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YSU Penguin Athletics => YSU Penguin Athletics => Topic started by: The YO Show on July 29, 2015, 10:44:00 PM
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So I was wondering if you guys have any thoughts to ideas that the university might be able to employ encourage students (and the greater fanbase) to attend athletic events? I know, the proverbial show better results on field, but I am honestly asking for ideas beyond that?
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Text a hype video to their phones for a week including the start time of the game and send two links: a link to a GPS based map system that has the stadium address preloaded or a link to Uber Black on how to get there. Tailgating will be out if the question as they would text each other to communicate anyway.
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$1 Beers with a valid student ID ;)
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Need creativity...not necessarily $. A few ideas, fireworks, concert at tailgate lot, bonfire, prizes for being there, prizes for games, free food...promote it well with hype vids and posters.
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Find an actual marketing department?
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Be careful 0505. ;) In some quarters, criticism of athletic department personnel, even if obviously incompetent, brands you as a traitor.
Seriously, athletic marketing would be very easy to improve. The example lies in what Tressel is doing on the academic side. Confronted with an under-performing admissions office, he outsourced student recruitment to a private organization for a set fee. We will know in about a month how that has worked, but preliminary data is encouraging. Just remove all the ticket sales/marketing positions and contract with a professional management group. Pay them a set fee and a percentage of every ticket sold. Injecting capitalism into the enterprise, you would see experts marketing aggressively. The university would also save a bundle on salaries, pension contributions, and expensive benefits to people who now receive lucrative compensation to preside over an empty gym and a partially filled stadium.
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From what i hear, they are trying to get students involved in the motivation of other students with an organization similar to a fan club. Saw tweets about it.
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Free autograph session and bobble head giveaway to the first 20,630 fans with Bo Pelini and Nebraska A.D. Shawn Eichorst to be held each home game at halftime
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I think the biggest thing that needs to happen is getting more students to the games. This can be done by changing the view of what YSU is. YSU has always been known as a commuter school. Increase attendance at the games by increasing the amount of students living on campus, which is what YSU is doing hence more apartments next to Charlie Staples. Most of the student base drives to school daily and leaves and goes home. This needs to change in my opinion and I believe slowly but surely it is happening. YSU will always be a commuter school but they can increase student involvement by changing the perception of the school.
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Two disloyal members to the YSU cause are YSU 0505 and Wick 250. It is amazing the rhetoric that comes out of these two.
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Yes Elpenguin, you nailed it. I am disloyal to Youngstown State University. Plenty of evidence to support that. After all, I have only attended every home football game since 1974. I attend more YSU athletic events, revenue and Olympic, men and women, than ANY OTHER fan. But I am disloyal because I do not kneel down and pay homage to a mediocre athletic director and the incompetent shills that adorn the athletic offices. I am disloyal because I hate the empty gym and the half-filled football stadium. I am disloyal because I insist that YSU fans deserve better....much better. Yes, I am disloyal, and by their absence at our sporting events, apparently the majority of people in the Mahoning Valley share my heresy.
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I am disappointed that I did not make El Penguin's disloyal list.
I also take issue with Wick's branding of our AD as "mediocre." Mediocre would be a legendary football school have 3-4 playoff appearances in 15 years...not one. Mediocre would be realizing the catastrophe that is MBB and not renewing the HC's contract and forcing the program to languish another season. Mediocre would not be a winless season for WBB under Martin or Hill...not only winless....but most games were curb stompings.
The french fries at Wendy's are mediocre.....our AD's ineptitude is epic and legendary.
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Being accused of being disloyal is not something to joke about, it is the perception that other posters have of all of you. When you say lots of good things (including those that are constructive) then people will pay more attention to the items that you dislike about the program. For example Wick ...make your comment without the rhetorical preamble; your privatization comment is great. That exact thing was a big part of the old SW Conference & caused a lot of trouble ...and exposed a lot of issues. Yet no one even cares because of your additional commentary. I used to work in the butchers shop at Value King. Here is how my boss used to say it. It is like having a great side of beef. Until I (he, the butcher) get it; it is not a great cut of beef. Somebody has to cut through all the fat before the customer gets it.
Look at JP21, he makes a great comment about needing to be the students out. Let's talk about that as well.
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LOL disloyal??? I've been to almost every single home football, mens and women's basketball games in the last 5 years since I finished school, so no that's the last thing I am. But what I am, is a proud alumni and fan and will continue to criticize the marketing department because they are incompetent at what they do and do not help promote MY school at all. Hence why this thread was created because if the marketing department was doing their job correctly, we would not be discussing this. So call me disloyal, that's your personal opinion. GO GUINS!!!
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In all seriousness I wish I had more answers on how to get more people to Stambaugh stadium. It's one of the nicest F.C.S. facilities in the nation with a tremendous in game day experience. Y.S.U. Fans should take great pride in what they have there.
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I think everyone can agree there are constructive ways to engage the fanbase, and those were the things I was hoping to hear from everyone. There are definitely some ideas here, and paladin is right. YSU has some of the best facilities in the FCS along with a great gameday atmosphere. And JP, i agree with you but even propose that commuters could attend more games. I commuted and attended almost every home game (i had a family death for one) while i attended YSU.
My thinking is if you can draw some of these fans in, be it with some new marketing campaign or gimmick, that you can get returning people. People will do something again if it is fun, and that is how i describe the gameday atmosphere. Just need to get people to give it a chance, and it does include convincing those living on campus to show up to a game.
I actually want to get some of these good suggestions and pass them along. I want to try to actually make people aware of how awesome it is and provide more visibility to penguin atheletics. Im hoping you guys will help me, if only by continuing to give me constructive ideas. Lets face it, despite our disagreements and accusations to one another, we all are YSU fans right? Or else we wouldnt be wasting our time on this forum. So keep the suggestions coming guys! And thank you for your responses, together we can make a difference.
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As I said......hype video with texts. Get it?
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Penguinpower, i didnt mean to discount you. I do really like your suggestion. It would have to be done like the emergency text system though. Where you voluntarily sign up for the texts. There have been some good suggestions so far.
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Whatever it is, it has to start with the students.
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I realize that just the geography makes this a difficult comparison, but what does NDSU do to get such a large student attendance? It isn't always snowing in Fargo.
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I realize that just the geography makes this a difficult comparison, but what does NDSU do to get such a large student attendance? It isn't always snowing in Fargo.
More students living on campus. That's really all it comes down to really. YSU as everybody knows, is a commuter school for the main part. Get more on campus housing and start winning football games and that will change.
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4 titles in a row certainly doesn't hurt.
Just win baby.
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4 titles in a row certainly doesn't hurt.
Just win baby.
Having consecutive sellouts at the Fargo Dome is like a weapon in of itself. I really think bringing in a big name coach like Bo Pelini and the expectations being at a all time high will bring more fans this season. The curiosity factor is there without a question. I think the administration along with the coaching staff are really doing a good job trying to hammer home the point through social media. When you have big home games like N.D.S. from 2 years ago and Indiana st. last season with so much at stake there is know reason for the stadium not to be packed with the tradition factor that exists at Y.S.U...actual people in the stands is what I'm looking for not the tickets that have been sold. Win or lose at Pitt it shouldn't matter ..There should be know less then 12,000 actual fans for the M.V.C. home opener against Illinois St.
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I think everyone can agree there are constructive ways to engage the fanbase, and those were the things I was hoping to hear from everyone. There are definitely some ideas here, and paladin is right. YSU has some of the best facilities in the FCS along with a great gameday atmosphere. And JP, i agree with you but even propose that commuters could attend more games. I commuted and attended almost every home game (i had a family death for one) while i attended YSU.
My thinking is if you can draw some of these fans in, be it with some new marketing campaign or gimmick, that you can get returning people. People will do something again if it is fun, and that is how i describe the gameday atmosphere. Just need to get people to give it a chance, and it does include convincing those living on campus to show up to a game.
I actually want to get some of these good suggestions and pass them along. I want to try to actually make people aware of how awesome it is and provide more visibility to penguin atheletics. Im hoping you guys will help me, if only by continuing to give me constructive ideas. Lets face it, despite our disagreements and accusations to one another, we all are YSU fans right? Or else we wouldnt be wasting our time on this forum. So keep the suggestions coming guys! And thank you for your responses, together we can make a difference.
I agree commuter students should attend the games, I did as well. But the fact still remains look at these other MVFC games. The student attendance is astronomical. No offense to the older YSU fans but when you go to a game at Stambaugh look around and see who is in the stands. It's older people not students. You have to get the mentality out of YSU students head that they are going to sit down on a Saturday afternoon and watch OSU over YSU. I know this happens because every single friend I had in high school that attended YSU did the same thing. "Come down to the YSU game with me" no OSU is on. It was really frustrating how you can attend a school and not care about their football team if you live football. Something needs to be done about this. Student involvement is awful and it needs to change by changing the mentality of the students.
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It needs to be the "best show in town." The attractions are targeted toward the demographic you are seeking...families, students, community, or alumni. You can create an electric atmosphere w/o lots of $$. I went to an FAU game w/ my daughter and one tailgate lot looked like a carnival with rides and games.
Winning works too...however we are in a G5-equivalent conference with Goliaths on our schedule. Until we too are a Goliath....gimmicks are necessary.
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I am a former student that graduated from YSU in May, and I wanted to create an account to comment on this topic.
Something does need to change. I was fortunate enough during my time at YSU to be in a position where I was around the football team quite often (I won't go into specifics for reasons). Most of you know the demographics of fans who attend games at Stambaugh. Students would attend games during the early part of the season but the numbers would drop. Minimal marketing was a factor that played into that.
However, a "grassroots" social media campaign became rampant in the fall of 2013 with ESPN College GameDay. A hashtag was used (#GameDay2YSU) and students across campus participated. That was great. There was a buzz on campus to bring ESPN to Youngstown. We all know what happened that caused ESPN to go elsewhere, but it was close. That was an exciting time on campus. The thing is, it was entirely fan driven. The marketing from YSU and the athletic department were nearly non-existent. It took a huge event like that to get students involved. It is quite possible that ESPN may look to come back this season, especially now that President Tressel is here and Pelini is the head coach, but if it takes an event like that to generate buzz, that's a problem.
The athletic department needs to be more active on social media-Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat specifically. We see posts regularly about the season coming, players, interviews, etc., but a small amount cater to students. The department can create hashtags, contests, anything to get attention. It doesn't take much to get our generations attention (trust me on that). Using social media is cost effective and frankly they are missing out on that opportunity.
YSU's program has a great history and it's important to keep it going with the growing student base on campus.
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Yah social media can be used to lure students to games. But the fact still remains that there is a problem with student involvement. When I was going to school at YSU 2001-2005 nobody cared. Why did nobody care? Part of it is because the product on the field is awful and there are other options for college football. YSU is viewed as a second rate football team in a division that is second rate. That is how the students view it. Do you think UNI fans feel they are second rate to the university of Iowa? How about NDSU are they second rate to any college football team in their fans eyes? The answer is no they don't think that, only way to change that is create more of an atmosphere on gamedays just like Fargo does. Winning helps but I'm not prepared to say social media is the rescue. The culture at YSU needs to change just like the culture of downtown is changing from 20 years ago.
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LOL disloyal??? I've been to almost every single home football, mens and women's basketball games in the last 5 years since I finished school, so no that's the last thing I am. But what I am, is a proud alumni and fan and will continue to criticize the marketing department because they are incompetent at what they do and do not help promote MY school at all. Hence why this thread was created because if the marketing department was doing their job correctly, we would not be discussing this. So call me disloyal, that's your personal opinion. GO GUINS!!!
Agreed. Incompetent and hires worst promotional video company. Last year was "whistle while you work". Stupid.
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07,
Good initial post. Keep contributing on a regular basis.
JP21,
Your analysis about YSU students is regrettably true, but you might consider that this is a problem widely shared in the FCS and the G5 universe. The only FCS schools that are immune to big time interference are those in the Plains and the Rockies who have no P5 competitors within their borders. NDSU and Montana are the lucky winners in that category, but they are huge exceptions within FCS.
Power,
Correct, as usual.
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To get more students. Give each student in attendance each quarter 1 entry. Each game 5 entry's attend all home games and stay till end each game give them an entry bonus. Then have a drawing at end of season for a prize of free tuition for semester a year whatever plus books whatever. I bet you get 1k students trying to win that. The Dana school of music should make it a requirement that all music majors have to do 2 yrs marching band to graduate that should swell the numbers of the band. All home games need to start at. Later in the day. People have sports etc. We need to get all the youth football leagues involved. Start bringing in classic bands to play before the games or after the game. Make it an event that Nobody in State of Youngstown would want to miss. They should have a yearly drawing for season ticket holders as a fan appreciation day or night. Instead we get magnets and cups! lol!
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Very good post by YSUGO. I know they have 2 kids days planned and more events like that should be added to the promotional schedule lIke a punt, pass and kick contest. A later start time for the games wouldn't hurt. Look at all the J.V. football games in Northeast ohio that start at 10 in the morning or later. Plus the majority of varsity players attend those games as well. I would contact all the varsity football coaches within a 60 mile radius and offer them a promotional deal all the way down to their youth programs and throw in free concessions along with a free Y.S.U. tee shirt. Interest needs to start from the outside and the bottom up
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All great ideas,;although I would not require marching band. Many serious musicians do not have the time or the "lip" to spare. There are plenty of former HS band kids that are not music majors ...this is where you need to pull from ...increase the stipend & get some instruments for the students that not longer have their own.
Above all ... PLEASE PLAY MARCHES AND FORGET THIS POP MUSIC CRAP. If I want to hear Journey, I can pop in a CD. Play songs I do not get on the radio station. It does not have to be only JP Sousa; there are many good songs that get a crowd going. Look at "Minnie the Moocher" before the 4th quarter? We have Dana, do you mean to tell me that we cannot get some k**k a** routines and original scores? Drummers ...get with the program. I expect to hear a new cadence every week!!
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IAA Fan,
Expecting a MARCHING BAND to play MARCHES instead of pop garbage. You really are some kind of radical. :)
The band needs to develop a signature song that is appropriate for football. As I recall, you favor the classic by Manfred Mann. And the band needs to play the signature march (composed by a Dana graduate,), March Grandioso, which has been stolen by the University of Texas.
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I would be happy if the marching band played something other than the same songs every game.
These kids have a lot of talent and it is not being shown on the field.
I do think the band got more involved in the games last year than several previous seasons.
We need every facet of the university community involved in improving attendance.
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IAA Fan,
Expecting a MARCHING BAND to play MARCHES instead of pop garbage. You really are some kind of radical. :)
The band needs to develop a signature song that is appropriate for football. As I recall, you favor the classic by Manfred Mann. And the band needs to play the signature march (composed by a Dana graduate,), March Grandioso, which has been stolen by the University of Texas.
I did not know that Seitz is a Dana guy ...great info. Something that I know the Ohio State band does is march without their woods. At that point they are the largest brass band in the world and travel extensively.
The Mighty Quinn was something that YSU did for years when I was a kid ..at least that I can remember.
So I think you hit the nail on the head Wick ...we have our songs/pieces
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There are several good ideas here. Personally I'm not in favor of trying to "incentivize" students to come/stay. Most are attending on scholarship or "daddy's" money, and one winner won't encourage much. However the band selection comments seem relevant, and the PA is just as bad or worse. We get the introduction to an AC/DC song 20 times a game and never the song, even if you were an AC/DC fan this sucks. But AC/DC isn't football and it isn't contemporary for kids either. The PA guy is stuck in 1979!
Personally I think band concerts (not marching) following might be worth a try. Once or twice a season. Personally my family is more likely to come if we have fireworks after the game. Look at Cle Indians attendance for fireworks.
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I would prefer the firewowks on the field with YSU winning some important home games. :)
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I personally am impressed with the improvements of the YSU Pride MB in the past few years. The previous director totally killed the band. The current guy seems to have things moving in the proper direction. Back in the 80's and early 90's students received a stipend to be in the MB. Bring those back and watch the band grow even further:) Just my 2 cents!
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There are several good ideas here. Personally I'm not in favor of trying to "incentivize" students to come/stay. Most are attending on scholarship or "daddy's" money, and one winner won't encourage much. However the band selection comments seem relevant, and the PA is just as bad or worse. We get the introduction to an AC/DC song 20 times a game and never the song, even if you were an AC/DC fan this sucks. But AC/DC isn't football and it isn't contemporary for kids either. The PA guy is stuck in 1979!
Personally I think band concerts (not marching) following might be worth a try. Once or twice a season. Personally my family is more likely to come if we have fireworks after the game. Look at Cle Indians attendance for fireworks.
Good points! However, I know several current YSU students that have some academic money but are paying the majority of their own way. The PA system is sad at best, but is always worse during the games. Maybe it is broadcast from the McDonalds drive-thru across the street.
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I personally am impressed with the improvements of the YSU Pride MB in the past few years. The previous director totally killed the band. The current guy seems to have things moving in the proper direction. Back in the 80's and early 90's students received a stipend to be in the MB. Bring those back and watch the band grow even further:) Just my 2 cents!
Ditto
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I would prefer the firewowks on the field with YSU winning some important home games. :)
Most folks may like them but I hate fireworks, glad they stopped them.
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Fireworks were very popular (and so are night games.) But here is the problem. There is no place to shoot them off and have fans view them while sitting in the west stands. They used to launch the fireworks from the infield of the old track, the current home of the Watts. Once, probably while the Watts was being constructed, they shot them off from the tennis courts, but that is way too close to Fedor Hall and even Beeghly.
Here is one suggestion. Launch the fireworks from the vacant land between Ford and Belmont. The spot where they have the homecoming bonfire. You could watch them from the tailgate lot or by hanging around outside the stadium.
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Fireworks were very popular (and so are night games.) But here is the problem. There is no place to shoot them off and have fans view them while sitting in the west stands. They used to launch the fireworks from the infield of the old track, the current home of the Watts. Once, probably while the Watts was being constructed, they shot them off from the tennis courts, but that is way too close to Fedor Hall and even Beeghly.
Here is one suggestion. Launch the fireworks from the vacant land between Ford and Belmont. The spot where they have the homecoming bonfire. You could watch them from the tailgate lot or by hanging around outside the stadium.
Does YSU own that land? Wonder if they have to pay to use it.
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Speaking of the sound system. I remember when I was a little kid going to games and they had two giant speakers on the YSU sideline pointed up towards the stands and that was the sound system.
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Did someone say "fly-over"? We have have all seen it, we know it is awesome. I say (if possible) do it on the opener, the veteran's day game (which is always televised as part of the MVFC network) and when we happen to get a home play-off game.
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I read where the NFL charges the Department of Defense each time it does a military tribute - ugh!
Would be nice if we could have a fly-over from the local reserve base.
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Did someone say "fly-over"? We have have all seen it, we know it is awesome. I say (if possible) do it on the opener, the veteran's day game (which is always televised as part of the MVFC network) and when we happen to get a home play-off game.
I remember that the Army Golden Knights used to deliver the game ball by parachuting down to the center of the field (landed on the penguin logo) before the kickoff. It was really cool.
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You are correct Rock. We read in the VFW magazine exactly that. The NFL commisioner makes $ 44,ooo,ooo per year. Is it any doubt that it bankrupts a working man & his family to see 1 NFL game ?
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You are correct Rock. We read in the VFW magazine exactly that. The NFL commisioner makes $ 44,ooo,ooo per year. Is it any doubt that it bankrupts a working man & his family to see 1 NFL game ?
Time to forget those cry-babies that need to throw for a yard and support you local college or university. :)
YSU is a better value for your buck and we run the ball!!
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IAA:
Forgot them a long time ago. Just stating what they do for military recognition and concerned what would be charged to a university. We have a good Army ROTC program. Hopefully they could pick up on some of the suggestions. I just don't suggest firing Penny out of the cannon.
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IAA:
Forgot them a long time ago. Just stating what they do for military recognition and concerned what would be charged to a university. We have a good Army ROTC program. Hopefully they could pick up on some of the suggestions. I just don't suggest firing Penny out of the cannon.
Darn, I thought firing Penny out of cannon what a great idea!!
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IAA:
Forgot them a long time ago. Just stating what they do for military recognition and concerned what would be charged to a university. We have a good Army ROTC program. Hopefully they could pick up on some of the suggestions. I just don't suggest firing Penny out of the cannon.
Darn, I thought firing Penny out of cannon what a great idea!!
Fixed that for you:
Darn, I thought firing Paladin Penny out of cannon what a great idea!!
Just kidding pally you're the best