interfx Posted October 11, 2009 Report Posted October 11, 2009 I came back for homecoming this year, and was really blown away by the new stadium. After many years (mid 1980's) marching half time shows in a nearly empty (falling apart Rubber Bowl). Here's a few observations from a passionate alum... (Not sure if the new AD reads here on ZN)Top 51. Great Stadium, Really First Class...2. The Marching Band sounded great, really liked the pregame "marching"!3. The environment outside the stadium was also great. Was cool to watch the crowd outside the stadium, eating, drinking, listening to the band, music, ...4. Tail gating lots were alot of fun!...5. Great to have Homecoming on the holiday weekend (Columbus Day) - easier for out of towners to get back (I came from Atlanta)Bottom 51. ZIPS MERCHANDISEGet a real website for Alumni to order Zips merchandise. The GoZips Store is a joke! The stadium store should be open NOW! We're alumni, have jobs, and ready to spend some $$$ on campus. Make it easier for us to do this. (spend money!!!)2. STUDENTSFigure out how to get students at the game. Some there this year - but didn't look like anymore than at the Rubber Bowl last year. Even if you have to make "free", better to have some people in the stadium, than an empty stadium... You can always charge in the future if the program becomes a winning program. Right now I think you need as much support as you can get.3. MEDIA COVERAGEGet the ABJ (Ohio.com) to actually cover the Zips... The Razor Blog is OK, but often Zips stories are behind Browns, Ohio State, and most other D-1 programs. If there is no news, make some news to cover (the good kind). Get them focused on personal stories. Get a PR focus on the local media. (give them a reason to cover the Zips!)4. ALUMNII know this is the role of the Alumni Association - but you spend some ad $ to get focus on zips alumni. The mailings they do are great, but should focus on how to get Alumni out to the different sporting events... 16K last night is OK - but figure out how to get the word out. Give tickets away with purchase of Zips gear, get local establishments involved also... Lots of bars along Exchange that are doing great business... Get them together now...Give away a free ticket for updated alumni email, contact information. The cost of aquistion of a person for the cost of a General Admission ticket is a bargain. Most companies spend $10-$20 to get a qualified lead... Giving away a free ticket to get a "real" email distribution, alumni contact is a great way to get people updated, advertised to. Get some real marketing focus!5. BANDDo a high school band night, get some highschool bands out at the stadium... Have them join "Ohio's Pride" for a half time show... (when the away team doesn't bring their band). Invite some of the great local bands (Cuyahoga Falls, ...). Will get kids excited about the UA, and will turn into kids joining Ohio's Pride in a few years - a great recruiting tool!!! (and will bring their parents to the game as paying parents, families) Where else in NE Ohio, can go to a stadium like InfoCision to march when you go to College? At Ohio State - it is tough to even march as a freshman, or even sophmore because of the numbers.OK, I know it's more than 5, but here's a great idea to have more people join, especially for Homecoming!6. AFTERNOON GAMEConsider afternoon games in 2010. (3pm/4pm kickoff) Quote
zipseuph Posted October 11, 2009 Report Posted October 11, 2009 Do a high school band nightthey doEven if you have to make "free",they arefor what it's worth I found out that they close the rec an hour before games and I imagine that would help student turn out some what Quote
zip37 Posted October 11, 2009 Report Posted October 11, 2009 Mine is much more succinct-- we need a real football coach, the caliber of KD, Jody, Caleb and Dennis! Quote
MaxZIP Posted October 11, 2009 Report Posted October 11, 2009 If you win it...they will comeI have also been shocked by legnth of the ticket lines. People are Waiting 30 min at all gates to get a ticket. I saw some fans at the end of the long line leave because the had already missed a whole quarter because the one window out of three actually selling tickets instead of being dedicated to will call. They really need to speed up transaction times. I had some people in for the game and they had a negative experienc prior to watching our special teams play. Thee should have a cash only line or something. A general admission ticket lane or two might also speed it up because people take forever to choose a seat though they are mostly the same price and all offer a great view Quote
Lee Adams Posted October 11, 2009 Report Posted October 11, 2009 If you win it...they will comelooks like the Can't game will be the battle for the basement... Quote
MaxZIP Posted October 11, 2009 Report Posted October 11, 2009 If you win it...they will comelooks like the Can't game will be the battle for the basement...They can still make a run of it. The d is looking pretty good and the o should be able to move the ball. I still have hope that they can make a respectable showing by coming on strong. Quote
Z.I.P. Posted October 11, 2009 Report Posted October 11, 2009 If you win it...they will comelooks like the Can't game will be the battle for the basement...They can still make a run of it. The d is looking pretty good and the o should be able to move the ball. I still have hope that they can make a respectable showing by coming on strong.Nahhhh. I thought they would win one yesterday -- even made it onto ESPNNews. Then BG came from nowhere to kick their in the final seconds. What can I say? BTW -- Isn't Miami still in the MAC East? Quote
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