Time for a "subscription based" Ponyfans.com???

[SWC2010]

Webmaster:

It appears that the site continues to crawl along, slowly loading pages & new reply comments.

QUESTION:

Is it time to 'upgrade' Ponyfans.com to a subscription (read $$) based platform so that you can invest in a faster server, etc? If so, what could be an annual cost for each user?

SWC2010

[ThadFilms]

I haven't replied to anything, in a long while.... but subscription would kill the site... Seriously.

Look, the site is slow because, there isn't a lot of money to run it. Why? Because there aren't many PonyFans. You make people pay to become a part of PonyFans.com, and well... there won't be many new Pony fans, coming over to PonyFans.com...

I've been monitoring the Inferno website (the fan group for FC Dallas), and I think they have it right. They talk about getting people to "drink the Kool-Aid", and I think that's what we need to do as PonyFans. I mean it. Butts in the seats means a whole lot.

I think, regardless of how much we bicker amongst ourselves, we need to make a concerted effort to recruit new Pony fans, whether they went to the Hilltop or not. Look at the advantages we have in this marketplace- we have a gorgeous stadium, downright cheap tickets, family friendly atmosphere, and div. 1A football. There's gotta' be something we can do... I mean together, as a group...

Look, we need to devise some plans- on our own, regardless of the athletic department. We need to go "out there" kind of plans, that the University is not apart of... say- a PonyFans flag football team. A PonyFans pub quiz team. A PonyFans softball team. A PonyFans indoor soccer team.... PonyFans watching parties of major sports events. We need tee shirts. We need to get out in the community and show them that we are having a good time and we are having a good time together.

Plus, when the season rolls around, we need to have huge showings at the PonyFans tent. We need to make it THE place to be.

I'm serious about going public, and when we do go public we need to put our differences aside, and show how much fun we have together (not that we've done it before, because if you read this site it seems that the Pony fan's biggest adversary is not a Frog or anything else, but another "Pony Fan").

Perhaps I should have posted this separately, but a subscription service is not the answer. The answer is more PonyFans.

Sincerely,
PonyExpress83... Class of '01
(The Pony Express played their last game 1.1.83, yes- I get that question all the time)

[SMUguy]

Very well said, PE83. I agree that a subscription service would put a major squeeze on the site's following. Until the team starts winning regularly, there just aren't enough people who would pay for it.

One thing that could help: if you are the owner of a business, or at least have control of some money, advertise on the site. I don't know how much it costs, but it would put your business in front of a bunch of SMU students and alums. Maybe with another couple of advertisers, a bigger/faster hosting service can be used.

Please don't go to a subscription service, webguys -- many could afford a subscription, but there are those who are on a really tight budget, and it would be a shame to lose any of us. One thing that's great about this site is that it clearly is run by fans, and you shouldn't have to pay to interact with other PonyFans.

[Eddie P]

If Ponyfans requires a subscription than I won't be able to afford that new pair of shoes I've been eyeing over at Payless.

[me@smu]

Have to agree with the sentiment that making this a pay site would kill the discussions and the membership.

I think one of the best things going for the site is for the ability of anyone to get on that has a comment to make...ie the opposing teams fans who have posted a welcome to CUSA message or the arkansas state fan who bashed us for bashing Arkansas state.

Also considering that little more is offered (other than the occasional outstanding article) than a forum to speak our minds. If a fee meant we would get regular articles about the team and its recruits, essentially a SMU specific rivals/scouts.com site I would be all for it. If not, than I would rather spend the extra moments to let things load

[Dooby]

Tom Smykowski: It's a "Jump to Conclusions Mat". You see, you have this mat, with different CONCLUSIONS written on it that you could JUMP TO.

Michael Bolton: That is the worst idea I've ever heard.

Samir: Yes, this is horrible, this idea.

[Col. Nathan R. Jessep]

If we had a paid subscription, it should be per each user name.

That way, guys like Stallion and others who have 25+ different names would be charged more.

How about it remains free if you are a member of the Mustang Club? Join or renew your membership and you get the password to place comments? The site remains open for all to read, but only members get to spout off.

Personally, I could care less about hearing from greenies from Denton. Unless of course, they pay their way.

[ThadFilms]

Jessep-

Don't be foolhearty. You and I are both want change for the better. Personally, I can't arfford jack poop, and jack left town. (Read Mustang Clob membership.) I am certainly NOT going to pay what I don't have to come to this board to read all the name calling and bickering. Besides, we have only about 10-15 posts a day- unless someone posts something really out there.

Sure plenty of folks who go to SMU are wealthier than my bank. But those same folks walk around in ballcaps supporting OTHER schools. It makes me absolutely sick when I visit the campus (and moreso when I attended SMU) when I see Florida State caps, and Notre Dame tees.

We CANNOT alienate folks. Face it, we are a losing program right now. As much as we dog on each other, we all do it out of HOPE for OUR team. We cannot shut off new fans whilst there are so few of us.

I know Coch B.... he appreciates my support. It's not financial. It's emotional. We CANNOT cut out those who wish to support the team emotionally but cannot support the team financially.

Why?

Because no one cares anymore. We lose and we lose, and no one bothers. (Shouldn't that be- we win, we lose, and no one bothers?) Look- it's simple we need more PonyFans. That means asmuch from the student body as it does from the Dallas comunity.

It's time WE (as in the PONYFANS of PonyFans.com) did something. Seriously!

Let's stop this petty infighting, and start thinking of ways to recruit Pony Fans from our comunity.

Go... Go... Go- Mustangs (Goooooo Red.... Gooooo Blue......),
Thaddeus (PonyExpress83... Class '01)

[Stallion]

yeah like I'm the one changing my handle? Never posted under a different name for the last 8 years. There are some that clearly do-change their handles after every losing season never to be heard from again.