Any sort of Fan Fest for ‘22?

[DoubleDee]

You’re all full of it. And yes, I know darn well you will say the same about me after this post.

Someone always says Dino doesn’t want it, or the spring game, and yet they always happen.

They have done both the spring game and fan fests for years. They did not give up the one to have the other.

It’s not because of Covid. They had the spring game months ago, before the cdc regs got lifted. And by the way, it was an amazing success.

And I agree with the argument that they continue to do the Orange Madness even though that too is an atrocity of an event. With limited turnout. And a stabbing thrown in.

For me personally, it doesn’t matter how many new tickets it sells. These events are the one thing that connects the fans to the teams through actual interactions. As a kid, or teen, when you rub elbows with someone, you have a better connection. I worked for me as a younger guy, and my now 13 year old is the same way. He has pics with McPherson, Dungey, Floyd, Zaire, etc etc. It matters. If it ain’t for you, don’t come.

And to use 1000 as a body count may be a little short. Maybe you were just using it for reference to ticket holders. But we all have seen bigger crowds as well. Mark Coyles first and maybe only fanfest was at the Manley facility. Free bbq to STH. Stations featuring the soccer teams for drills and signatures, and a soccer stadium with a darn good crowd. Good draws will come and go with the teams we field.

And I know being a member of this site, that plenty others here went to this thing EVERY year.

We will survive and still be die hard fans. But if you do it every year, some of us will miss it when it goes.

 

[JRHEETER]

I mean you’re not wrong

Our local high school has fan fest in the spring with all the sports athletes for them to meet the younger kids etc.

It is an awesome event and brings the community together.

It needs to happen next year with Syracuse

 

[Chip]

Losing a 14 year kid and future generations forever because fanfest isn't in the bloodstream is dramatic.

I can't speak for everyone's situation, but on the whole, I'd bet you lose 14 year old kids because of so many losing seasons. Not because the kid can't go to a vanilla practice, see Otto, and meet the players and coaches of the teams that keep losing more games than they win.

As Go said, it's probably better that they're not doing it this year. Dino isn't going to show much at these events, and wasting a valuable practice with such an important game 1 (and new offensive staff) doesn't sound like a great idea.

Beat Louisville, go to a bowl game, no one will ever remember that we didn't do a fan fest.

 

[DoubleDee]

I’d go so far to say they need to do the same event to kick off lax season. Mens and womens. Skills comps, shot radars, meet and greats etc. In this area there would be a ton of youth lacrosse players there.

 

[0.2 YNdeeR]

I’d go so far to say they need to do the same event to kick off lax season. Mens and womens. Skills comps, shot radars, meet and greats etc. In this area there would be a ton of youth lacrosse players there.

He's right. The die-hards want wins. But if there weren't other factors in attendance, most of us would have given up our ST's 10 years ago. Actually, for a struggling program, fan-Fests might be even more important than for a top-tier ACC team ... to hold onto STH's and connect to future fans. Meeting players was a lot more meaningful for my kids than the team's record.

 

[007]

You’re all full of it. And yes, I know darn well you will say the same about me after this post.

Someone always says Dino doesn’t want it, or the spring game, and yet they always happen.

They have done both the spring game and can feats for years. They did not give up the one to have the other.

It’s not because of Covid. They had the spring game months ago, before the cdc regs got lifted. And by the way, it was an amazing success.

And I agree with the argument that they continue to do the Orange Madness even though that too is an atrocity of an event. With limited turnout. And a stabbing thrown in.

For me personally, it doesn’t matter how many new tickets it sells. These events are the one thing that connects the fans to the teams through actual interactions. As a kid, or teen, when you rub elbows with someone, you have a better connection. I worked for me as a younger guy, and my now 13 year old is the same way. He has pics with McPherson, Dungey, Floyd, Zaire, etc etc. It matters. If it ain’t for you, don’t come.

And to use 1000 as a body count may be a little short. Maybe you were just using it for reference to ticket holders. But we all have seen bigger crowds as well. Mark Coyles first and maybe only gangway was at the Manley facility. Free bbq to STH. Stations featuring the soccer teams for drills and signatures, and a soccer stadium with a darn good crowd. Good draws will come and go with the teams we field.

And I know being a member of this site, that plenty others here went to this thing EVERY year.

We will survive and still be die hard fans. But if you do it every year, some of us will miss it when it goes.

How to Win Friends and Influence People: Start off any post to a fan board with "You're all full of it."

 

[007]

Let’s see if Dino has figured out more effective time management.

My understanding is that Beck is so adept at time management that Anae/Mendenhall allowed him to make those calls and manage end of game situations. Let's hope Dino does the same.

 

[SUbear]

My understanding is that Beck is so adept at time management that Anae/Mendenhall allowed him to make those calls and manage end of game situations. Let's hope Dino does the same.

Anyone but Dino, his skills in this area are non existent.

 

[baggerbob]

Anyone but Dino, his skills in this area are non existent.

As he has proven consistently.

 

[baggerbob]

As he has proven consistently.

When you don't tell your QB we are going for 2 before a TD which could have won the Wake Forest game.
That shows Dino shouldn't do anything on game days during the game but talk to the officials and encourage the players.

 

[rrlbees]

As he has proven consistently.

Really? How long has he been a HC? How long has he been the HC here?

 

[SUbear]

Really? How long has he been a HC? How long has he been the HC here?

Talking about Dino here so six going on seven.

 

[sufandu]

I can't speak for everyone's situation, but on the whole, I'd bet you lose 14 year old kids because of so many losing seasons. Not because the kid can't go to a vanilla practice, see Otto, and meet the players and coaches of the teams that keep losing more games than they win.

As Go said, it's probably better that they're not doing it this year. Dino isn't going to show much at these events, and wasting a valuable practice with such an important game 1 (and new offensive staff) doesn't sound like a great idea.

Beat Louisville, go to a bowl game, no one will ever remember that we didn't do a fan fest.

We're certainly losing young fans because of the losing, but doing whatever you can to reach out to the fanbase and make connections can mitigate some of that. 5 year olds don't even know if the team is good or bad, so sometimes letting them meet Otto and the players can plant seeds that take root in some of them. I think about fans of consistently bad NFL teams that have literally never known a winning a team. Connections can be established to some extent. Certainly winning makes it a lot easier.

 

[OburgOrange]

Do you know why they aren’t doing it?

So what’s the reason?

 

[Pyle]

That's incredibly dramatic.

The team needs to play in December and heaven forbid January. That's what matters.

This post is incredibly dramatic. FanFest didnt stop us from playing in December in 2018. It probably wasn't the reason we didn't play in Dec since either. It doesn't have to be an actual scrimmage. A few years back it was players walking around, some skill events for the fans/players and Dungey throwing balls into garbage cans. My kids got to put on the uniforms/helmets, got some free water bottles and had a blast. Seems like a no-brainer to build up support, especially when the results on the field are lacking.

 

[DoubleDee]

This post is incredibly dramatic. FanFest didnt stop us from playing in December in 2018. It probably wasn't the reason we didn't play in Dec since either. It doesn't have to be an actual scrimmage. A few years back it was players walking around, some skill events for the fans/players and Dungey throwing balls into garbage cans. My kids got to put on the uniforms/helmets, got some free water bottles and had a blast. Seems like a no-brainer to build up support, especially when the results on the field are lacking.

Yes, as worried as I was about how that particular fanfest would tun out, I was pleasantly surprised. Had a lot of fun. My kid a ton of pics and autographs, even met Brendon Bomberry who he was a big fan of at the time. And a free caricature for the boy.

Often people put all this weight on this event. "Boy oh boy the d-line looks a little weak" or "we're going bowling this year because we looked great". When in fact, it's all a dog and pony show that you can put no real faith in. Come out, have fun, eat garbage, and rub elbows. That's all.

 

[Bayside44]

This post is incredibly dramatic. FanFest didnt stop us from playing in December in 2018. It probably wasn't the reason we didn't play in Dec since either. It doesn't have to be an actual scrimmage. A few years back it was players walking around, some skill events for the fans/players and Dungey throwing balls into garbage cans. My kids got to put on the uniforms/helmets, got some free water bottles and had a blast. Seems like a no-brainer to build up support, especially when the results on the field are lacking.

I never doubted it was a nice thing for kids.

 

[Pyle]

I never doubted it was a nice thing for kids.

For dads too. I have many fond memories with my boys at those events. And maybe I'm being too emotional. I'm sending my oldest off to college in two days and my youngest doesn't want to go to games. I feel like a chapter has ended.

 

[Trueblue25]

The Athletic Department is paid to budget for, plan and execute events like a fan fest. Not just to reward season ticket holders, but also attract sponsorship and fundraising opportunities. Its not extra effort for the AD and football program, its part of their job description.

 

[OburgOrange]

For dads too. I have many fond memories with my boys at those events. And maybe I'm being too emotional. I'm sending my oldest off to college in two days and my youngest doesn't want to go to games. I feel like a chapter has ended.

I get it. My son called from Charleston SC yesterday, he’s coming up for September and October. First thing he asked is if there was going to be a fan fest

 

[upperdeck]

The Athletic Department is paid to budget for, plan and execute events like a fan fest. Not just to reward season ticket holders, but also attract sponsorship and fundraising opportunities. Its not extra effort for the AD and football program, its part of their job description.

I agree.. im just not sure that Fanfest really does either of those things. If you spend 100s of thousands and develop handfuls of STH is that value? If they did a better job of gathering data from it they would actually know what value it brings.

It does promote the program but if you wanted to do it more effectively it probably should be getting done in the spring season not the fall season with more coordination with the spring game. It would be less during a busy team for the team/coaches and the school year.

 

[Trueblue25]

I agree.. im just not sure that Fanfest really does either of those things. If you spend 100s of thousands and develop handfuls of STH is that value? If they did a better job of gathering data from it they would actually know what value it brings.

It does promote the program but if you wanted to do it more effectively it probably should be getting done in the spring season not the fall season with more coordination with the spring game. It would be less during a busy team for the team/coaches and the school year.

If they want to do it more effectively they should start winning imo.

I know thats harsh, but if we’re not winning and we’re not doing things to engage fans.. then whats going on here?

The spring game was awesome. I attended with non-season ticket holders.

 

[upperdeck]

If they want to do it more effectively they should start winning imo.

I know thats harsh, but if we’re not winning and we’re not doing things to engage fans.. then whats going on here?

The spring game was awesome. I attended with non-season ticket holders.

yeah Winning helps..

they should be doing more events with pre-registering so they have ticket counts and then scanning when people show up.. this provides better data on STH vs Non-STH and also shows how many follow thru and show up.

 

[Trueblue25]

yeah Winning helps..

they should be doing more events with pre-registering so they have ticket counts and then scanning when people show up.. this provides better data on STH vs Non-STH and also shows how many follow thru and show up.

In an era of NIL too, its an opportunity to raffle and sell player merchandise.

Even if it is season ticket holder families going… how many are walking away with player merch given the excuse to buy it?

 

[upperdeck]

In an era of NIL too, its an opportunity to raffle and sell player merchandise.

Even if it is season ticket holder families going… how many are walking away with player merch given the excuse to buy it?

not sure the school can even do that and sell players NIL stuff..