A&T is asking fans for advice on attendance

[aahhbigboy]

Yeah Dooms, I know that you probably are going to the games , but your statements seem to be out of touch a bit. Any entrepreneur (I've never used my degree) will tell you that you make your living satisfying your current customers (demographic) and keep them and their friends coming back. People know Duke because of the cats acting crazy across from the bench, not the old people and parents behind the bench. Now don't get me wrong, we do need us (alumni, donors, etc) to stay happy, but they love "sit down" when people foul out. They love to see the younger kids having a great time. Trust me, they aren't there to see us win, so we have to get this out. lol That youtube clip with that cat fouling out did more marketing for our games than any sports marketing director and that is pathetic. It doesn't matter what side you're viewing this from. Dang, there's something right there. Create a youtube profile for the games and feature the different happenings. Get alumni to subscribe around the world to stay in touch while blasting it on campus and aggienation.com. No "real" money needed, but money will come in.

And I just thought about that while I was typing. There is no excuse for the current level of promotion.

Sorry.

[Aggie77]

I sure got a different vibe from this conversation than you did and it appears to be less so-called “cutting” (except between you and 'thrilla) than on most threads (just ask aahhbigboy), surely you aren’t suggesting that we stop the so called “cutting”, that would eliminate some of your posts, wouldn’t it? What I’m really surprised at is the personal level of defense you exhibit here, are you also in the “it’s to hard” camp? What ideas in the thread have been presented other than why it can’t be done, or why it wasn’t done? Granted Anthony Hamilton was an attempted, but apparently I’m not in his demographics range.

Let’s start there what is the demographic we are tying to reach? Is our marketing plan wrapped around an “Anthony Hamilton” demographic?

Having worked at one the most bureaucratic universities in the nation I understand the obstacles to change when multiple department's support is needed, that and money is the reason I’m elsewhere. But success and change can and does happen. The first step for the Change Agent is to stop it with the excuses.

[Bornthrilla]

I think we are getting off topic a little bit here.

The point is not to argue about the merit of specific marketing ideas, per se. The point is to find out WHAT MARKETING IDEAS DOES A&T CURRENTLY HAVE?

[Bornthrilla]

Man, you gotta love the A&T fan forum.

Where else in the world can you have these type of conversations?

[makingmoves]

Feb 4, 2009 9:01:47 GMT -5 Bornthrilla said:

Can't give you 5 currently. What I can give you is that some things are in the works, but just as you didn't fully disclose ncatdawgpound.com until it was ready to roll out, these things will be disclosed when ready as well.

Now that is pretty disheartening.

You mean to tell me that you can sit here and give us the King James version on how and why it's so difficult to accomplish things at A&T ... but at the same time you can't even give us just (5) small examples of how the university is currently marketing and promoting its athletic teams and working to get fans excited?

Are you serious? If that's indeed the case why do we even have a sports marketing department? What is the duties of our sports marketing department and what type of goals are they trying to meet. I think these are honest questions that we should ask BEFORE the new marketing director was hired. This issues are not related to Joya Cook ... these are issues that encompass our entire athletic department.

I honestly don't understand why A&T is not breaking its neck to get the word out about what it is currently doing to get fans excited. Even if is a long range goal or pipe dream, it still would ...*drum roll* ....GET FANS EXCITED.

I can understand wanting to play some things in life "close to the vest", but sports marketing is not one of them. We need to be standing on top of the tallest mountain with a bullhorn in our hand.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but fans get excited when their team is winning... I would venture to say that the school probably isn't as interested in getting "go-to" fans excited about the athletic programs as they are in getting winning teams so that the dollars can start rolling in to help support them.

Right now, everything ,everywhere, is about money and budgets-that's at T and across the country. You can plaster A&T all over the current fanbase, but if what's happening isn't creating any new revenue, it doesn't matter. You're just trying to recycle and stretch the same dollars. Is that smart?

Also, be clear that the "Sports Marketing Department" encompasses ONE person, as does most of the Athletic Departments. So although this may not be about Cook, but again, NOBODY was in that position for almost a year! So who should have been handling it in the meantime?

Besides, you asked for "innovative" things, but I guess that's subjective. I can name 5 things, but not necessarily "innovative"... to me.

[DOOMS]

When doesn’t a post get off-topic?

77, I’m pretty curious as to what personal level of defense I was engaged in? Please enlighten me, and make sure you quote me. If you mean I’m appearing to take the school’s side, I am, but only to help people see the other side. Not because I actually agree. I think anything is as possible as people believe it is.

I re-post because people miss things:

Feb 4, 2009 11:52:40 GMT -5 DOOMS said:

I have to say, I think this debate is an excellent illustration of what I said when I asked if people really believed their goals were the school’s goals.

Thrilla, you are arguing for ways to appease the current fan base and get some more of the same demographic in there that has generally already spent their money whether they come to the game or not. Or at best they are paying student admission and sharing a drink. I’m looking at making some money and not spending any extra money. Which way do you think the school looks at it?

Of course it makes sense to make sure the students are going to keep coming. But if you’re trying to make money now and you already have their money whether they come or not… I’m speaking from what I would expect the school’s viewpoint to be.

I have noticed that many of what I have thought were excellent ideas that were put forth on this message board never ever ever got past this message board. I decided to start asking myself why. All I’m doing here is playing devil’s advocate and taking the side of the argument nobody wants to take. When I factor in a few things (including my own experience at begging the school to take my money) I start to realize why things are so backwards. I’m not so much agreeing with the bureaucracy as trying to understand it by pretending I am it or a part of it.

77 I wholeheartedly agree that the first step for the Change Agent is to stop it with the excuses. The problem is two-fold. Who is the personified Change Agent? And who does he report to that’s going to keep him from achieving whatever for whatever reason. You have to tackle that too.

When I was trying to raise money I went straight to Renick. He came straight back to me. As a result I ended up with a monetary fund named after me for a graduate program that ended up losing all other funding and eventually not happening. Where did my money go? Where did the money of the people who I got to give to the fund go? I still have no answer for that 10 full years later, and I don’t even know who’s accountable.

My point here is we can take it to Battle but once it leaves his hands? We can take it to Wheels but what if the Board has to ok one piece of what we try to do?

It’s not an easy process, especially when you don’t have anybody who’s directly involved in any part of the process whatsoever.

[Bornthrilla]

Also, be clear that the "Sports Marketing Department" encompasses ONE person, as does most of the Athletic Departments. So although this may not be about Cook, but again, NOBODY was in that position for almost a year! So who should have been handling it in the meantime?

Now that is something we can agree on.

Why in the world did we leave the sports marketing director position unfilled for an entire year?

Just typing that on my keyboard makes me cringe.

[Bornthrilla]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but fans get excited when their team is winning... I would venture to say that the school probably isn't as interested in getting "go-to" fans excited about the athletic programs as they are in getting winning teams so that the dollars can start rolling in to help support them.

Hmmm. That might explain why the sports marketing position was left unfilled for an entire year.

[makingmoves]

Feb 4, 2009 13:29:30 GMT -5 Bornthrilla said:

Also, be clear that the "Sports Marketing Department" encompasses ONE person, as does most of the Athletic Departments. So although this may not be about Cook, but again, NOBODY was in that position for almost a year! So who should have been handling it in the meantime?

Now that is something we can agree on.

Why in the world did we leave the sports marketing director position unfilled for an entire year?

Just typing that on my keyboard makes me cringe.

Sorry, can't answer that one Thrilla- wasn't on the search committee.

[SixtiesAggie]

Money is a major issue for the school. There are so many competing forces: Foundation, Colleges, Schools, Depts., Athletics, Band, Theatre, etc.. Since a donor can designate where his or her money goes, why not ask on the donation form that each person consider donating a small (or however much they would like to give) portion or at least $25 to athletics. This would only be by choice.

[makingmoves]

That option is available on the Development website: horus.ncat.edu:9096/pls/PROD/bwzkadcd.P_DispPersInfo

[currentevent]

Jan 29, 2009 13:04:20 GMT -5 captaggie said:

We do have the manpower, via a partnership between the Athletic and Business Departments. What you described Thrilla would be a project for a junior/senior business major to apply marketing practices. Prepare and deliver their results via a formal report/presentation to WB & JC. WB/JC could potentially use the report to solicit sponsorship from local businesses. The student(s) would use the same report during interviews as an example of business knowledge.

I proposed this idea to Davis when he was AD and he brushed it aside. I still feel it viable.

This can definately be done, in my IMC(Intergrated Marketing Communications) class we are currently working on a marketing strategy for the School of Education to increase its enrollment and awarness. This is someting that students in this class do every year, in the pass they have strategized for the C.I.A., 3M, Bill Black Chevrolet so it can easily be done. So who ever the powers that be are need to get in touch with someone in the business department.

[makingmoves]

Dooms, thanks for playing the enlighted side.

[pj]

Fam, this is a good thread. I don’t want it to die just yet.

Here is a bit more. As far as the entertainers are concerned, many of them/their agents owe us favors from past homecomings. And besides…they are not working That much.
(I’m not talking about when they are on tour) Think about it ( for the NC market). Its only RDU, Gboro or Charlotte…unless one does a private gig for Duke or someone. Even the cast members from a hot show have finished taping and are looking for gigs. They can come and sign books or pics., in conjunction with the local TV station, that airs the show.

Basketball
At the door:
> $2.00 off coupons from Granny’s
> Free Refrig.magnets of the football/basketball schedules
> $1.00 off of a G'boro Bats game this season
> Food bank night
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During the time-outs:
> Give some league scores
> Recognize a celeb or special person in attendance
>Announce the Women's score & individual achievement ( MEAC player of the week...ect)
> Announce the other team's activities (Tennis- Swimming indoor track ect)
> Name that tune for a coupon at the "Sit- in." or a gas card
> Aggie Idol sing-off competition- $10.00 bookstore coupon
> Young Aggie Engineer (kids) put together a Sponsors Puzzle
>Young Aggie Athlete (kids) Free throw shooting or dribbling thru an obstacle of cones for a Pair for sneakers from a sponsor

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Themes for the Game:
> High school night
> Winter Homecoming weekend along with team reunions/recognitions ( props to ESCU)

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Where do the Football vendors go during BB season? Cut a few of them a deal for the lobby.
Do something in the cafe.
Do something with the League promoting the upcoming tourney in Winston...quick fast & in a hurry!

Lastly, I know that you guys care about A&T. I think about the rest of the league….they are down, or not as good in attendence as us, and we are doing this on the fly! I saw HIU do a Breast Cancer /Kay Yow/ Screening on site, type game. But hell, we, and the league needs help fast. Otherwise, the local dock-worker who balls with his boys on the weekend, will not attend a game or the tourney. If we do not have a "Marvin Webster", or "Bobby Dandridge" type player who's rep. precedes Him. We must create one. Doesn’t Brit. T- James deserve a big picture somewhere? I dont mean a "King James side of the building" type of banner, but some hype somewhere!...facing Market street.