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So, I was thinking, maybe the administration could allow recent grads, say 2 years recent, to attend games at a discount rate. This could boost attendance, and maybe peak enough interest into those grads to become season ticket holders. I don't know, just an idea.
It just saddens me to see our guys go out there and play for us and no one shows.

Well, I guess we need current students to show up first.

That is a good idea. However, the only problem is that only half the students from SMU are from Texas. Many students, like myself, do not stay in Dallas after graduation (or Texas at all for that matter). Our alumni is so spread out nowadays it is hard for many people to make a game except homecoming.

Just playing devil's advocate.

There used to be a young alumni ticket discount for 5 years after graduation; not sure if that is still available or not.

I still think it is a good idea to make mandatory attendance for at least 3 home games for all frosh and soph. students. Perhaps it would get them into the habit of attending games.

GO PONIES!!!

It might seem counterintuitive, but allowing reentry would help attendance. When there's so many ideas that could be so easily implemented yet never are, I really question SMU's commitment to improving things.

Ah yes because everyone loves doing something that you HAVE to do...

I believe the answer is not to MAKE them go but rather make them WANT to go.

But as important as the students may be for spirit and on campus vibe, they are not the answer to our problem. It is convincing 20,000 of the 3,000,000 in the area to come to the games.

Each game, randomly draw, I don't know say 4 ticket numbers. Call them out over the sound system. When the attendee identifies themselves, give them a $500 gift card... Maybe do it at the end of each quarter, then at the end of the game, the student section picks one (via applause) to have their card upgraded to $1000. Maybe base on a cheer, plee, something they do on the field...

Let something like that get around, those empty seats will start to fill up... So for $2,500 (marketing) a game, they solve the attendance problem.

You have to get DFW behind us.We need the average joe to fell welcome and attend games do you really think every one in Death valley watching went to LSU or and college for that matter.SMU has to win over the city point blank thats it.Its not up to the alums many are to busy and dont have much of a connection to football any more

mrydel wrote: It is convincing 20,000 of the 3,000,000 in the area to come to the games.

I don't mean to nitpick, but there are 6.4 million people in the area as of the last census.

numero_uno wrote:So, I was thinking, maybe the administration could allow recent grads, say 2 years recent, to attend games at a discount rate. This could boost attendance, and maybe peak enough interest into those grads to become season ticket holders. I don't know, just an idea.
It just saddens me to see our guys go out there and play for us and no one shows.

Well, I guess we need current students to show up first.

Good idea. Also could offer discount if people committed to buy 2 or 3 years of season tickets that way could try and minimize one hit wonders. UTSA did great job this year in offering discounts and its first year attendance set all NCAA records, and they have in excess of 15,000 season ticket holders -- more important most locked up for more than 1 year.

Anything done would be better than doing nothing. My hope is with the BE money we at least try some of these things that have worked other places. People in stadium even at discounted rate is better than no one there.

BigT3x wrote:

mrydel wrote: It is convincing 20,000 of the 3,000,000 in the area to come to the games.

I don't mean to nitpick, but there are 6.4 million people in the area as of the last census.

I guess it depends on the area you are counting. I stopped counting at 3,000,000.

I think you need to redo your market analysis if you're including anyone in FW on the 6.4MM

Or anyone west of Arlington for that matter.

We barely reach the 50000 in the park cities