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"Elite" Student Section

RedSeaElite1 said:
Ok so you are telling us the economics doesnt work, well if it was all economics then students would be at every baseball game where they give out free food and free tickets cuase thats economical. but the thing is even with the cheep tickets, the free give aways and the schools attempt to market the games its not working. I for one know that even ... See Morewhen my high school team wasnt playing the greatest we still had kids at the game, because its fun to yell and heckle the other team and to really make some noise and a difference in games. when more people see that happening hopefully they will want to join in. This is just what we have come up with, from the stories i've heard from some alumni no one has really tried something like this in the past, and obviously from the way the student section was last year what has happened in the past is not working currently at BU. If this doesnt work and flops next year, we gave it a shot and tried to do our part. All of the idea of marketing the games and putting up flyers and having greek night give aways and stuff cost money. BU already takes quite a hit for practically giving away those seats to the students in the student section, th erefore with the money raised by the cost to join we can not only offer incentives to members of the group, but we can use it to raise awarness on campus, and the leaders of the student section can be organized in getting greek houses, and freshman to games. I see where all of you think we will fail, and cool thats great we can all have our opinoins, but i also know some great people that will do everything within thier power to see this succeed and to see that we can build a passionate student section. Give us our chance now that you have gone and if it fails you can say "i told you so" next year and we can try something different. but i would think you all would hope it succeeds cause that would mean a more passionate student section representing your alma mater
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Check my reply on fb. Take what you can from this discussion. I think a lot of it was constructive. Nobody wants you to fail at your main objective-get more students to the games.
 
troj231129 said:
In order to improve the basketball experience we are trying to get the student section to be united as one.
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I have a hard time believing that the best option to unite the student section as one is to charge the "elite" students a significantly higher fee.

As far as I understand thus far, the following are the "benefits" for those who shell out the extra money... Your going to give a t-shirt, Who cares. You get one with your season ticket package and usually one or two during the season. Your giving a lanyard. Great! I will pick one up for $10 at the bookstore. Private view parties don't work, because as amckillip said, I would much rather be at BWW. You could probably pay for all of the "elite" t-shirts with 2 members fees. I get to go in early and sit in the seats that would have been waiting for me had I not paid $50. I see few benefits.

Have a pregame party at the civic center for members only or something. Simply give us something that we will get that makes it worth spending the money. For as of now, you are offering me no more benefits than what I could get on my own, spending much less money.
 
Stryker said:
Check my reply on fb. Take what you can from this discussion. I think a lot of it was constructive. Nobody wants you to fail at your main objective-get more students to the games.
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I agree Stryker. RedSeaElite1 I would bet not one poster here wants you to fail. You cannot get to emotional about this. Passion is one thing but the ability to take criticism, learn from mistakes, improve on what is working and move on is a critical part of creating any dynamic marketing campaign. What you are trying to do has been done before countless of times in a bunch of different industries. Creating a loyalty program which you can transfer to the student body, to keep for a lifetime, is priceless for BU. I'm sure there are quite a few alums who have worked on different programs in which you can gleam some insight and perhaps build a platform which the university can port over to their alumni system.:-o
 
Hey Guys,

We appreciate all your comments and have taken each and every bit of advice. We are currently having a meeting and looking at all of the different ideas that you have put forward. We are discussing price changes and reviewing the ideas that we had. We will keep you updated as the next few weeks progress. As of right we are focusing on getting together a flyer and preparing for the launch coming up at late night BU. After this meeting is over we will let you know on decisions and other changes that we may make for the fall.
 
Elite student section

Elite student section

What do other schools do to get big student turn-outs at games? Have you surveyed other schools and from this determined what seems to work? To me, this should be a mandatory first step before intituting any new program.
First, find out what works---then do it.
 
wizard said:
What do other schools do to get big student turn-outs at games? Have you surveyed other schools and from this determined what seems to work? To me, this should be a mandatory first step before intituting any new program.
First, find out what works---then do it.
Click to expand...

That would be number 1 action item on my list. I would also as I said earlier try to find out how other groups create, build and maintain loyalty programs because that is what they are doing. Recognition programs are always a great way to begin.

A great sports loyalty program you may want to look into is Manchester United of the English Premier League. Their global brand and loyalty is unmatched and it has more to do with tradition then winning.
 
RedSeaElite1 said:
Ok so you are telling us the economics doesnt work, well if it was all economics then students would be at every baseball game where they give out free food and free tickets cuase thats economical. but the thing is even with the cheep tickets, the free give aways and the schools attempt to market the games its not working. I for one know that even ... See Morewhen my high school team wasnt playing the greatest we still had kids at the game, because its fun to yell and heckle the other team and to really make some noise and a difference in games. when more people see that happening hopefully they will want to join in. This is just what we have come up with, from the stories i've heard from some alumni no one has really tried something like this in the past, and obviously from the way the student section was last year what has happened in the past is not working currently at BU. If this doesnt work and flops next year, we gave it a shot and tried to do our part. All of the idea of marketing the games and putting up flyers and having greek night give aways and stuff cost money. BU already takes quite a hit for practically giving away those seats to the students in the student section, th erefore with the money raised by the cost to join we can not only offer incentives to members of the group, but we can use it to raise awarness on campus, and the leaders of the student section can be organized in getting greek houses, and freshman to games. I see where all of you think we will fail, and cool thats great we can all have our opinoins, but i also know some great people that will do everything within thier power to see this succeed and to see that we can build a passionate student section. Give us our chance now that you have gone and if it fails you can say "i told you so" next year and we can try something different. but i would think you all would hope it succeeds cause that would mean a more passionate student section representing your alma mater
Click to expand...


No one here wants you to fail as we've reiterated several times, you have to realize if your going to lead something, people are going to have their opinions, rather than get defensive, the better approach is to realize that most of the people here that are critiquing are recent grads who were huge BU Basketball fans for their entire tenure as well as leaders on campus that knew a thing or two about the student body. I understand your efforts and it feels like people are shooting you down, but many of us have considered something like this, and decided implementing it when BU basketball was in a 'lull' if you will wasn't the best plan.

It's pretty clear your going to charge $50 no matter the opinions provided on the subject, more power to you, and maybe it will be wildly successful, I just feel like your going to end up learning the hard way all the issues that are being brought up here. But, that's part of being younger, sometimes you have to learn the hard way a few times before you learn to filter the advice you're given by people your elder (it doesn't take long in the workplace, thats for sure ;) ).
 
SFP said:
That would be number 1 action item on my list. I would also as I said earlier try to find out how other groups create, build and maintain loyalty programs because that is what they are doing. Recognition programs are always a great way to begin.

A great sports loyalty program you may want to look into is Manchester United of the English Premier League. Their global brand and loyalty is unmatched and it has more to do with tradition then winning.
Click to expand...

I agree here, but something I've seen in industry alot is benchmarking against a company when the comparison is apple and oranges. We shouldn't be benchmarking against MSU or U of I, but smaller mid-major schools that have great student sections (I only know a handful where the turnout isn't directly proportional to record).
 
wizard said:
What do other schools do to get big student turn-outs at games? Have you surveyed other schools and from this determined what seems to work? To me, this should be a mandatory first step before intituting any new program.
First, find out what works---then do it.
Click to expand...

1) They get on tv a lot...and play other big schools

2) and/or win
 
SFP said:
That would be number 1 action item on my list. I would also as I said earlier try to find out how other groups create, build and maintain loyalty programs because that is what they are doing. Recognition programs are always a great way to begin.

A great sports loyalty program you may want to look into is Manchester United of the English Premier League. Their global brand and loyalty is unmatched and it has more to do with tradition then winning.
Click to expand...

Agree SFP. I think that priority 1B should be to establish a relationship with the athletic department. Maybe just maybe the athletic department can also refer the group to an area sponsor which could offset some costs.
 
Beninator said:
Agree SFP. I think that priority 1B should be to establish a relationship with the athletic department. Maybe just maybe the athletic department can also refer the group to an area sponsor which could offset some costs.
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Or even private alum. Heck, given what they want to do they at most need a modest budget, it would not be hard to align alumni to donate a little extra if the group could show the results of a stronger student fan base.
 
I suppose having BU Student Org and Greek Org leaders with Athletic Dept folks talking to as many BU students as they can to understand why they don't go to BU games would be too radical?
 
I am still convinced this is some sports marketing project gone wrong. I am sure you guys will get an A and it should be over now.

I wouldn't care if you had your group deal....if you stood over by the cheerleaders.

And along with what DUbrave said....I don't want to see clueless kids who just want to yell blocking my view when they have no idea what is really happening on the floor.

I think this elitist group should award membership based on fan-hood. If you go to every game, go to road games, go to STL....watch games on TV.....you should be rewarded. :biggrin:
 
RedSea/Troj -

It doesn't sound like you've done this yet...so...

Have you guys thought about talking with either the cheerleading coach and/or the band director. I can guarantee that they've seen more games over the years than any students (and from the student section no less).

It might be a good idea to bring them into the loop...I mean, the groups that they represent do occupy the endzone with the students. They might actually have some ideas about this stuff as well.

If you'd like to talk to either of them their emails are below:

Cheer Coach, Ryan Hinnen: [email protected]

Band Director, David Vroman: [email protected]
 
Future Walk-On said:
I am still convinced this is some sports marketing project gone wrong. I am sure you guys will get an A and it should be over now.

I wouldn't care if you had your group deal....if you stood over by the cheerleaders.

And along with what DUbrave said....I don't want to see clueless kids who just want to yell blocking my view when they have no idea what is really happening on the floor.

I think this elitist group should award membership based on fan-hood. If you go to every game, go to road games, go to STL....watch games on TV.....you should be rewarded. :biggrin:
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Ding Ding Ding...We have a winner! Then you have to create something special for the group that hits a certain criteria of points. I'd give points for attending all the different sporting events not just basketball.
 
Ok, just to let everyone know, we have taken all of your opinions in to account a the Red Sea for next year will be a mix of ideas. There will be no Red Sea Elite, but the Red Sea will include a student board (for this year, the same as the Red Sea Elite would have had) that will work with the athletic department. For next year season ticket prices will rise to $25 for students and that fee will include, a nike T-Shirt, a Bradley Athletics lanyard, and a membership card that will be used to earn points similar to the old red pride. The Red Sea will work to hold viewing parties for away games, and will have a designated student cheering section at all ticketed athletic events. I hope this alleviates any worries from posters on here, the group will not be "exclusive" or "of a high status". I also hope that with the changes we are making we can work to get student attendance up and to really create some atmosphere at Bradley athletic events.
 
RedSeaElite1 said:
Ok, just to let everyone know, we have taken all of your opinions in to account a the Red Sea for next year will be a mix of ideas. There will be no Red Sea Elite, but the Red Sea will include a student board (for this year, the same as the Red Sea Elite would have had) that will work with the athletic department. For next year season ticket prices will rise to $25 for students and that fee will include, a nike T-Shirt, a Bradley Athletics lanyard, and a membership card that will be used to earn points similar to the old red pride. The Red Sea will work to hold viewing parties for away games, and will have a designated student cheering section at all ticketed athletic events. I hope this alleviates any worries from posters on here, the group will not be "exclusive" or "of a high status". I also hope that with the changes we are making we can work to get student attendance up and to really create some atmosphere at Bradley athletic events.
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This idea is much better than your original. Well done.
 
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