The final segment of my promotions blog is about getting the students out to the basketball games. This segment is about what the University itself can do to
get the students into and involved, and not what the students (ie. Rowdies) are doing to help promote involvement themselves. I applaud the Rowdies on their
ideas, as they are an integral part of student involvement, hearing from your peers is always a good way to generate responses, and having a dedidcated group
of students is something that cannot be underestimated in getting students out. Any support that can be given to this group from both the university and
outside sources is going to produce some of the best results for both the money and effort spent. So my first suggestion for the university is to really back
any student organizations like the Rowdies with as much support as possible. I am sure that any money spent on these groups will more than pay for itself in
the results.
Secondly, I think the Raider Pack was a great idea rewarding students for each event that they attend, with the rewards being greater with each additional event they attend, going all the way up to a chance at free tuition. This was a fantasic idea, especially since students get their tickets for free, and we all know how tight money is when you are attending college, and any time you can get rewards without spending money is a good thing. What I think the university can do to make this deal even better is to really promote the free tickets to sporting events and the Raider Pack rewards to an extreme, maybe even a little blurb on every student schedule, to every e-mail address and organization on campus. Maybe even creating a Raider Group Pack, where organizations, fraternities, sororities or even random student groups of 10 or more can sign up together and earn group rewards in addition to the single Raider Pack rewards. This way it gets not only single people to go, but also gets them to urge their friends and peers to also attend. It's much easier to get people to go to an event if they know more than a few people attending and others want them there. My last idea on the Raider Pack/Group Pack is to have some pretty big single rewards for the first 1 or 2 games of each sport. It is much easier to get people to come out in the future if you hook them early, so we need to get the students out at the first few games so they relate to the teams early and will want to return. So progressing to big rewards is good to ensure long term attendance, but I think the first few games should not be trival rewards either, big early rewards for the first few games may help hook them for the long run.
Next, to help get students involved, have special food/drink promotions just for the students. I know money was a problem when I was in college and any time I could eat cheaply, it was a good thing. Pregame buffets or discounted concessions would definitely help in getting the students out to the games. Coupons for free or discounted food at local establishments after a win (pick up the coupons on the way out) would certainly help increase the effort in cheering the team to victory, if it means free food.
Most student enjoys a fun road trip. Having more student bus trips paid for by the university to close road games can only help in raising enthusiasm for the team. Start sign-ups for some road games and see if there is enough interest to fill some busses, not just for Butler.
And finally having events after the games either on university grounds or at local establishments with free admittance with a game ticket would not be a bad idea either. I know I hated to pay cover charges when I went out (low money issues again in college) but if deals could be made that a game tickets or coupons on the way out could be exchanged for free admittance into different events or establishments could only help get more students at the game.
These are just a few ideas to get students out to the game. Maybe in a later blog I may have some ideas to get the students involved and having fun once they are at the game. If you have any comments please feel free to add them.
Secondly, I think the Raider Pack was a great idea rewarding students for each event that they attend, with the rewards being greater with each additional event they attend, going all the way up to a chance at free tuition. This was a fantasic idea, especially since students get their tickets for free, and we all know how tight money is when you are attending college, and any time you can get rewards without spending money is a good thing. What I think the university can do to make this deal even better is to really promote the free tickets to sporting events and the Raider Pack rewards to an extreme, maybe even a little blurb on every student schedule, to every e-mail address and organization on campus. Maybe even creating a Raider Group Pack, where organizations, fraternities, sororities or even random student groups of 10 or more can sign up together and earn group rewards in addition to the single Raider Pack rewards. This way it gets not only single people to go, but also gets them to urge their friends and peers to also attend. It's much easier to get people to go to an event if they know more than a few people attending and others want them there. My last idea on the Raider Pack/Group Pack is to have some pretty big single rewards for the first 1 or 2 games of each sport. It is much easier to get people to come out in the future if you hook them early, so we need to get the students out at the first few games so they relate to the teams early and will want to return. So progressing to big rewards is good to ensure long term attendance, but I think the first few games should not be trival rewards either, big early rewards for the first few games may help hook them for the long run.
Next, to help get students involved, have special food/drink promotions just for the students. I know money was a problem when I was in college and any time I could eat cheaply, it was a good thing. Pregame buffets or discounted concessions would definitely help in getting the students out to the games. Coupons for free or discounted food at local establishments after a win (pick up the coupons on the way out) would certainly help increase the effort in cheering the team to victory, if it means free food.
Most student enjoys a fun road trip. Having more student bus trips paid for by the university to close road games can only help in raising enthusiasm for the team. Start sign-ups for some road games and see if there is enough interest to fill some busses, not just for Butler.
And finally having events after the games either on university grounds or at local establishments with free admittance with a game ticket would not be a bad idea either. I know I hated to pay cover charges when I went out (low money issues again in college) but if deals could be made that a game tickets or coupons on the way out could be exchanged for free admittance into different events or establishments could only help get more students at the game.
These are just a few ideas to get students out to the game. Maybe in a later blog I may have some ideas to get the students involved and having fun once they are at the game. If you have any comments please feel free to add them.
