Attendance - Where is it going?

[ZachTheZip]

The Browns have arguably been the worst team in the NFL for a decade, people get on the radio and talk about them every day. Newspaper articles are written about them every day. A team doesn't necessarily have to be great, you just have to have fans that care.

There are obviously many Zips fans that care, but not as many as the pro teams have. We're also collectively quieter. Browns fans or Indians fans or OSU fans or whatever get out and talk about there team to the media. They wear their team colors everywhere.There are quite a few Akron fans who don't do this because they get crap for it. "Why are you an Akron fan?" "Who cares about the Zips?" Stuff like that. I try to wear something Zips-related everywhere I go, whether it's a hat or a t-shirt or a tie. It's the small things done collectively that add up.

[zipsbandman]

What's the beef with the Coverage in Cleveland? I think they do a good job considering. Honestly the Cleveland media did cover soccer very well. Heck I went to my relatives house who have no ties to Akron in the greater Cleveland area over the holidays and they were watching zips soccer on ESPN when I got there. Caleb Porter and his staff were even recognized for their accomplishments at a Cavs game. The problem is our revenue sports have done very little for this University and they should be what carries us. Heck, Cincy who is well out of the Cleveland area has gotten coverage in this area because of their football team. They always were interviewing Kelly on 850 AM. I always see them on fox sports Ohio. Seeing what we have invested in this campus and the crazy fees we pay, it is frustrating that we still cannot break out in this terrible conference we play in. Come on now. We took 15k to our first bowl game in detroit. We are turning people away at soccer games. How about the Info on its opening day before our football team layed an egg that was the 2009 season? Sure the hoops team kind of took people by surprise last year but they are what they are....a good team in a minor league conference. I think the fans are there but the money makers need to start showing that they are major league.

[Dr Z]

There are quite a few Akron fans who don't do this because they get crap for it. "Why are you an Akron fan?" "Who cares about the Zips?" Stuff like that. I try to wear something Zips-related everywhere I go, whether it's a hat or a t-shirt or a tie. It's the small things done collectively that add up.

What!?!? Where are you hanging out? Ken+? I wear Akron stuff more than any other sports team. I have NEVER had anybody say something to me. Steeler stuff, yes, Akron stuff, no.edit-I take that back, I wore a Charlie Frye Akron jersey to a Browns game in his rookie season, while walking through the munny lot fans chanted "a-hole, a-hole" This was not because they were anti-Akron, just ignorant fans who didn't know that Frye was on the Browns.

[Quickzips]

There are quite a few Akron fans who don't do this because they get crap for it. "Why are you an Akron fan?" "Who cares about the Zips?" Stuff like that. I try to wear something Zips-related everywhere I go, whether it's a hat or a t-shirt or a tie. It's the small things done collectively that add up.

What!?!? Where are you hanging out? Ken+? I wear Akron stuff more than any other sports team. I have NEVER had anybody say something to me. Steeler stuff, yes, Akron stuff, no.

Better question, where are you hanging out? I mostly get "what team is that?" "aren't you a Buckeyes fan?" "you mean Akron is D-I?" or sarcastic "ohh...the Zippers huh?"

[zen]

Heck, Cincy who is well out of the Cleveland area has gotten coverage in this area because of their football team. They always were interviewing Kelly on 850 AM.

This goes back to my hypothesis about a fragile sports ego in N.E.Ohio and how "fans" want to latch onto a winner.They aren't willing to invest themselves unless they see it as nearly a sure-bet (OSU) or unless they have already had their great season (Cinci). Even the sports media people do this here.... and no, soccer doesn't count for them.

[ZachTheZip]

Heck, Cincy who is well out of the Cleveland area has gotten coverage in this area because of their football team. They always were interviewing Kelly on 850 AM.

This goes back to my hypothesis about a fragile sports ego in N.E.Ohio and how "fans" want to latch onto a winner.They aren't willing to invest themselves unless they see it as nearly a sure-bet (OSU) or unless they have already had their great season (Cinci). Even the sports media people do this here.... and no, soccer doesn't count for them.

Or maybe Cinci and OSU do a better job of reaching out to the sports media. They set up the interviews, not the radio station.

[zen]

Heck, Cincy who is well out of the Cleveland area has gotten coverage in this area because of their football team. They always were interviewing Kelly on 850 AM.

This goes back to my hypothesis about a fragile sports ego in N.E.Ohio and how "fans" want to latch onto a winner.They aren't willing to invest themselves unless they see it as nearly a sure-bet (OSU) or unless they have already had their great season (Cinci). Even the sports media people do this here.... and no, soccer doesn't count for them.

Or maybe Cinci and OSU do a better job of reaching out to the sports media. They set up the interviews, not the radio station.

As I asked before, does our athletic dept. actually put out print-ready and air-ready content?But once you catch fire (like Cinci this year) you don't need to do that anymore. The media will come to you.

[infofan]

The Cleveland media will never allow UA athletics to be a big ticket. The whole "regionalism" idea is a bunch of Cleveland-centric hypocritical bull sh*t. Cleveland wants all of the regional focus and continually refuses to give any credit where credit is due. When was the last feature about UA you've seen on the Cleveland evening news? Yup, gotta think awfully long and hard about that one. What was it about? The hiring of TW? The firing of JD? The hiring of RI? The addition of football staff? LeVon Moorefield as a finalist and winner of the Rudy Award? The opening of the Info? The revitalization of downtown? The $300 million landscape for learning? The evolving plans for the new soccer stadium? The need of a new basketball arena? The narrow defeat to Rhode Island? The thumping of BGSU? The undefeated soccer team? The MAC Champion soccer team? The NCAA Final Four soccer team? The NCAA finalist soccer team? The courting of Caleb Porter by Washington United? Caleb Porter re-signing with the Zips? Dr. P's State of the University address? Human-interest stories on any number of athletes or professors @ UA? Research being done @ UA? Federal grants being awarded to UA? National research and engineering awards being won by UA students, etc., etc., etc.Noooooooope. Nada.You see, we're in competition with Cleveland, not cooperation. Cleveland knows this. Joe Akron, unfortunately, does not. If Cleveland news 3, 5 & 8 would give the Zips 5-7 minutes of sports coverage Monday-through-Friday, win-or-lose, rain-or-shine (just like they do the Cavs, Browns, Indians & Buckeyes) then people would inevitably take notice of Zips athletics and then, on the VERY IMPORTANT SUBCONSCIOUS LEVEL, view Zips athletics as important, meaningful & the place to be. 3, 5 & 8 sports coverage is not so much news as it is a 10-minute advertisement. You know that. So do I. Trust me, 3, 5 & 8 KNOW this. Are 3, 5 or 8 ever going to do that for the Zips? Deep down, unfortunately, you know the answer to that.Screw you, Cleveland.TO CLARIFY, the Aeros arenot really doing that well attendance wise. (see graphic). They were when Canal park was new but attendance has been declining 5 years straight now- despite 3 EAL championships. When you look at Dayton, Toledo, and Columbus attendance the Aeros are really hurting! Not critically but if not for 9 FEE ticket nights which account for about 88000 tickets our average would be in the 3000s. Were 7th now, behind New hampshire, and Reading, and erie, etc.AttendanceSeason Total attendance League rank Total Aeros openings Average attendance per Aeros opening Average attendance per Eastern League opening(not including Aeros openings) 1997 473,232 1st 71 (approx.) 6,665 4,260 1998 521,122 1st 71 (approx.) 7,340 4,334 1999 522,459 1st 71 (approx.) 7,359 4,954 2000 481,060 1st 71 (approx.) 6,775 4,147 2001 485,582 1st 71 (approx.) 6,839 4,294 2002 400,187 3rd 71 (approx.) 5,636 4,284 2003 445,603 2nd 71 (approx.) 6,276 4,128 2004 478,611 1st 71 (approx.) 6,741 4,399 2005 455,056 2nd 71 (approx.) 6,409 4,468 2006 412,995 3rd 71 (approx.) 5,817 4,353 2007 355,376 6th 64 5,553 4,831 2008 342,816 7th 67 5,117 4,570 Also- the Aeros tickets are 8-11dollars. With a lot of bogos and half offs and 2 for 1s. I support the Aeros and wish them well but we cant keep saying they are having record attendance. Our tix average about 18bucks with no discounting. And the facilities are below the info but much better than the JAR( sightlines, concessions, restrooms)as for WZIPfm. keep in mind they cant sell commercials so they arent an option for our broadcasts, But their coverage is far far greater!! Reaching lake erie, mansfield, and PA. Also- they Do have a 3 hour sportstalk show every sunday and games on every sat/sunday during high school season. Very little Akron talk, the usual, osu, clevelans stuff

[infofan]

I'm not sure I agree that the Cleveland media needs to pick up on us more than they do. Don't get me wrong, free media attention is always a huge benefit, but it needs to be earned. What exactly do the Zips do to "earn" it? Why should anyone in Cleveland care about the football team that hasn't had a winning season in what? 4 years now? Why should they care about a basketball team that plays nobody of significance during the regular season and is pretty much a one and done if they get to the NCAA's? There isn't much reason for them to care. You saw a major uptick in UA Soccer coverage when the team was making their run through the tournament. Why? Because that was something people could care about. The soccer team clearly has their house in order, and unlike football and basketball, isn't going to get overshadowed by other state and local teams in the same sport if the athletic department does a piss-poor job of marketing them. I think the first step is to get our own house in order. Start winning games, meaningful games. Put together a functional marketing department. Put together a complete product (team, facilities, side entertainment, concessions, etc.) that people want to come and see and care about. Then I think we can start to complain about a lack of free media.

Why should anyone care?? I agree as far as CSU and Ohio state go but when they show video highlights of John carrol or case western, or dike college, or Can't and ignore us Im put off a bit!! Agreed you have to earn coverage. But we outdraw csu 2-1 and those others are blips on the radar.

[ZachTheZip]

WZIP does have a sports talk show. It's on Sunday evening, but I don't know the exact hours. It's call-in based, but nobody ever calls in to talk about the Zips. It's run by UA students. If there's anybody on the radio at any station (besided Steve French) who might be able to hold an intelligent conversation about UA sports, it should be them.

[skip-zip]

In what might be an unsuccessful attempt to get this back to the topic I hoped it would be, consider this for a moment.....1) We've always dealt with a lack of publicity.2) We've been playing the same MAC schedule for nearly 20 years.3) We've been winning for quite a few years.4) We've always had limited coverage on television. These things have become constants. But, if some of the crowds over the last year or so are any indication, we might be trending downward in numbers.Personally, I attribute some of it to the economy, and some of it to the fact that we appeared to have more "casual" fans come to the games when the local ex-high school stars were still around. If we do indeed end up finding that conference home attendance is trending downward, I don't understand how one can blame it on any factor that already exists, and may have been that way for decades.Yes, we all like to play "genius" and offer up dozens of solutions. But, I was actually much more interested in a discussion about why it's happening, like I did with the people sitting around me at the game last Saturday night.

[cms133@uakron.edu]

There are quite a few Akron fans who don't do this because they get crap for it. "Why are you an Akron fan?" "Who cares about the Zips?" Stuff like that. I try to wear something Zips-related everywhere I go, whether it's a hat or a t-shirt or a tie. It's the small things done collectively that add up.

What!?!? Where are you hanging out? Ken+? I wear Akron stuff more than any other sports team. I have NEVER had anybody say something to me. Steeler stuff, yes, Akron stuff, no.

Better question, where are you hanging out? I mostly get "what team is that?" "aren't you a Buckeyes fan?" "you mean Akron is D-I?" or sarcastic "ohh...the Zippers huh?"

I take Dr Z's side. I wear Akron stuff all the time and have never had anyone say anything bad to me. There's a S-WORD TON of Akron fans in Medina, either Alumni or students that I see every time I go home from school. Whether it be the Akron clothes they wear, or window stickers on their car, or even parking passes, there just seems to be tons of them where I live, it's pretty awesome. The cool part about it is a lot of them are oldies that are proud of their school. At my bothers soccer game there was an elderly man (80's) wearing an Akron sweatshirt and I thought that was SO cool. Lots of soccer moms have Akron hoodies on, and lots of people who come into my dad's hardware store are wearing ZIPS stuff. A lot of people in town were coming in and asking me about the opening of the info, and later about our soccer team. I always talk to people about the academic success of the school, and they'd say they couldnt believe how much the campus had changed since they attended. Even the mayor, a graduate of Akron, and I had a conversation of how well the school is doing. So anyone who feels outcast when sporting the A.K. should move to Medina lol. I see people outside of Ohio who are fans and usually they're vocal about it, like I am. My friend was at a cubs game last year, some guys noticed what he was wearing and shouted "GO ZIPS!" to him. I was at Oglebay in West Virginia this past winter break and I saw a girl wearing an Akron sweatshirt and some different guy wearing an Akron hat, to which my little brother complimented. I know all this might seem small time or stupid but I'm just telling you my experience. Definitely not what Quickzips is describing. Maybe the toughest crowd for Akron is...Akron, lol. It will change.

[cms133@uakron.edu]

Sorry skipI used to think " The Jar is small, why don't the students, who get free admission, fill it?" and to an extent I still believe that. Thinking back to last year when I lived in the dorms, there was never any huge actual push from the RA's or whoever to let the students know about it and get them to go. No one really excited them about it. But this is more or less about why "JoeAkron" isn't filling the stands. One team from the Mac gets into the NCAA tournament. So someonehas to get in right? Regardless of how good a team they are. Is it really an accomplishment to JoeAkron that the Zips go to the tournament? Should it be something of significance to the average fan who doesn't know much about the league or what it takes to get where we are? I don't think so. Someone on here said "one and done" and that's exactly what it is to someone who isn't a diehard. Im willing to bet that most people in Akron don't know what conference the Zips play in or could even list three other teams from the MAC. Last year some publicity was gained by our tournament appearance right? But this years attendance numbers, much to my surprise...suck. A lot of funded publicity might do something, like the Aero's example, but something that would boost attendance like you guys want would be wins in the tournament. How much attention would you get from going undefeated in the MAC, against a bunch of teams that JoeAkron doesn't know exist? Some but not much. I just started paying attention to B-Ball and how is it that I know of teams like Cleveland State, Xavier, Dayton, and Gonzaga? I doubt they "market" their teams that much. How much did we hear when CSU beat Wake? A TON. Maybe some of you on here have a good site for MAC info, so if anyone could find the attendence of Miami's team after they went to the sweet sixteen or Can't after they went to the elite 8? that might help us. Obviously making noise in the tournament is huge, and hopefully we can get there this year. I also think that the local star thing has some validity but the guys we've mentioned played and were close friends with LEBRON JAMES! Was it because those guys were from Akron that people showed up of was it because of Bron? Would Jakarr Sampson bring people into the Jar?

[RootforRoo44]

The Browns have arguably been the worst team in the NFL for a decade, people get on the radio and talk about them every day. Newspaper articles are written about them every day. A team doesn't necessarily have to be great, you just have to have fans that care.

There are obviously many Zips fans that care, but not as many as the pro teams have. We're also collectively quieter. Browns fans or Indians fans or OSU fans or whatever get out and talk about there team to the media. They wear their team colors everywhere.There are quite a few Akron fans who don't do this because they get crap for it. "Why are you an Akron fan?" "Who cares about the Zips?" Stuff like that. I try to wear something Zips-related everywhere I go, whether it's a hat or a t-shirt or a tie. It's the small things done collectively that add up.

i hear ya. I wear my Zips gloves and winter hat every day when i go out. Not to mention a Zips hoodie or shirt nearly every day.

[Blue & Gold]

The Browns have arguably been the worst team in the NFL for a decade, people get on the radio and talk about them every day. Newspaper articles are written about them every day. A team doesn't necessarily have to be great, you just have to have fans that care.

There are obviously many Zips fans that care, but not as many as the pro teams have. We're also collectively quieter. Browns fans or Indians fans or OSU fans or whatever get out and talk about there team to the media. They wear their team colors everywhere.There are quite a few Akron fans who don't do this because they get crap for it. "Why are you an Akron fan?" "Who cares about the Zips?" Stuff like that. I try to wear something Zips-related everywhere I go, whether it's a hat or a t-shirt or a tie. It's the small things done collectively that add up.

i hear ya. I wear my Zips gloves and winter hat every day when i go out. Not to mention a Zips hoodie or shirt nearly every day.

I was walking into the Hartville Giant Eagle. I saw two guys, one of whom was wearing a Zips' Soccer scarf. I said, "Hey, nice scarf!" At first he thought I must have been joking (at least that's how I interpreted his reaction) but a second later he knew I was sincere and he said, "Heck yeah! Go Zips!"I wear my Zips stuff pretty regularly. I coach a little kids basketball team @ my church & Trevor Wiegand (sp?) is in the league. Coach Wiegand picks him up once in a while & I get to chat with him for a couple of minutes. Extremely nice guy. He always likes my Akron gear! Lol.

[Zip Watcher]

I wear my Zips stuff pretty regularly. I coach a little kids basketball team @ my church & Trevor Wiegand (sp?) is in the league.

That sounds like some great news.Go Zips!

[Spin]

Why should anyone care?? I agree as far as CSU and Ohio state go but when they show video highlights of John carrol or case western, or dike college, or Can't and ignore us Im put off a bit!! Agreed you have to earn coverage. But we outdraw csu 2-1 and those others are blips on the radar.

Not to mention seeing Baldwin Freakin Wallace and Mount U on TV every week. BW!!!! While the Zips have 4 basketball games on TV ALL SEASON??? Maybe five if the Bracketbuster game gets on a real network.Nothing says "big time" quite like not being on TV while local D3 teams are on all the time.

[Dave in Green]

A little history for the younger folks (and most of you are younger than me):In ancient times, all problems that were not easily understood by the masses were blamed on "the gods."In modern times, the gods have been replaced by "the media." If there's a problem for which no one can come up with a quick solution, it must be the fault of the media (gods). Doesn't matter if it's sports, politics, whatever, it's all the media's fault.Don't buy it. It's a diversion to keep you from finding real solutions to the problems of the world, even those as mundane as lack of interest in a sports team. Media folks are just working stiffs like all the rest of us who've finished up schooling and moved into the real world of trying to earn a living. As in every other profession, there are good, bad and average media. But they are not the source of the world's problems.Searching for scapegoats is not part of the solution. It's part of the problem.

[zen]

lul, what does that say about the media if it has replaced "the gods".[/orwell]

[Dr Z]

Don't buy it. It's a diversion to keep you from finding real solutions to the problems of the world, even those as mundane as lack of interest in a sports team. Media folks are just working stiffs like all the rest of us who've finished up schooling and moved into the real world of trying to earn a living. As in every other profession, there are good, bad and average media. But they are not the source of the world's problems. Searching for scapegoats is not part of the solution. It's part of the problem.

With proper marketing from the university, they can use the media (paper/radio/tv) to help their own cause. IMO that is where we need to focus our energies. The "media" is looking for good things to cover. Sometimes the team creates the buzz and the "media" has to cover it, sometimes (in our case), our marketing department has to create the buzz for the media for the fan to get excited to attend the events.

[xu9697]

Went to the Air Force @ Navy game this past October. Just got an ad from Navy, offering, "$3 tix to Lehigh @ Navy men's basketball game for all football season ticket holders". Perhaps not a bad idea for Akron to look into.

[MaxZIP]

Went to the Air Force @ Navy game this past October. Just got an ad from Navy, offering, "$3 tix to Lehigh @ Navy men's basketball game for all football season ticket holders". Perhaps not a bad idea for Akron to look into.

Remember that people are paid good money to come up with marketing and promotion plans. You would think that they would do more cross promotion seeing as zips fans are a pretty niche market. Hell they should just mail some lesser game GA basketball tickets to football season ticket holders. Doing so would add some perceived value and sense of membership to being at least a single sport season ticket holder. With a little creativity they could do much more while spending very little. They need to win games on the field and take care of business off.

[Dr Z]

Remember that people are paid good money to come up with marketing and promotion plans. You would think that they would do more cross promotion seeing as zips fans are a pretty niche market. Hell they should just mail some lesser game GA basketball tickets to football season ticket holders. Doing so would add some perceived value and sense of membership to being at least a single sport season ticket holder. With a little creativity they could do much more while spending very little. They need to win games on the field and take care of business off.

I wonder how successful the "pick three" promo was with football? I thought that was a good idea. I would like to see something done like that with basketball. Maybe you give a basketball "coupon" away with the football season tickets. One free GA to any game before the Ken+ game. This way you don't have extra mailing cost, you reach every Zips football fan, you make them attend a game early enough you might get repeat fans later in the season. I would also cross reference the alumni that are signed up on the alumni site that live within 30 miles and offer the same type of "coupon"But the best way to increase attendance is a long term plan by getting more students to the game. Those students become lifetime fans like a lot of us on this site. You don't know how many alumni I come across that didn't go to one bb game or football game while attending, and don't now.Okay...I'm using the emoticon on myself now after reading my post back.

[Spin]

Someone asked about press releases. Yes they do get sent out. I recieve them on the sports I'm interested in. If you are interested, Sign up here

[MaxZIP]

Remember that people are paid good money to come up with marketing and promotion plans. You would think that they would do more cross promotion seeing as zips fans are a pretty niche market. Hell they should just mail some lesser game GA basketball tickets to football season ticket holders. Doing so would add some perceived value and sense of membership to being at least a single sport season ticket holder. With a little creativity they could do much more while spending very little. They need to win games on the field and take care of business off.

I wonder how successful the "pick three" promo was with football? I thought that was a good idea. I would like to see something done like that with basketball. Maybe you give a basketball "coupon" away with the football season tickets. One free GA to any game before the Ken+ game. This way you don't have extra mailing cost, you reach every Zips football fan, you make them attend a game early enough you might get repeat fans later in the season. I would also cross reference the alumni that are signed up on the alumni site that live within 30 miles and offer the same type of "coupon"But the best way to increase attendance is a long term plan by getting more students to the game. Those students become lifetime fans like a lot of us on this site. You don't know how many alumni I come across that didn't go to one bb game or football game while attending, and don't now.Okay...I'm using the emoticon on myself now after reading my post back.

It is sad.