Changes

[cusestudent]

What would you guys like to see change around the program in the future? Not in the sense of talent or the game itself, but such thing as the junior day, press conferences, fan events, etc. I don't want this to be another NYC thread, but I'm it will again be a big issue. What are the board's ideas as to what the program can do to better accommodate the fans? How about market the program? Any crazy ideas for recruit visits?

 

[SU2NASA]

- Hold Junior Day for a big weekend primetime basketball game.
- Actually have a Signing Day event.
- Do a traveling event around the state like an "OrangeFest" that goes to Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, NYC, etc.
- Have Coach Marrone make appearances to speak in areas with high alumni concentrations like D.C.
- Take the damn S off the helmet and change the facemasks back to blue.
- Orangemen.
- Bring back the Saltine Warrior.
- Renovate the dome to modern standards including HD video boards and adding on an atrium on the north side.
- Play only night games.

And as always, become insanely corrupt and bring back the old dome turf.

 

[Whitey23]

- Hold Junior Day for a big weekend primetime basketball game.
- Actually have a Signing Day event.
- Do a traveling event around the state like an "OrangeFest" that goes to Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, NYC, etc.
- Have Coach Marrone make appearances to speak in areas with high alumni concentrations like D.C.
- Take the damn S off the helmet and change the facemasks back to blue.
- Orangemen.
- Bring back the Saltine Warrior.
- Renovate the dome to modern standards including HD video boards and adding on an atrium on the north side.
- Play only night games.

And as always, become insanely corrupt and bring back the old dome turf.

Co-sign all of these.

 

[NovaOrange]

I only have one idea SU needs to get a fax girl that is hotter then Bama's and go live with her for signing day

 

[OrangePA]

- Hold Junior Day for a big weekend primetime basketball game.
- Actually have a Signing Day event.
- Do a traveling event around the state like an "OrangeFest" that goes to Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, NYC, etc.
- Have Coach Marrone make appearances to speak in areas with high alumni concentrations like D.C.
- Take the damn S off the helmet and change the facemasks back to blue.
- Orangemen.
- Bring back the Saltine Warrior.
- Renovate the dome to modern standards including HD video boards and adding on an atrium on the north side.
- Play only night games.

And as always, become insanely corrupt and bring back the old dome turf.

Wow.

I agree with everything noted.

Good list.

 

[mountaincuse]

Wow.

I agree with everything noted.

Good list.

Agreed, nice list.

Believe one of the video boards is being replaced with a larger, HD one soon. Also hear the ribbon boards are soon to be installed.

 

[OrangeAl]

... bring back the old dome turf.

Okay, what's wrong with our field turf? I thought it was an improvement.

 

[SU2NASA]

Okay, what's wrong with our field turf? I thought it was an improvement.

The old turf is going to give us a good advantage when we go back to the freeze option.

 

[OttoForLife]

I'll admit, this is one of my favorite topics to gripe about being a marketer.

Good ideas above, but let me add this: the program needs to win over the students first. The atmosphere in the Dome is almost always good when the students are there, are loud and give a . If you win them over, the place will be a better experience and more fans will come. With a bit of luck, that will help the product on the field.

 

[Moontan]

The atmosphere in the Dome is almost always good when the students are there, are loud and give a ****.

Two things will help do that:

1. No noon games. 3:30, 7:00 & 8:00 are much more student-friendly.

2. Win. Students like to know that the team has a chance to win.

 

[OttoForLife]

Two things will help do that:

1. No noon games. 3:30, 7:00 & 8:00 are much more student-friendly.

2. Win. Students like to know that the team has a chance to win.

The idea of noon games not being good for students is horse . You ever see the line at an Apple store at 3am the day of a new product release? Extreme example, but that's how you have to think.

Give the kids a good enough reason to make the games a priority, and they'll show up whenever the hell they kickoff.

 

[Moontan]

The Apple Store comparison is, of course, ridiculous. That's a better comparison for waiting for the sale of non-general-admission season hoops tickets like we had in the day.

If the game experience is considered to be fun or a must event then you'd expect the student attendance to improve. For comparison, check out student attendance for noon hoops games against the least attractive opponents. I suspect they're a lot lower than they'd be for the same opponent in a night game. Noon games against the likes of GT, 'nova, Yukon, etc. do a lot better than noon against Fordham, Iona, Sienna, etc..

 

[Scooch]

Suggesting kickoff times is ridiculous. Almost all of them are completely out of SU's hands.

It worries me that people don't understand that.

 

[MattyL]

I think the gameday atmosphere is in need of a major overhaul. I'm talking about what takes place in the dome from introductions and throughout the game.

We currently have:
- WAY too many advertisements, which are absolute buzz kills during big moments of the game
- an outdated pregame video with a horrible sound system. On top of that the team running out before the video ends. It's the small things that can make major improvements. The timing of the intro last year was putrid.
- a student section that still shakes keys.
- a crowd that mostly fills the upper endzones, but inside the 20's it's silver with pockets of orange.

Changes I'd like to see (note: these changes are heavily focued on the interests of 18-30 year olds. I believe this age group is important as future season ticket holders, donors, lifelong fans. plus, if the 18-30 year olds are having a blast, everyone else probably is too.)

- limit the video media advertisements during timeouts. instead, play popular/upbeat/modern music that the college kids want to hear. do this all game long. put the cameras on the students and let them dance/sing/let loose. this will carry the noise and energy even through the down time. EXAMPLE: for those of you at this Saturdays hoops game, pay attention to the students during timeouts. not too much going on. however, during the 2nd half, near the under 4 minute TO, the dome will play an upbeat techno song. i guarantee you'll see a major difference. the kids go ape-sh**!

- 3 years ago i went to the game at Pitt. i loved their team intro. first, play a new video that respects are tremendous football history, but also has current players saying things to get fans hyped. then, i want to have a live camera feed in front of the team as they exit the locker room, walk the tunnel, then get fired up at the edge of the field. seeing the players get amped will get the crowd amped.

- since attendance remains a problem, i have a solution to make it look better on tv. as stated above, the crowd is most prominent in the upper endzone because people are buying those cheaper tix, then thins out inside the 20's. this looks awful on tv. i think they should cover the upper endzone seats with a tarp so nobody sits there. those fans should be sold tickets from corner to corner, to fill in seats noticeable on tv. they already have a tarp on the opposite end of the dome during hoops games. that's where i got the idea. at least the tarps add more orange and blue and packs the fans into better spots. when we get back to selling more seats, remove the tarps and sell them again.

sorry this was so long. go cuse!

 

[cusestudent]

The idea of noon games not being good for students is horse ****. You ever see the line at an Apple store at 3am the day of a new product release? Extreme example, but that's how you have to think.

Give the kids a good enough reason to make the games a priority, and they'll show up whenever the hell they kickoff.

Bad comparison because students already have time to drink before 3 am whereas a noon game would constrict that. I'm not advocating student drinking, but it seems when students know they'll have time to pre-game before had then they show up in droves (i.e. Wake Forest). I realize we have no say in the time of day we play but it would need to be around 4 to really bring the students out. The hardest thing about catering to students at SU is that many will relocate to other areas of the country once they graduate since Syracuse isn't exactly a high profile area in the job market.

 

[atcar]

I think the gameday atmosphere is in need of a major overhaul. I'm talking about what takes place in the dome from introductions and throughout the game.

We currently have:
- WAY too many advertisements, which are absolute buzz kills during big moments of the game
- an outdated pregame video with a horrible sound system. On top of that the team running out before the video ends. It's the small things that can make major improvements. The timing of the intro last year was putrid.
- a student section that still shakes keys.
- a crowd that mostly fills the upper endzones, but inside the 20's it's silver with pockets of orange.

Changes I'd like to see (note: these changes are heavily focued on the interests of 18-30 year olds. I believe this age group is important as future season ticket holders, donors, lifelong fans. plus, if the 18-30 year olds are having a blast, everyone else probably is too.)

- limit the video media advertisements during timeouts. instead, play popular/upbeat/modern music that the college kids want to hear. do this all game long. put the cameras on the students and let them dance/sing/let loose. this will carry the noise and energy even through the down time. EXAMPLE: for those of you at this Saturdays hoops game, pay attention to the students during timeouts. not too much going on. however, during the 2nd half, near the under 4 minute TO, the dome will play an upbeat techno song. i guarantee you'll see a major difference. the kids go ape-sh**!

- 3 years ago i went to the game at Pitt. i loved their team intro. first, play a new video that respects are tremendous football history, but also has current players saying things to get fans hyped. then, i want to have a live camera feed in front of the team as they exit the locker room, walk the tunnel, then get fired up at the edge of the field. seeing the players get amped will get the crowd amped.

- since attendance remains a problem, i have a solution to make it look better on tv. as stated above, the crowd is most prominent in the upper endzone because people are buying those cheaper tix, then thins out inside the 20's. this looks awful on tv. i think they should cover the upper endzone seats with a tarp so nobody sits there. those fans should be sold tickets from corner to corner, to fill in seats noticeable on tv. they already have a tarp on the opposite end of the dome during hoops games. that's where i got the idea. at least the tarps add more orange and blue and packs the fans into better spots. when we get back to selling more seats, remove the tarps and sell them again.

sorry this was so long. go cuse!

I like my upper endzone seats behind the goal post.

 

[Moontan]

Suggesting kickoff times is ridiculous. Almost all of them are completely out of SU's hands.

It worries me that people don't understand that.

Yes, we understand... to a degree*.

The question was:

What are the board's ideas as to what the program can do to better accommodate the fans?

The honest answer is that most would prefer afternoon or evening games.

When you're in a league of only 7 or 8 teams, the chances of having to fill a noon TV obligation is greater than if you're in a league of 12 or 14 teams. Hopefully, the move to the ACC will reduce the number of noon kickoff times... even if it's only by one or two a season.

* the hope is that a winning program would be more attractive for TV and, as such, possibly allow some influence of kick-off times. It's interesting to note that the SEC (considered to be the best, most attractive) conference plays a lot more evening and afternoon games. Here's a look at home games for eight of them:

• LSU: 2 evening (6:00+) games, 4 afternoon (2:00-5:30), 1 noon (12:00-1:30)
• Auburn: 3, 1, 3
• Miss St.: 5, 0, 1
• Ole Miss: 4, 1, 2
• Arkansas: 6, 1, 1
• Alabama: 4, 2, 1
• Florida: 4, 1, 2
• Tennessee: 5, 2, 1

And a few from the ACC

• FSU: 3, 3, 1
• Miami: 2, 5, 0
• VPI: 2, 3, 1
• Wake: 3, 3, 1

Clemson and BCU tended to have a bunch of noon games... it's not clear if that was due to local preference or totally dictated by TV. I find the latter to be less likely wrt Clemson.

Clearly, there are at least a bunch of schools that are able to avoid nearly constant noon games. TGD was able to avoid some this past season by moving them to week nights instead of Saturday.

 

[Moontan]

- limit the video media advertisements during timeouts. instead, play popular/upbeat/modern music that the college kids want to hear. do this all game long. put the cameras on the students and let them dance/sing/let loose. this will carry the noise and energy even through the down time. EXAMPLE: for those of you at this Saturdays hoops game, pay attention to the students during timeouts. not too much going on. however, during the 2nd half, near the under 4 minute TO, the dome will play an upbeat techno song. i guarantee you'll see a major difference. the kids go ape-sh**!

This past Saturday I was at the Florida vs. Georgia basketball game.

Guess what? I don't recall any advertising via the PA announcer. If there was any it was very minimal. During TV timeouts there were cheerleader & dance corps dances on the court or upbeat music (aggressive, pounding music that gets everybody moving) with GA related imagery on the video screen.

It was all very different than my Dome experiences.

 

[OrangeCrush22]

- Hold Junior Day for a big weekend primetime basketball game.
- Actually have a Signing Day event.
- Do a traveling event around the state like an "OrangeFest" that goes to Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, NYC, etc.
- Have Coach Marrone make appearances to speak in areas with high alumni concentrations like D.C.
- Take the damn S off the helmet and change the facemasks back to blue.
- Orangemen.
- Bring back the Saltine Warrior.
- Renovate the dome to modern standards including HD video boards and adding on an atrium on the north side.
- Play only night games.

And as always, become insanely corrupt and bring back the old dome turf.

1.) Agreed.
2.) Agreed, hit up Elmira or Binghamton, too.
3.) Agreed.
4.) Agreed. Orange helmets, with a blue/white facemask.
5/6.) "Syracuse Saltine Warriors" (School colors orange and white)
7.) Agreed. New locker rooms first, though. After they're done, start with things for the fans.
8.) I would prefer more night games, also. To get them you have to win, though. So TV wants you prime time.

*Don't really care about the turf.

 

[cusestudent]

This past Saturday I was at the Florida vs. Georgia basketball game.

Guess what? I don't recall any advertising via the PA announcer. If there was any it was very minimal. During TV timeouts there were cheerleader & dance corps dances on the court or upbeat music (aggressive, pounding music that gets everybody moving) with GA related imagery on the video screen.

It was all very different than my Dome experiences.

Yeah the delivery is definitely something we lack at the football games compared to other schools. Anytime you watch an SEC, PAC 12, etc game it looks like a spectacle

 

[OttoForLife]

Bad comparison because students already have time to drink before 3 am whereas a noon game would constrict that. I'm not advocating student drinking, but it seems when students know they'll have time to pre-game before had then they show up in droves (i.e. Wake Forest). I realize we have no say in the time of day we play but it would need to be around 4 to really bring the students out. The hardest thing about catering to students at SU is that many will relocate to other areas of the country once they graduate since Syracuse isn't exactly a high profile area in the job market.

1) I guess it's a bit of chicken or the egg, but IMO, look at many other well-attended programs. Noon isn't that big an issue for other schools. Give the kids a reason to be in the building, and they'll show up.

2) You're point about students leaving the area is irrelevant. There are always 12k undergrad students on campus. If they show up and are active fans contributing to a great Dome experience, the locals who are permanent will want to be there too.

 

[rrlbees]

- since attendance remains a problem, i have a solution to make it look better on tv. as stated above, the crowd is most prominent in the upper endzone because people are buying those cheaper tix, then thins out inside the 20's. this looks awful on tv. i think they should cover the upper endzone seats with a tarp so nobody sits there. those fans should be sold tickets from corner to corner, to fill in seats noticeable on tv. they already have a tarp on the opposite end of the dome during hoops games. that's where i got the idea. at least the tarps add more orange and blue and packs the fans into better spots. when we get back to selling more seats, remove the tarps and sell them again.

That can't happen because sideline uppers are preferred seating with a donation. That's why they are more empty than the non-preferred.

 

[rrlbees]

1. Hold Junior Day for a big weekend primetime basketball game.
2. Actually have a Signing Day event.
3. Do a traveling event around the state like an "OrangeFest" that goes to Buffalo, Rochester, Albany, NYC, etc.
4. Have Coach Marrone make appearances to speak in areas with high alumni concentrations like D.C.
5. Take the damn S off the helmet and change the facemasks back to blue.
6. Orangemen.
7. Bring back the Saltine Warrior.
8. Renovate the dome to modern standards including HD video boards and adding on an atrium on the north side.
9. Play only night games.

1. agree
2. agree
3. agree
4. agree
5. don't care either way
6. agree
7. agree
8. pretty much agree but not a huge priority
9. no can do. tv mostly decides that stuff.

others

10. bring back the player walk
11. like jb did several years ago, have marrone go into the dorms and talk to the students about his need for their support (if he hasn't already)
12. more player/coach visits to local schools
13. free admission for students (if it isn't)
14. scrap the espn type intro and go back to the highlight video but learn to time it with the player entrance like basketball seems to be able to do.
15. re-tool the perks where loyalty and longevity counts for something again vs. the strict "what did you do for me last year" mentality.
16. move the dome to south campus
17. cancel the meadowlands contract.

 

[OrangeXtreme]

Cupholders.

 

[cusestudent]

1) I guess it's a bit of chicken or the egg, but IMO, look at many other well-attended programs. Noon isn't that big an issue for other schools. Give the kids a reason to be in the building, and they'll show up.

2) You're point about students leaving the area is irrelevant. There are always 12k undergrad students on campus. If they show up and are active fans contributing to a great Dome experience, the locals who are permanent will want to be there too.

Good point on number two I should not have written off students there since there will always be the ones on campus, but many of them will not become season ticket holders once they graduate since they won't be in the area. So I guess I mean put a little more of a focus on the locals than the students since the locals always have and always will make up the main fan base.

Football is a cultural event and many students go to schools like ND and UM just for the sports program whereas SU doesn't have that sense, so naturally there is less of a desire to be part of the program for many students here. We have a big international percentage that have never seen football before, so that doesn't help in getting kids to the game. I think the best course of action for starters would be to make tickets free for students. The only way to bring in more students after that would be for a night game.