Saturday Promotional Item

[sgm405]

http://www.gozips.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_...0&ATCLID=803262A promotional item was announced that will be given to the first 3,000 fans in attendance Saturday - a Lebron James wall cling. I understand the idea - use Lebron's popularity to draw a big crowd - but at the same time, in a game that the spotlight should be solely on Mr. Joyce and Mr. Travis, who have spent the last four years having to put up with being referred to as "Lebron's former teammates", was this a good move?

[zip81]

What is it...like a Fathead or something?Yeah, I agree...it should either be of a player or maybe Zippy...at least have something to do with the school.But then again, I'm sure something will screw up...like the blankets half the football season ticket holders never received.

[AK-Zips]

Yes, this is a bush league move for poetic justice by the marketing department. It shows they are trying to get more fans to games, but if they knew the circus around LeBron being attached to the Zips programs that probably would have rethought the idea. This is a good marketing idea but does continue to cast they shadow on Dru and Romeo instead of them being the in the spotlight that they rightfully deserve.Now on to the blanket topic; I understood that they were supposed to be given as one per order, not one per ticket to reward the ticker buyer, not necessarily every person with a single season ticket. Think of it this way; with all of the comp tickets to businesses as part of sales deals somebody different may be at each game using the same ticket claiming they never got their blanket since they are a season ticket holder. It would have saved a lot of face for the department to use the ticket ID numbers on the ticket sheets rather than individual people. That is the explanation given tome by a former employee when i asked him about the blanket situation in the fall. This was the original intent and is what is done at just about every school anyway.

[blueandgold]

Just think. Beginning next season we will be hearing much less about all the LeBron ties. The only tie-in will be with KD, which won't come up nearly as much. Even though it has become annoying to us, I think that it did help the program's recognition nationally.

[Dr Z]

There is nothing wrong with using LeBron to promote. I think they should have done MORE of this.How about a billboard with with Dru, Romeo (in Akron Uni) and KD with LBJ in the background?'Bringing the Show to the JAR This Year' (with the home schedule.)Or course this is too late. I am VERY disappointed in the marketing this year.Remember Lebron has been to many home games in support of Romeo and Dru.Nothing will take away from the standing O that Dru and Romeo will get at halftime.

[AK-Zips]

There is nothing wrong with using LeBron to promote. I think they should have done MORE of this.How about a billboard with with Dru, Romeo (in Akron Uni) and KD with LBJ in the background?'Bringing the Show to the JAR This Year' (with the home schedule.)Or course this is too late. I am VERY disappointed in the marketing this year.Remember Lebron has been to many home games in support of Romeo and Dru.Nothing will take away from the standing O that Dru and Romeo will get at halftime.

aren't they doing the recognition during pregame like usual?

[Zips Win!]

Even though it has become annoying to us, I think that it did help the program's recognition nationally.

Agree--very annoying, and disagree on the recognition--we get one ESPN 2 game and all they talked about was LeBron. The last time I checked he hasn't scored even one point for us or won us any games, so enough with the gravy training........Saturday should be about Rome and Dru.....No one else.....

[unZIPped]

Well, if I had to guess....... it may not be over JUST YET. The Cavs are off on Saturday, so LBJ may be at the Zips game. If I was betting man, I'd say that he will be there to support Dru and Romeo.

[ZachTheZip]

Well, if I had to guess....... it may not be over JUST YET. The Cavs are off on Saturday, so LBJ may be at the Zips game. If I was betting man, I'd say that he will be there to support Dru and Romeo.

If he is there, great. If not, I feel like he is being taken advantage of, while at the same time stealing the spotlight from Dru and Romeo. I really hope he shows up. He could do the halftime speech or something like that. Get him involved, if he wants to.

[Z-Pouch]

Are you guys serious? How can anyone argue that this is a bad idea…….Option 1 – Using help from LBJ, arguable the best basketball talent in the world, to fill up an arena and provide his friends, Dru and Romeo, the proper send off that they deserve for being part of revitalizing Zips BB. I wonder who donated/sponsored all of those 3000 LBJ wall sticker giveaways…hmmmm… I don’t see a sponsor’s name. I could be wrong but what’s the problem with taking this opportunity to make sure that people are in their seats early to see a game against bottom dwelling BG – hell, the line may be 20pts. Personally, I think Dru and Romeo don’t spend anytime worrying about their association with LeBron and are more interested in promoting UA and laying the foundation of a successful program. They have always said that they wanted to leave their mark on UA basketball. They will be playing in the game in front of a big crowd – So what if Lebron’s poster or appearance got fans there, if UA and in particular Dru and Romeo play well, what do you think fans will remember leaving the JAR ? Maybe some go to the Cleveland tourney and we end up with new fans. What’s the problem ? Potential Sellout, Crowd 5000.Option 2 - Rely on Dru/Romeo popularity among mainly Zip fans. High end crowd of 4000 Zip fans. Half empty side blue seats showing up late and missing pre game festivities.I’m grateful and appreciate the efforts of UA Marketing, Dambrot,, and LBJ (if involved) to make sure that his friends have a memorable night and get the crowd there early for the pre game ceremonies with a good LBJ giveaway/promo. Congrats on pulling it off, Love it, Appreciate it and Icing on the cake if LeBron is there at the game and gives the plaques to his friends with KD – PERFECT. To me, It sounds like UA is trying it’s best to give Romeo and Joyce a great night.

[Zip_ME87]

Well, if I had to guess....... it may not be over JUST YET. The Cavs are off on Saturday, so LBJ may be at the Zips game. If I was betting man, I'd say that he will be there to support Dru and Romeo.

I don't see how LeBron can be at a 7 pm Zips game in Akron and then play the Heat in Miami at 3:30 pm on Sunday afternoon. I'll be surprised if Mike Brown allows this given the Cavalier's recent struggles.

[Valpo Zip]

The cavs are traveling to miami on saturday. They have a game on Sunday noonish time.Lebron won't be there if he travels with the team.

[Blue & Gold]

I love the LeBron connection. I think the Zips should publicize the close connection as much and as often as possible. BUT NOT TONIGHT!!!!!!!!! Tonight is Rome and Dru's night!!!!!!!! Night of all nights!?!?!?!? It's not LeBron's night! It's not Kevin Garnett's night! It's not Michael Jordan's night! It's Rome & Dru's night!!!!Incompetent morons! This has gotten so sickening so quickly!

[GP1]

There is nothing wrong with using LeBron to promote. I think they should have done MORE of this.How about a billboard with with Dru, Romeo (in Akron Uni) and KD with LBJ in the background?'Bringing the Show to the JAR This Year' (with the home schedule.)Or course this is too late. I am VERY disappointed in the marketing this year.Remember Lebron has been to many home games in support of Romeo and Dru.Nothing will take away from the standing O that Dru and Romeo will get at halftime.

I understand what you are saying, but James is with Nike and UofA is with Addidas. Contracts are contracts, and there is only so much UofA can do to promote James under these circumstances. The current Athletic Department staff did not sign the Addidas contract and when it runs out, UofA should run to become a Nike school if they will have us. There is a guy with the initials of KD who may have some influence with a guy with the initials of LJ who could help. I agree with ZipsWin! in that I don't think promoting James is the answer either.This marketing staff does nothing more or less than what we have seen around here for the past 20 years. Billboards, newspaper advertisements, etc....it's the definition of insanity. There is actually an argument for them doing more as they increased football season tickets drastically after years of decline prior to them. I would credit ISP partnering with us for that increase, but it was Mack's decision. BB is not done yet so we can not make a judgement. I think many on this board need to get over the knee jerk reaction to blame the marketing staff for everything. We all know why this is and it is really starting to look silly. If anyone would like me to get into why it is and who is to blame for the Addidas contract and decline in football season tickets, I would be more than happy to debate that.

[Blue & Gold]

We all know why this is and it is really starting to look silly.  If anyone would like me to get into why it is and who is to blame for the Addidas contract and decline in football season tickets, I would be more than happy to debate that.

I'm in the dark here. What are you talking about?

[timmyboy]

the LeBron James wall clings are a joke lol. they are only about 6 inches big lol. thats if they are the same ones they were passing out for the womens game.