GTFLETCH
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You recruit players to win. You recruit fans to make money - both in terms of tickets as well as TV contracts. But how can you recruit more fans? Here's my prescription for doing just that...
1) In-stadium experience
ACC Commissioner John Swofford had this to say: "modernizing stadiums and bringing them up to snuff, so to speak, so that the in-game experience is as good as it can be … it can also start on the field with keeping the game going. We’re continually working at reducing the length of games." In other words, the in-stadium experience must be superior to the on-sofa experience.
2) Energize the alumni
I'm not just talking about donations - although that is an important element. I'm talking about attendance and something very important which is looming: demand for the ACC Network channel. ACC schools must get alumni behind this channel. Any alumni who are not already scheduled to get the ACC Network need to sign up for it - or switch TV providers if necessary! Cable companies need to know that the ACCN is just as important as the SECN - and is worth just as much money!
3) Energize the students
This is a component of attendance which is often overlooked. 20,000 students or so may not have much of an impact on TV viewership - but it can have a huge impact on stadium attendance. Also, students graduate and become alumni. It's a good long-term plan to turn out as many loyal alumni as possible - and that starts while they're still in school.
4) Market to the T-shirt fans
What makes a T-shirt fan? Isn't it someone who supports the team even though he never attended the school? So how can schools increase that pool? Well, how does the NFL market to fans who don't actually live in the host city? They use TV and radio ads, billboards, etc. to keep the team in the minds of fans throughout the area. They may have players, cheerleaders and coaches visit surrounding towns - perhaps signing autographs and taking photographs with fans. No reason ACC teams can't do much the same.
5) Schedule OOC games wisely
Winning matters. So does playing interesting games. How can you accomplish both? If you schedule teams which are too strong you won't win... but there are weaker teams which are still interesting to the fans: local G5 teams. Are there any G5 teams in your state? Play them! What about across the border in the neighboring state? Play them too! Finally, when you do play a P5 non-conference opponent, make it someone your team has at least a 50% chance of beating (if not a little higher).
BOTTOM LINE: ACC schools are winning more games on the field than ever before - but that alone won't make up the huge financial deficit as compared to the SEC and the Big Ten. To do that, ACC teams need more - and better - fans.
Link
https://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2018/07/rx-how-to-recruit-more-fans.html
1) In-stadium experience
ACC Commissioner John Swofford had this to say: "modernizing stadiums and bringing them up to snuff, so to speak, so that the in-game experience is as good as it can be … it can also start on the field with keeping the game going. We’re continually working at reducing the length of games." In other words, the in-stadium experience must be superior to the on-sofa experience.
2) Energize the alumni
I'm not just talking about donations - although that is an important element. I'm talking about attendance and something very important which is looming: demand for the ACC Network channel. ACC schools must get alumni behind this channel. Any alumni who are not already scheduled to get the ACC Network need to sign up for it - or switch TV providers if necessary! Cable companies need to know that the ACCN is just as important as the SECN - and is worth just as much money!
3) Energize the students
This is a component of attendance which is often overlooked. 20,000 students or so may not have much of an impact on TV viewership - but it can have a huge impact on stadium attendance. Also, students graduate and become alumni. It's a good long-term plan to turn out as many loyal alumni as possible - and that starts while they're still in school.
4) Market to the T-shirt fans
What makes a T-shirt fan? Isn't it someone who supports the team even though he never attended the school? So how can schools increase that pool? Well, how does the NFL market to fans who don't actually live in the host city? They use TV and radio ads, billboards, etc. to keep the team in the minds of fans throughout the area. They may have players, cheerleaders and coaches visit surrounding towns - perhaps signing autographs and taking photographs with fans. No reason ACC teams can't do much the same.
5) Schedule OOC games wisely
Winning matters. So does playing interesting games. How can you accomplish both? If you schedule teams which are too strong you won't win... but there are weaker teams which are still interesting to the fans: local G5 teams. Are there any G5 teams in your state? Play them! What about across the border in the neighboring state? Play them too! Finally, when you do play a P5 non-conference opponent, make it someone your team has at least a 50% chance of beating (if not a little higher).
BOTTOM LINE: ACC schools are winning more games on the field than ever before - but that alone won't make up the huge financial deficit as compared to the SEC and the Big Ten. To do that, ACC teams need more - and better - fans.
Link
https://accfootballrx.blogspot.com/2018/07/rx-how-to-recruit-more-fans.html
