Pony Up Billboard

[MustangStealth]

So these are the first SMU football billboards in how long? In all seriousness these the first of the century?

There were a couple last year.

[ThadFilms]

So these are the first SMU football billboards in how long? In all seriousness these the first of the century?

There were a couple last year.

There's at least one every year.... heading south on 75 around Lovers.... but that's usually it.

I like it... put up some billboards with slogans... get people thinking... hey, what's 'boulevard'? Weird to see SMU billboards, is something going on over there?

Trust me, you don't want the billboards to blend in....

And back to the "we Boulevard"... seriously, that's a HUGE selling point, get people thinking about it/asking about it.

[KnuckleStang]

It even sounds a little snobby and elitist.

If that was their intent (I'm not sure it was), we should applaud them for embracing and using that image, rather than trying to pretend it's not there.

[abezontar]

If you aren't familiar with the trappings of the university you are going to look at the billboard and just wonder what the hell they are talking about.

Do you ask your coworkers? Are you intrigued enough to look into it?

Or, when more information is provided by the campaign (purely theoretical of course), do you think back and say "Now I get it" and feel some sense of belonging now that you're in on the joke?

It's just a teaser, meant to whet appitites for more information.

-CoS

If it is just a teaser then I wish they would have started the campaign a few months ago so that people could have a chance to see the campaign and wonder what it means. Then they could have released the more informative stuff right before the season starts so that it makes sense to people and they can come to the games. By the time people have had a chance to see these billboards we will have already started the season and everyone will still be wondering with the hell they mean.

[abezontar]

So these are the first SMU football billboards in how long? In all seriousness these the first of the century?

There were a couple last year.

There's at least one every year.... heading south on 75 around Lovers.... but that's usually it.

I like it... put up some billboards with slogans... get people thinking... hey, what's 'boulevard'? Weird to see SMU billboards, is something going on over there?

Trust me, you don't want the billboards to blend in....

And back to the "we Boulevard"... seriously, that's a HUGE selling point, get people thinking about it/asking about it.

You don't want them to blend in, but you want people to know what the hell it is talking about. Like I said, if you aren't already familiar with the university you aren't going to associate the billboard with SMU.

[KnuckleStang]

So these are the first SMU football billboards in how long? In all seriousness these the first of the century?

There were a couple last year.

There's at least one every year.... heading south on 75 around Lovers.... but that's usually it.

I like it... put up some billboards with slogans... get people thinking... hey, what's 'boulevard'? Weird to see SMU billboards, is something going on over there?

Trust me, you don't want the billboards to blend in....

And back to the "we Boulevard"... seriously, that's a HUGE selling point, get people thinking about it/asking about it.

You don't want them to blend in, but you want people to know what the hell it is talking about. Like I said, if you aren't already familiar with the university you aren't going to associate the billboard with SMU.

It has a football helmet on it. I'm pretty sure anybody in the Dallas area who follows football enough to give that billboard a second look at least knows SMU is here and that our mascot is the Mustangs.

[Cadillac]

If it is just a teaser then I wish they would have started the campaign a few months ago so that people could have a chance to see the campaign and wonder what it means. Then they could have released the more informative stuff right before the season starts so that it makes sense to people and they can come to the games. By the time people have had a chance to see these billboards we will have already started the season and everyone will still be wondering with the hell they mean.

I'd say the timing is probaby the trickiest part to the whole campaign. But with 3 weeks to go, I don't think they are cutting it all that close. I mean, it's a lot like fishing. They want to let the bait get interesting, but they can't let it sit so long that it gets nibbled away. errr. They want to pique people's interest, but not let them sit so long between efforts that they lose it.

You could be totaly right that this is going to be a major bust for an Ad campaign, however, I can still see a way in which it can be effective. Obviously I'm making a lot of assumptions here that the campaign will progress. If it doesn't and we don't see a major rise in attendence for the 5 home games that don't feature TT, I'll be the first to admit the failure.

Where should we set the bar on this campaign in terms of game attendence (or any other measure anyone cares to use)? 10% increase in the reported average minus the Tech game? 20%? I really don't know what we should be expecting here. I wonder what the Athletic Departments targets are?

-CoS

[RGV Pony]

and you people would all have me believe that not a single one of you has a camera phone?

Someone post a pic. Please.

[ThadFilms]

So these are the first SMU football billboards in how long? In all seriousness these the first of the century?

There were a couple last year.

There's at least one every year.... heading south on 75 around Lovers.... but that's usually it.

I like it... put up some billboards with slogans... get people thinking... hey, what's 'boulevard'? Weird to see SMU billboards, is something going on over there?

Trust me, you don't want the billboards to blend in....

And back to the "we Boulevard"... seriously, that's a HUGE selling point, get people thinking about it/asking about it.

You don't want them to blend in, but you want people to know what the hell it is talking about. Like I said, if you aren't already familiar with the university you aren't going to associate the billboard with SMU.

It has a football helmet on it. I'm pretty sure anybody in the Dallas area who follows football enough to give that billboard a second look at least knows SMU is here and that our mascot is the Mustangs.

Seriously. We are simply ignored - not completely unknown. Yes, I'll give you that because we are ignored that their might be some who have absolutely no idea... but they can find someone who does.

[mrydel]

It was announced and posted here on ponyfans way back when the campaign would officially kick off. I do not recall the exact date given but it was close to the Tech game and most of us figured that apparently the Tech game was a given for a good crowd so the campaign would be more directed for the next home game and the remainder of the season. I can not say whether or not that is smart but it was stated long ago that it would not be in place long enough to give good promotion for the Tech game. Remember that advertising is expensive and placement is important. I am going to trust they know what they are doing. Hopefully the campaign can "push it in from the one".

[jtstang]

It was announced and posted here on ponyfans way back when the campaign would officially kick off. I do not recall the exact date given but it was close to the Tech game and most of us figured that apparently the Tech game was a given for a good crowd so the campaign would be more directed for the next home game and the remainder of the season. I can not say whether or not that is smart but it was stated long ago that it would not be in place long enough to give good promotion for the Tech game. Remember that advertising is expensive and placement is important. I am going to trust they know what they are doing. Hopefully the campaign can "push it in from the one".

I hope they do not use the swinging gate.

[mrydel]

I hope they do not use the swinging gate.

If they do, hopefully it will swing both ways (not that there is anything wrong with that) so people can leave at halftime for a drink and get back into the game.

[SMU2007]

i think a good winning season will put many more butts in the seats than any billboard will

[perunapower]

There is also a billboard right next to Chick Fila on central and southwestern that says "No longer a Black Hourse" with the Pony Up

My God I hope they don't have a typo on the billboard.

[MrMustang1965]

Maybe somebody can take a pic w/ their cellphone and post it here.

At Knox & Henderson, east side of Central Expressway (Hwy. 75) over Dickey's Barbecue.


view from southbound service road at Knox & Henderson exit, Central Expressway (Hwy. 75) over Dickey's Barbecue



another view at Knox & Henderson from the southbound service road


northbound Central Expressway (Hwy. 75) service road between Southwestern Blvd. and Caruth Haven Lane.


A closer view at north Central Expressway (Hwy. 75) service road between Southwestern Blvd. and Caruth Haven Lane over Chick-Fil-A Restaurant.



An even closer view at north Central Expressway (Hwy. 75) service road between Southwestern Blvd. and Caruth Haven Lane.


The Richards Group headquarters at the intersection of Central Expressway (Hwy. 75) north and Northwest Highway (Loop 12) west.


That white strip over the Mustang is supposed to be a reflection on the helmet. But since the helmet isn't a photograph but painted, it looks dumb.

Also, nothing on the billboard says "S.M.U." or Southern Methodist University. The ad agency assumes that people will know that it's S.M.U.

Discuss amongst yourselves.