The first thing to do is find out why different segments of the population do not attend FB, and/or BB games or join the BG. Then try to market toward these objections.
Increase the fan/donor base - What would you do?
- Thread starter TwolfHerdfan
- Start date
More promotions would be nice. $30 for a ticket in general admission to a half empty stadium is kind of crazy. I know we can't just give admission for free but lower prices to get more people on campus and in the game to spend more money on overpriced concessions. If more people commit to buying a cheaper ticket it may attract their friends and families to just come down to hang out and possibly wonder into the game and spend some of their money inside the stadium as well. I know I will catch crap for saying any of this though because it has been brought up many times before today. Some believe that everyone should save up to buy a ticket into the game like it is a huge draw but we aren't creating new fans or more people that way. People that will save a few extra to come are already strong supporters of the program and have an interest in coming. We need to find ways of bringing in casual fairweather fans that don't quite understand how fun it can be to come into games and cheer on the Herd. It never made sense to punish and lose some of your strong supporters by raisjng prices to instead of lowering them a bit to keep what you have and possibly attract more to generate more sales after they are in the stadium.
Too many "special give away packages" discourage folks from buying season tickets.
"In order for us to step up our approaches to hiring better coaches and AD's, we'll require there be increased fees and prices for next season."
"BULLSHIT!!! I DON'T WANNA PAY MORE THAN I ALREADY AM!!!"
Keep talking of cleaning house but until there's a major step up in funding to not only buy out the contracts of everyone, but money put down to pay someone better to come in, it'll never happen.
"BULLSHIT!!! I DON'T WANNA PAY MORE THAN I ALREADY AM!!!"
Keep talking of cleaning house but until there's a major step up in funding to not only buy out the contracts of everyone, but money put down to pay someone better to come in, it'll never happen.
I get it but doing the same thing over and over isn't helping us raise our attendance. Even when we have a decent record we dont get many more butts in seats. What you are saying about season tickets is that it is guaranteed money before the season which is great but i think season tickets would be bought even with promotions. I think some or most buy season tickets to guarantee they get to pick their seat and keep those all season. By doing promotions and increasing people in the stadium it raises money by having more people buying tickets. Plus, people will worry they might miss out getting their good seats if we have higher attendance and would buy season tickets to ensure they get them. No one worries about it now in our half empty stadium just buy general admission and move where ya want because there are plenty of great seats open. I honestly don't know what it would take but we can't keep doing the same things and milking the people that already want to be there for more money to make up for the ones that don't come. You could price tickets at $50 a game general admission and still get the ones that want to come to buy them sometimes. you could sell them for $10 and still couldn't get some to buy them. All I know is we are losing attendance (and more home games than usual) and we have raised prices and that just doesn't make much sense to me.
If you are going to sell beer, stop giving fans pass outs to leave the stadium.
Our President MUST GROW Student population. Two years ago, I attended our Greater Cincy & Northern Ky Alumni Golf Tournament Fundraising Outing. Those folks do a Hell of a Job for Marshall by raising $$$$$. I think they are funding about 50 each $8,000 scholarships for high school students residing in those areas to attend Marshall. Those same students pay WV instate tuition & fees. The "killler" for college students these day====Room & Board expenses. Students have to borrow $$$$ to provide food & shelter over their heads....along with their tuition fees. Some kids have car payments...you don't need a car to attend Marshall...WALK...it will do most of you GOOD [including me]. We did not have cars when I attended Marshall. Covered wagons did the trick. (BULL SPIT--just kidding).
I support no one should have to attend college 4-5 years to get their degree. Get rid of electives that teach the same "stuff" you learn in high school and FOCUS ON a Major. For example, if you are a Liberal Arts major (ie Journalism)...why take math courses that you had in Middle-High School? Why have to take Art Appreciation or Bible & Religion to gain credit hours......Why take Biology or Chemistry.....if you will never use it in your life time, going forward. GOOGLE will give you answers you might need in these areas!
If this is done....a student could complete their degrees in about two years....and HOPEFULLY become game attending fans too while attending Marshall. A large number of students never attend a HERD game...EVER!
Colleges & Universities are "FAT $$$ COWS" providing incomes for professors/staff/coaches.....many are not needed.
Building student enrollment=====$$$$$ without raising ticket prices to the general public. Hopefully, a greater number student body will place more butts in the stands. I support if you gave tickets away for FREE......you will still have a lot of empty seats. Huntington is like the rest of the state......the stay home and watch WVU....or attend High School football games on Saturday. High School football needs to be played on FRIDAY ONLY.
Marshall MUST generate new "younger" fans.....GOING FORWARD....they will be the lifeline for our sports teams success.
HerdZilla22
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Or, we could continue what we're doing and ask the last fan out to turn off the lights. We need fresh ideas on how to engage the casual fans and alumni who don't attend games for whatever reason.
People buy season tix to support the Herd and sit in a desired location. You can discount tix or do other promotions in less desirable sections so you don't alienate your season tix holders. It just takes a little thought and planning - something those in charge don't seem capable of.
Wow zilla has the answer. Our President must grow our student population. Geez zilla tell us something we don’t know. For goodness sake Gilbert talks about doing that everywhere he goes. Doing it however now is something else. Marshall has allowed Ohio University, Ohio U. Southern, Morehead, Eastern Kentucky, Pikeville, Charleston, Shawnee State - and others slowly attract students that once upon a tine considered Marshall. Gilbert is aware and working with his recruiters but they the competition for dollars is a real issue as most of the aforementioned institutions offer many of the same traditional undergraduate programs as does Marshall. We need a better sales pitch and get away from the “We Are Marshall” theme that today’s high school students could care less about. With coal severance gone recruiting students from the southern counties in our state is now dwindling. I do not have any students in my classes at Marshall from any of the traditional southern counties because unemployed families simply cannot afford Marshall and all the University Board of Governors ever do is continue to increase tuition at the risk of losing students. So zilla get with it wherever you are and try selling Marshall to high school students in your area. You will find that to be a daunting task at best.
bbneutralfan.....thanks for the update on Dr. Gilbert's Student increase PUSH.
I do speak about MARSHALL a lot in my Charlotte circles. The main problem, NC has many FINE colleges/universities [PLUS surrounding states of SC, Va, & TN]...it is difficult to suggest a student depart NC and pay higher costs to attend (out of state) Marshall, about 5 1/2 hours from their homes. Marshall is in a difficult situation....the answer is beyond my thoughts.
WHAT WOULD YOU INCORPORATE as a NEW SALES PITCH?
HerdZilla22 in CHARLOTTE
We Are....................................Marshall
That's right, NC's flagship "university" doesn't even require attending classes to get a degree. Why go anywhere else.
GreenDuke....Thanks for the updates on classes at State and Dook....always looking up at UNC has to be disheartening.....especially with no reprimands directed to Chapel Hill. Lots of $$$$ spent all for nothing.
HerdZilla22
I guess it’s sad the neither of you know that the University hasn’t been using the “We Are Marshall” tagline in Student recruiting for over 2 years.
“Best Decision......Ever”
Overall, from top to bottom, the dumbest thing I have read this week. That includes post from bleeds and fever
Its easy to just say something is dumb without providing anything of substance to oppose it.
Then again, seeing your posts you are likely trolling people.
Ooooh! You're one of THOSE people! I like your kind.
As a registered Republican I can assure you, I'm not a liberal.
But unlike you simple minded fool, I can actually acknowledge when someone who I don't always agree with, does a good job.
Still waiting for a response of substance...
Back to the original question...
The first thing that needs to be figured out is how to grow university enrollment. More applications, more students and more money lead to more infrastructure and more influence... Also, this would help solve the problem of stagnant sports attendance. More students, means more students at games and thus more alumni who are willing to come back and go to games.
The university needs to figure out how to get kids to want to come to Marshall and sell that message better. The old story of "I came to Marshall because I grew up in (blank) WV county and my mom knew about it" is not going to work anymore, especially as the state continues to lose population to growing states like NC, VA, SC, TN, etc.
The first thing that needs to be figured out is how to grow university enrollment. More applications, more students and more money lead to more infrastructure and more influence... Also, this would help solve the problem of stagnant sports attendance. More students, means more students at games and thus more alumni who are willing to come back and go to games.
The university needs to figure out how to get kids to want to come to Marshall and sell that message better. The old story of "I came to Marshall because I grew up in (blank) WV county and my mom knew about it" is not going to work anymore, especially as the state continues to lose population to growing states like NC, VA, SC, TN, etc.
Spent a couple of hours on Duke's campus (11/7/2017)....pretty impressive. My first time in Cameron Indoor......and I was reminded of all the times the HEELS have kicked the Devil's ass on that floor in front of Coach. K.
HerdZilla22 in Charlotte
Duke has dominated UNC-OJ for a quarter century. Hell they even gave K a trophy a few years ago at the Nose Dome, I mean K Dome. Considering the unprecedented cheating and plantation mentality in Chappa Heyya I don't even feel comfortable mentioning Duke in the same sentence as the Cheats. 
Duke has dominated UNC-OJ for a quarter century. Hell they even gave K a trophy a few years ago at the Nose Dome, I mean K Dome. Considering the unprecedented cheating and plantation mentality in Chappa Heyya I don't even feel comfortable mentioning Duke in the same sentence as the Cheats.
JEALOUSY toward Carolina (The Sky Blue One)......abounds out of Durham.
HerdZilla22 in COLD WET Charlotte
Keep deflecting Ernest T but the truth is out now and EVERYONE knows what they are- UNC-OJ.
I'll ask my family members who hold Duke degrees if they are jealous of OJ.
