PonyFans.com

Tried to call Otter. The number listed reached someone called Danicapony.

That's a good question, and I do not purport to have all the answers. But, we could start with things like:

1. Allowing more merchandising of our logo on t-shirts, hats, footballs, JERSEYS, etc., etc. and getting them into stores around the metroplex and beyond. (Some of that is increasing, but slowly...)

2. Opening up more areas other than the BLVD around campus for pre-game tailgating and maybe convince local media outlets to come out and get the experience on TV, and show that Dallas sports fans actually have a place of their very own to tailgate and have fun. The BLVD is great (don't get me wrong), but even I (who graduated from SMU) feel like it is a little stuffy sometimes. It's not like Joe Schmoe can just come up and break out his generator, tent and ice chest on the Vard. To fit in there, you almost need to know someone who has already "purchased" the right to be there. That can be intimidating. There needs to be better access (and free access) to the tailgating experience at SMU so families and friends can make a day out of it. (I could go on and on about this,and may later...)

3. Ticket prices are not too bad now, but there needs to be an effort to get people to know that they are available and can buy them easily. The whole process of buying tickets and then parking, having a good experience pre-game, and then going to the game needs to be made EASY. Every time I go to a game, I start trying to figure out where the hell I am going to park...and I know the place like the back of my hand. Navigating the area can be quite confusing, especially when you don't know where you might be able to park and what you're going to do once you get there. And no, I don't think parking at mockingbird station makes things easy.

4. The bounce houses and recent opening up of the place where people can buy food and drinks is a good thing. You have to remember, not everyone knows everyone else on the BLVD. People need to feel welcome. See point number 2...There should be more places for random people to feel welcome, congregate and have fun. At LSU, for instance, the place is about 10 times bigger than SMU, but people are free to set up tents,etc. and tailgate wherever they can find a grassy area. You don't have to "know someone one the Vard" or pay to set up shop and enjoy the experience. In fact, you may not know the people tailgating next to you, but by the end of the day, you are suddenly friends and sharing grilled alligator or jambalaya. That is what tailgating is all about, and is what is missing from the SMU tailgating experience.

5. Yes, marketing. There needs to be some degree of marketing to make this all happen. Let people know it is "common Dallas sports fan-friendly." In-game give aways, free hotdogs/coke/etc. vouchers, t-shirt give aways,etc. We need Dallasites to develop the perception that SMU is THEIR university. The "private school" aspect of SMU is true and real, and so there needs to be even more work done to overcome it so that average sports fans can identify with it.

Anyway, there's a start....I'm sure there are people smarter than I who can add to this with even better ideas...

smustatesmen wrote:Tried to call Otter. The number listed reached someone called Danicapony.

lol

BRStang, I couldn't agree more with point "2."

then why would i pay so much for my boulevard spot? if there are free ones elsewhere?

Dutch wrote:then why would i pay so much for my boulevard spot? if there are free ones elsewhere?

Location, location, location.

The worst part is competing with high school games, major league sports... so many people have season tickets to these teams and dont have time to spare to new upcoming SMU. All we can hope for is downward trend with the local schools in a way. Also trying to get the local big time athletes to get communities around here to come and see their former star. Its hard because this area is so talented that SEC and Big 12 raid it.

A couple things I wish I could see is SMU theme in the dallas area. I mean I remember going through schools like clemson which the local town has orange paw prints all over the roads, flags everywhere, and banners on light posts. I know that this is unrealistic to ask the richies of HP to do this, but I figure banners on light posts would be great. Flags on top of skyscrapers in Dallas would be awesome. Also get a building in Dallas thats owned by an alum, sponsor, or even SMU that could get lit up Red when we win. If we already do great but have athletes or groups sell season tickets to surrounding area with corporate sponsor coupons etc (what the high school did). My high school sells out every game and its around 30k a game... its sad to think we do so much worst.

Also we need to tie our past to our future, and remind people that we were a great program that fought against their big 12 teams. We need them to be our fans now. We are no threat to their team right now. We are a likable team.

Dutch wrote:then why would i pay so much for my boulevard spot? if there are free ones elsewhere?

Dutch, regardless of whether SMU does anything, I am coming to your BLVD spot next time I'm in town for a game now that I know you have one. I will expect a free cheeseburger or two and some cheese fries and a few beers.

BRStang wrote:That's a good question, and I do not purport to have all the answers. But, we could start with things like:

1. Allowing more merchandising of our logo on t-shirts, hats, footballs, JERSEYS, etc., etc. and getting them into stores around the metroplex and beyond. (Some of that is increasing, but slowly...)

2. Opening up more areas other than the BLVD around campus for pre-game tailgating and maybe convince local media outlets to come out and get the experience on TV, and show that Dallas sports fans actually have a place of their very own to tailgate and have fun. The BLVD is great (don't get me wrong), but even I (who graduated from SMU) feel like it is a little stuffy sometimes. It's not like Joe Schmoe can just come up and break out his generator, tent and ice chest on the Vard. To fit in there, you almost need to know someone who has already "purchased" the right to be there. That can be intimidating. There needs to be better access (and free access) to the tailgating experience at SMU so families and friends can make a day out of it. (I could go on and on about this,and may later...)

3. Ticket prices are not too bad now, but there needs to be an effort to get people to know that they are available and can buy them easily. The whole process of buying tickets and then parking, having a good experience pre-game, and then going to the game needs to be made EASY. Every time I go to a game, I start trying to figure out where the hell I am going to park...and I know the place like the back of my hand. Navigating the area can be quite confusing, especially when you don't know where you might be able to park and what you're going to do once you get there. And no, I don't think parking at mockingbird station makes things easy.

4. The bounce houses and recent opening up of the place where people can buy food and drinks is a good thing. You have to remember, not everyone knows everyone else on the BLVD. People need to feel welcome. See point number 2...There should be more places for random people to feel welcome, congregate and have fun. At LSU, for instance, the place is about 10 times bigger than SMU, but people are free to set up tents,etc. and tailgate wherever they can find a grassy area. You don't have to "know someone one the Vard" or pay to set up shop and enjoy the experience. In fact, you may not know the people tailgating next to you, but by the end of the day, you are suddenly friends and sharing grilled alligator or jambalaya. That is what tailgating is all about, and is what is missing from the SMU tailgating experience.

5. Yes, marketing. There needs to be some degree of marketing to make this all happen. Let people know it is "common Dallas sports fan-friendly." In-game give aways, free hotdogs/coke/etc. vouchers, t-shirt give aways,etc. We need Dallasites to develop the perception that SMU is THEIR university. The "private school" aspect of SMU is true and real, and so there needs to be even more work done to overcome it so that average sports fans can identify with it.

Anyway, there's a start....I'm sure there are people smarter than I who can add to this with even better ideas...

now, how much do you think that costs? where do we get the money for it?

as far as tailgating goes, if i remember correctly, tailgating is permitted in all surface lots on gameday.

remember that we are currently operating at a $4-5 million deficit. used to be $8 million, but SO got it down.

by cutting the marketing department.....

big east tv money will fix all our problems.

Dutch wrote:by cutting the marketing department.....

and attendance is up since he cut the marketing department

funny how that worked. did that happen b/c the team is playing better than they were for about 20 years and people like to see a winning team?

who are the adwizards that came up with that one?