Building the Fan Base

[AppDawg]

The promotions department has zeroed in on trying to get kids involved with the Junior Mountaineer Kids Club and thus getting the adults to pay full-price for their tickets. So I think they've looked at demographics and decided that's the way to go. However I feel like it's not the right plan. It's a nice thing to do, but the lengths they've gone with it don't justify the means IMO.

I'm under the belief that the students are the high tide that raises all ships. If you have an energetic and loud student section for football and basketball, it'll bring in everyone else. I feel that the students have been neglected over the last two years and there's a lot of jaded minds on campus. They might not buy concessions or merch like the families, but they bring an energy and create an environment that you can't duplicate. And in the end, if you're an App fan and see the students care so much, it'll draw people in regardless of age and income level.

The Jr Mountaineer club does not require ticket purchases. You pay $25/child for an annual membership. That membership gets some perks like a tour of the lockerrom and on-field recognition for 1 game during the season. That is a promotion, for 1 game. While nice, not a long term solution to encouraging attendance at all games. I do however believe it is beneficial in "growing" future mountaineers and an important part of "succession planning."

I disagree about the student attendance for football, but agree with Basketball. Week-in and week-out the KBS student sections are packed. I don't want to come across as throwing the students under the bus with my nex comment, but their tuition includes an athletic fee. The athletic dept gets those funds regardless if a student attends or not. Its the paying fans that ultimately makes-or-breaks the budget of the athletic department. Put another way, the dollars generated from students is a known variable and can be budgeted. similarly, season ticket sales have a solid history and can be reasonably estimated. The unknown variable are the single game ticket sales. We need to refocus efforts there.

Once single game sales are strong, you then focus on converting those into season ticket sales.

[AppRy]

This would be a great way to get people involved at a lower cost to them, but it would also help build relationships by having them park together and sit together. As we all know half the fun of going to a game in Boone is seeing our old friends who we tailgate and sit with year after year. I'd probably limit the number of years people could participate as the whole point is to get them to grow in their giving.

Thinking out loud here but what about some type of incentive for alumni who get others to sign up. Something impactful and not just a token. Get someone to join Yosef... You get a discount, free tickets, or you get credit for their Yosef club points for the first year. Buy extra tickets for a game when you're a season ticket holder? There's a discount.

A few efforts to get our fans, especially the young professionals, to encourage friends to sign up or at least attend a few games a year.

[fjblair]

These ideas are swell but we don't have a problem with attendance or the fan base, we just need to keep winning.

[97grad]

These ideas are swell but we don't have a problem with attendance or the fan base, we just need to keep winning.

I'm not sure what the criteria is for a "problem" but if the seating chart is to be believed we could have the makings of one for this year. Which is disappointing given the way we finished things out last season. I get that the W-L records of late are certainly a likely culprit, but the point is how do we keep attendance up given that our performance through through the mid-2000s was likely an anomaly. For my part, I agree that some serious brand building would be nice. I hope to see some billboards as I'm making the drive from Raleigh this weekend, but I'm not holding my breath.

[97grad]

I agree with the ideas of the Yosef Club doing some events in the piedmont and even the triangle area. It might seem like a tough sell to come down here into the very heart of ACC country and the edge of ECU land, but there’s quite a few of us Mountaineers in the area, and I think a viewing party, or something along those lines would draw a decent crowd. I actually would love to see App fans take over a bar in the Raleigh area, and have viewing parties every Saturday.

Just an FYI, the Triangle Alumni Association chapter does do regular viewing parties: http://alumni.appstate.edu/events/series/2310

Yosef Club also does do the annual Spring Tour stop in Raleigh - if you've never been, you should check it out next April. It's a good event from my experience.

It would be cool if the alumni association chapters had some gatherings or tailgates in Boone on gamedays also. I think the viewing parties are great - but the point is to get up to the games

As an aside, I'm glad to see the Triangle chapter has some parties lined up for this year again. Ever since Blincos went under things have been pretty hit and miss. Given the number of alumni in the Triangle I haven't been overly impressed with the organizational capabilities of the chapter.

[ASUMountaineer]

I agree with the ideas of the Yosef Club doing some events in the piedmont and even the triangle area. It might seem like a tough sell to come down here into the very heart of ACC country and the edge of ECU land, but there’s quite a few of us Mountaineers in the area, and I think a viewing party, or something along those lines would draw a decent crowd. I actually would love to see App fans take over a bar in the Raleigh area, and have viewing parties every Saturday.

Just an FYI, the Triangle Alumni Association chapter does do regular viewing parties: http://alumni.appstate.edu/events/series/2310

Yosef Club also does do the annual Spring Tour stop in Raleigh - if you've never been, you should check it out next April. It's a good event from my experience.

It would be cool if the alumni association chapters had some gatherings or tailgates in Boone on gamedays also. I think the viewing parties are great - but the point is to get up to the games

As an aside, I'm glad to see the Triangle chapter has some parties lined up for this year again. Ever since Blincos went under things have been pretty hit and miss. Given the number of alumni in the Triangle I haven't been overly impressed with the organizational capabilities of the chapter.

The issue I've uncovered with this, serving on an alumni chapter leadership board, is that there is no guaranteed spot on campus to conduct the tailgate, other than the McKinney Alumni Center across from Holmes. Duck Pond Field, other than Homecoming, is essentially reserved for Greeks. With parking divvied up by donation levels, it leaves you with finding open patches of grass on a first-come/first-serve basis which makes it difficult. We're still mulling the idea of McKinney though.

[clayton]

We could do a better job marketing to the under-35 crowd. A large chunk of these alumni were students when the team won national championships and they have very positive memories.

The video teams have been doing a great job sharing videos on Twitter and Instagram. https://twitter.com/AppState_FB

But, most of those videos aren't on Facebook (where there are a lot more people).
https://www.facebook.com/AppStateFootball

Its all about building excitement. Those videos are a lot more exciting than alumni events and luncheons.

I also like the regional based ideas (specifically owning western NC).

[T-Dog]

When I do Underdog Dynasty pieces, they get A LOT more traffic on Facebook than Twitter. So I agree with marketing on Facebook, even though it's not as cool.

[EastHallApp]

[
The Jr Mountaineer club does not require ticket purchases. You pay $25/child for an annual membership. That membership gets some perks like a tour of the lockerrom and on-field recognition for 1 game during the season. That is a promotion, for 1 game. While nice, not a long term solution to encouraging attendance at all games. I do however believe it is beneficial in "growing" future mountaineers and an important part of "succession planning."

Exactly. I think looking at the Jr. Mountaineer Club as a program to drive attendance misses the point. I would think its primary purpose is more long-term: to get kids familiar with, and attached to, Appalachian early, so that when they start thinking about college choices App is near the front of their minds and Boone already feels comfortable. That's why they take the marketing "off the mountain," I would assume.

[ASUMountaineer]

Yup. I hate Facebook, but everybody and their mother (literally) is on there. The reach on Facebook is vastly higher than on Twitter--despite Twitter being superior.

[AppDawg]

We could do a better job marketing to the under-35 crowd. A large chunk of these alumni were students when the team won national championships and they have very positive memories.

The video teams have been doing a great job sharing videos on Twitter and Instagram. https://twitter.com/AppState_FB

But, most of those videos aren't on Facebook (where there are a lot more people).
https://www.facebook.com/AppStateFootball

Its all about building excitement. Those videos are a lot more exciting than alumni events and luncheons.

I also like the regional based ideas (specifically owning western NC).

I fall into the named demographic though was in school prior to the great run. I am old school - not on facebook or twitter. I receive e-mails from alumni association, yosef and Athletic department. The amount of communications I received for the clemson game have far outweighed the game this weekend. Its great we are setting up a pre-game tailgate and evening before gathering at an AWAY game, but I'd like to see the same amount of effort given to get folks up the mountain for a HOME game. In my opinion, this weekend is an opportunity missed for the "perfect storm."

The perfect storm being - a home game on opening weekend, a long weekend to boot. A chance to "rekindle" the flame with all those that walked away due to Jerry Moore leaving via celebrating his and AE's induction into the Hall of Fame, also a chance to celebrate the 10 year annisversary of the 1st Natty C. It boggles my mind how the marketing department has completely let this opportunity pass by.

[JTApps1]

I agree with the ideas of the Yosef Club doing some events in the piedmont and even the triangle area. It might seem like a tough sell to come down here into the very heart of ACC country and the edge of ECU land, but there’s quite a few of us Mountaineers in the area, and I think a viewing party, or something along those lines would draw a decent crowd. I actually would love to see App fans take over a bar in the Raleigh area, and have viewing parties every Saturday.

Just an FYI, the Triangle Alumni Association chapter does do regular viewing parties: http://alumni.appstate.edu/events/series/2310

Yosef Club also does do the annual Spring Tour stop in Raleigh - if you've never been, you should check it out next April. It's a good event from my experience.

It would be cool if the alumni association chapters had some gatherings or tailgates in Boone on gamedays also. I think the viewing parties are great - but the point is to get up to the games

As an aside, I'm glad to see the Triangle chapter has some parties lined up for this year again. Ever since Blincos went under things have been pretty hit and miss. Given the number of alumni in the Triangle I haven't been overly impressed with the organizational capabilities of the chapter.

The issue I've uncovered with this, serving on an alumni chapter leadership board, is that there is no guaranteed spot on campus to conduct the tailgate, other than the McKinney Alumni Center across from Holmes. Duck Pond Field, other than Homecoming, is essentially reserved for Greeks. With parking divvied up by donation levels, it leaves you with finding open patches of grass on a first-come/first-serve basis which makes it difficult. We're still mulling the idea of McKinney though.

What about Sanford Mall? It could be similar to the Grove at Ole Miss.

[ASUMountaineer]

I agree with the ideas of the Yosef Club doing some events in the piedmont and even the triangle area. It might seem like a tough sell to come down here into the very heart of ACC country and the edge of ECU land, but there’s quite a few of us Mountaineers in the area, and I think a viewing party, or something along those lines would draw a decent crowd. I actually would love to see App fans take over a bar in the Raleigh area, and have viewing parties every Saturday.

Just an FYI, the Triangle Alumni Association chapter does do regular viewing parties: http://alumni.appstate.edu/events/series/2310

Yosef Club also does do the annual Spring Tour stop in Raleigh - if you've never been, you should check it out next April. It's a good event from my experience.

It would be cool if the alumni association chapters had some gatherings or tailgates in Boone on gamedays also. I think the viewing parties are great - but the point is to get up to the games

As an aside, I'm glad to see the Triangle chapter has some parties lined up for this year again. Ever since Blincos went under things have been pretty hit and miss. Given the number of alumni in the Triangle I haven't been overly impressed with the organizational capabilities of the chapter.

The issue I've uncovered with this, serving on an alumni chapter leadership board, is that there is no guaranteed spot on campus to conduct the tailgate, other than the McKinney Alumni Center across from Holmes. Duck Pond Field, other than Homecoming, is essentially reserved for Greeks. With parking divvied up by donation levels, it leaves you with finding open patches of grass on a first-come/first-serve basis which makes it difficult. We're still mulling the idea of McKinney though.

What about Sanford Mall? It could be similar to the Grove at Ole Miss.

I asked about that, but there are currently no plans. I personally think it would work well, and could be a place for alumni to gather, with the Alumni Association set up in the middle similar to Homecoming. Maybe I'll bring it up again once we get our chapter fully established.

[AppDawg]

The issue I've uncovered with this, serving on an alumni chapter leadership board, is that there is no guaranteed spot on campus to conduct the tailgate, other than the McKinney Alumni Center across from Holmes...,

What about Sanford Mall? It could be similar to the Grove at Ole Miss.

I asked about that, but there are currently no plans. I personally think it would work well, and could be a place for alumni to gather, with the Alumni Association set up in the middle similar to Homecoming. Maybe I'll bring it up again once we get our chapter fully established.

The Firm I use to work for had an annual alumni tailgate. It allowed alumni of App and alumni/current employees of the Firm and college students who were recruits of the firm to come together and have some fun. They use to be able to rent space in the grass area in front of Wey Hall. They also held it one year by Touchdown Yosef. They had commercial tents and all. I find it odd the school won't let an alumni association chapter do the same.

[Appsolutely]

Contact all alumni who are not currently giving to the Yosef Club. Vary the method (e-mail, snail-mail, telephone) and the message. Repeat regularly.

I have direct knowledge of an alum who graduated four to five years ago. He has yet to receive any correspondence from the Yosef Club since he graduated. I hope this is an anomaly, but I am concerned that it isn't. You don't ask...you don't get...simple as that.

[T-Dog]

I believe promotions have tried to get people up the mountain this weekend, but there's obviously a disconnect because there's a large number of tickets remaining. Maybe it has something to do with the neglect from the previous regime? Maybe ESPN3.com is hurting more than we realize? Around every home game, there's a number of people on here asking how can they stream the game from their Roku/PS4/XBox/PC/etc to their TV.

I think something that'll help is to offer a deal with a parking pass and game tickets? We all know how awful parking is around town. I know Yosef Club offers guaranteed parking, but numbered parking is $1,000 and up. The Town of Boone doesn't want game-goers to take up their parking so the options are even-more limited.

TailgateAtTheRock.com is supposedly "revamped". The parking map link is broken and has "coming soon" over it. It's three days before the first game. The only parking map is in the fan guide, several pages in, turned 90 degrees with no options to turn the document so you have to flip your monitor to see it. That's the only updated gameday parking map on the entire website.

[AppDawg]

I believe promotions have tried to get people up the mountain this weekend, but there's obviously a disconnect because there's a large number of tickets remaining.

And I think this is the disconnect. See, you live in Boone. What you see, hear and know via going on campus and visiting local businesses in and around Town is very much different from folks like me who live 3 hours away. We di have a good LOCAL engagement program and it is easy for me to see how folks who live in Boone and those that are part of the marketing department can lose sight of the bigger picture. They are probably pattiing themseleves on the back because everywhere they go they see support or an advertisement for the upcoming season. When in reality, Off the mountain it has been very much Crickets. The saying "Out of sight, out of mind" comes to mind.

I can't help but connect the dots, that our highest attendance years also coincinced with us having billboards plastered up and down highway 40 from Asheville all the way down towards Wilmington. I know a lot of that was donated, but I think it would be a very good investment to put those up again. We need to announce to the world we are FBS and we have great things going on in Boone.

[97grad]

I believe promotions have tried to get people up the mountain this weekend, but there's obviously a disconnect because there's a large number of tickets remaining.

And I think this is the disconnect. See, you live in Boone. What you see, hear and know via going on campus and visiting local businesses in and around Town is very much different from folks like me who live 3 hours away. We di have a good LOCAL engagement program and it is easy for me to see how folks who live in Boone and those that are part of the marketing department can lose sight of the bigger picture. They are probably pattiing themseleves on the back because everywhere they go they see support or an advertisement for the upcoming season. When in reality, Off the mountain it has been very much Crickets. The saying "Out of sight, out of mind" comes to mind.

I can't help but connect the dots, that our highest attendance years also coincinced with us having billboards plastered up and down highway 40 from Asheville all the way down towards Wilmington. I know a lot of that was donated, but I think it would be a very good investment to put those up again. We need to announce to the world we are FBS and we have great things going on in Boone.

This. As I have said before it is very frustrating to live in the Triangle as an Appalachian fan. You'd never know it had the 2nd highest concentration of alumni anywhere.

[AppDawg]

I believe promotions have tried to get people up the mountain this weekend, but there's obviously a disconnect because there's a large number of tickets remaining.

And I think this is the disconnect. See, you live in Boone. What you see, hear and know via going on campus and visiting local businesses in and around Town is very much different from folks like me who live 3 hours away. We di have a good LOCAL engagement program and it is easy for me to see how folks who live in Boone and those that are part of the marketing department can lose sight of the bigger picture. They are probably pattiing themseleves on the back because everywhere they go they see support or an advertisement for the upcoming season. When in reality, Off the mountain it has been very much Crickets. The saying "Out of sight, out of mind" comes to mind.

I can't help but connect the dots, that our highest attendance years also coincinced with us having billboards plastered up and down highway 40 from Asheville all the way down towards Wilmington. I know a lot of that was donated, but I think it would be a very good investment to put those up again. We need to announce to the world we are FBS and we have great things going on in Boone.

This. As I have said before it is very frustrating to live in the Triangle as an Appalachian fan. You'd never know it had the 2nd highest concentration of alumni anywhere.

I'll add to it, we need a full time radio station in the Triangle. Not split game coverage/blackouts whenever anything Duke is on. Another example is this new coaches show, western North Carolina and Charlotte and and Charlotte are covered, but nothing in the triangle.

[T-Dog]

I can see that. In the times I've been off the mountain this summer, the only billboards I saw for App State Football were on 321 N just past Lenoir before getting to Blowing Rock and between Boone and Blowing Rock, plus 421 E in Wilkesboro and right outside Boone. While it's nice to have them, those are within a 30-mile radius of campus and I didn't see anything else down 321 to Gastonia or 421 to Winston-Salem.