Yep. We've got to convince Tulsans 3-4 hours at a TU game is far more fun than spending 3-4 hours at Woodland Hills Mall.
Attendance Concerns?
- Thread starter Babe the Blue Ox
- Start date
Guys I have some sad news. I've got to go out of town unexpectedly for a funeral this weekend and have to bail on the Rice/Baylor game. I shall have no new perspective on how another school is doing things. 
And speaking of, ESPN3 has replays available, right? Not sure I'll get to see our game real-time on Saturday...
Sorry to hear about your unexpected news. Yes they do, you can watch the Ohio St. game on demand right now.
Why would you prefer to see Arizona or Maryland? They're not good teams or programs. Just because they're in P5 conferences? I guess maybe some people revere those conferences enough to think they're somehow inherently good but I don't see it. Many of those mid to bottom tier P5 programs are very boring. I can see that they'd have more alumni who might come but putting the other team's fans in the seats isn't what we're talking about here. As a casual fan, with no tie to the school, I just don't see thinking "I've never gone to a TU game but Maryland is here, that's a show you can't pass up!"
P5 wins regardless of the team is a good marketing tool. TV announcers can say Tulsa is the smallest school playing FBS and are 4 and 2 over P5 opponents. Things like that. Also coaches can use that when recruiting. It just looks better than saying we've won 80% of our non conf games in the last 5 years. Coaches that are recruiting against you can say yeah but they played FCS schools in non conf. It's really more about perception.
For me, I wasn't real happy when I saw home opponents when I got my season tickets. I would pay a couple hundred more for a named team even if it is a fair mid level P5. FWIW, this is the first year that I bought season tickets. I always have done ala carte. I'm on the west side on the 30 to 35 yard line. I'll renew next year but at this rate I could easily just go back to ala carte especially if we show more signs of lack of commitment to the program. I'm not a alumni. I've been going to games since I was a little kid. I catch heck all the time for being a proud TU fan from friends and family. It's been that way for years. I have TU hats, shirts even a cool Tulsa tire cover on my spare tire on my Jeep. I work hard to change perception all the time. Many people look at TU as a joke and feel it should just dissolve or drop down a level. It's going to take a very strong commitment for TU to get over the perception problems. The idea and understandably with economics I get not building an IPF but that absolutely devolves all momentum to sustaining an image of commitment. Absolutely horrible message sent to the fan, not alumni fan base. I've also had in the past OU season tickets for 3 years and I have to say even with the hassle of traveling to Norman, it was an exhilarating experience and made it worth the hassle to see big opponents. IMHO
For me, I wasn't real happy when I saw home opponents when I got my season tickets. I would pay a couple hundred more for a named team even if it is a fair mid level P5. FWIW, this is the first year that I bought season tickets. I always have done ala carte. I'm on the west side on the 30 to 35 yard line. I'll renew next year but at this rate I could easily just go back to ala carte especially if we show more signs of lack of commitment to the program. I'm not a alumni. I've been going to games since I was a little kid. I catch heck all the time for being a proud TU fan from friends and family. It's been that way for years. I have TU hats, shirts even a cool Tulsa tire cover on my spare tire on my Jeep. I work hard to change perception all the time. Many people look at TU as a joke and feel it should just dissolve or drop down a level. It's going to take a very strong commitment for TU to get over the perception problems. The idea and understandably with economics I get not building an IPF but that absolutely devolves all momentum to sustaining an image of commitment. Absolutely horrible message sent to the fan, not alumni fan base. I've also had in the past OU season tickets for 3 years and I have to say even with the hassle of traveling to Norman, it was an exhilarating experience and made it worth the hassle to see big opponents. IMHO
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^We're glad to have you as a loyal fan!
When I can get casual fans to come with me, they are surprised at what a great time they have and are interested in coming back. It's just the getting them there that can be tough. My last success story is a good friend who's a diehard OU alum married to a diehard OSU alum...they now have a sophomore at TU and go to most of the games. It all started with giving them my season tix a game I couldn't attend.
When I can get casual fans to come with me, they are surprised at what a great time they have and are interested in coming back. It's just the getting them there that can be tough. My last success story is a good friend who's a diehard OU alum married to a diehard OSU alum...they now have a sophomore at TU and go to most of the games. It all started with giving them my season tix a game I couldn't attend.
Yes indeed. I have 3 friends who are OU fans that I randomly took to games several years ago now they go to nearly every game and 2 are planning season tickets next season.^We're glad to have you as a loyal fan!
When I can get casual fans to come with me, they are surprised at what a great time they have and are interested in coming back. It's just the getting them there that can be tough. My last success story is a good friend who's a diehard OU alum married to a diehard OSU alum...they now have a sophomore at TU and go to most of the games. It all started with giving them my season tix a game I couldn't attend.
It's like inviting some douchebag southsiders down to midtown/downtown on a Friday night. And they's all fraidy cat. I don't have time for those folks so I never invite them to come see our product. I'm afraid if they do, they'll end up being assholes like those assholes that are attempting to build the Davenport Lofts right next to SoundPony.
Will the AAC ever consider a 9 game conference schedule? This would allow us to continue scheduling the lucrative '2 for 1' or '1 and done' contracts but eliminate the need for bringing in so many FCS foes.
Today's opponent was one of the worst I've seen in awhile. Games like this do nothing to get you ready for the next week.
Today's opponent was one of the worst I've seen in awhile. Games like this do nothing to get you ready for the next week.
We would get more national recognition with az and Maryland than any conference game except maybe hou.
It looked like 10k to me.
I do not get it. The infatuation with HS football also confuses me. I did not care about HS football when I was in HS and barring a child playing on a team, going to a HS football game as an adult seems weird to me.
On the other hand supporting the standard bearer for your city seems like a no brainer.
I do not get it. The infatuation with HS football also confuses me. I did not care about HS football when I was in HS and barring a child playing on a team, going to a HS football game as an adult seems weird to me.
On the other hand supporting the standard bearer for your city seems like a no brainer.
I guessed 11k max today. I worry about the next home game on a Friday night competing directly against high school district play.
High school football is huge around here Doc. A lot of folks support their local communities by attending the games even if they don't have a player involved. BA, Jenks, Owasso and Union will combine for about 35k fans on a Friday evening.
I've never had a HS football player but have had season tickets to my local school for several years. We actually were on a waiting list for awhile before getting seats.
One more thing: if you think the HS football infatuation is confusing, you would be shocked by the local support for HS band.
The local bands put on public "send off" performances before they leave for regional and national competitions. Those events draw standing room only crowds that rival the attendance at the games.
The local bands put on public "send off" performances before they leave for regional and national competitions. Those events draw standing room only crowds that rival the attendance at the games.
I know it is big here just never understood it. I went to HS at Memorial when John Cooper's son was there and maybe attended a FB game or two to chase some girls that were going. I was a futball player. But it never crossed my mind to go as an adult.
On the other hand I latched on to TU athletics during Nolan's first year and have never stopped. They are the standard bearers for the city - not the Sooners, Cowboys or Thunder.
I am a busy family guy with three young daughters and use 100% of my chits on TU athletics. Well maybe a few for US men's national team soccer, but all the others for TU.
Fervently supporting a team in another city, unless you have a personal connection to that city or institution, just confuses me.
Same thing with HS football. Would never pick a HS game over a TU game. I guess if you have time for both it would make a little more sense.
L'il Eric seems to have it right. No point trying to figure out Tulsa suburbanite thinking.
On the other hand I latched on to TU athletics during Nolan's first year and have never stopped. They are the standard bearers for the city - not the Sooners, Cowboys or Thunder.
I am a busy family guy with three young daughters and use 100% of my chits on TU athletics. Well maybe a few for US men's national team soccer, but all the others for TU.
Fervently supporting a team in another city, unless you have a personal connection to that city or institution, just confuses me.
Same thing with HS football. Would never pick a HS game over a TU game. I guess if you have time for both it would make a little more sense.
L'il Eric seems to have it right. No point trying to figure out Tulsa suburbanite thinking.
Tulsa supports their kids in sports, suburbs support them and the high schools. Band is %50 of the attendance of Owasso and BA.
Outside of that, it's OU/OK St.
Outside of that, it's OU/OK St.
I get it if the kids are involved.
I also get alumni support for the state schools.
Lack of pride in your own city is weird though.
I also get alumni support for the state schools.
Lack of pride in your own city is weird though.
There is a detachment with the average Tulsan to the university. This isn't a new phenomenon. I'm not sure what TU can do to make the residents of this city feel that they are a part of the university but more of an effort needs to occur.
I'm a life long Tulsan and my parents have had TU football season tickets since I was 3-4 (1990). Neither of my parents went to college, my dad started getting tickets because it was easier to take a young kid to TU games than OU games. My dad feels quite strongly that TU had an elitist feeling during much of the 90s and it really put off Tulsans with no association to the university.
Until the university tries to get more involved in the community with people who would attend games (people with young kids). I don't think we will attract more life long fans. The university seems more content to promote kids to come to one of the home games per season when we play a crappy opponent and then say "aw shucks we did the best we can. Let's try again next year"
It was more that there was not attempted outreach into the community or trying to be part of the city. This is coming from my father's perception who has no ties to the school except for season tickets in football.
I am a life long fan and alumnus, so I see it through blue and gold glasses and don't get it either. But it is a very real perception and I have no idea how to correct it.
When I lived in Tulsa I went to a few football games but most of the time I thought about going either the weather, parking or both kept me at home. You can pooh pooh these things all you want but they make a huge impact to the decision making of the local with no ties to the university.
Now I have been a huge TU basketball fan for over 30 years and was a season ticket holder for many years down at the convention center. After moving to Reno I was back for a visit during basketball season at the same time my son, who was in the military, was also visiting so we decided to go to a couple of games. I paid for tickets around mid-court, lower bowl in the Reynolds Center, which I hadn't seen before, and paid a pretty hefty amount. When we went to our seats you would have thought we were lepers. Not only wouldn't people talk to us but they kept looking at us like "who are these low life's, should I call security?" I think this might be where some of the "elitist" thought comes from.
Now I have been a huge TU basketball fan for over 30 years and was a season ticket holder for many years down at the convention center. After moving to Reno I was back for a visit during basketball season at the same time my son, who was in the military, was also visiting so we decided to go to a couple of games. I paid for tickets around mid-court, lower bowl in the Reynolds Center, which I hadn't seen before, and paid a pretty hefty amount. When we went to our seats you would have thought we were lepers. Not only wouldn't people talk to us but they kept looking at us like "who are these low life's, should I call security?" I think this might be where some of the "elitist" thought comes from.
Genuine question on my part - is there anything specific TU can do to combat any perceptions of elitism? Something other than lowering the quality of education and turning the university into TCC v2?
Or is this an excuse rather than a cause?
Or is this an excuse rather than a cause?
I'm not at all advocating lower academic standards and the quality of education isn't the issue. Maybe exclusive is a better term.
A specific issue with my dad is TU doesn't embrace fans outside the alumni base as much as OU and OSU. It's much easier to be a fan of the state schools if you aren't an alumnus. TU markets almost entirely toward the alumni. With a tiny alumni base it'll be extremely challenging to fill the stadium.
I'm not a marketin/sales person and don't have suggestions on how to fix it. I think embracing non-alumni more aggressively is a great place to start. Maybe TU's goal is no longer to fill the stadium? Perhaps their goal with attendance is to get as many alumni as possible to encourage donations later than trying to get fans that just buy season tickets and don't donate.
I've now gotten a live call from UH and a recorded message from Kelvin about Houston basketball tickets. Clearly not an alumna and I spent a whopping $30 on tickets last season.
I was bombarded with calls the year I didn't renew my TU football tickets and flat out told them it was the OU prices. Have never had another call on season tix. As an alumna who does the majority of my university giving to GHC.
I was bombarded with calls the year I didn't renew my TU football tickets and flat out told them it was the OU prices. Have never had another call on season tix. As an alumna who does the majority of my university giving to GHC.
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So you can program your CRM with template emails to do automatic emails on a regular basis and requires no human intervention. Same with recorded messages. This stuff isn't hard or labor intensive anymore, the technology makes this a one person job. Not sure why we don't have that happening.
Marketing to the walk-up ticket buyer is probably more important than concentrating on the alumni fan. If you don't market to the walk-up segment you lose it. The number of people showing up for the games in the last couple years has been decreasing. That tells me the Hurricane marketing has not been concentrating on the ticket buyers for the general Tulsa area population. The Hurricane has always been very dependent on good walk-up numbers and corporate lot ticket buys. I am assuming that both have been decreasing.
That's not the norm for most bands. I was in the Pride back in the late 80s and since then the tradition (which was big back then) has gotten even bigger due to success at the national level. Only BA, Union, and to a lesser degree, Owasso, are sending bands to regionals and nationals on a regular basis.
I always thought it would be a good idea to partner with local high schools like BA, Owasso, Jenks, Union, etc...and sell TU tickets for the Satruday game on Friday night at those locations. Maybe offer a dual ticket...one for high school game and one for the TU game the following day. Granted I have no marketing experience or expertise in athletic marketing. Assume there are smarter and more creative people than myself working in our marketing dept.
TU seems to think sending emails to people with a utulsa email address is all they have to do.
The idea of going straight to the high schools is great, at least worth a try.
Not positive about the usefulness of email blasts to those with little connection to the university but that stuff is generally inexpensive. Worth trying.
Not positive about the usefulness of email blasts to those with little connection to the university but that stuff is generally inexpensive. Worth trying.
I think that would be a conflict of interest considering we recruit those schools. OU and OSU would have a problem with that, just like we would if they were doing that.
This year, BA, Jenks, Union, Owasso and Bixby will be going to regionals. Jenks, Union and Owasso will be going on to nationals while BA is participating in the Rose parade. BA, Owasso and Union have all been Grand National finalists in recent years.
Jenks and Owasso have also made recent Rose parade appearances and Union was in the Macy's parade a couple of years ago. Owasso also appeard in the St Patrick's Day parade in Dublin Ireland recently.
HS band is definitely a big deal in this area.
*uck em'
As long as it's not done in a way that's against NCAA rules, and as long as we're the ones who get in on it first... I give zero craps about what OU and OSU have a problem with. Maybe we could start scheduling better non-conference games with bigger crowds and we wouldn't need them anymore.
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