TheGoldCrotchPiece 87 Report post Posted October 8, 2018 We've been talking about this randomly in other threads, figured I start one specially dedicated to attendance and ( lacking) game promotion. Some topics to get us started: Student attendance: very weak. Yes, I do think back to back to back home games and the late start to the home schedule let freshmen settled into college life without football. However, even with giveaways and a ranked team (top 25 match up this past week) we can't seem to draw nearly as many students as in years past, even when we sucked. NO STUDENTS STOOD DURING EITHER GAME AND MADE ZERO NOISE. We need to get some student organization back involved. When I was in school it was T-Unit then came along Doc's Army... now??? Tailgating: Walked over to lot 13 & 14 during the home opener, it was just sad. What happened to the awesome tailgating in lot 14? Bad tailgating hurts student attendance as well. I know the school wants to be the morality police (Deb Moriarty in particular) but come on gotta let the kids be kids and enjoy something that is supposed to bring the college experience together. Lot 21 tailgating seems fine and basic (my spot is on that side). However, lot 21 could really be upped with an area set up to sell food and beer, saving the donors from having to bring everything. Also both tailgate sides should have a pop up team shop. The one places that is always popping during games is the team store, alumni want to buy stuff! SELL IT TO THEM. Tickets: $50 for season tickets? So cheap and yet we can't seem to sell them? Not claiming to know an answer here. Game promotions: Do they even promote game on campus? General question, I have no idea but when I was in school they had signage up all over game weeks, cheerleaders and players would hang out in the union giving out flyers. Regardless of that, to the general fan the athletics staff is really just following the generic game day promotions playbook. (Home opener, Pink Game, Parents Weekend, Homecoming, Senior Day) My high school had better themes. The only thing missing from the generic playbooks is hometown heroes and first responders (vomit) and if we had six home games I bet that would be it. Food: I feel like the food has been the same for 15 years. Nothing healthy or fresh, no grilled options (hot dogs are boiled), drinks are soda and Gatorade no tea or other limited sugar options. Why no bring third party brands? Boardwalk fires, chickfila, any pizza brand, etc. Booze: Turtle on the track is a nice addition but it keeps people out of their seats. Just sell booze in the stands...its 2018... The food also sucks down there. Positive the beers are cheap! Field House: Having it open during the game keeps people from going to their seats. Keep it open for bathrooms or whatever but encourage people back into the stadium Sponsors: Do we have any good ones? Do we pay UA or do they pay us? Also WTF is New Day USA? Looks like a scam to me. It's just mind boggling to me an athletics department connected to a school with a large business program and marketing department (which I am a graduate from) can't seem to understand the basics of generating awareness and interest. Run an internship program??? Having radio/prints/tv ads is a massive waste of money and not relevant in driving interest in 2018. We are stuck looking like clowns with a half full stadium on game day with a 1990's playbook on how to address 2018 sports entertainment. Call up DC United, Ted Leonsis and ask/beg them for some basic tips. My only ask is to not get cheap and call Dan Synder. Free advice just don't do whatever it is we are doing and whatever it is dan synder would do. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TSU88 1,070 Report post Posted October 8, 2018 Many reasons. I’ll touch on a few: At it’s core, TU has been, is, & likely will always be, a commuter school. US News & World Report notes that 26% of TU students live in university provided housing. So that amounts to about 5K students. The rest, the vast majority, are commuters & just don’t care about TU sports. And not every student who lives on campus is automatically imbued with interest in TU athletics. For some it’s probably not “cool,” for others it interferes with quality drinking time, & for others it cuts into their time staring like zombies into their smartphones. The argument that TU is a sleeping giant when it comes to an increase in students living on campus is, imho, a canard, at least when it comes to attendance at TU sporting events. Along this line, Towson never has been, & never will be, a true “college town,” in the mold of W&M, JMU & others. Locals who live in the area are much more likely to identify with the Ravens, or even U of MD, than TU. Add in unimaginative marketing & only 2 playoff appearances in recent history, and you have the ingredients for the kind of attendance we saw this past Saturday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RundaPower 153 Report post Posted October 8, 2018 8 hours ago, TSU88 said: Many reasons. I’ll touch on a few: At it’s core, TU has been, is, & likely will always be, a commuter school. US News & World Report notes that 26% of TU students live in university provided housing. So that amounts to about 5K students. The rest, the vast majority, are commuters & just don’t care about TU sports. And not every student who lives on campus is automatically imbued with interest in TU athletics. For some it’s probably not “cool,” for others it interferes with quality drinking time, & for others it cuts into their time staring like zombies into their smartphones. The argument that TU is a sleeping giant when it comes to an increase in students living on campus is, imho, a canard, at least when it comes to attendance at TU sporting events. Along this line, Towson never has been, & never will be, a true “college town,” in the mold of W&M, JMU & others. Locals who live in the area are much more likely to identify with the Ravens, or even U of MD, than TU. Add in unimaginative marketing & only 2 playoff appearances in recent history, and you have the ingredients for the kind of attendance we saw this past Saturday. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RundaPower 153 Report post Posted October 8, 2018 (edited) Actually TU has about 29% (over 6,300) for 2018/19 . In reality, Your same source shows only 30 percent of JMU students live on campus! With a slightly smaller UG enrollment, JMU has less students on campus than Towson! You do understand JMU is in the middle of nowhere right? Ok, let’s take a look at the granddaddy of them all - Penn State is at 35%. This is not the same old Towson! Edited October 8, 2018 by RundaPower Missed Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RundaPower 153 Report post Posted October 8, 2018 How about a payday? Giveaway $3000 in cash or offer free tuition for a semester for the students. Force them to come to the game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
TSU88 1,070 Report post Posted October 8, 2018 The fact that JMU is in the middle of nowhere supports, rather than refutes, my thesis. Being in the middle of nowhere increases the likelihood that attendance at the local college sporting events will be higher, given that there is little if any competition for the hearts & minds of the students & locals. This also generates loyalty. TU is right smack in the middle of a metropolitan area, which, by its very nature, has more tugs on the attention of students & locals. I actually broached your idea of a $500-$1,000 a game giveaway to a student in attendance at the football game that week, with the drawing for the winner being held in the 4th quarter of the game, with a requirement that the winning student actually have to still be there in the 4th Q. The response was basically “are you going to pay for it, because we don’t have the money for that in the budget.” Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ReverendRemulak 40 Report post Posted October 8, 2018 It really is embarrassing. During my time at TU (2010-2015), I felt like no one cared at all about football or other sports, but tailgates were still a huge party. The game day experience these days is simply non-existent from a student perspective. Something is clearly wrong and it's a bummer to see. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sr16 158 Report post Posted October 8, 2018 I dont know if many remember, but the last tailgate of the 2016 season ( in which I graduated) all I did was set up one of the biggest tailgates for students since maybe my freshman year when they were POPPING (2012) was reach out to the heads of greek life organizations and make a facebook event. Thats all I did and we had that front lot bumping. I think there is still that misconception that the school doesnt want it... they want it bad now. But there needs to be a middle man to set up logistics. Deb morarity or whatever her name is has tainted the school in terms of a lot of greek life / students in regards to "fun". I was literally thinking we need to start paying these kids at the game. The school needs to really take advantage of student groups, namely greek life. Bring greek life back to these games you bring the whole school back. just imo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RundaPower 153 Report post Posted October 8, 2018 (edited) 23 minutes ago, TSU88 said: The fact that JMU is in the middle of nowhere supports, rather than refutes, my thesis. Being in the middle of nowhere increases the likelihood that attendance at the local college sporting events will be higher, given that there is little if any competition for the hearts & minds of the students & locals. This also generates loyalty. TU is right smack in the middle of a metropolitan area, which, by its very nature, has more tugs on the attention of students & locals. I actually broached your idea of a $500-$1,000 a game giveaway to a student in attendance at the football game that week, with the drawing for the winner being held in the 4th quarter of the game, with a requirement that the winning student actually have to still be there in the 4th Q. The response was basically “are you going to pay for it, because we don’t have the money for that in the budget.” Sorry, I didn’t make myself clear. I was referring to the percentage and overall number of students living on campus. Caret made sure that our profile is as good or better than our peer institutions in terms of on campus student housing. Edited October 8, 2018 by RundaPower Miss Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RundaPower 153 Report post Posted October 8, 2018 (edited) True 88,if the AD can’t come up with $6k out of a $27mm budget Wehave bigger problems . Deb Moriarty is to blame here. Single handily has worked to bring down tailgating AtTowson. She made those statements to the press in the middle of the night. Didn’t consult with AD or executive board. Total power grab. Maybe she should be made to fund a student scholarship or $ giveaway out of her budget . Edited October 8, 2018 by RundaPower Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
