Increasing JAR Attendance/Engaging the Fans

[kreed5120]

Not really meaning to pour any salt on wounds. Someone mentioned CoC attendance in a previous post so I looked. If you go back 15 years they were averaging 3,400 fans, similar to us during the later Dambrot years, and that was with them having a relatively new arena.

 

Fast forward 15 years and they're now on a 39 game sell-out streak, meanwhile our attendance has cratered to ~2200. I do think it would be worthwhile for the Zips athletic department to maybe take a look at what factors maybe helped improve CoC numbers at a time when attendance is shrinking most places. Perhaps see if there is anything they've done to engage the community or improve the gameday experience that is transferable.

Edited 11 minutes ago by kreed5120

[akzipper]

12 minutes ago, kreed5120 said:

Not really meaning to pour any salt on wounds. Someone mentioned CoC attendance in a previous post so I looked. If you go back 15 years they were averaging 3,400 fans, similar to us during the later Dambrot years, and that was with them having a relatively new arena.

 

Fast forward 15 years and they're now on a 39 game sell-out streak, meanwhile our attendance has catered to ~2200. I do think it would be worthwhile for the Zips athletic department to maybe take a look at what factors maybe helped improve CoC numbers at a time when attendance is shrinking most places. Perhaps see if there is anything they've done to engage the community or improve the gameday experience that is transferable.

 

Zips fans show up when it counts. Kent games, Cleveland, etc. They don't care about directional Michigan schools coming to the JAR in the middle of December because those games don't really matter in the grand scheme of things. 

 

In Charleston their basketball team is really the only show in town and they have a much nicer arena. Everyone there probably goes all-in on the basketball team. Whereas in NE Ohio we have pro sports down the road in Cleveland, as well as two MAC schools splitting the region. 

[kreed5120]

20 minutes ago, akzipper said:

 

Zips fans show up when it counts. Kent games, Cleveland, etc. They don't care about directional Michigan schools coming to the JAR in the middle of December because those games don't really matter in the grand scheme of things. 

There are teams in the CAA that aren't any better than the directionals in the MAC. The CAA is also a 1 bid league.

 

CoC is averaging more fans now than when their arena opened 15-20 years ago. Obviously they have done something to improve the experience.

 

Edit: They've also been the only show in town for many years. That wouldn't explain why their attendance improved while ours regressed.

Edited 1 hour ago by kreed5120

[VAZip]

My perception, limited as it is, is that UA has a little bit of a branding problem. My daughter was there during the Dambrot years and being from VA didn’t have the ability to go home everyday or the weekends. The place was pretty much dead on the weekends. If the local kids only see UA as a convenient way to get a degree vs a true college experience it’s unlikely they attend many games. If you didn’t go as a student it’s unlikely you bring your family back as an adult. With 20k student around at anytime and probably 100k alums around Akron it’s crazy the JAR isn’t mostly full every game….its only 4% of the potential fan base.  I love Akron (much better than Charleston🤣) and my daughter loves UA. If we are within a couple hours on game day we go…unfortunately it’s not often enough.

[tpsjugglerdude]

I'm not sure if the women’s team still does this, but they used to schedule one or two games during the school day and fill the arena with kids. It was a great way to boost attendance. That’s exactly what the men’s team should do during the December lull, when students are off campus and we’re stuck with the inevitable Hiram/Walsh/University of Phoenix-type matchup. Most regular fans have little interest in those games, so there’s no reason to let average attendance take a hit.
 

We also need to leverage concessions to help drive attendance. At every level, teams are creating unique food offerings that fans attend specifically to try. These items often go viral and create a sense of FOMO. We should get creative with options like ice cream bowls, loaded fries, or other items served in 3-peat crowns. We also have a great business school, so let’s tap into marketing students’ creativity to help develop and promote these ideas.

Concessions should vary from game-to-game as well. For example, the MAC home opener could become an annual “MAC Night,” featuring mac and cheese flights. This could also serve as a contest for local restaurants to participate and showcase their offerings, and potentially leading to additional NIL.
 

Whenever games are flexed to Friday night, we can brand it as “Fryday Night” and offer a fun, over-the-top fried menu with items like Oreos, Reese’s, and more. The goal is to make concessions part of the experience, not just an afterthought.

[exit322]

2 minutes ago, tpsjugglerdude said:

Concessions should vary from game-to-game as well. For example, the MAC home opener could become an annual “MAC Night,” featuring mac and cheese flights. This could also serve as a contest for local restaurants to participate and showcase their offerings, and potentially leading to additional NIL.
 

Whenever games are flexed to Friday night, we can brand it as “Fryday Night” and offer a fun, over-the-top fried menu with items like Oreos, Reese’s, and more. The goal is to make concessions part of the experience, not just an afterthought.

 

Minor league baseball has done this successfully for years and years.

[kreed5120]

4 minutes ago, tpsjugglerdude said:

I'm not sure if the women’s team still does this, but they used to schedule one or two games during the school day and fill the arena with kids. It was a great way to boost attendance. That’s exactly what the men’s team should do during the December lull, when students are off campus and we’re stuck with the inevitable Hiram/Walsh/University of Phoenix-type matchup. Most regular fans have little interest in those games, so there’s no reason to let average attendance take a hit.
 

We also need to leverage concessions to help drive attendance. At every level, teams are creating unique food offerings that fans attend specifically to try. These items often go viral and create a sense of FOMO. We should get creative with options like ice cream bowls, loaded fries, or other items served in 3-peat crowns. We also have a great business school, so let’s tap into marketing students’ creativity to help develop and promote these ideas.

Concessions should vary from game-to-game as well. For example, the MAC home opener could become an annual “MAC Night,” featuring mac and cheese flights. This could also serve as a contest for local restaurants to participate and showcase their offerings, and potentially leading to additional NIL.
 

Whenever games are flexed to Friday night, we can brand it as “Fryday Night” and offer a fun, over-the-top fried menu with items like Oreos, Reese’s, and more. The goal is to make concessions part of the experience, not just an afterthought.

 

That's actually more useful thoughts than we typically get in this thread. I think concessions might be outsourced so I'm not sure how feasible it would be to implement this, but it's worth exploring. I would certainly enjoy loaded fries on Friday.

[clarkwgriswold]

9 minutes ago, exit322 said:

 

Minor league baseball has done this successfully for years and years.

They need only go a mile for an example.

[Let'sGoZips94]

18 minutes ago, tpsjugglerdude said:

I'm not sure if the women’s team still does this, but they used to schedule one or two games during the school day and fill the arena with kids. It was a great way to boost attendance. That’s exactly what the men’s team should do during the December lull, when students are off campus and we’re stuck with the inevitable Hiram/Walsh/University of Phoenix-type matchup. Most regular fans have little interest in those games, so there’s no reason to let average attendance take a hit.
 

We also need to leverage concessions to help drive attendance. At every level, teams are creating unique food offerings that fans attend specifically to try. These items often go viral and create a sense of FOMO. We should get creative with options like ice cream bowls, loaded fries, or other items served in 3-peat crowns. We also have a great business school, so let’s tap into marketing students’ creativity to help develop and promote these ideas.

Concessions should vary from game-to-game as well. For example, the MAC home opener could become an annual “MAC Night,” featuring mac and cheese flights. This could also serve as a contest for local restaurants to participate and showcase their offerings, and potentially leading to additional NIL.
 

Whenever games are flexed to Friday night, we can brand it as “Fryday Night” and offer a fun, over-the-top fried menu with items like Oreos, Reese’s, and more. The goal is to make concessions part of the experience, not just an afterthought.

 

Been saying it for years - there is too much focus on the suits and not enough focus on the general community. This type of stuff would be a hit with the general community. 

 

Outside of the Wentz-sponsored giveaways, the marketing is typically quite drab and borderline lazy. 

 

I'd like to see some sort of digital attendance punch card, similar to what you might fight at an ice cream stand. Set up a spot in the lobby or 2nd level where fans can have something scanned on their phone that logs their attendance in a database. Every game attended counts towards rewards.

 

1 game = Zippy Keychain

3 games = Zippy Plush

5 games = T Shirt

7 games = Hat

 

etc. 

 

Could also have each game count as an entry towards some sort of grand prize at the end of the season - future season ticket, tickets to the MAC tournament, something like that. 

 

I'd also like to see some sort of Zippy Kids Club brought back. 

Edited 41 minutes ago by Let'sGoZips94

[tpsjugglerdude]

11 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Been saying it for years - there is too much focus on the suits and not enough focus on the general community. This type of stuff would be a hit with the general community. 

 

Outside of the Wentz-sponsored giveaways, the marketing is typically quite drab and borderline lazy. 

 

I'd like to see some sort of digital attendance punch card, similar to what you might fight at an ice cream stand. Set up a spot in the lobby or 2nd level where fans can have something scanned on their phone that logs their attendance in a database. Every game attended counts towards rewards.

 

1 game = Zippy Keychain

3 games = Zippy Plush

5 games = T Shirt

7 games = Hat

 

etc. 

 

Could also have each game count as an entry towards some sort of grand prize at the end of the season - future season ticket, tickets to the MAC tournament, something like that. 

 

I'd also like to see some sort of Zippy Kids Club brought back. 

 

Students used to have this during the KD era. It was called Roo Rewards and you could get points from all sports.

[HoopsFan03]

9 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Been saying it for years - there is too much focus on the suits and not enough focus on the general community. This type of stuff would be a hit with the general community. 

 

Outside of the Wentz-sponsored giveaways, the marketing is typically quite drab and borderline lazy. 

 

I'd like to see some sort of digital attendance punch card, similar to what you might fight at an ice cream stand. Set up a spot in the lobby or 2nd level where fans can have something scanned on their phone that logs their attendance in a database. Every game attended counts towards rewards.

 

1 game = Zippy Keychain

3 games = Zippy Plush

5 games = T Shirt

7 games = Hat

 

etc. 

 

Could also have each game count as an entry towards some sort of grand prize at the end of the season - future season ticket, tickets to the MAC tournament, something like that. 

 

I'd also like to see some sort of Zippy Kids Club brought back. 

Good ideas. A few years ago. Students had a punch card to get a jersey. 

 

Is Hoppin Frog still involved? Get more out of them or Thirsty Dog. College kids might drink $2 bud lights but I don't. 

 

The T-shirt toss was weak this year. 

[Let'sGoZips94]

I wonder if that exclusive Zips Fan Club thing is popping out ideas like these.

[kreed5120]

33 minutes ago, Let'sGoZips94 said:

 

Been saying it for years - there is too much focus on the suits and not enough focus on the general community. This type of stuff would be a hit with the general community. 

 

Outside of the Wentz-sponsored giveaways, the marketing is typically quite drab and borderline lazy. 

 

I'd like to see some sort of digital attendance punch card, similar to what you might fight at an ice cream stand. Set up a spot in the lobby or 2nd level where fans can have something scanned on their phone that logs their attendance in a database. Every game attended counts towards rewards.

 

1 game = Zippy Keychain

3 games = Zippy Plush

5 games = T Shirt

7 games = Hat

 

etc. 

 

Could also have each game count as an entry towards some sort of grand prize at the end of the season - future season ticket, tickets to the MAC tournament, something like that. 

 

I'd also like to see some sort of Zippy Kids Club brought back. 

 

Love the idea of a punch card. You can even expand it a bit to include perks that cost the University little to no money, but might be viewed favorably to others who don't typically get those experiences.

 

2 - courtside seats for 1 game

2 - tickets to Tommy Evans Lounge 1 game

 

[kreed5120]

26 minutes ago, HoopsFan03 said:

Good ideas. A few years ago. Students had a punch card to get a jersey. 

 

Is Hoppin Frog still involved? Get more out of them or Thirsty Dog. College kids might drink $2 bud lights but I don't. 

 

The T-shirt toss was weak this year. 

They have craft beers at the arena. You'll just be paying more than $2 lol.