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Post by milwsport on Nov 13, 2006 18:29:22 GMT -6
There have been a lot of comments on attendance at the games this year. Some even seem to believe that nothing will help.
Bigger crowds lift the team, they build revenue that helps the whole program and they help the university. We aren't going to suit up and take it to the hoop but there are things we can do that are just as important. If you're interested in truly helping then read on.
I've promoted things that were written off and that became successful and things that were somewhat successful and became even more so.
It's a question of changing the climate. Changing it from a "no one cares/will go/will waste their time" to "it's hot/the place to be/a great time" is not rocket science.
If you think it's just about winning you're wrong. The Brewers have consistently drawn around 2 million a year over the last 14 years despite not having a winning team. Yeah we're not the Brewers but we aren't trying to 2 million butts in the seats either.
Changing to climate won't happen with a few sign boards or a banner hanging in the dorms. Those things ARE needed but they are only part of what's needed.
Marketing people will tell you that people need to see a message six to seven times before it sinks in. That's why you see the same commercial on TV until you know every line by heart. Marketing folks will also tell you that if you want to build momentum you need to approach it from a variety of ways.
Look at MU. Game day promos are everywhere. And if they think they need to do that, don't think we don't need to do it too. There's no such thing as too much publicity and it's never true that we've done all we need to do.
I have a variety of ideas on how we can change the climate and contribute as much to the program as a four star recruit would. I'm sure you have some too.
The question is will we use our talents and experiences to help. I know I'm willing to use mine and I hope you are willing to use yours.That help is needed, our Athletic Department staff is stretched as it is.
I've talked to Jason Clark and he wants ideas and he wants to see a booster group to help. I'm not talking about the Full Court Club type of group, but one where members actively participate in promoting UWM Athletics. Sort of our own version of the "W" club.
The question is will you help? If you are interested just send me a private message today, and a meeting can be scheduled quickly.
It's time for US to step up to the plate, take it the hoop, steal the ball and run with it. Your team needs you.
All you have to do is ask to be put in the game
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Post by bigcatlover on Nov 13, 2006 18:44:40 GMT -6
How does one send you a private message? I am not sure what type of help you are looking for, but I am willing to listen and try to help.
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Post by milwsport on Nov 13, 2006 18:46:00 GMT -6
Click on my name and then click on the send private message link It's next to Member Bio
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fan
Sophomore
Don't shoot so much Tone.
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Post by fan on Nov 13, 2006 19:13:43 GMT -6
dear uwm athletic dept., we've wanted this for years. other schools do it. now is our time. take a peek. gomason.cstv.com/trads/gema-patriot-platoon.htmlnotice the point system (with more points for crappy games.) notice the t-shirts notice the reserved seating notice the pre-games notice the buses notice the post-season ticket priority I've heard other members (cowboybutz) tell the Athletic Dept about everything on this list. This solves so many silly student section problems its embarrassing to think we don't have it in place. ALSO GMason was recruiting law school students to come to games from day one. this is true determination. law school students have very little time and the law school is 30 minutes from the main campus, but telling us of the platoon and our free tickets will get at least a few of us over there.
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Post by panther920 on Nov 13, 2006 19:47:53 GMT -6
Yes something like that would be awsome with maybe seats on the sides behind the visting teams bench like every other big time school. Did GM have this before last year or is this something that only came about becasue of their F4 run?
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Post by milwsport on Nov 13, 2006 21:41:14 GMT -6
Several people have replied that they'd like to help but they aren't students. Well neither am I.
You don't have to be a student to help with this. There are things that can be done to get the community at large to be more supportive AND there are things non-students can do to help get more students in the seats.
Things like helping with season ticket drives, raising funds, raising general public awareness, signing people up for mailing lists. and helping to develop and implement a comphrehensive marketing plan.
The reality is that we don't need a huge bunch of people (that would be nice though). Seven or eight people who really want to help can make a big difference.
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Post by formerseasonticketholder on Nov 14, 2006 18:39:17 GMT -6
dear uwm athletic dept., we've wanted this for years. other schools do it. now is our time. take a peek. gomason.cstv.com/trads/gema-patriot-platoon.htmlnotice the point system (with more points for crappy games.) notice the t-shirts notice the reserved seating notice the pre-games notice the buses notice the post-season ticket priority I've heard other members (cowboybutz) tell the Athletic Dept about everything on this list. This solves so many silly student section problems its embarrassing to think we don't have it in place. ALSO GMason was recruiting law school students to come to games from day one. this is true determination. law school students have very little time and the law school is 30 minutes from the main campus, but telling us of the platoon and our free tickets will get at least a few of us over there. fan, what was the reaction when these ideas were presented to the UWM athletic department? Do you think they'd ever consider a change to a model like this? If something like this was promoted well it could be very effective at creating more of a sense of ownership and community around the team, which I think would be great.
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fan
Sophomore
Don't shoot so much Tone.
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Post by fan on Nov 14, 2006 19:59:32 GMT -6
from what I remember it was more of a company line reply I think like "we'll look into it".
I think cowboybutz had a copy of wsu's model and then he proposed something like what I found on Mason's site the other day. With the low attendance, you'd have to assume they're near desperate for some suggestions at this point.
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Post by milwsport on Nov 14, 2006 20:32:03 GMT -6
I think these are great but I also think this thread is about getting interested people together to figure out what WE can do and do it.
The AD staff is obviously not capable of doing what needs to be done. That's not a slam on them. It's a recognition that they are stretched to the limit. We can find ways to pitch in and help. We can figure out ways to help make the kind of things Fan is talking about into a reality.
We just have to try.
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Post by CowboyButz on Nov 14, 2006 22:06:52 GMT -6
I did propose a marketing/fan plan like this to jason clark about a year ago, but at the time I don't think they had the staff. I'm not on campus anymore, but didn't they hire a new marketing person? I thought one of the season ticket holder messages had a new name on it.
Unfortunately I don't think students or even alumni can create this atmosphere by themselves, you need a person who's main job is to coordinate these types of things fan was talking about. Without it you are basically starting over every 2 years or so.
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Post by milwsport on Nov 14, 2006 22:56:19 GMT -6
I disagree. I think an atmosphere can be created. It may not be as big as the George Mason thing (at first) but it can be done and it can be done with our help.
If we don't try we're guaranteed to fail.
I believe in dreaming big
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Post by milwsport on Nov 15, 2006 10:06:23 GMT -6
... but didn't they hire a new marketing person? I thought one of the season ticket holder messages had a new name on it. No they didn't hire a new marketing person. They did hire someone to help with corporate sponsorships, but that is different from marketing. Keep in mind that while all these ideas are great, someone has to implement them. They need help. OUR help.
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Post by famouspnthrfan on Nov 15, 2006 14:33:22 GMT -6
fan, I think this would really work if they offered promotions or prizes at the end of the year or something. The one thing that sucks about this whole thing is, we can't even get students to go to games for free now...how are we gonna get students to pay 20 dollars to be a party of the "Panther Pride" group or whatever. That's my only problem with this idea. Otherwise I think it's great. I can't believe we don't have something like this already. Geez, when they say the city of Milwaukee is 10 years behind other big cities...they werent kidding.
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Post by nighthawk on Nov 15, 2006 14:54:31 GMT -6
The biggest potential fan base with the funds and desire to participate may not be the students at first.
Bring on The M Club.
Let the alums come together and use the power of that vast community to create the fan base. The program needs to cash from season tickets and merchandise, as well as the word of mout promotions only such a large group could create.
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fan
Sophomore
Don't shoot so much Tone.
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Post by fan on Nov 15, 2006 16:06:38 GMT -6
heres the thing about it though. the bonuses don't even need to be an extra cost. the bonuses are for the diehard group to get bigger.
Obviously, the team has to get better for any of this to really work but the goals are to get people to attend the blowouts and to establish leadership positions that are recognizable. The $20 will hopefully become arbitrary once the preferred seating section is filled.
You're right that people have no incentive to pay this when no one is at the games in the first place. However, if this was in place last year, I'm positive that a lot of people would want to participate. The reason why I thought this would be a good year to start it is that there should be a year where people learn about the program. Giving away seats to the banquet for free or a discounted price or having a halftime refreshment area for members are things of a much smaller cost than a prize at the end of the year.
Another successful example of this idea is how the NFL draft rewards those who stay to watch the day 2 selections. The NFL sends a pass to those who stayed. The pass gets them in a side door the following year so they don't have to wait in line.
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