concession items other than food or drink sold at such events. Any merchandise
or material to be sold at such events must have prior approval of the NCAA president, and any
unapproved material shall be barred from the premises. If the championship facility has prior contractual
commitments with outside vendors, the NCAA will endeavor to work with such vendors to advance the policies
of the Association in the sale of concession items as herein stated.
(c) The NCAA may authorize others, including the host institution or the coaches organization for the sport
involved in the particular event, to sell and distribute concession items.
(d) Income payable to the NCAA from the sale of concession items other than food and drink at such events shall
be included in the gross receipts of the championship.
(e) No alcoholic beverages shall be sold or dispensed for public consumption at any event sponsored by or administered by the Association.

http://www.ncaapublications.com/ProductsDetailView.aspx?sku=D110&AspxAutoDetectCookieSupport=1

[jman2004]

Re: Attendance

Attendance numbers are a combination of MANY factors and cannot be solely attributed to any SINGLE factor.

Obviously, larger populated areas have a better chance of seeing higher attendance. That's just common sense. Schools that do not offer football (Creighton, WSU, Bradley) also have a better chance of seeing higher attendance numbers. Also common sense. It's all they have.

You also have to entertain and win.

I don't know how much selling beer would really impact the attendance numbers considering the biggest black hole in the McLeod (in my opinion) is the student section bleachers. When those are filled, the McLeod is rockin'! I don't see how selling alcohol is going to draw 18-20 year old students to games. Off-campus 21 year olds and older, maybe, but how many are going to be willing to pay 5 or 6 bucks for a beer when they can pick up a 12 pack at Kwik Star for roughly the same price . . .

I think our attendance numbers are what they are . . . probably not worth diving into any more than everyone in this thread has already done.

[Victory_For_UNI]

Re: Attendance

From the NCAA Division I manual p. 380-81 (390-91 of the pdf) :



http://www.ncaapublications.com/Prod...ookieSupport=1

Fair enough. To this point, I had not seen anybody provide that and that point is made often without being backed up. I stand corrected. Screw the NCAA, if we go NAIA, can we sell alcohol?

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Attendance

For what it's worth, that portion that was excerpted was from the "31.1 ADMINISTRATION OF NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS" segment. That was referring to NCAA Championship events (aka- FCS playoffs, NCAA Mens Basketball Tourney, etc...). I believe there is another rule out there, but I don't know where it is.

[TH1974]

Re: Attendance

For what it's worth, that portion that was excerpted was from the "31.1 ADMINISTRATION OF NCAA CHAMPIONSHIPS" segment. That was referring to NCAA Championship events (aka- FCS playoffs, NCAA Mens Basketball Tourney, etc...). I believe there is another rule out there, but I don't know where it is.

Not true. The part I quoted earlier was from 31.6 , Rights to NCAA Properties and Marketing Restrictions.

There is a part in 31.1, referring specifically to Championship events, below:

31.1.14 restricted Advertising and sponsorship Activities. The following activities are restricted
when they occur in conjunction with NCAA championships. Other restrictions are set forth in the championships
handbooks.
31.1.14.1 Advertising. Advertising policies of the Association are designed to exclude those advertisements
that do not appear to be in the best interests of higher education. The NCAA president shall have the authority
to rule in cases where doubt exists concerning acceptable advertisers and advertising copy of game programs,
broadcasts and telecasts of NCAA championships; however, the following expressly are prohibited: (Revised:
8/15/89)
(a) Alcoholic beverages (except as specified below);
(b) Cigarettes and other tobacco products;
(c) Professional sports organizations or personnel (except as specified in the championships handbooks) in
games other than licensed postseason football games; and
(d) Organizations promoting gambling.
31.1.14.1.1 Malt Beverages, Beer and Wine Advertisements. Advertising of malt beverages, beer
and wine products that do not exceed six percent alcohol by volume may be used in game programs. Such
advertisements, however, shall not compose more than 14 percent of the space in the program devoted to
advertising or not more than 60 seconds per hour of any telecast or broadcast (either a single 60-second
commercial or two 30-second commercials).
31.1.14.1.2 Sponsorships. A championships activity or promotion may not be sponsored by liquor,
tobacco, beer or wine companies or by professional sports organizations or teams at any time.
372
31.1.15 Availability of Alcoholic Beverages. Alcoholic beverages shall not be sold or otherwise made available for public consumption at any championship event sponsored by or administered by the Association, nor shall any such beverages be brought to the site during the championship (during the period from the time

There are references made in 31.6 about championships. The whole thing is less than clear to me as to whether "any event sponsored by or administered by the Association" refers only to championship events or any NCAA event, especially since they specifically state that alcohol is forbidden at championship events in 31.1. It's all clear as mud, unfortunately.

In checking into this, I found lots of statements from coaches and administrators at schools and the NCAA against selling alcohol. From this first glance, the general sentiment seems to be against it. I doubt it'll ever happen, but with the current tough financial times, maybe there's a better chance than ever.

[UNI Fight]

Re: Attendance

Our attendance average needs to keep climbing. I don't think a lot of people in the Cedar Valley/Iowa appreciate just how special this team is. How often do we get to see Northern Iowa at the top of the Valley standings(hopefully for many years to come), or have coaches/teams in the valley wishing they could have the same winning chemistry we have in Cedar Falls right now. Honestly, I don't know of any other team that seems to have better chemistry than the UNI Panthers right now. Watching this team is a blast because 1.)they win 2.) They out hustle the other team on the court 3.) These guys all seem to genuinely enjoy playing with each other. They look like a bunch of best friends out playing in rec league, but a very good rec league.

[Panthers to the Bone]

Re: Attendance

http://bradleyfans.com/vb/showpost.php?p=155564&postcount=166

UNI has now dropped to below Evansville for attendance:

Through January 3:

_____________________Average______% of capacity_
Creighton___________16,229_(6)________94.0______
Wichita State_______10,344_(10)_______98.5______
Bradley______________9,072_(6)________81.3______
Missouri State_______6,517_(8)________59.3______
illinois state_______5,962_(9)________58.5______
Southern Illinois____5,003_(5)________53.2______
Evansville___________4,898_(8)________42.2______
Northern Iowa________4,646_(6)________69.9______
Indiana State________4,554_(6)________44.7______
Drake________________3,959_(9)________55.4______

[GoCatz!]

Re: Attendance

For the non-athletic events, I seem to remember some rule in place that if they could estimate the crowd consisting of 2/3 or more people that were of age, then alcohol sales would be permitted. I have only been to a few events, but I remember no alcohol sales for Ja Rule in the dome (the crowd was quite young) and I know for a fact I bought a ton of beer when Martina McBride was at the McLeod.