[NU Sports] On selling tickets

[Jonathan Hodges]

Regarding alcohol sales within the stadium: it is not allowed by the Big Ten
in any on-campus stadium.  Since the Metrodome is not on campus, it is
currently the only one that allows alcohol sales, although that will change
next year with Minnesota's new on-campus open air stadium.  And due to the
proliferation of alcohol throughout the tailgating areas on campus and
around the stadium, I sincerely doubt alcohol sales within the stadium is a
huge concern for casual fans.

IMHO, a huge reason is a lack of affiliation with the school by those in the
surrounding region, who identify more with the local "state" school (i.e.
Illinois).  A prime target should be families who want to go to a sporting
event together, but the price of tickets is a huge obstacle - to go to a Big
Ten game and get non-end zone tickets would set a family of 4 back $200 +
the cost of concessions.  Phillips has committed to re-evaluating the price
of tickets, which is encouraging.

Winning obviously helps, but building a fan base in the area amongst those
who have no previous connection with the university, but who love football
or college football specifically is key.

Jonathan

On Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 8:44 PM, Beamsley, Jeff
<Jeff.Beamsley at covisint.com>wrote:

> Not sure that beer, bars, or proximity to the campus are really the issue.
>
> The Big House doesn't serve beer, the closest bars are several miles away
> in downtown Ann Arbor, and most students have to walk further than NU
> students to see a game.  There is no public transportation to speak of.
>  Everyone has to drive and find a place to park.  Yet they continue to put
> 100K in the seats to see a team that could very well not win another game
> this year.
>
> IMHO, it's because Michigan football has become part of the social fabric
> of both the school and the region.
>
> This didn't happen by accident.  It was the result of determination and
> planning.
>
> I think that, if anything, it should be easier to accomplish in Evanston
> than in AA.  There are 1/3 the seats to fill and 10x the population base to
> draw on the fill them.
>
> The only conclusion I can come to is that the Athletic
> Department/Administration is content with the current student and alumni
> participation and doesn't want to solicit the sort of "unaffiliated" support
> that UoM enjoys.
>
> Jeff
>
>
> The contents of this e-mail are intended for the named addressee only. It
> contains information that may be confidential. Unless you are the named
> addressee or an authorized designee, you may not copy or use it, or disclose
> it to anyone else. If you received it in error please notify us immediately
> and then destroy it.
>
>
> From: nwu-sports-bounces at tssi.com on behalf of Roy Lamberton
> Sent: Tue 10/14/2008 6:33 PM
> To: AJWDBW at aol.com; CHerron604 at aol.com; nwu-sports at tssi.com
> Subject: RE: [NU Sports] On selling tickets
>
>
>
> The media guide doesn't report attendance figures...probably because they
> are so bad.
>
>
>
> NGN might have season ticking info however.
>
>
>
> NU should have put a new stadium out on the lakefront where the big parking
> structure is now, so fans could walk downtown and party before and after
> the
> games.  The old Dyche could have become a Lacrosse/Soccer palace and the
> team could have had a really nice field, with the visitor stands facing the
> North. They could have put two or three levels of parking under the field,
> and wound up with something like Cleveland's Jacobs Field.
>
>
>
> Of course they could have built it where the admin building is now and
> completely overwhelmed downtown Evanston, but a big parking garage and
> access to both the train and El would have made a difference.
>
>
>
> Now, we have what, one bar near the field? And it only holds about 200
> people.  AND its about 4 blocks away.
>
>
>
> rsl
>
>
>
> From: AJWDBW at aol.com [mailto:AJWDBW at aol.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, October 14, 2008 6:19 PM
> To: CHerron604 at aol.com; rstetson at capps-assoc.com; nwu-sports at tssi.com
> Subject: Re: [NU Sports] On selling tickets
>
>
>
> When I was in school the WCTU reigned supreme and as a result the whole
> damn
> city was dry. If I recall the attendance at the games was about the same as
> today. Are there any figures available to bear this out?
>
> Don Williams
>
> C55
>
>
>
>
>
>  _____
>
> New MapQuest Local shows what's happening at your destination. Dining,
> Movies, Events, News & more. Try it out!
> <http://local.mapquest.com/?ncid=emlcntnew00000002>
>
> _______________________________________________
> nwu-sports site list
> nwu-sports at tssi.com
> http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
> _______________________________________________
> nwu-sports site list
> nwu-sports at tssi.com
> http://romaine.tssi.com/mailman/listinfo/nwu-sports
>



-- 
Jonathan W. Hodges
1237 Emerson St Apt 2
Evanston, IL  60201-3577
(847) 736-2449
jonathanwhodges at gmail.com