Attendance idea

[HazzardCoStang]

Make having a game ticket or a student ID a prerequisite for entering the Blvd. More food vendors for people who don't have tents. Encourage beer generosity to wrist banded guests. Install a PA system on the Blvd to announces the Mustang Walk and encourages people to pack up, get tickets 30 minutes before game...a PA or bullhorn countdown. Open turnstall policy for ticket holders. Transition the Greek tents from Dallas lawn to area next to Doak statue. Better gameday presentation (improving). Designated beer patio, like Rice has.

I like the PA system idea if done correctly. Push people in the stadium.

I don't want to turn anyone away from the boulevard though. We've had several people that have come to our tailgate only for years. This year, they're going to games. This is working, but it takes time.

Have to agree that you dont want to turn anyone away from the boulevard. Obviously I want everyone on the boulevard to get into the stadium, but you cant discourage people from the boulevard. Letting some of the events on the boulevard being more known would be good though as the Mustang Walk and even the parade can go unnoticed particularly around the Greek tents. The band used to do almost a mini pep-rally right before the parade at the flag pole just to get everyone's attention. I havent noticed this recently though.

[SMUer]

I mean I WANT to go watch the Mustang Walk but I've missed it at all three games. The time/place isn't announced, there is no band fanfare, I'm hosting, I'm distracted, I'm drinking, I'm recruiting...and s,o I miss it. I imagine that's true for 90% of Boulevarders. We need some sort of signal or rallying call like in years past. I think a PA system using gentle prodding would really help.

[RyanSMU98]

There are some good ideas here, but first off it sounds like some people need to pop a xanax or two. We are in uncharted territory here, and people are trying to adjust to what is looking like a meteoric rise by the program. Look at the first three years under June: Year 1, 1-11, Year 2, 8-5 and first bowl win in 25 years, Year 3 7-7, bowl loss. Year 4 is looking like a breakout year so far, but one breakout does not automatically fill Ford. Take a deep breath and give it a chance to develop.

Then, you come up with the plan: Secure and accept the BE invite, and take the extra revenue to really market not just season tickets but single-game as well (billboards, print ads, TV and Radio Spots - Thad's video and June Jones' face should be all over the Metroplex). Put resources into making parts of the boulevard accessible and entertaining to the walk-up fan (this is done somewhat, but not much attention is drawn to it). Setup something almost like the College GameDay set (staffed by SMU either fans or staff who can talk up the team and the game experience to anyone who will listen) to do a countdown to kickoff and show highlights of SMU Football til about 30 minutes before kickoff, then have someone lead fans towards the stadium (maybe the Alumni Band could help with this?). Do more family 4-packs (these should be for every game, not sure why they are not) to highlight the value of the SMU Football entertainment experience.

Lastly, expand the outreach to the entire Dallas metro area - if you rely solely on the city of Dallas and Park Cities you are hosed. Blanket 75 and the Tollway from Downtown to Frisco and McKinney with billboards, direct mailing efforts, local paper ads, anything to get the word out. Even with all of this, we are still a few seasons like this one away from seeing a significant impact. People need to accept where we are at the moment - a team on the rise. However, as we rise, we need to make sure the whole damned world knows about it.

[Pony_Law]

I think there are a lot of reasons attendance ws poor yesterday a lot of which have been said. One not mentioned is that they announced this game time like what 8 days ago? thqt sucks for getting people to travel from out of town to the game (might have cost 1-5 hundred).

I do think the real problem is we have not won enough yet. SMU like TCU needs a good amount of non SMU people to jump on board and become fans. We are a small school and we have 25 years of students who did not care about smu football (as a result there kids don't care about smu football). We are the people that are already on board with SMU football so we see a few bowl games and a great start to this year as sign of a winning program. I don't think casual fans have come to that conclusion yet. TCU has had 6 10 win plus seasons in the last 10 years. people around the country have been saying "you know TCU is pretty good" for 10 years. We have only had "you know SMU doesn't suck as much any more" for 3 years. Rome wasn't built in a day and neither will SMU's fan base. The good news is I don't think it will take 7 more years to do. By entering into a BCS conference people will start to pay attention. No nuetral college fb fan cares about a game that effects the CUSA championship (or even the MWC) they care if it effects a BCS bowl or the NCG. it was a big deal to casual fans when baylor played KSU because both were undefeated and you never know the winner of that game could win the big 12 the casual fan wanted to see it. we are doing what it takes to put our team in a position to play games like that. Add to that te fact that we have a great game day experience and I know we will get there eventualy.

[RyanSMU98]

CMF, no doubt this year is shaping up to be special, and I too wish that was enough to get people to show up. But remember that it is the first year since the 80's since that was the case, so I am sure the casual fan is still writing it off as a fluke. We string 2-3 more seasons like this together, I think this problem starts to resolve itself. Add to that some very targeted, effective PR campaigns and I think we are off to the races.

[planoponyfan]

Look, winning will help. Attendance is better than it was a few years ago and that's because fans know they can reasonably expect to see a competitive game and usually a game that we win.

There are a lot of ideas out there on how to increase attendance, but one thing that will be needed is money. Moving to the Big East or staying in the CUSA if it gets a lot more money will help a lot. But no matter what we do, we have to keep winning.

TCU didn't get to where they are today overnight. Even now, they're not drawing 45,000 a game. It's more like 35,000. They're still headed in the right direction, but it's taken more than a decade of great teams to get there. This is a really tough nut to crack in this market. I think we can get there, but it's going to take a long time.

[2ndandlong]

If that isn't winning, then SMU has unreal expectations for winning in a BCS world.

I think it is realisitic to expect more than one mid-season winning record is required to institute change. I am so [gary patterson] excited about our success right now I can't stand it, but I have to remind myself to tap the breaks. We have one decent bowl win and nothing else but a good mid-season record over mostly average-to-good teams at this point.

[Imperator]

While everyone is throwing out ideas, here's one:

Rather than complain about how Orsini/Marketing/whoever doesn't have a plan, perhaps the better approach to take is to convince Orsini to endorse/sponsor a competition for the best realistic marketing plan, from actual SMU alumni (like Ponyfans). He could offer a season ticket upgrade to the person or group that can produce a coherent, concise, measurable, actionable, realistic, timely, etc. marketing plan. Surely we have a few marketing majors that would like to put their degrees to good use by submitting a solid marketing plan. I am just tired of hearing people complain when I know that SMU alumni themselves have the talent to do something about it--Thad, for example. Surely there are enough smart alumni willing to take this seriously and flood Orsini with stacks of doable plans, instead of throwing up stand-alone ideas that are good, generally, but provide no means to implement them.

I'll post again in another 5 years.

[HorseSense]

Having a friend with me at the game that has no connection to SMU opened my eyes. First, we are all comfortable because it is our stomping ground, but look at it as if I live in Dallas and I walk on the campus. What do I do? There are over 100 tailgating areas, but none for me (remember I don't know anyone). What if we had a tent (sponser --University, Alumni Club, Mom and Dads Club, MC???) at the top of the Blvd. that said," Dallas/SMU Alliance Tent--a FAN I place to be". Put all the vendors around it. Chairs and tables. Some alumni/ students (rotating frat/sorority groups volunteer? Or the renamed alum tent to this venue) act as hosts to get football talk going, explain Pony Ears, our passion for Peruna, etc. Put some information in the local papers in their "happenings this weekend" sections. These generally are not paid sections, but general interest/community interest. Have vendors sell kid meals. For proof of purchase of a kids meal you get 2 tickets. One for the kids meal and one for accompanying adult. The bottom line is we have upper decks and end zone not sold out. Those seats are there whether we sell tickets or not. I rather have butts in the seats discounted than empty. I am NOT a marketing person so these ideas may not be valid.

[gostangs]

we can all help by doing the following:

Talk it up - people hate missing out on something fun and cool - Tell co-workers and non related general fans what a great game day experience it is - and also that the games are FUN because of our style of football

If you talk to an SMU who is not going to many games and not a season ticket holder ask them why not. Every red-blooded american male should have season tickets to their college football team - if you dont, you are a wuss. That should be said out loud to their face. No excuses

Contribute to the cause - whatever you can. Join the Mustang Club. It really helps.

if you dont have a tail gate - get with 10 friends and sponsor one - it is big fun and really connects to the experience - then when you tell people to come you can also tell them where to come to have someone host them.

when on the boulevard be vocal about stating you are NOT missing kick-off - when people laugh off not going to the game, dont laugh with them - tell them they are missing out on the best part. Time to raise the expectation level

[Get_Some_Ponies]

I think Ryan is entirely too sensible advocating for consistent winning and patience. Black horseshoe time. But really, I agree w/ you that new conference and more revenue will go a long way.

Not so sure about questioning the manhood of any grad who doesn't have tickets, but hey...whatever works.

[Stallion]

Having a friend with me at the game that has no connection to SMU opened my eyes. First, we are all comfortable because it is our stomping ground, but look at it as if I live in Dallas and I walk on the campus. What do I do? There are over 100 tailgating areas, but none for me (remember I don't know anyone). What if we had a tent (sponser --University, Alumni Club, Mom and Dads Club, MC???) at the top of the Blvd. that said," Dallas/SMU Alliance Tent--a FAN I place to be". Put all the vendors around it. Chairs and tables. Some alumni/ students (rotating frat/sorority groups volunteer? Or the renamed alum tent to this venue) act as hosts to get football talk going, explain Pony Ears, our passion for Peruna, etc. Put some information in the local papers in their "happenings this weekend" sections. These generally are not paid sections, but general interest/community interest. Have vendors sell kid meals. For proof of purchase of a kids meal you get 2 tickets. One for the kids meal and one for accompanying adult. The bottom line is we have upper decks and end zone not sold out. Those seats are there whether we sell tickets or not. I rather have butts in the seats discounted than empty. I am NOT a marketing person so these ideas may not be valid.

That's not a bad idea about having just a general public tent area open to all these non-SMU affiliated fans some think we could attract. As I mentioned in another thread UCF actually has an on campus bar/restaurant with outdoor seating that was packed. Maybe some private vendor or club might be willing to do that-or is that forbidden by Texas liquor laws? But there is a Mustang Club tent which offers drinks and food at a certain donation level near the Natatorium. Also non-members can get admission for a pretty reasonable price. Good idea though. In Dallas it would be great if SMU could associate that area with the Ticket/Pregame Show because the local sports fan feels a community with the Ticket like it or not. A&M for example has a pregame tailgating live Radio Show from the Zone Area-I think its conducted by that Rivals publisher named Luicci who is a pretty big personality down there

[TidePony]

These are great ideas. One thing needed is to get more students at the game. When I was an undergrad at Alabama we were require to be at the football games (if we purchased season tickets), and if we missed more than two games a season we lost the right to buy tickets the next year. Tickets were $5 a game. Also, fraternities are seated in blocked areas. Your seating block is earned through various activities the prior year including inter-murals, charity work, and other things. Fraternities also get enough seats to include dates. Now, that SMU has a winning team this might work??? When I was in grad school at SMU the football team lost just about every game so not possible then. Other activities got blocks as well such as the law school, various grad schools, and the honors college. At Bryant-Denny you don't want to touch the hand of God in the upper deck so you worked hard to be near the field. Now, we got chastised often for leaving the game early when blow outs occurred, and I get that. Greeks will be Greeks! I have a sophomore at Bama now (who is a Greek) and the same rules are still in place.
The family block idea in the endzone is a great idea as well. We bought season tickets for the first time this year and are having a great time.

[skyscraper]

In the midst of this attendance blame game, I feel like the students aren't really the problem.
Yesterday was the exception.
This season and last have been vast improvements and they are constantly into the game.
Dunno what happened yesterday, but that hasn't been the norm lately.

[RE Tycoon]

In the midst of this attendance blame game, I feel like the students aren't really the problem.
Yesterday was the exception.
This season and last have been vast improvements and they are constantly into the game.
Dunno what happened yesterday, but that hasn't been the norm lately.

Any students have an answer on this? I really expected the students to step up yesterday and they were non-existent.