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I understand the passion on the board to do whatever it takes to increase attendance.  I do like that UB is advertising Quinn on TV.  That will help.  I have seen billboards (with prizes if you text UB and then can markting to later) and advertising in the papers. 

These are just not working, maybe this should be a new topic, but what does UB have to do to make this a must do experience?  To have this a sell out every week.  The people will come but other than a consistent winner, what does UB have to do to make it the towns third franchise out of five.  (1. Bills  2.  Sabres  3. Bulls  4. Bisons 5. Bandits)

Win consistently, bring in (and beat) big-name teams, get TV contracts, keep ticket prices low, and make sure every man, woman, and child buys a concession item.

They already have TV contracts.  There are conference games available through ESPN.  They also appear on the road at out of conference games through the TV deals their opponents have (Pitt and UTEP come to mind).  Their biggest TV deal probably hurts them.  Their home games are available on Time Warner cable.  If a person on a day when the weather is not 65 and sunny can stay home and watch a game, why would a casual fan brave the elements to see a game?

I understand the passion on the board to do whatever it takes to increase attendance.  I do like that UB is advertising Quinn on TV.  That will help.  I have seen billboards (with prizes if you text UB and then can markting to later) and advertising in the papers. 

These are just not working, maybe this should be a new topic, but what does UB have to do to make this a must do experience?  To have this a sell out every week.  The people will come but other than a consistent winner, what does UB have to do to make it the towns third franchise out of five.  (1. Bills  2.  Sabres  3. Bulls  4. Bisons 5. Bandits)

Firstly I think UB is doing better than the Bandits:

The Buffalo Bandits lead all National Lacrosse League clubs in total average attendance with 15, 766, UB Averaged 15,960... so we are *at least* tied for #4 ;)

This season the Bisons are averaging 8K per game.. The Football team has quietly drawn to #3 among local sports teams for attendance but a lot of that is due to students on campus.

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What could UB do to make things better? There are three groups of things, one is doable and one is not and one that is done..

Non Doable things:

Make the stadium more fan friendly... UB's field is awful from a fans perspective mainly because the field is too far from the stands, no way to fix that with the current budget.

Done Things:

Advertising: As people have noted UB is doing far better in the local media market than they were five years ago

Scheduling: UB has Pitt, Boston College, and UConn all coming to Amherst, add in Army and the department is doing a good job bringing in regional big names aside from getting Syracuse back here there is not much more than can Warde and company can do.

Doable things:

Double feature foot ball games with concerts and fireworks (like the Bisons do). This may be easier when the north bleachers are gone and the field house is there but they should be able to do something in the meantime.

Piggy Back on the Bills... I know the Bills are usually seen as keeping UB down (pro sports town) but why not set 5-10K discount tickets (50% off or a 2-1) for folks who bring a stub from the last Bills home game? Have true blue and blue and white out at Bills tailgates handing out flyers.

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The 'Doable' things are only there to introduce people to the things already done by the Athletics department.

http://www.ci.buffalo.ny.us/Home/OurCity/CitySportsTeams

No UB listed there?

I understand the passion on the board to do whatever it takes to increase attendance.  I do like that UB is advertising Quinn on TV.  That will help.  I have seen billboards (with prizes if you text UB and then can markting to later) and advertising in the papers. 

Coach Quinn on his own is a marketing force.... I was at the corporate challenge with a few of my coworkers right next to the UB tent.  Coach Quinn stopped by and gave a talk and I got talking to one of my coworkers, based on the comments by Coach Quinn - he brought our season ticket group from 9 to 11.

If a person on a day when the weather is not 65 and sunny can stay home and watch a game, why would a casual fan brave the elements to see a game?

Because there is more to the gameday experience than just a football game.  Ask any Bills fan in mid-winter.

Piggy Back on the Bills... I know the Bills are usually seen as keeping UB down (pro sports town) but why not set 5-10K discount tickets (50% off or a 2-1) for folks who bring a stub from the last Bills home game? Have true blue and blue and white out at Bills tailgates handing out flyers.

I've been saying this for years.  Why not actively attract Bills fans?  Most love a good tailgate.  Show them that they can tailgate at UB games too.  This is why I stump so hard for a UB game at RWS.  To many Bills fans, it don't count unless it's at RWS.  Get Syracuse.  Get Michigan or Penn State.   Put the Bulls on the field with a major football program people have heard of.

PTR

If a person on a day when the weather is not 65 and sunny can stay home and watch a game, why would a casual fan brave the elements to see a game?

Because there is more to the gameday experience than just a football game.  Ask any Bills fan in mid-winter.

The casual fan is not at a Bills game in mid-winter.  UB needs to be able draw in the casual fan to build up the base.  If they can stay home and watch they are not going to go.  This is why the NFL has a blackout rule.  It is also why I have advocated blacking out the ESPN home games in the dorms.

Maybe we could go back to the old days.  The younger people, used to turning on the TV any day of the week during football season and having a plethora of games on, may be interested to see what the early rules on televised games were:
* Twelve Saturday afternoon dates shall be made available for "sponsored network telecasts."
* Sponsors must provide national coverage on each of the 12 dates.
* There will be only one game telecast nationally on each of the 12 dates, except that small-college games of regional interest may be added or substituted by local stations.
* The 12 games in the series shall be "widely distributed geographically with respect to their points of origin."
* Games other than those in the series may be telecast only with the specific approval of the NCAA Television Committee.
* A member college may appear on television only once per season.
* No member college shall be obligated to televise any of its games, home or away.
* Sponsors shall be "organizations of high standards that meet traditional college requirements of dignified presentation."
From: http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/NCAANewsArchive/1999/19991122/active/3624n30.html

Only 1 televised game per week might put more people in the stands.  Or, conversely, it could kill interest in the game to the point that no one cares enough to go see a game.  If you want to watch a game, it's a lot easier/cheaper to sit home and watch it on TV.  But, in my opinion, the allure of college football is the entire gameday experience, and you have to be there for that.

If a person on a day when the weather is not 65 and sunny can stay home and watch a game, why would a casual fan brave the elements to see a game?

Because there is more to the gameday experience than just a football game.  Ask any Bills fan in mid-winter.

The casual fan is not at a Bills game in mid-winter.  UB needs to be able draw in the casual fan to build up the base.  If they can stay home and watch they are not going to go.  This is why the NFL has a blackout rule.  It is also why I have advocated blacking out the ESPN home games in the dorms.

I honestly think blacking out local games under any circumstance is detrimental.  In fact, I think being on TV locally is crucial to the growth of UB.  From personal experience, those who give up being at the stadium in person for a video feed don't really care about football in general.  They are the people that sit on their hands and politely clap if UB scores.  I am not saying that they can't be won over, but blocking the game from being on TV means that they aren't going to be at the stadium or watching the game.  

People need to be shown that going to the game live is a much better experience than sitting on your couch.  I know outside of the True Blue section, the noise level and enthusiasm leaves much to be desired, but on the whole it is getting better.  I just fail to see how blocking local broadcasting of UB games helps.  Exposure is everything.  At the current point UB is at, the casual fan tends to forget about UB.  When fall comes, most football fans in Buffalo immediately think about the Bills, UB is an after thought at best.  This board is an exception to the rule.  Anything to get UB in their consciousness should be done.

For the record I hate the NFL's blackout rule.  Not once has a blackout made me go to the stadium and see a game.  Doing this alienates those who care about the teams involved but don't have the time or money to make it to the stadium.  

If a person on a day when the weather is not 65 and sunny can stay home and watch a game, why would a casual fan brave the elements to see a game?

Because there is more to the gameday experience than just a football game.  Ask any Bills fan in mid-winter.

And the Bills are pretty freakin tame compared to soouthern college football. We can't make excuses for poor turnout. People just neeed to realize that they can drink in our parking lots too.

I agree that blacking out the games locally would be a bad idea.  During a time when your actively trying to increase exposure, limiting that access would be anti productive.  The one thing I have noticed, is that alot of teenaged and high school aged kids, are paying more attention to UB football now.  If a game is easily seen by them on television, they are more apt to talk their parents in going out to see a game live.  Yes, they are kids, but they are a developing fanbase.

Another thing is that the ticket pricing structure is out of whack.  Individual game tickets are on sale and its $30 per seat/$10 for kids and seniors.  $30? for general admission seating.  A family of four, is looking at $80 dollars just to get in the game, add on consessions, $100.  Way too much, especially for bleacher endzone seating.  For one game they are paying almost 63% of my season ticket cost for 6 games.  Thats crazy.  Especially during a time when most house holds are struggling to make ends meet.  And its from this pool is where your wanting to attract the most fans.

Lastly, Im going to sound like a broken record here, and I know most people here hate WGR 550 because of their lack of UB coverage, but UB is doing itself a disservice by being on WECK.  This is by no means a shot at WECK, because they do a great job, but the signal isnt far reaching enough compared to WGR's.  I know there are a multitude of ways of tuning into WECK, but I'm talking the easier the better.  It doesnt even have to be WGR, it could be any station whose signal can be had, easily, by the WNY area.  WGR would make the most sense, only because they are the sport talk channel in this area, and if they carried UB athletics, I would think they are more apt to discuss them.  Especially when they have a time slot from 10am to 12 that could be opened up for UB discussion.  Plus, WGR has expanded into the Rochester market, which expands your exposure there as well.

I agree that blacking out the games locally would be a bad idea.  During a time when your actively trying to increase exposure, limiting that access would be anti productive.  The one thing I have noticed, is that alot of teenaged and high school aged kids, are paying more attention to UB football now.  If a game is easily seen by them on television, they are more apt to talk their parents in going out to see a game live.  Yes, they are kids, but they are a developing fanbase.

Another thing is that the ticket pricing structure is out of whack.  Individual game tickets are on sale and its $30 per seat/$10 for kids and seniors.  $30? for general admission seating.  A family of four, is looking at $80 dollars just to get in the game, add on consessions, $100.  Way too much, especially for bleacher endzone seating.  For one game they are paying almost 63% of my season ticket cost for 6 games.  Thats crazy.  Especially during a time when most house holds are struggling to make ends meet.  And its from this pool is where your wanting to attract the most fans.

Lastly, Im going to sound like a broken record here, and I know most people here hate WGR 550 because of their lack of UB coverage, but UB is doing itself a disservice by being on WECK.  This is by no means a shot at WECK, because they do a great job, but the signal isnt far reaching enough compared to WGR's.  I know there are a multitude of ways of tuning into WECK, but I'm talking the easier the better.  It doesnt even have to be WGR, it could be any station whose signal can be had, easily, by the WNY area.  WGR would make the most sense, only because they are the sport talk channel in this area, and if they carried UB athletics, I would think they are more apt to discuss them.  Especially when they have a time slot from 10am to 12 that could be opened up for UB discussion.  Plus, WGR has expanded into the Rochester market, which expands your exposure there as well.

On WECK/WGR

Yes WGR has a better signal but WECK actually talks about the Bulls mid week...

I agree that blacking out the games locally would be a bad idea.  During a time when your actively trying to increase exposure, limiting that access would be anti productive.  The one thing I have noticed, is that alot of teenaged and high school aged kids, are paying more attention to UB football now.  If a game is easily seen by them on television, they are more apt to talk their parents in going out to see a game live.  Yes, they are kids, but they are a developing fanbase.

Another thing is that the ticket pricing structure is out of whack.  Individual game tickets are on sale and its $30 per seat/$10 for kids and seniors.  $30? for general admission seating.  A family of four, is looking at $80 dollars just to get in the game, add on consessions, $100.  Way too much, especially for bleacher endzone seating.  For one game they are paying almost 63% of my season ticket cost for 6 games.  Thats crazy.  Especially during a time when most house holds are struggling to make ends meet.  And its from this pool is where your wanting to attract the most fans.

Lastly, Im going to sound like a broken record here, and I know most people here hate WGR 550 because of their lack of UB coverage, but UB is doing itself a disservice by being on WECK.  This is by no means a shot at WECK, because they do a great job, but the signal isnt far reaching enough compared to WGR's.  I know there are a multitude of ways of tuning into WECK, but I'm talking the easier the better.  It doesnt even have to be WGR, it could be any station whose signal can be had, easily, by the WNY area.  WGR would make the most sense, only because they are the sport talk channel in this area, and if they carried UB athletics, I would think they are more apt to discuss them.  Especially when they have a time slot from 10am to 12 that could be opened up for UB discussion.  Plus, WGR has expanded into the Rochester market, which expands your exposure there as well.

On WECK/WGR

Yes WGR has a better signal but WECK actually talks about the Bulls mid week...

Of course the only people that are hearing WECK talk Bulls are across the street from the studios.  LOL. 

Programming aside, Im looking at it from the standpoint of reaching the most people you possibly can easily, and WECK really doesnt provide that.  From the standpoint of a WNY sports fan, if your in your car driving somewhere, or working in the garage or your yard, most people will turn on the radio.  The more people that can tune onto the station, the better.  WGR reaches further than WECK.  Yes, WECK covers UB now, but it doesnt reach the same market size that WGR does.  Plus, you cant hold it against WGR that they dont talk UB, seeing that they dont carry the games and the advertising that goes along with it.  They really have no reason to.  If they did, Id imagine it would be different.

I mean no ill will towards WECK.  But just from my own experience.  After a game, Ill put on the post game show while Im driving home.  From the stadium to Niagara Falls, that relatively short drive, I will start losing the WECK signal by the time I cross Tonawanda Creek on Niagara Falls Blvd.  Its pretty frustrating.  Not because I cant hear it, but because I know that Niagara County (unless your in range of the Lockport channel UB simulcasts on) cant hear it.  Also, Ive had my brother ask me what radio channel UB games are on when he is out working afternoons, to be able to listen to the games, because he never seems to be able to find them when their on because of the poor signal.  Im not saying he himself is going to become a UB fan (he has come to a game before) but the others that are out there with the same problem.

If the coverage area that they are getting from WECK is acceptable for them, who am I to argue.  But there is more to be had.  And I hate the word "acceptable"

I agree that blacking out the games locally would be a bad idea.  During a time when your actively trying to increase exposure, limiting that access would be anti productive.  The one thing I have noticed, is that alot of teenaged and high school aged kids, are paying more attention to UB football now.  If a game is easily seen by them on television, they are more apt to talk their parents in going out to see a game live.  Yes, they are kids, but they are a developing fanbase.

Another thing is that the ticket pricing structure is out of whack.  Individual game tickets are on sale and its $30 per seat/$10 for kids and seniors.  $30? for general admission seating.  A family of four, is looking at $80 dollars just to get in the game, add on consessions, $100.  Way too much, especially for bleacher endzone seating.  For one game they are paying almost 63% of my season ticket cost for 6 games.  Thats crazy.  Especially during a time when most house holds are struggling to make ends meet.  And its from this pool is where your wanting to attract the most fans.

Lastly, Im going to sound like a broken record here, and I know most people here hate WGR 550 because of their lack of UB coverage, but UB is doing itself a disservice by being on WECK.  This is by no means a shot at WECK, because they do a great job, but the signal isnt far reaching enough compared to WGR's.  I know there are a multitude of ways of tuning into WECK, but I'm talking the easier the better.  It doesnt even have to be WGR, it could be any station whose signal can be had, easily, by the WNY area.  WGR would make the most sense, only because they are the sport talk channel in this area, and if they carried UB athletics, I would think they are more apt to discuss them.  Especially when they have a time slot from 10am to 12 that could be opened up for UB discussion.  Plus, WGR has expanded into the Rochester market, which expands your exposure there as well.

On WECK/WGR

Yes WGR has a better signal but WECK actually talks about the Bulls mid week...

WECK gives UB lots of love but nobody listens to them.  The latest ratings have WGR at a 3.7 and WECK at a 0.5.

PTR

Another thing is that the ticket pricing structure is out of whack.  Individual game tickets are on sale and its $30 per seat/$10 for kids and seniors.  $30? for general admission seating.  A family of four, is looking at $80 dollars just to get in the game, add on consessions, $100.  Way too much, especially for bleacher endzone seating.  For one game they are paying almost 63% of my season ticket cost for 6 games.  Thats crazy.  Especially during a time when most house holds are struggling to make ends meet.  And its from this pool is where your wanting to attract the most fans.

You are comparing apples and oranges.  You are looking at the cost of a family of four for one and comparing it to the cost of your season ticket.  If you multiply your cost by four that would make the one game experience about 16% of the cost of your ticket.  That would bring it exactly in line with your cost.  Each game is 16.67% of your full package.