Fan Attendance

[Bob_Ballew]

Although the Big XII has had tremendous success with attendance and Million Fan March overall, many shcools lagged way behind others. Besides having a winning team, can any of you give me examples of promotions or ideas that promote fan attendance? Baylor averages around 4000 per game and it should at least be double that.

[swok34]

I think a lot of schools employ the "elementary school" tactic...
they've had it at OU for years and award prizes to the top 3 elementary schools that have the best attendance. I think the kids get free tickets to the game through their schools.

I've also seen OU try to involve the students more, though they get in free, they typically are rowdier than your typical crowd..
by giving away free trips, books, etc.

[Bball Girl]

Tech gave all season ticket holders two free general admission to the Rutgers game and a two for one offer on general admission tickets for the Baylor game. I passed mine on to a friend who brought her daughters..fans in the making. They also offer holiday packs and a family package with snacks and tickets at a good price.

Usually for Texas or OU, they give the students an extra deal...let them in all in free or something.

[ISUbballfan]

At Iowa State we have the little clone club. Kids up to and including 8th grade can join. I think it is now $30.00 a year for that you get a T-shirt, adimisson to all home women basketball games not including NCAA games, women's basketball media guide hard cover very nice. A special section behind one of the baskets, a pizza party at the end of the year. I think they have started limit the club to around 900 members. When my son was in the club he would get a month newletter during the season. It is a great deal.

[spooky]

Based on the news lately, I don't know if the "Little Clone Club" is the best name right now http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/wink.gif

[YCN]

spooky, that is just too hilarious!

I wonder when the Raelians will announce that their personal geneticist has verified through gene testing that indeed their "alpha clone" is genuine.

Lots of laughs!

[swok34]

I forgot about the .....whatever they call the Sooner young kids club..they do the same thing. I don't know what it cost now, but they get a t-shirt, into all the games...I know the past couple of years, they got to go to the movies with the team.

[elfdenmom]

Tech has had great success in increasing the fan base by involving surrounding towns and Lubbock youth groups in the half time festivities... Little Dribblers, cheerleader groups, tumbling groups. One great draw that the fans love are the hoola hoop wars from one the the communities near here. They also have elementary schools having free throw competitions. This brings in the parents, and once you have experienced Lady Raider basketball, you want to do it again!

[catladyok]

I wish that someone would clone Plenette Pierson and send her to OU http://hoopscoop.net/ubb/smile.gif

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BIG XII RULES!

[swok34]

oops.

[This message has been edited by swok34 (edited 01-16-2003).]

[NormanGlenn]

The club at OU is called the Sooner Kids Club. In addition to free t-shirt and a variety of other items, free admission to regular season home events in OU soccer, volleyball, WBB, wrestling, baseball, gymnastics, tennis, softball and the Red/White Spring Football game. Also discounted admission to men's BB games and to Kid's Club parents is offered.

[Jimi]

In addition to the school and club promotions that have already been mentioned K-state uses a CatCaravan tour where the coaches and team members travel to area towns for receptions and to sign posters, PowerCat license plates etc. The coaches also do speaking engagements such as civic clubs etc. One other thing Kansas State does well is answer phone calls e-mails etc. These people give you the idea that they care about their fans.

Perhaps the most dramatic promotions have been player "Days" such as Nicole Ohlde day. In Nicole's freshman year we distributed 1,400 tickets in Clay Center, Kansas, Nicole's home town. Last year we sold 2,600 tickets in Clay Center (Population less than 5,000) and Bramlage was sold out. This year our local promotion did not work out but K-State still had Ohlde day. We were a couple thousand short of a sell out but I'm sure it still helped the crowd. A lot of the fans who came to our first and second Nicole Ohlde days now are season ticket holders or regular attendies. I think Kansas State needs to Find ways to Get players "adopted" by communities so that as Ohlde, Wecker & Koehn graduate other players can develop special rooting interest in area communities. Its one thing to support players or a team. Its another to support the efforts of quality individuals you know or feel you know and their team.

[Jimi]

Another thing K-State used to do was include a coupe of extra free game tickets usable for any home game with each season ticket package so that season ticket holders could take a friend to one game as a free guest of KSU. With reserved seats and over 6,500 season ticket sales that idea has gone the way of the Dodo bird but I thought it was a good one.

[swok34]

In addition to the school and club promotions that have already been mentioned K-state uses a CatCaravan tour where the coaches and team members travel to area towns for receptions and to sign posters

I know the coaches all do this in the summer, not sure that the team as a whole does this. Last summer, the women's Final Four
autographed basketball outsold the men's autographed football...
and Sherri is such an incredible speaker.