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Post by milfan on Mar 6, 2008 13:45:54 GMT -6
What would it take to get the student section moved to one the side of the court? I may be wrong but even with the students standing wouldn’t the people in the 300 and 400 levels still be able to see since the section in raised? I know there are students that go to games but don’t want any thing to with the student section because of where it is located and if you want to be close to the action then this means standing the whole time since there are no seats down low. Also by doing this, I think it would make the arena a better environment by having the sides filled up, making for a better fan experience being louder and being able to see the students during the whole game when on TV.
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Post by PantherU on Mar 6, 2008 14:30:47 GMT -6
What would it take to get the student section moved to one the side of the court? I may be wrong but even with the students standing wouldn’t the people in the 300 and 400 levels still be able to see since the section in raised? I know there are students that go to games but don’t want any thing to with the student section because of where it is located and if you want to be close to the action then this means standing the whole time since there are no seats down low. Also by doing this, I think it would make the arena a better environment by having the sides filled up, making for a better fan experience being louder and being able to see the students during the whole game when on TV. Good news, the student section is moving across the court beginning next season. We'll be on top of the opponent's bench, as well as the opponent's background when shooting free throws in the second half. What I'd like to see is instead of chairs, which separate the students too much, and risers, which leave no room to sit, would be bleachers. Students will definitely like bleacher access compared to standing all game.
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Post by milwsport on Mar 6, 2008 16:38:05 GMT -6
There are some very big differences between us and Madison. Unlike the Badgers, UWM isn't the only game in town. Many of our 28,000 students aren't full timers, many of them have families to support and they commute to school.
That being said, there still should be enough students who want a cheap night out to have a decent student section. I like the Panther Pack idea and perhaps the winners should be publicized in the Post so people can see that students actually do go to the games.
Winning is very important but it's not everything. Look at the Brewers. How many losing seasons in a row and people were still coming out to see them. The reason for that is the experience, wanting to see major league ball, tailgating with friends etc.
We have to sell the experience, the fun, the camaraderie, etc.
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Post by DunneDeal on Mar 7, 2008 0:59:32 GMT -6
Free Pizza after games....not that hard UIC does it. You use the Panther Pit..for students after games..
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Post by pantherdon on Mar 7, 2008 11:09:53 GMT -6
Have a barrel on each bus.
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Post by DunneDeal on Mar 7, 2008 13:40:58 GMT -6
That would work..never gonna happen
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Post by writehooks on Mar 8, 2008 0:02:59 GMT -6
i think the panther pack needs to be better. i know that many people (if they got to it) will never use the chiropractor, or the bike thing. its just not a good "prize" to give away after getting so many stamps. I think, and maybe this wont bring people, but get the same sponsors but get money or something and buy cool stuff to raffle off at the end of the season like ps3 or a tv or video games or a weekend at a hotel or cool stuff like that. Kids earn stamps for each game they go to, for more important games they can get more stamps or going to girls games get more stamps. and every 2 or three stamps they get a raffle ticket for stuff at the end of the year. Then at the end of the year we have a party at klotsche or somewhere, have players from the girls and guys teams along with coaches coming and talking. like an end of the year midnight madness thing. what about that? that might get people to the games......
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Post by DunneDeal on Mar 8, 2008 0:09:04 GMT -6
I totally agree..after getting 20 stamps..what do u get free food at Doba..yea that great, but what 18-23 (assuming that the target student) is going to goto crank daddys to ride in a simulator or have the use for a chiropractor.
Free Food, Free Money (UWM Bookstore, PantherBooks), PS3's, Wii, XBox360's LCD TV's that is what kids will want. Maybe, if you fill you whole card you get in a drawing for something huge ie: 2 NCAA Tickets..or NIT Tickets something. Maybe giveaways like authentic Panther gear (shooting shirts, warm ups, shorts, jerseys)
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Post by bball30 on Mar 8, 2008 10:51:45 GMT -6
You guys have to keep in mind this was the first year of the Panther Pack. It takes time to develop these type of things, and your ideas are good, just give it time for the improvements to be made. This is the type of student feedback that I'm sure the AD would welcome to hear. (Also keep in mind the limited number of "college" businesses around UWM thanks to the wonderful D-5 Alderman).
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Post by Pantherholic on Mar 8, 2008 11:25:50 GMT -6
I agree that we've got to give the the Panther Pack time to get some better sponsorships but its on the right track. Other suggestions could be free cable service for a specified period of time along with bookstore gift cards for books (notable amounts, not like $5-$10). Offer things kids could use as well as want.
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Post by cowboybutz on Mar 10, 2008 9:44:13 GMT -6
I think what really needs to be done is, instead of meeting with the students who are going to the games, work with the athletic dept. to get a focus group of students toegether who attended earlier games and then dropped off and see what happened with them (They should be able to target those students from the Panther Pack subscribers). You can also use them to test ideas in what would make them come to games.
The initial Panther Pack subscribers were interested in games and are your best shot at getting to later games. If you find out what is missing from them you can tailor your solutions to address their needs. But, without knowing those reasons any solutions is just a shot in the dark.
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Post by bball30 on Mar 10, 2008 9:46:28 GMT -6
Good point, get the students who don't go ever, or stopped going throughout the season. Maybe surveying a random sample of students who use the Pavilion/Klotsche as they would maybe have some type of already existing interest in athletics?
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Post by PantherU on Mar 10, 2008 10:54:49 GMT -6
What other criteria should we look for in this focus group?
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Post by cowboybutz on Mar 10, 2008 12:31:48 GMT -6
Surveying all of the students could work. I know the Student Union does an Annual Survey of students and faculty; I don't see why Athletics wouldn't be able to get similar sample set.
For other criteria, off the top of my head, I would try to get a mix of students who live in the dorms and who live off-campus, different years (I think getting freshmen and sophomores is important because they will be around a while), and how many events they attended.
I'm not a marketing guru, but I bet somebody on this board might have a connection with some of the marketing professors at the Lubar School of Business who might be able to give some better advice or maybe even tapping into the Sports Marketing Student Association (If they still exist).
When I was active at UWM I never had trouble getting a meeting with experts in various fields if you stroke their ego a little bit. Most professors love to show you how much they know about a subject and if you treat them with respect, the rewards are awesome!
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Post by repoman on Mar 17, 2008 11:16:21 GMT -6
How to get students to care: WIN
That is all that matters. You can pump students full of beer, food, free tickets, etc and that might get them to go on occasion but if the team is winning and continues to do so on a regular basis and is always in the mix for a HL Championship people will come to the games. The more buzz about the program the more it becomes the "in" thing to do.
Continue to play sub-.500 ball and there is no reason to come for many students. Its the same reason the Bucks aren't drawing this year. People can talk about the Bradley Center bring outdated or the in-game entertainment but the only thing people care about is watching a winning team and frankly the Bucks stink.
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