INCREASING CROWDS at FORD STADIUM

jpe747 · Post by **jpe747** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:56 pm

I was reading another topic and redpony wrote:
"And if the preachers in the Methodist churches across America hyped and promoted SMU to the masses the way the priests in the Catholic churches promote ND we would have recruits begging to come here. And the bloody baptists aren't far behind the catholics."

That reminded me of a conversation I had at the Compass Bowl with some SMU alumni from Georgia. we were discussing ways to get larger crowds at games (and recruits). Here are some of the ideas from that meeting. 1) We are not selling many end zone seats, so...Give away tickets to the end zones to high school students. (for good grades, or different schools on different weekends. 2) give them to Methodist youth groups. 3) Have theme nights and give to organizations - like 2nd home game end zone tickets go to the Boy Scouts. 3rd home game FCA (we already do something with FCA), etc. 4) Give an end zone ticket to anyone serving actively in the military or peace officer. After the ticket sales grow past a preset number sale end zone at a reduced rate and later at regular rates. You bring lots of young people to the games and you would build credibility with Dallas schools and youth organizations, including stronger sports ties with Methodist. This is similar to the thought of inviting high school bands to play with the Mustang band in the stadium before and after games. Perhaps there are reasons none of these ideas will work or be beneficial. However, SMU needs to find ways to put butts in seats starting this coming football season. By the way, these are also interesting ideas for basketball, swimming, etc.

LHS81 · Post by **LHS81** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 10:59 pm

Actually, I like your ideas. Getting the powers that be to implement those ideas is another story.

GiddyUp · Post by **GiddyUp** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:03 pm

Just have to get waivers for any and all "recruitable" High School students. FCA was great but for whatever reason didn't get done this year, was a big success before. Operation Sellout is a nice grassroots effort but isn't getting it done.

smusic 00 · Post by **smusic 00** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:04 pm

I think most would agree, but a big issue is tickets sold as pertains to the official count reported to NCAA.

Another problem might be that there is no accountability on their part to actually show up. We could potentially hire a person as a liaison to youth groups with zero result. See: past bus brigades.

But, maybe they could use Mustang Club volunteers to work their social/church connections. Probably still only talking about a couple hundred tix.

jpe747 · Post by **jpe747** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:20 pm

These ideas are based on the proposition that WE ARE NOT GOING TO SELL MANY END ZONE TICKETS. However, we are going to have television broadcasts showing the crowds. And, we need to build bridges with a number of organizations, including the Methodist Churches of America. As for the tickets we would normally sell in the end zone we can sell instead on the ten yard line.

Pony94 · Post by **Pony94** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:23 pm

The first step to increasing the crowds, IN THE STADIUM ON GAMEDAY, is peer pressure. We all know at least one SMU alumn that is not a season ticket holder. We need to convert at least 50% to make a difference.

When you get called to renew season tickets....shame a friend into doing the same...give the office their name, email, office phone, home phone, fax...cell phone, whatever it takes!!!

smusic 00 · Post by **smusic 00** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:25 pm

Yes, but folks who BUY tickets are more prone to showing up than Jimmy Methodist youth group kid whose parents are busy.

I don't want to discount the idea, but we are talking about 6,000-10,000 tickets. That's a lot of work.

smusic 00 · Post by **smusic 00** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:28 pm

Also, ten yard line seats are just about all spoken for. Student section/band, visitors, player families, season tix.

SMUer · Post by **SMUer** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:30 pm

Put giveaways on the "TV" side. Invest in a giant "SMU" tarp until unnecessary.

Mitch McConnell · Post by **Mitch McConnell** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:31 pm

Well with the AARP coaching staff we are assembling, its as a good a time as ever to start offering senior discounts for season and single game tickets.

Then we could really have a white out!

smusic 00 · Post by **smusic 00** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:33 pm

SMUer wrote:Put giveaways on the "TV" side. Invest in a giant "SMU" tarp until unnecessary.

this. Everyone else does it.

SMUer · Post by **SMUer** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:35 pm

A symbol of our attendance shame

jpe747 · Post by **jpe747** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:37 pm

The reason this was brought up by the Georgia group is because one of the pro football teams (I think the Falcons) had used giveaways (tickets) with good success in building a fan base. When the base became strong (and people wanted to go to the game) they started selling the tickets. Now they have a stadium full of fans buying tickets.

Dutch · Post by **Dutch** » Tue Jan 17, 2012 11:40 pm

can't be giving tickets to HS students. considered potential recruits, thus creating a violation of NCAA recruiting rules.

jpe747 · Post by **jpe747** » Wed Jan 18, 2012 12:19 am

Dutch, can you sell them for 50 cents to a FCA Huddle Club?