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Big Sky conference games attendance
- Thread starter WILDCAT
- Start date
I get what Sioux is saying. It is tough trying to out draw hockey in North Dakota. But, at least both teams are from the same university. UND could draw two for ones. Go to a hockey game and get a free ticket to the men's basketball game, or go to the men's basketball game and get a half off for hockey. To me, having a nationally relevant team should be a bonus and could help basketball attendance. The university or more appropriately, UND Athletics are to blame for the issue. They need to do their best to get times to coincide with marketing schemes. They could if they planned well.
Weber's biggest issue...is Weber. Students/community members just don't know what is going on. Yes, a percentage just don't care for a variety of reasons, but to use that as your crutch is pretty sad. Trying is the first step to doing your job.
A little work would definitely impact attendance in a positive way. After Thursday nights game anything is better than nothing. If I was in alumni or athletics this would definitely concern me. Who are going to be your future donors, supporters, season ticket holders?
The PPAK was a decent attempt that really blossomed for a few years, but never got much support on campus. It sometimes seems that egos are more important than the students...administrator's mantras seem to be against student involvement or even communicating with students. I mean we don't want to retain them or anything. To me it might not be a bad thing to set up class credit for Buisness or Communications majors (marketing/advertising) to intern. Money and grades are a deadly combination for the current generation. Hold them accountable and have a plan. I say the AD or the SID should do it, because they are both good guys who will allow the interns to think outside the box. NOT that other guy. Interns are rewarded for their efforts with a grade and hourly funds. The goal should be to fill the section as much as possible, but regrettably, our marketing guy is more concerned with handing out cup cakes or getting people to participate in the promotions at the last second.
Weber's biggest issue...is Weber. Students/community members just don't know what is going on. Yes, a percentage just don't care for a variety of reasons, but to use that as your crutch is pretty sad. Trying is the first step to doing your job.
A little work would definitely impact attendance in a positive way. After Thursday nights game anything is better than nothing. If I was in alumni or athletics this would definitely concern me. Who are going to be your future donors, supporters, season ticket holders?
The PPAK was a decent attempt that really blossomed for a few years, but never got much support on campus. It sometimes seems that egos are more important than the students...administrator's mantras seem to be against student involvement or even communicating with students. I mean we don't want to retain them or anything. To me it might not be a bad thing to set up class credit for Buisness or Communications majors (marketing/advertising) to intern. Money and grades are a deadly combination for the current generation. Hold them accountable and have a plan. I say the AD or the SID should do it, because they are both good guys who will allow the interns to think outside the box. NOT that other guy. Interns are rewarded for their efforts with a grade and hourly funds. The goal should be to fill the section as much as possible, but regrettably, our marketing guy is more concerned with handing out cup cakes or getting people to participate in the promotions at the last second.
The economics and demand for hockey tickets overwhelms basketball. Even UND students have to pay for student tickets to hockey which are $5 or $10, while they get in free for everything else. Bball tickets only cost under $10 for everyone, whereas hockey single game tickets are as much as $50. So bball gets 2 pm starts on weekends, but hockey gets the main show light with evening games.
There is such demand for hockey tickets that the only time there is not a sellout is when the students are on break, but athletic still makes more on those games because the cheap student tickets are replaced with full price ones. Been like that for the 15 years that the new arena has been open.
The only thing that will change the dynamics are big dance appearances and maybe even wins there. Playing in the main arena for bball would be huge. The Suites and the bars in it bring out a lot of high dollar types.
It's like having the Jazz playing next door. Sixty miles down the road still hurts Weber, but not as much.
There is such demand for hockey tickets that the only time there is not a sellout is when the students are on break, but athletic still makes more on those games because the cheap student tickets are replaced with full price ones. Been like that for the 15 years that the new arena has been open.
The only thing that will change the dynamics are big dance appearances and maybe even wins there. Playing in the main arena for bball would be huge. The Suites and the bars in it bring out a lot of high dollar types.
It's like having the Jazz playing next door. Sixty miles down the road still hurts Weber, but not as much.
SWWeatherCat
Active member
31 miles, but OK. The customers in the 3 counties that make up Wildcat country are as likely to support USU, U of U, and even BYU, as the Jazz. Point being, when it comes to basketball interest, WSU is competing with 4 higher profile teams all within an hour of Weber State.
oldrunner
Active member
SiouxFan; I think it is great that you have the #1 hockey program in the Country. You should be drawing sellout crowds for that product. I hope that UND will be able to hold on to all of that in the future. Imagine, if you can, that there were 4 or 5 hockey teams, within an hour's drive, who were rated higher than your team.
oldrunner said:
Well considering many of the fans drive for hours to get to our hockey games, that won't be a problem. There isn't a city of more than 10k within 60 miles, so the NHL isnt happening here, most NDSU fans say they hate hockey, so the ones that like it spend big bucks up here.
Been to Ogden but not for years. Thought there was open space between Ogden and SLC.
oldrunner
Active member
When I was a kid, 50 years ago, there was some open space between SLC and Ogden. Now there are about 2 million people between Ogden and Provo. One huge metropolitan area. There is little open space left along the Wasatch front, between the mountains and the Great Salt Lake. At least 75% of the States population lives in that 70 mile stretch. Along the front there is an NBA franchise, An MLS franchise, 3 minor league Baseball teams, a NLH franchise, a couple of minor league hockey teams, 4 D1 Universities, and a JC. The other three Universities in the State are farther away.siouxfan said:
oldrunner said:
USU isn't that far away either. It is about an hour to get to USU from Ogden. It is frustrating having 5 DI schools less than an hour from Weber State's campus. Also, can't forget that Westminster is a DII.
PurpleBlood
Active member
I don't think the other universities close by really hurt much. If anything they help and bring more excitement to college basketball in the state. There are plenty of schools in the middle of nowhere with no competition and no fans. The most important way to attract fans other than winning is a loud entertaining student section. It only takes a few passionate students to build a great student section.
PurpleBlood said:
Normally I would agree, BUT I know a lot of Weber County WSU alumni that won't go to WSU games because they feel like they would be cheating on "The Lords Team" in Provo :wall: :wall: :wall:
Even though they havn't been to a game in Provo in 20+ years.....
SWWeatherCat
Active member
ajwildcat said:
Same here, I also work among more than handful who grew up in the O-Town area, went to OHS or other area high schools, and some even attended WSU but are die hard USU or pukie fans and supporters. I disagree, I do think it hurts and is just an added struggle to attract better support.
PurpleBlood
Active member
I'm not saying it doesn't matter. I'm just saying it's not an excuse. If Weber could build a little better brand, we could be taking fans from other schools. When I see a BYU or a USU basketball fan, I see a potential Weber fan. I know a lot of fans of other teams that jumped on the Weber band wagon when Lillard was dominating. If we have the right product, we have plenty of customers. For example, Idaho State is a few hours away from any competition and they have a problem with many residents being fans of other teams or not caring about college sports at all.
oldrunner
Active member
Generating fans now and into the future rests on marketing's ability to get students involved in campus life in general and athletics specifically. Students have been ignored for too long and it is showing in attendance. The only way to change this trend is to change the marketing emphasis to the students. I don't know what the marketing budget is, but 80% of it should be spent on getting students out and treating them well when they are at the games. The businesses who advertise at our games certainly want to market their goods to our students. They surely know that all of our students are their future customers as well.
It's great that we are marketing to corporate and big donors and that should continue. However, the students are where the future lies. I don't care if you have to bribe them. Get them there and show them a good time. Think out of the box a little bit. Get it done.
It's great that we are marketing to corporate and big donors and that should continue. However, the students are where the future lies. I don't care if you have to bribe them. Get them there and show them a good time. Think out of the box a little bit. Get it done.
oldrunner said:
Well stated...For colleges such as Weber State & Utah Valley, with a higher percentage of commuter students, it is an even harder task but it can be done with extra effort and clever thinking. Provide the students with incentives (and it takes more than a loud barking "SATOG"(sp?)) :nod:
Junctioncat
Active member
Things could be worse, I tuned in to SUU Montana and the Centrum was empty. Sac and Portland had as many as could fit in their little gyms, but those games were not well attended. Granted, their facilities limit them.
Junctioncat
Active member
WILDCAT said:
I heard that. That is cool.
THursday
Eastern Washington @ North Dakota- 1,891
Montana @ Southern Utah- 1,923
Montana State @ Northern Arizona- Not announced
Idaho @ Northern Colorado- 1,059
Weber State @ Sacramento State- 908
Idaho State @ Portland State- 522
Saturday
Montana State @ Southern Utah- 1,761
Eastern Washington @ Northern Colorado- 1,057
Idaho @ North Dakota- 2,345
Montana @ Northern Arizona- 1,453
Idaho State @ Sacramento State- 975
Weber State @ Portland State- 784
1. Weber State - 33,749 - 6,749 - 5
2. Montana - 27,833 - 3,976 - 7
3. Montana State - 15,237 - 2,539 - 6
4. North Dakota - 14,787 - 2,112 - 7
5. Southern Utah - 11,881 - 1,980 - 6
6. Eastern Washington - 10,223 - 1,703 - 6
7. Idaho State - 7,901 - 1,580 - 5
8. Idaho - 7,889 - 1,127 - 7
9. Northern Colorado - 7,747 - 1,291 - 6
10. Northern Arizona - 6,775 - 967 - 7
11. Sacramento State - 5,760 - 822 - 7
12. Portland State - 4,068 - 581 - 7
Eastern Washington @ North Dakota- 1,891
Montana @ Southern Utah- 1,923
Montana State @ Northern Arizona- Not announced
Idaho @ Northern Colorado- 1,059
Weber State @ Sacramento State- 908
Idaho State @ Portland State- 522
Saturday
Montana State @ Southern Utah- 1,761
Eastern Washington @ Northern Colorado- 1,057
Idaho @ North Dakota- 2,345
Montana @ Northern Arizona- 1,453
Idaho State @ Sacramento State- 975
Weber State @ Portland State- 784
1. Weber State - 33,749 - 6,749 - 5
2. Montana - 27,833 - 3,976 - 7
3. Montana State - 15,237 - 2,539 - 6
4. North Dakota - 14,787 - 2,112 - 7
5. Southern Utah - 11,881 - 1,980 - 6
6. Eastern Washington - 10,223 - 1,703 - 6
7. Idaho State - 7,901 - 1,580 - 5
8. Idaho - 7,889 - 1,127 - 7
9. Northern Colorado - 7,747 - 1,291 - 6
10. Northern Arizona - 6,775 - 967 - 7
11. Sacramento State - 5,760 - 822 - 7
12. Portland State - 4,068 - 581 - 7
