I already know this is stupid, but.....

[Nostical]

I'm sitting on a plane right now flying to San Diego on business and since they offer wifi I can communicate. That's pretty cool.

So I was thinking about what it would take to fill the Rent. Let's take Saturday's crucial game as an example. For us it's easy. We'll all be there. And I believe the students will be there in force, too. But we still need to fill a lot of empty seats. And we don't have much time. So I was wondering just how much of an incentive would be required to get the currently unmotivated individual to the game. Let's get crazy. What if this were my offer: I'd pay $1M to any person who can get 5,000 people who have never attended a game to be in their seats 15 minutes before kickoff and still be there at game's end. If that offer intrigued you, what would you do? I assume you'd try and rustle up some money (unless you already have it, like Palatine) buy 5,000 of the $15 tickets (cost:$75,000) and then furiously get the word out--by announcing it on line, on social media, in the Courant--then alerting the radio/TV stations who would broadcast your intentions as a good human interest story (cost:$25,000?) And what would you say? How about that you will give away the tickets---plus pay $100---($50 upon entrance and $50 upon exit) to the first 5,000 people who showed up at Gate C by 2:30pm on Saturday. (Cost:$500,000). Assuming you succeed, your efforts would allow you to pocket a cool net $400,000. Would it work? It's ludicrous of course, but do you think anyone would be able to collect the $1M?

And if they could, why haven't we been able to offer some more rational degree of incentive by now--beyond a lower ticket price which helps those constrained by the price, but doesn't necessarily incentivize the currently uninterested. What about those who have never gone. Can we get them to go? My idea is crazy of course, but if you ratchet it back, what exactly could be offered as an incentive to have the masses turn out? And I mean NOW--not when we're in a better conference or winning lots more games.

Why can't we solve this problem? We all have ideas and opinions. Dooley, Chin Diesel and others have already offered some specific suggestions. I told Warde Manuel when he was at our tailgate (and later by email) that we have a lot of concerned and creative folks on the boneyard who might be interesting for him and his folks to listen to on the subject.
Am I right about that or is it---- really stupid?

 

[Jimmy Serrano]

Did you name drop Freescooter to Warde at your tailgate?

Seriously, I'm NOT expecting a good student turnout on Sat. They are heading home for Thanksgiving and there's a hoop game at Gampel 3.5 before kickoff. I hope I'm shocked by the turnout.

As for your thoughts, I don't think you can ever force people to invest time and money into something that they have little to no interest in partaking in. The team has to win. Period. The reality is that we'll probably never see the days of the sellouts again in this conference. If we win we will average somewhere in the low 30's. If we were 9-0 and ranked we'd fill up the Rent like Houston did last weekend. But that wouldn't be the norm.

 

[Dooley]

I LOVE your passion and loyalty and this is absolutely an issue for UConn not only for this Saturday but also for next year's season ticket base. I'm afraid that nothing can be done - the casual fans have spoken (or rather, they remain silent by not attending). The AD is giving tickets away and there still isn't enough interest to go to the game. That in itself is embarrassing and the report of only 23K tickets sold has left me incredibly discouraged with our fanbase (the casual fans). Offering money to folks to attend games cries desperation and takes away from the spirit of why people should want to attend games - their love of UConn, Connecticut, sports, football, a fun Saturday afternoon with friends/family, etc. But that's not to say there couldn't be some sort of incentives involved with getting people to buy football season tickets next year. Example: discounts on basketball tickets.

Goal #1 should be doing everything possible to raise the season ticket base back into the mid/upper 20s for next season. It's far too difficult to sell tickets to games to casual fans when the kickoff times aren't announced until 6 days before the game. People can safely buy basketball and hockey and other sport tickets months in advance and remain 100% confident that the start time for the game will begin at the posted time. That's why season ticket accounts are VITAL towards re-establishing our attendance. The CDA and UConn both know it's a huge issue and I hope that this offseason will result in some very drastic changes to how UConn markets football tickets and the program itself. We won't be entering 2016 hoping to scrape together 3 wins. We will be entering 2016 with bowl game and/or, quite possibly, conference championship aspirations.

 

[Pudge]

That initial game of the season - Pratt & Whitney day - was interesting. You did Military Appreciation. How about Healthcare/Hospital night ... and pull in all the staff at deep discounts with family and T-shirts.

We aren't going to get back to 2008 for awhile. It is a FAR better tailgate environment than the first few years; but, we seem to have gotten out of lots of folks routines and the young alums & young CT stakeholders have caught the bug. Need to pull the promotional.

 

[UConnJim]

End of the day, winning will bring fans. Most important, filling the Rent requires a bigger season ticket base and decent home out of conference games. If UConn wins one of the 2 remaining games and becomes bowl eligible that will help increase the season ticket base for next year.

 

[Nostical]

I'm not really advocating paying for attendance. It was merely an example of how to possibly deal with the frustration of getting more people to attend games who are currently---disinterested---in the football program.
It's called building demand. We need to build demand for our product. If we were a candy bar we might repackage it, make it in different sizes at different price points, hand it out as samples, get a celebrity endorser, create a catchy jingle, tout its delicious flavor, highlight the ingredients, advertise creatively on various media platforms, pay for its product placement in TV shows and movies, etc
We actually do have a great product to sell. Even currently. I understand the competing distractions that are at play on any given Saturday but we can't let those be roadblocks to our success. We need to find (legal) ways to create the fever and then make sure lots of people catch it.
Why is that so darn difficult?

 

[FDNY99]

Not you aren't with the group of guys with the Range Rovers in the Gold lot who park in the middle of the row around the light pole are you? Warde comes by that tailgate every game...

I'm sitting on a plane right now flying to San Diego on business and since they offer wifi I can communicate. That's pretty cool.

So I was thinking about what it would take to fill the Rent. Let's take Saturday's crucial game as an example. For us it's easy. We'll all be there. And I believe the students will be there in force, too. But we still need to fill a lot of empty seats. And we don't have much time. So I was wondering just how much of an incentive would be required to get the currently unmotivated individual to the game. Let's get crazy. What if this were my offer: I'd pay $1M to any person who can get 5,000 people who have never attended a game to be in their seats 15 minutes before kickoff and still be there at game's end. If that offer intrigued you, what would you do? I assume you'd try and rustle up some money (unless you already have it, like Palatine) buy 5,000 of the $15 tickets (cost:$75,000) and then furiously get the word out--by announcing it on line, on social media, in the Courant--then alerting the radio/TV stations who would broadcast your intentions as a good human interest story (cost:$25,000?) And what would you say? How about that you will give away the tickets---plus pay $100---($50 upon entrance and $50 upon exit) to the first 5,000 people who showed up at Gate C by 2:30pm on Saturday. (Cost:$500,000). Assuming you succeed, your efforts would allow you to pocket a cool net $400,000. Would it work? It's ludicrous of course, but do you think anyone would be able to collect the $1M?

And if they could, why haven't we been able to offer some more rational degree of incentive by now--beyond a lower ticket price which helps those constrained by the price, but doesn't necessarily incentivize the currently uninterested. What about those who have never gone. Can we get them to go? My idea is crazy of course, but if you ratchet it back, what exactly could be offered as an incentive to have the masses turn out? And I mean NOW--not when we're in a better conference or winning lots more games.

Why can't we solve this problem? We all have ideas and opinions. Dooley, Chin Diesel and others have already offered some specific suggestions. I told Warde Manuel when he was at our tailgate (and later by email) that we have a lot of concerned and creative folks on the boneyard who might be interesting for him and his folks to listen to on the subject.
Am I right about that or is it---- really stupid?

 

[warbler1055]

End of the day, winning will bring fans. Most important, filling the Rent requires a bigger season ticket base and decent home out of conference games. If UConn wins one of the 2 remaining games and becomes bowl eligible that will help increase the season ticket base for next year.

There can be no doubt, "If you win they will come!!!" Field of Dreams!!!!

 

[Nostical]

Not you aren't with the group of guys with the Range Rovers in the Gold lot who park in the middle of the row around the light pole are you? Warde comes by that tailgate every game...

No. I'm in Blue lot. I invited Warde once and Susan twice. It's not easy for them due to time constraints on game days--mostly fundraising with boosters etc---but they both came.

 

[Duncan Idaho]

I remember companies beyond P&W like Electric Boat had very large athletic clubs that sponsored all kinds of teams and leagues, Yankee, Sox games...wonder if UConn has tried those avenues?

 

[BlueandOG]

The bottom line: people will not go if it is not entertaining. I hate to write this, but since the Fiesta Bowl, I like the idea of being a UConn football fan more than actually being a fan. I am active on this board, have had seasons tickets since 1998, trash talk other sports fans (particularly BC since I live near Boston), frequently check on UCnn football news, etc. However, some games are SO BORING I have a few beers with friends and head back to Boston early.

I am pleased to report that I have stayed until the end for most games this season. Big improvement! Excelsior to HCBD and the hearty Huskies!

 

[outlaw]

just got an email from Wood n Tap offering a promo code for their loyalty members "WOODNTAP" !

 

[DoctorWho85]

I liked when they'd bring in a bunch of local high school bands to play with UCMB. When I was in high school I remember sitting in the middle of Memorial Stadium with a bunch of other Sax players from other schools and UCMB and feeling like this was way cooler than high school marching band. It made me more interested in going to UConn (I'll be honest, I wasn't into sports as a high schooler so going to a "basketball school" seemed like a dragged). But I remember a couple times playing with other high school bands in the UCMB and seeing how excited they were to be a part of the show and eager to come back to see the full show to other games.

Winning will help, but doing local things like that and as others have said appreciation days can help build the local community. I'd like to see the coaches and players out doing meet in greets not just at the stadium, but at local events. I'm not sure it'll help with attendance, but at least it shows an effort by the school to build a local presence

 

[Marty Jackson]

I'm sitting on a plane right now flying to San Diego on business and since they offer wifi I can communicate. That's pretty cool.

So I was thinking about what it would take to fill the Rent. Let's take Saturday's crucial game as an example. For us it's easy. We'll all be there. And I believe the students will be there in force, too. But we still need to fill a lot of empty seats. And we don't have much time. So I was wondering just how much of an incentive would be required to get the currently unmotivated individual to the game. Let's get crazy. What if this were my offer: I'd pay $1M to any person who can get 5,000 people who have never attended a game to be in their seats 15 minutes before kickoff and still be there at game's end. If that offer intrigued you, what would you do? I assume you'd try and rustle up some money (unless you already have it, like Palatine) buy 5,000 of the $15 tickets (cost:$75,000) and then furiously get the word out--by announcing it on line, on social media, in the Courant--then alerting the radio/TV stations who would broadcast your intentions as a good human interest story (cost:$25,000?) And what would you say? How about that you will give away the tickets---plus pay $100---($50 upon entrance and $50 upon exit) to the first 5,000 people who showed up at Gate C by 2:30pm on Saturday. (Cost:$500,000). Assuming you succeed, your efforts would allow you to pocket a cool net $400,000. Would it work? It's ludicrous of course, but do you think anyone would be able to collect the $1M?

And if they could, why haven't we been able to offer some more rational degree of incentive by now--beyond a lower ticket price which helps those constrained by the price, but doesn't necessarily incentivize the currently uninterested. What about those who have never gone. Can we get them to go? My idea is crazy of course, but if you ratchet it back, what exactly could be offered as an incentive to have the masses turn out? And I mean NOW--not when we're in a better conference or winning lots more games.

Why can't we solve this problem? We all have ideas and opinions. Dooley, Chin Diesel and others have already offered some specific suggestions. I told Warde Manuel when he was at our tailgate (and later by email) that we have a lot of concerned and creative folks on the boneyard who might be interesting for him and his folks to listen to on the subject.
Am I right about that or is it---- really stupid?

you can't just give tickets away without destroying your current season ticket holder base.
it's a hard enough sell as it is. but when the practice is to flood the market with free tickets, not sure that will boost ticket sales. it might boost attendance in the short run, but long term its a flawed practice.

 

[Marty Jackson]

I'm not really advocating paying for attendance. It was merely an example of how to possibly deal with the frustration of getting more people to attend games who are currently---disinterested---in the football program.
It's called building demand. We need to build demand for our product. If we were a candy bar we might repackage it, make it in different sizes at different price points, hand it out as samples, get a celebrity endorser, create a catchy jingle, tout its delicious flavor, highlight the ingredients, advertise creatively on various media platforms, pay for its product placement in TV shows and movies, etc
We actually do have a great product to sell. Even currently. I understand the competing distractions that are at play on any given Saturday but we can't let those be roadblocks to our success. We need to find (legal) ways to create the fever and then make sure lots of people catch it.
Why is that so darn difficult?

WIN...
that's the answer and it's been said numerous times.
you want people to get interested. beat houston. that will resonate with the people in CT.
Doesn't help this year, but it goes a long way for positive vibes in 2016/2017...

 

[Drew]

I know of at least 3 different groups that would go to the game this weekend if they had tickets, they just don't want to purchase them. Ridiculous really but thats where were at.

 

[Dooley]

I know of at least 3 different groups that would go to the game this weekend if they had tickets, they just don't want to purchase them. Ridiculous really but thats where were at.

Seriously? $15 is too much? Are they UConn Seniors? They can go for free if they present their student ID at the ticket office.

That is really weak.

 

[freescooter]

Gue

I liked when they'd bring in a bunch of local high school bands to play with UCMB. When I was in high school I remember sitting in the middle of Memorial Stadium with a bunch of other Sax players from other schools and UCMB and feeling like this was way cooler than high school marching band. It made me more interested in going to UConn (I'll be honest, I wasn't into sports as a high schooler so going to a "basketball school" seemed like a dragged). But I remember a couple times playing with other high school bands in the UCMB and seeing how excited they were to be a part of the show and eager to come back to see the full show to other games.

Winning will help, but doing local things like that and as others have said appreciation days can help build the local community. I'd like to see the coaches and players out doing meet in greets not just at the stadium, but at local events. I'm not sure it'll help with attendance, but at least it shows an effort by the school to build a local presence

Guess you missed the Army game. It was band day and there were a bunch of high school bands there.

 

[Drew]

Seriously? $15 is too much? Are they UConn Seniors? They can go for free if they present their student ID at the ticket office.

That is really weak.

Recent grads. Agreed with you completely though its ridiculous. What else could you be doing on a Saturday in CT that would be more fun than day drinking at the Rent and going to the game?

 

[Bonehead]

No. I'm in Blue lot. I invited Warde once and Susan twice. It's not easy for them due to time constraints on game days--mostly fundraising with boosters etc---but they both came.

That's a great OT starter...who would you invite to a UConn Tailgate...

 

[CTMike]

Winning consistently over an extended period of time is key - it took several years of to get where we are today. We are only on the cusp of starting to win... A win this weekend would be huge for momentum next year and changing minds.

Playing teams we care about is also important, and I think we are starting to see that in our future schedule. Frankly I don't care about Houston one bit. I just want UConn to become bowl eligible and play spoiler. But I do care about BC and Syracuse and I think attendance will reflect that. Getting out of this god forsaken conference will help too, but at least WM is scheduling some interesting OOC match ups.

Unfortunately, short of bribery, it will take more time to bring the casual fans back. Not that I'm opposed to bribery.

 

[whaler11]

You can buy tickets in the parking lot for 5 bucks. Anyone who tries to use that excuse is just lying.

 

[BoatShow]

I teach at an EH elementary school and probably 60% of the boys in 5th grade either play football or are diehard NFL fans and have never been to a UCONN football game literally in their back yard for some of them. Would be great to see some collaboration with youth football in the area but it would probably be a recruiting violation.

 

[Dooley]

I teach at an EH elementary school and probably 60% of the boys in 5th grade either play football or are diehard NFL fans and have never been to a UCONN football game literally in their back yard for some of them. Would be great to see some collaboration with youth football in the area but it would probably be a recruiting violation.

For UConn, yes. For everyone else, no problem at all. Geno places a 15 second phone call to Monee Davis to congratulate her on her Little League accomplishment and the NCAA cringes. Drake takes a bunch of photos with her (of course, donning Kentucky gear) and not a peep.

 

[huskymedic]

Would be great to see some collaboration with youth football in the area but it would probably be a recruiting violation.

>>The NCAA defines a prospective student-athlete (PSA) as any student who has started classes for the ninth grade. In addition, any student who has not started classes for the ninth grade becomes a prospective student-athlete if the institution or a representative of the institution's athletics interests provides such a student (or a student's family or friends) with any financial assistance or other benefit(s) that the institution does not provide to prospective students generally.<<