Zips Football 2011

[Dave in Green]

Let me rephrase and expand on my original statement:

Winning is not something that can automatically be counted on as a marketing tool. It's primarily the goal of sporting competitions to win. But simple math dictates that all teams cannot have winning records at the same time.

A byproduct of winning is that it tends to attract larger crowds because more people like being associated with a winner than a loser.

Therefore, a marketing department can capitalize on a winning program by making sure that more people hear about opportunties to be associated with that winning program.

A much bigger challenge for a marketing department is to attract more customers to a program that's not winning.

"Free" giveaway items will always tend to attract more customers to some degree. The more value in the giveaway items, the more interest is likely to be generated.

But customers who come to an event primarily for free items are not likely to return unless they either continue to receive free items of value, which can get costly, or they find the overall experience was enjoyable beyond the free items they received.

"Free" items to the customer are not really free. Someone has to pay for them, and sponsors who pay for things expect value out of them in the form of increased customer sales.

Since ideas are cheap, brainstorming marketing concepts is the simple part. Long lists of raw ideas are relatively easy to generate. Selecting and properly executing targeted marketing that produces desired results at cost-effective prices is the hard part.

If it was easy, everyone would be doing it. And a quick look around at all the product marketing programs that customers are bombarded with every day shows that good marketing is far from universal.

[Blue & Gold]

if I was Akron's marketing department, I would try to build a sense of identity with the people of Akron. This is the team that represents us (us being the citizens of Akron) to the rest of the world and so we should support it as best as we can.

At this point, you would be telling the people of Akron they are a bunch of losers. Good luck selling that ticket. Start to win and then tell everyone the school is like them.

I'm on my annual vacation in Michigan. On my way up I stopped in Toledo to scout out their new downtown arena. Though I wasn't able to sneak inside, the exterior of the arena is honestly quite impressive. It most definitely looks like a legitimate, big-time arena. (No fair! Toledo already has a beautifully renovated Savage Hall!)

But another thing I noticed is that the city seems to be attempting to cultivate an identity with UT as at least a major player, possibly the central focus. On an overhead bridge leading into the city (similar to our "Akron Akron Akron Akron..." bridge coming in from the westside) Toledo has a "Toledo" bridge only uses UT's font & completes the ensemble w/ the UT "rocket" logo. It was very nicely done. I also noticed a typical city limits sign which, of course, read, "Welcome to Toledo," but again (if I remember correctly) "Toledo" was printed in the UT font & the sign was definitely complemented with the UT rocket logo. It'd be really nice if the city of Akron started idenifying w/ the U in this fashion. The more identity markers, the better IMHO.

Also, GP1, if you read this, what was the name of the Grand Rapids seafood restaurant you recommended?

[GP1]

Also, GP1, if you read this, what was the name of the Grand Rapids seafood restaurant you recommended?

Bistro Bella Vita

Not as much seafood as bistro. Everything from seafood to steaks to pasta to pizza. One of my all time favorite dinner places when I was traveling in corporate America. I'd love to hear back on your dining experience.

Toledo has been a successful program in the past and will be successful again. People want to be associated with that.

BTW, something happened to me yesterday that made me feel good about UofA and the future. I had a chance to speak with the AD from UNCC at a professional event. I was telling her about how poorly UofA has done since opening The Big Dialer. She looked me dead in the eyes and said things would get better because Akron has too much going for it for things not to get better. She is well on the back end of her career (37 years as a coach, assist AD and AD since around 1997) and doesn't have to pull any punches. It was nice to speak with a confident, competent and smart athletic director who is not looking to her next job because she is in her last job.

[ZachTheZip]

At this point, you would be telling the people of Akron they are a bunch of losers. Good luck selling that ticket.

Works for the Browns, doesn't it?

[ZachTheZip]

Season ticket commercial. Excited yet, marketeers?

[Blue & Gold]

Also, GP1, if you read this, what was the name of the Grand Rapids seafood restaurant you recommended?

Bistro Bella Vita

Not as much seafood as bistro. Everything from seafood to steaks to pasta to pizza. One of my all time favorite dinner places when I was traveling in corporate America. I'd love to hear back on your dining experience.

Toledo has been a successful program in the past and will be successful again. People want to be associated with that.

BTW, something happened to me yesterday that made me feel good about UofA and the future. I had a chance to speak with the AD from UNCC at a professional event. I was telling her about how poorly UofA has done since opening The Big Dialer. She looked me dead in the eyes and said things would get better because Akron has too much going for it for things not to get better. She is well on the back end of her career (37 years as a coach, assist AD and AD since around 1997) and doesn't have to pull any punches. It was nice to speak with a confident, competent and smart athletic director who is not looking to her next job because she is in her last job.

Much thanks, GP1! I ate at Bistro Bella last Thursday and it was great. Nice upscale casual atmosphere - I was on vacation, so wore flip flops, board shorts & a Polo but felt right at home. Great menu, very extensive wine list (including a very impressive selection of >$500 bottles) and pretty good beer selection.

I had the seafood spaghetti - "shrimp, scallop and mussels with peppers, tomatoes and olives in a spicy tomato sauce." It was excellent.

An added bonus - from my seat I could see the rear portion of the Van Andel Arena - one of the arenas that I would hope the city of Akron and the U would look at while deciding upon what to build in either downtown or on campus.

It made for a really nice afternoon, so thanks again!

[lance99]

Season ticket commercial. Excited yet, marketeers?

This video does not get me excited at all. It just says "go buy tickets!" I do not have all the answers, however maybe word of mouth might work. As an example, when I lived in Phoenix, I promoted the Zips every chance I got. Most people either said "what the hell am I talking about?' Or they said "That team with the Kangaroo that got blown out by Nebraska years ago?" I was just happy that at least half of the people knew that the Zips existed.

Here is what I would do for marketing: Go state wide and basically say "we ARE NOT the Buckeyes, Browns, Bengals, ect." Make us the ultimate underdog. I promise you people will follow just for that reason.

Winning does help, but when no one shows up, does it matter?

[GP1]

Much thanks, GP1! I ate at Bistro Bella last Thursday and it was great. Nice upscale casual atmosphere - I was on vacation, so wore flip flops, board shorts & a Polo but felt right at home. Great menu, very extensive wine list (including a very impressive selection of >$500 bottles) and pretty good beer selection.

I had the seafood spaghetti - "shrimp, scallop and mussels with peppers, tomatoes and olives in a spicy tomato sauce." It was excellent.

An added bonus - from my seat I could see the rear portion of the Van Andel Arena - one of the arenas that I would hope the city of Akron and the U would look at while deciding upon what to build in either downtown or on campus.

It made for a really nice afternoon, so thanks again!

Glad to help. If anyone is traveling anywhere, the Great GP1 has traveled through out the United States on business throughout his professional career and knows a ton of good places to eat. I've thought of writing a food guide for businessmen traveling for work.

The seafood spaghetti? I'm green with envy. I hope you were able to take in the downtown area while there. I used to stay at the Courtyard across the street from The BOB. Grand Rapids is a great place.

[Z.I.P.]

Much thanks, GP1! I ate at Bistro Bella last Thursday and it was great. Nice upscale casual atmosphere - I was on vacation, so wore flip flops, board shorts & a Polo but felt right at home. Great menu, very extensive wine list (including a very impressive selection of >$500 bottles) and pretty good beer selection.

I had the seafood spaghetti - "shrimp, scallop and mussels with peppers, tomatoes and olives in a spicy tomato sauce." It was excellent.

An added bonus - from my seat I could see the rear portion of the Van Andel Arena - one of the arenas that I would hope the city of Akron and the U would look at while deciding upon what to build in either downtown or on campus.

It made for a really nice afternoon, so thanks again!

Glad to help. If anyone is traveling anywhere, the Great GP1 has traveled through out the United States on business throughout his professional career and knows a ton of good places to eat. I've thought of writing a food guide for businessmen traveling for work.

The seafood spaghetti? I'm green with envy. I hope you were able to take in the downtown area while there. I used to stay at the Courtyard across the street from The BOB. Grand Rapids is a great place.

Hey GP-1, since you've offered... You know anywhere on the Left Coast? Heading to LA next week. You must have a favorite tiki bar, there.

[GP1]

Hey GP-1, since you've offered... You know anywhere on the Left Coast? Heading to LA next week. You must have a favorite tiki bar, there.

I generally don't recommend anywhere in California because the food is too healthy and I try to stay away from healthy food.