[NU Sports] Attendence ideas

[sjtruog at jorsm.com]

> I guess the bottom line message is that it didn't happen by accident or
> organically at UoM and it probably won't happen by accident or
> organically in Evanston either.

Good points -- we definitely need some new strategists in there ...
another problem is the university's rocky relation with Evanston and vice
versa. Giving away large unsold blocks of tickets to local schools and
organizations for free would be along those lines of filling the stadium
and it could help community relations.

Maybe something like a student rewards program where students earn four or
eight free tickets (to encourage taking family and friends -- more
locals!) for things like good grades, good attendance, good improvement in
school, etc. They could be given a packet to take home with the free
ticket offer, a map to the stadium with bus/el/metra line and parking info
... info on Wildcat Alley, etc. to encourage local families to make a day
of it. All building a base of local fans and embracing the community while
having an underlying purpose of supporting academic achievement.

As for the other ideas, quickly ...

- I'll second the parking situation. It's not awful (Madison has gotta be
the worst for big lots right by the stadium), but it's often only 1/2 to
2/3 filled on gamedays. It irks season ticket holders like myself who are
lower on the points scale to find a spot elsewhere and walk past the lots
full of empty spaces and -- even worse -- VISITING fans tailgating. How'd
they get in?

- Agreement again on the old Willie. And add to that a ban on that stupid
Air Willie copycat of that annoying Nebraska puff mascot. Many times I've
wished for someone to have a few darts at the stadium to pop the air out
of that stupid thing as he bobs along the sideline.

- As for the kickoffs ... I can see both sides there. On one hand, it does
get us big-time TV coverage (and with the Big Ten not wanting to go the
Thursday night rout ... which I agree with though I'd love to see it done
once to tick Telander off even more:), we only have a limited Saturday
night slots available) on a national scale. But it is a pain to get up so
early ... even for the hour drive from NW Indiana here (even worse my
first few years in Battle Creek with that drive:) ... but I did have the
time change, which is why Michigan fans can't complain too much about noon
kickoffs).

The league may be working on that, though -- there were at least 2-3 Big
Ten games at 2:30 or 3:30 on ESPN this year ... even if ABC had a 2:30
game as well (Wisconsin/Purdue comes to mind ... also Purdue/Iowa and
Iowa/Wisconsin - though the Badger/Hawkeye one didn't have a Big Ten ABC
game to compete).

But I do think we've done about all we can with students and alumni (maybe
better parking, but we can't make student tix any more free:) ) ... and we
have an exciting product to sell ... the focus needs to be on the Evanston
community and Chicago bandwagoners who might hop on the El to watch a
game.

GO CATS!!!
-SjT