SU Marketing

[CU44SE]

Currently I am living in Buffalo (school), but continue to hear on this board the lack of marketing for syracuse sports. Although I do not live in syracuse anymore, I frequently visit (just about every other weekend for the past 3 months). On those visits, I have heard maybe 1 commercial promoting syracuse football. Recently I have noticed a huge jump in UB marketing, they are all over the place. I can only attribute this to the new AD, which has really pushed the State University of New York (we can all agree its dumb, but its some form of promotion), constant radio ads (I will hear 1-2 ads every time I am in the car), some television ads, and they are becoming a huge presence on twitter (always promoting their sports, not even the big sports). I was just wondering who is in charge of marketing for syracuse, because it really seems non existent. Besides the New York City's College team, what other campaigns have this administration pushed? I know it isn't football related, but we can all agree we have a top 10 basketball program and we have a huge fan base; however, the turn out at Midnight Madness looked quiet pathetic on television. For the past 2 weeks I have heard about UB's midnight madness which will be held tonight. I was just wondering if anyone knew the inner-workings of the athletic department and why their seems to be a lack of marketing?

 

[orangenirvana]

The promo is not "New York City's College Team."

Just a pet peeve of mine.

I live in Western NY and I've heard about the "Bobby Hurley Era" on the radio but that's about it for UB sports.

If it weren't for this forum I would never know they were trying to be THE New York State University.

As for SU marketing and customer service - it's blown for years. Apparently it's a disease with no cure and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

 

[Cuseroc]

I'm thinking that you hear so much about UB because you live in Buffalo. I live in Rochester, and I can honestly say that I have never heard any radio ad for UB. I used to see a short blurb on Time Warner Sports channel about UB, but they also included Hobart and SU sports as well because they are promoting their channel. I dont know if UB really even has a presence outside of Erie County.

On the other hand, SU used to have billboards strategically placed around Rochester advertising fb and bb. But I have not seen those the last couple of years.

 

[CU44SE]

The promo is not "New York City's College Team."

Just a pet peeve of mine.

I live in Western NY and I've heard about the "Bobby Hurley Era" on the radio but that's about it for UB sports.

If it weren't for this forum I would never know they were trying to be THE New York State University.

As for SU marketing and customer service - it's blown for years. Apparently it's a disease with no cure and there is nothing anyone can do about it.

I was talking about Syracuse and the campaign of New Yorks College Team, but had a brain fart. Although city is not in it, that is the center of the new yorks college team campaign. As for UB's campaign, they have it on the center of their basketball floor, its on their jerseys, and I have heard it on the radio.

 

[CU44SE]

I'm thinking that you hear so much about UB because you live in Buffalo. I live in Rochester, and I can honestly say that I have never heard any radio ad for UB. I used to see a short blurb on Time Warner Sports channel about UB, but they also included Hobart and SU sports as well because they are promoting their channel. I dont know if UB really even has a presence outside of Erie County.

On the other hand, SU used to have billboards strategically placed around Rochester advertising fb and bb. But I have not seen those the last couple of years.

I wasnt necessarily talking about UB's campaign out of the buffalo area (it is definitely a local campaign at the moment), but the lack of Syracuse marketing in the surrounding areas like buffalo and rochester, and even in Syracuse. People on this board have mentioned many times the lack of ads on the radio and television in the syracuse area. There is no doubt that Syracuse is New York's preferred sports university, but besides New York City, there is not a lot of other marketing campaigns. Like you said, you don't see many billboards in the rochester area any more. Its only an hour drive, why isnt there more marketing campaigns in and around Syracuse. I was just using UB as an example of expanding their marketing, something I believe Syracuse is lacking.

 

[xc84]

I wasnt necessarily talking about UB's campaign out of the buffalo area (it is definitely a local campaign at the moment), but the lack of Syracuse marketing in the surrounding areas like buffalo and rochester, and even in Syracuse. People on this board have mentioned many times the lack of ads on the radio and television in the syracuse area. There is no doubt that Syracuse is New York's preferred sports university, but besides New York City, there is not a lot of other marketing campaigns. Like you said, you don't see many billboards in the rochester area any more. Its only an hour drive, why isnt there more marketing campaigns in and around Syracuse. I was just using UB as an example of expanding their marketing, something I believe Syracuse is lacking.

Buffalo would be a tough sell. If you are a football fan living in Buffalo, you are a Bills fan and hardly know that college football exists. I lived in Buffalo for 3 years and found that to be true. When you talk about college football, they tilt their head and look at you like you just asked them to go to a bridal shower.

 

[Lawrinson14]

I would love to become head of marketing/advertising at SU. I'm 100% serious. Hear me out...

-Graduated from Newhouse (so I'm an alum and was taught at the best communications school)

-Have worked in the advertising business for a number of years now in some of the largest NYC agencies

-Know what goes into producing materials, be they tv spots, print ads, billboards, etc.

-I know what can and cannot be done on a small budget. You'd be surprised what type of bad-assary has come out of small budget projects

I could go on, but I'll spare all of you.

 

[chakka3421]

I would love to become head of marketing/advertising at SU. I'm 100% serious. Hear me out...

-Graduated from Newhouse (so I'm an alum and was taught at the best communications school)

-Have worked in the advertising business for a number of years now in some of the largest NYC agencies

-Know what goes into producing materials, be they tv spots, print ads, billboards, etc.

-I know what can and cannot be done on a small budget. You'd be surprised what type of bad-assary has come out of small budget projects

I could go on, but I'll spare all of you.

Be careful what you wish for - its a multi headed monster over there - here is what I can piece together about the monster that it is:

1. SU Marketing dept inside SU athletics - general marketing and communications
2. Orange Club - donor relations, box sales (and tickets sales too?)
3. Dome operations - tickets and concessions
4. IMG sports - radio and business sales and advertising
5. Sidearm Sports - Website development and advertising

And I cannot figure out who runs the video boards either - SU Marketing, IMG or Sidearm sports??? I also don't know who is in charge of simple billboard advertising either. I probably missed a few more marketing arms at SU Athletics but I believe their is no one that coordinates this all as it is so fragmented.

Also you would think to use your own University premier resources like the students and faculty inside the Newhouse school to do a lot of this - it would help to tie in the University with the Athletics department to get them more integrated - makes no sense to me really.

You may want to wait and see if we get a new AD (have no idea if Gross is staying or leaving) when the new Chancellor comes to town - that would be the perfect time to strike when a new AD is hired.

 

[Townie72]

In general, advertising and promotion for college sports has been tried to death and doesn't appear to work.

If it were as simple as some seem to feel, there wouldn't be hundreds of thousands of empty seats in college stadii and arenas every week and our airwaves and newspapers would be filled with material.

Georgetown's experience trying to sell basketball tickets is a perfect example. A huge market. A good product. Lots of promotion and advertising. And a usually half-empty Verizon Center.

The problem is one of payback for expeditures. Spending $50,000 on promotion to sell $50,000 of tickets is not a very good business decision.

 

[xc84]

In general, advertising and promotion for college sports has been tried to death and doesn't appear to work.

If it were as simple as some seem to feel, there wouldn't be hundreds of thousands of empty seats in college stadii and arenas every week and our airwaves and newspapers would be filled with material.

Georgetown's experience trying to sell basketball tickets is a perfect example. A huge market. A good product. Lots of promotion and advertising. And a usually half-empty Verizon Center.

The problem is one of payback for expeditures. Spending $50,000 on promotion to sell $50,000 of tickets is not a very good business decision.

I agree. And let's say you are in Buffalo and have an extra ticket. You "market" it (for free) to your buddy who knows nothing about SU football. The first thing he asks is "Maybe, how are they doing this year?" You say, "They currently have a losing record and they lost their last game against Georgia Tech 56-0. The beat up on Wagner and Tulane earlier though."

It's not overly enticing combined with the 2.5 hour one-way drive. And that is "direct marketing" with a free ticket.

 

[HeaterCuse22]

All the marketing in the world cant help if your product is flawed.

 

[llandz]

Funny, I have read similar posts on this board in the past. Now of course, I do not get any Syracuse marketing in AZ, but on my recent trip to Syracuse I passed several billboards for the Clemson game, and heard numerous radio commercials while I was there. I was surprised by how much marketing I encountered while I was in Syracuse because of these past posts. They are out there. I saw it and heard it. I know there was a push for that game, but they were on it that week.

 

[Jeepers]

Call me delusional, but I wouldn't be surprised if UB talked to the B10.

 

[BORZAK]

Buffalo and Oklahoma to the Big Ten
1 rival top program. 1 brings New York television sets

 

[xc84]

Funny, I have read similar posts on this board in the past. Now of course, I do not get any Syracuse marketing in AZ, but on my recent trip to Syracuse I passed several billboards for the Clemson game, and heard numerous radio commercials while I was there. I was surprised by how much marketing I encountered while I was in Syracuse because of these past posts. They are out there. I saw it and heard it. I know there was a push for that game, but they were on it that week.

And it's a bit of a catch-22 when we play teams like Clemson. So they marketed it, got a lot of people who have not been going to the games to go to that one. Then Syracuse gets walloped. So the people who were on the fence before and only went because they were convinced this would be the turning point are even more reluctant to spend another Saturday with the risk of another such debacle.

 

[xc84]

Call me delusional, but I wouldn't be surprised if UB talked to the B10.

Yep...that's like me saying I have talked to a super model.

 

[Chip]

Call me delusional, but I wouldn't be surprised if UB talked to the B10.

For how long?

At least through the "no, seriously, who is this" portion of the conversation?

 

[Millhouse]

For how long?

At least through the "no, seriously, who is this" portion of the conversation?

UB is too competitive to be a candidate. They prefer dregs like Rutgers and Maryland.

(i'm only half kidding. it's really hard to believe that a team gets a pass for letting Baylor score 70 but they do, deservedly)

 

[OrangePA]

Buffalo would be a tough sell. If you are a football fan living in Buffalo, you are a Bills fan and hardly know that college football exists. I lived in Buffalo for 3 years and found that to be true. When you talk about college football, they tilt their head and look at you like you just asked them to go to a bridal shower.

If the Orange were to go undefeated and win the ACC folks from Buffalo would be interested and would come to the Dome.

We just have to win.

That will solve a lot of problems.

 

[xc84]

If the Orange were to go undefeated and win the ACC folks from Buffalo would be interested and would come to the Dome.

We just have to win.

That will solve a lot of problems.

If that happens, there won't be any room left in the dome for people from Buffalo. I agree, winning is the best Marketing.

 

[OrangePA]

And it's a bit of a catch-22 when we play teams like Clemson. So they marketed it, got a lot of people who have not been going to the games to go to that one. Then Syracuse gets walloped. So the people who were on the fence before and only went because they were convinced this would be the turning point are even more reluctant to spend another Saturday with the risk of another such debacle.

The Clemson game was still a lot fun. The Dome was still loud into the third quarter.

And the Orange hung tough.

I had a lot of fun even though we ended up losing by a wide margin.

So, I don't see that game as a negative. I'm probably in the minority.

 

[xc84]

The Clemson game was still a lot fun. The Dome was still loud into the third quarter.

And the Orange hung tough.

I had a lot of fun even though we ended up losing by a wide margin.

So, I don't see that game as a negative. I'm probably in the minority.

Yeah...but you are not in the category of people who have been away for a while and need to be convinced to go to an SU game.

 

[MadNY3]

-Have worked in the advertising business for a number of years now in some of the largest NYC agencies

Which ones?

 

[Jeepers]

State school in a heavily populated state. As Rutgers showed, B10 doesn't really need winners. They need some schools for Mich/OSU/Neb to feed on. Would be the same benefits to the b10 that Rutgers offers. I think being private will always be a turn off to the B10 for SU.

Mainly I'm saying because after Rutgers had that secret chat with Delaney they clearly bumped up their marketing. UConn is screwed for the foreseeable future, but look how fast they moved up and got to a BCS game. I don't think it's that bizarre an idea.

 

[xc84]

State school in a heavily populated state. As Rutgers showed, B10 doesn't really need winners. They need some schools for Mich/OSU/Neb to feed on. Would be the same benefits to the b10 that Rutgers offers. I think being private will always be a turn off to the B10 for SU.

Mainly I'm saying because after Rutgers had that secret chat with Delaney they clearly bumped up their marketing. UConn is screwed for the foreseeable future, but look how fast they moved up and got to a BCS game. I don't think it's that bizarre an idea.

I don't like Rutgers and I am a UB (grad school) grad. UB is not even close to being Rutgers. They have no fans. No fans to go to the game. No fans to watch the games on TV. Rutgers is New Jersey State while UB is simply the big school in Buffalo.