Filling the stands

[Alaric]

Does anyone know if SMU has ever made a major push to fill the stands with area kids through free or reduced tickets and a serious marketing push?

I'm not talking about just bringing in 800 FCA or Boy Scouts but maybe make it Mesquite & Garland ISD day or whatever and offer to give 15,000 tickets out or sell them for $3 each...an approach like this would not only put some loud people in the stands to support SMU but it also might build some loyal fans.

BTW, how many alumni does SMU have in the area?

[perunapower]

I think that would be awesome. SMU could pick different areas for each home game. Maybe a Mid-cities day, a Mesquite/Garland day, a Richardson/Plano day, a Dallas day, etc. I would be Orsini would be hiring people soon that will increase attendance. I believe he greatly improved the attendance at UCF while he was there.

[jtstang]

Does anyone know if SMU has ever made a major push to fill the stands with area kids through free or reduced tickets and a serious marketing push?

I'm not talking about just bringing in 800 FCA or Boy Scouts but maybe make it Mesquite & Garland ISD day or whatever and offer to give 15,000 tickets out or sell them for $3 each...an approach like this would not only put some loud people in the stands to support SMU but it also might build some loyal fans.

BTW, how many alumni does SMU have in the area?

Yes, that was done int he late 1970s and early 1980s. It was called Mustang Mania.

[Bergermeister]

It's a little late for Marshall... we'll have the usual 9,804 BUT it's not too late for UAB... "MustangMania Night at SMU"... print up thousands of tickets and give them away by the handful or draw or print your own ticket and present it to the ticket taker for free admission. Even if we owe UAB, it would be worth it in the long run (PR-wise) for viewers to see lots of "fans" in the stands at SMU's Ford Stadium. Dole out the red t-shirts, too. We can make a good impression OR a bad impression (no in-betweens here). Just a matter of how much effort is put forth.

[smupony94]

GAME PROMOTIONS :: SMU Football vs. Marshall :: Oct. 14, 2006

Sept. 24, 2006


Kids Day
All kids 13 and under are invited to Kids Day at Gerald J. All kids attending the game will receive a ticket for $5! For more information, please call Jeff Pick at 214-768-4053.


The Boulevard
Game day is all day on The Boulevard, with a full schedule of food and fun for Mustang fans of all ages. Click here for more information on The Boulevard.


Kids' Corral
Bounce houses, coloring stations, and more. Kids, make sure to take part in the Kids' Corral - located at the south end of Ford Stadium.


FCA Game Day
FCA Game Day comes to SMU with a pre-game rally and attendance at the SMU-Marshall football game.


Faith Day
All area churches and religious organizations are invited to attend the SMU-Marshall game and enjoy the family experience of SMU football. For more information call 214-768-4053


SMU Faculty and Staff Appreciation Day
SMU football student-athletes invite their professors to see them take on Marshall. Professors, administrators, and staff are all encouraged to participate.

[Peruna2001]

FC Dallas give out tickets or sells tickets for a discounted rate to teachers in Frisco. I've been several times because my girlfriend will let me know. I always think its a fun alternative to the same old/same old. The games have decent attendence with teachers and kids. I think SMU should do something similar.

[Alaric]

You may get a few kids out with the campaign they have in mind for the Marshall game but I'm talking about really beating the bushes, call every YMCA football coach out there, go to schools.

I went to a city of Mesquite league football game about a month ago where probably a total of 1,500 people watched probaby 8 different games. If this were my full time job & I had the authority to sell tickets for $3-5, I'm guessing I could be imaginative enough to bring in thousands of kids.

Mustang Mania was lauded as a success but what was the average attendance in the late 1970s & early 1980s? I heard in the best of years it was mid 30,000s.

The fan base for the Univ of Miami-FL is made up of locals, not Miami grads (small private school). If I'm a kid with few entertainment options & SMU has given tix to me for years, I'm guessing I'm growing up to be a loyal SMU fan...

[StallionSUXs]

Last year someone in the marketing department was talking about bringing in a well known country artist or a famous hot chick singer to play at half time. Surely that could draw a large crowd.

[perunapower]

Last year someone in the marketing department was talking about bringing in a well known country artist or a famous hot chick singer to play at half time. Surely that could draw a large crowd.

Didn't Orsini clean out the marketing department?

[J.T.supporta]

SMU has never made a real push at getting the stands filled. They have done kids day and other type of "special" days to get the stands filled but have not done their best.

IF THEY SELL BEER, people will go to the games. Or if they allow bums to show up for free, the stands will get filled.

[smu diamond m]

Last year someone in the marketing department was talking about bringing in a well known country artist or a famous hot chick singer to play at half time. Surely that could draw a large crowd.

I'm mildly offended.

[ponydawg]

Last year someone in the marketing department was talking about bringing in a well known country artist or a famous hot chick singer to play at half time. Surely that could draw a large crowd.

I'm mildly offended.

Don't be, why new country songs are not that good, it is nothing to be offended by......

[Charleston Pony]

I'd like nothing more than for SMU to make a good showing on Halloween in front of a national TV audience. If SMU offered something special (I liked the idea of the Boo-levard) and had started an aggressive ad campaign at the beginning of October, it just may have been possible to put 20,000 or more into Ford that night. Offer a "safe" place for kids to come out and trick or treat and then come into the game for free with an adult ticket at significantly discounted prices (like $5)

Unfortunately, I don't think we could find another 10,000 takers if tickets were given away free.

I'm afraid this will be just another opportunity lost and that the usual 7,500 die hards will be in attendance. UAB will bring nobody, so let's just hope the students turn out full force (what would that be...about 1500?)

[smupony94]

I am coming in from Austin just for this game. And no I will not be up in the box I will actually see where my seats are this year.

[J.T.supporta]

Even if SMU opened the gates at Ford Stadium for FREE, i doubt the crowd will grow any larger than it is during a normal game.