UI Hires Firm to better relations with its own fans LOL

[iahawkeyes17]

You forgot.....And your golf cart Cop Patrol that rides around and dirty looks everybody and stops to check your tailgate area for liquor, smokes and for being too loud.

I love this false narrative. Minus 2010 when they had the crackdown on open containers due to the city the police working the games don't check or care if tailgates have liquor and give "dirty looks". It's been 8 years and unless you are still dumb enough to walk on Melrose with an open container and God forbid not drink for a 10 minute walk or be a drunken idiot they leave you alone, simple as that Been tailgating at dental and north end zone lot and all they do is walk through and leave people alone and we usually have liquor on our tailgate or table setup and never a word.

 

[kwik44]

Reverse everything Sally Mason destroyed & I firmly believe the environment would be much better for fans.

 

[cidhawkeye]

I love this false narrative. Minus 2010 when they had the crackdown on open containers due to the city the police working the games don't check or care if tailgates have liquor and give "dirty looks". It's been 8 years and unless you are still dumb enough to walk on Melrose with an open container and God forbid not drink for a 10 minute walk or be a drunken idiot they leave you alone, simple as that Been tailgating at dental and north end zone lot and all they do is walk through and leave people alone and we usually have liquor on our tailgate or table setup and never a word.

So it's the same as when I could walk from Melrose Court with an open beer(one) to get to a tailgate at Olive Court? It has backed down but it's not a false narrative.

 

[hexumhawk]

What we need to do

Reconfigure Carver- if we are going to keep it then we have to figure something out. Ring the students around the benches. Boxes up top around the arena concourse...moves your blue hair problem and get rid of the problem of people going to the concourse for the end of games to watch. Would also add a noise factor.

Fran- No tournament this year he is gone. Period point blank. He needs to get more athletes here to mix with our skilled players. Take a look at Michigan please.

FB- Try to zone some areas for bars / adult areas down by Kinnick to help with gameday atmosphere. Even if it would be a makeshift deal seven times a year, would be a huge draw now that there is no Magic Bus. Continue not being dicks to your fans and patrons with the alcohol enforcement policies.

KF- have a replacement plan in place. I would say KF has around 3-5 years left. I am fine with giving the job to BF but with a defined timetable if we struggle. Should have a list of 5-7 replacement options if things go south.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Dear Iowa Hawkeye fan,
Thank you for the ongoing support of our student athletes at the University of Iowa! As part of our efforts to continually improve our athletic department, we'd like your input. Please take a moment to complete the survey below and forward to Gary Barta in care of the Iowa athletic department.

On Iowa! and GO Hawks!
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Please rank the below in order of importance.

Iowa's athletic director should be focused on:

1. Raising money
2. Hiring the best coaches available and holding them accountable
3. Getting coffee and donuts for Kirk and Fran on demand
4. Not looking like an idiot
5. other <please fill in your answer here>

 

[iowa surfer]

Fire Barta, bring in Stoops as AD. Open check book for recruitting budget. Raise all bonus compensation +1 win for every coach. Build the Wrestling center win wrestling Natties. PR fixed.

Fire the people or person who signs ad,football coach ect checks.Start looking in mirror please.Does the COLOR of GOLD blind you? Go Hawks. Baseball team rocking!

 

[DodgerHawki]

And? Money isn't the be all, end all. Frankly, it is the biggest problem in college sports, and likely will be its downfall. Anything for money, even alienating yournfanbase. This attitude that money is everything is pervasive, and has led to the shallow, me-centered, no attention span culture that plagues this land.
I, for one, cannot wait for the next round of contracts, when the bubble bursts and folks are scrambling. College sports is in need of a big slap to the face, and it is coming. Universities will then rue the day they crapped on their fans.

You are getting to the issue. I see very little of Iowa trying to make long-term connections with the fans. The focus is on maximizing revenue in the now. Which is okay to a point, but in the process they are alienating some fans so those fans drop out at the first sign of not winning. If they want people to enjoy the gameday experience, please stop the incessant ads and reads during timeouts at football games. If you actually go to a game and Iowa gets some momentum with a turnover or score, all the energy gets drained out of the stadium by spending the whole timeout with the ad reads instead of music playing or the band. There have even been times when ad-hoc chants of "Let's Go Hawks" by the crowd get drowned out by the ads. That is insane. I realize the ads are a source of revenue. My message to the UI is find another way. Or intersperse the ads sometimes and not at every timeout.

This is not that hard. If the powers at be in the athletic department sat in the stands and experienced a game (from paying for parking, getting to your seats, going to the bathroom, etc.) they would likely have a different perspective on what the fan might want in a gameday experience.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

My biggest concern is that the fanbase is aging. They really don't have the students engaged and they are the future of the fanbase. Go hang out at Kinnick and see what a huge percentage of the fanbase is 50 or over. They will continue to see declining attendance numbers unless they figure out how to get the younger people to the games. It starts with the students...you hook 'em there, but then you have to retain them.

The bottom line is that we're really getting solidly into the connected generation. Don't fight it, embrace it. Add technology that allows the fan to connect, get additional content, replays on their tablet or phone right there in the stadium.

I don't have answers, but I'd be looking for creative ways to mitigate lines for the bathrooms, the concessions, even to get to your seat.

People today want to remain connected. They want convenience, comfort and ease of use. Anything they can do to move in that direction is a good idea. The new North endzone is a start, but the prices are for put it in the "for the wealthy" only. Seriously, with an income well into 60 figures I don't really want to pay what it costs just to get a club seat in the endzone. I guess if you have people who can afford it, great, but most of them will be older. When they're gone, unless you've kept the younger generation engaged, your fanbase is gone.

It pains me to say this, but my daughter goes to ISU. While the game day experience is cheesy, they've found a way to engage the fans. They do a much better job of selling the school on a campus visit for prospective students and they don't let down from there.

I feel like Iowa (the whole school) has gotten fat, lazy and complacent. They seem to think their role as top dog in the state universities is a divine right. ISU is working hard and may very well assume that role.

 

[greenelite]

Stop playing so much God damned ACDC. Get a new CD.

 

[hawkfeever]

Well they raised a lot of prices so its not that surprising. Overall attendance is down some, but frankly I am not sure they are that concerned. They don't need a study to understand supply and demand. I find this all pretty funny really, because they don't really care. If they did, Rutgers wouldn't be in the conference and they would have taken care of their long time season ticket holders.

We know why they brought Rutgers in. Tv sets. And I would bet eventually Rutgers gets elevated in terms of level of talent and level of play. Watching Rutgers does not excite me, nor does watching Maryland.

The issue with the long time ticket holders is they need money. Everyone wants the newest of the new in facilities and offerings for the athletes. Every school I know of has the seat premium deal going, so what exactly were they to do? Just fall behind because people who had seats in the same spot for say 20 years didn't want to pay the money someone new coming (or less time) would pay more $ for those seats? We can't have things both ways.

 

[JRHawk2003]

We know why they brought Rutgers in. Tv sets. And I would bet eventually Rutgers gets elevated in terms of level of talent and level of play. Watching Rutgers does not excite me, nor does watching Maryland.

The issue with the long time ticket holders is they need money. Everyone wants the newest of the new in facilities and offerings for the athletes. Every school I know of has the seat premium deal going, so what exactly were they to do? Just fall behind because people who had seats in the same spot for say 20 years didn't want to pay the money someone new coming (or less time) would pay more $ for those seats? We can't have things both ways.

Well, then they will get people who give up on them and care less. They have cast their lot in with the high donor for better or worse. I personally do not see the value in what they are offering in the N End Zone, but that is me.

 

[hawkfeever]

My biggest concern is that the fanbase is aging. They really don't have the students engaged and they are the future of the fanbase. Go hang out at Kinnick and see what a huge percentage of the fanbase is 50 or over. They will continue to see declining attendance numbers unless they figure out how to get the younger people to the games. It starts with the students...you hook 'em there, but then you have to retain them.

The bottom line is that we're really getting solidly into the connected generation. Don't fight it, embrace it. Add technology that allows the fan to connect, get additional content, replays on their tablet or phone right there in the stadium.

I don't have answers, but I'd be looking for creative ways to mitigate lines for the bathrooms, the concessions, even to get to your seat.

People today want to remain connected. They want convenience, comfort and ease of use. Anything they can do to move in that direction is a good idea. The new North endzone is a start, but the prices are for put it in the "for the wealthy" only. Seriously, with an income well into 60 figures I don't really want to pay what it costs just to get a club seat in the endzone. I guess if you have people who can afford it, great, but most of them will be older. When they're gone, unless you've kept the younger generation engaged, your fanbase is gone.

It pains me to say this, but my daughter goes to ISU. While the game day experience is cheesy, they've found a way to engage the fans. They do a much better job of selling the school on a campus visit for prospective students and they don't let down from there.

I feel like Iowa (the whole school) has gotten fat, lazy and complacent. They seem to think their role as top dog in the state universities is a divine right. ISU is working hard and may very well assume that role.

Funny thing is when I started going to games in late 70s / early 80s the fanbase seemed old to me then. This also why they have the youth ticket games ($25 a seat). maybe you can't afford season tickets and the youth games make it a lot easier to afford getting to one or two. One of those is usually the Nebraska game (at least it was 2 years ago at home). And kids don't care level of competition they just want to go and have fun and watch the Hawks. What we are up against is the general decline in interest in football among youth. That is what will hurt at some point if that continues. As far as the students attending, they already get discounted tickets and are probably in line with what other universities do now. I never went to Iowa as a school until I was older but I went to many many football games before that.

What they are doing with club seats, etc is what everyone else is doing or wants to do. So if we fail at it in the future so will everyone else.

 

[hawkfeever]

Well, then they will get people who give up on them and care less. They have cast their lot in with the high donor for better or worse. I personally do not see the value in what they are offering in the N End Zone, but that is me.

Same thing ISU did with their south end zone, and to make seating more comfortable and be able to maybe go to a restroom without missing a whole quarter of the game. That north end zone was terrible seating and too compact. I have sat in the south end zone seats and they are much more comfortable and roomy and easy to get in and out without tripping over people or being squished in the seats.

 

[hawkfeever]

And? Money isn't the be all, end all. Frankly, it is the biggest problem in college sports, and likely will be its downfall. Anything for money, even alienating yournfanbase. This attitude that money is everything is pervasive, and has led to the shallow, me-centered, no attention span culture that plagues this land.
I, for one, cannot wait for the next round of contracts, when the bubble bursts and folks are scrambling. College sports is in need of a big slap to the face, and it is coming. Universities will then rue the day they crapped on their fans.

So you don't want all the new facilities, perks for the athletes, etc. I hear that all the time we need all that new stuff, but yet no one wants to pay for it.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

You want the students to come in droves. Win games. They have so many entertainment options the idea we could lose to a Purdue or a Illinois or a Rutgers isn't worth their time. Start fielding teams that have chances day 0 of getting into the final 4, the students will show.

 

[Urohawk]

This pretty easy:

1. Sell alcohol. It is probably better to do controlled sales to those who aren't intoxicated. I don't find NFL, NBA, etc worse off than any college event through legal alcohol sales. I personally think it would reduce the consumption of hard liquor and curb binge drinking since people need to get toasted before the game.

2. Make food affordable. Food doesn't have to be cheap but it doesn't have to be expensive. Disney sort of has this philosophy (at least when we went about 5 years ago). Should be slightly more expensive than McDonalds.

3. Create a kid zone for people with families. These are future hawk fans. See the first link at terrible kids activities. See the second link for the royals.
https://iowacity.citymomsblog.com/2017/09/19/hawkeye-football-kinnick-kids/

https://www.mlb.com/royals/ballpark/outfield-experience/activities

4. Back off police presence: If you're not a threat to yourself or others and you're not pissing in public leave people alone. I gave up season tickets about the time the crack down was getting worse. No need for U Iowa cops (not local sheriff or ICPD) to patrol 3 blocks off campus.

5. Boot high donors and their RVs from lot next to stadium. Yes it generate money but that has to be converted to create a game day experience (kid zone, players arrival, marching band).

6. Bring back the Scottish Highlanders

7. Let fans create some of the experience. See almost all MLS games. Here is an example of KC's cauldron. They bring instruments, signs, flags, etc.


8. Audio/visual experience- Drop AC/DC. Half the band is dead or dieing. Stop all the ads in the middle of the game. Show instant replays.

9. Finally, schedule some interesting match ups in the preseason.

You need some entertainment and experience when you're destroying Southwest Missouri School of the Blind 30-7 on a hot August day.

 

[JRHawk2003]

This pretty easy:

1. Sell alcohol. It is probably better to do controlled sales to those who aren't intoxicated. I don't find NFL, NBA, etc worse off than any college event through legal alcohol sales. I personally think it would reduce the consumption of hard liquor can binge drinking to get toasted before the game.

2. Make food affordable. Food doesn't have to be cheap but it doesn't have to be expensive. Disney sort of has this philosophy (at least when we went about 5 years ago). Should be slightly more expensive than McDonalds.

3. Create a kid zone for people with families. These are future hawk fans. See the first link at terrible kids activities. See the second link for the royals.
https://iowacity.citymomsblog.com/2017/09/19/hawkeye-football-kinnick-kids/

https://www.mlb.com/royals/ballpark/outfield-experience/activities

4. Back off police presence: If you're not a threat to yourself or others and you're not pissing in public leave people alone. I gave up season tickets about the time the crack down was getting worse. No need for U Iowa cops (not local sheriff or ICPD) to patrol 3 blocks off campus.

5. Boot high donors and their RVs from lot next to stadium. Yes it generate money but that has to be converted to create a game day experience (kid zone, players arrival, marching band).

6. Bring back the Scottish Highlanders

7. Let fans create some of the experience. See almost all MLS games. Here is an example of KC's cauldron. They bring instruments, signs, flags, etc.

View embedded media

8. Audio/visual experience- Drop AC/DC. Half the band is dead or dieing. Stop all the ads in the middle of the game. Show instant replays.

9. Finally, schedule some interesting match ups in the preseason.

You need some entertainment and experience when you're destroying Southwest Missouri School of the Blind 30-7 on a hot August day.

Wow...the Scottish HIghlanders...bringing back my childhood lol.

You do have some good points, especially about the quality of games.

 

[WCAC_Fan_10]

You all have perfectly manicured lawns and hate it when kids walk on them, don't you?

 

[greenelite]

I feel like Iowa (the whole school) has gotten fat, lazy and complacent. They seem to think their role as top dog in the state universities is a divine right. ISU is working hard and may very well assume that role.

Stop with the nonsense.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

So it's the same as when I could walk from Melrose Court with an open beer(one) to get to a tailgate at Olive Court? It has backed down but it's not a false narrative.

I was mainly referring to people who after initial crackdown that act like the police just write citations to every fan and make them dump out alcohol and looking to bust people and as the poster said give "dirty looks and crack down on loud people". Most of them would rather not do much and collect their OT pay unless someone does something pretty dumb while they are drunk, i.e. Vodka Sam behavior. So basically people can't walk around with an open container and act like it is the worst thing in the world and ruins their tailgating.

 

[greenelite]

Vodka Sam behavior should not only be tolerated but rewarded and celebrated. .341? I'm not even mad, that's amazing.

 

[Urohawk]

Well they wonder why they had a loss of interest with articles like these over two seasons:

"Iowa cracks down on tailgating"
http://qctimes.com/sports/college/b...cle_f681f806-a9b2-11df-b9ac-001cc4c002e0.html

"Iowa City's plan to ban Kinnick vendors could be modified"
http://globegazette.com/news/iowa/i...cle_945c8ef8-6937-11e0-a908-001cc4c002e0.html

 

[hawkfeever]

I was mainly referring to people who after initial crackdown that act like the police just write citations to every fan and make them dump out alcohol and looking to bust people and as the poster said give "dirty looks and crack down on loud people". Most of them would rather not do much and collect their OT pay unless someone does something pretty dumb while they are drunk, i.e. Vodka Sam behavior. So basically people can't walk around with an open container and act like it is the worst thing in the world and ruins their tailgating.

Yeah I have not witnessed any police asking anyone to dump anything. See people carting beer up and down Melrose.

 

[hawkfeever]

This pretty easy:

1. Sell alcohol. It is probably better to do controlled sales to those who aren't intoxicated. I don't find NFL, NBA, etc worse off than any college event through legal alcohol sales. I personally think it would reduce the consumption of hard liquor and curb binge drinking since people need to get toasted before the game.

2. Make food affordable. Food doesn't have to be cheap but it doesn't have to be expensive. Disney sort of has this philosophy (at least when we went about 5 years ago). Should be slightly more expensive than McDonalds.

3. Create a kid zone for people with families. These are future hawk fans. See the first link at terrible kids activities. See the second link for the royals.
https://iowacity.citymomsblog.com/2017/09/19/hawkeye-football-kinnick-kids/

https://www.mlb.com/royals/ballpark/outfield-experience/activities

4. Back off police presence: If you're not a threat to yourself or others and you're not pissing in public leave people alone. I gave up season tickets about the time the crack down was getting worse. No need for U Iowa cops (not local sheriff or ICPD) to patrol 3 blocks off campus.

5. Boot high donors and their RVs from lot next to stadium. Yes it generate money but that has to be converted to create a game day experience (kid zone, players arrival, marching band).

6. Bring back the Scottish Highlanders

7. Let fans create some of the experience. See almost all MLS games. Here is an example of KC's cauldron. They bring instruments, signs, flags, etc.

View embedded media

8. Audio/visual experience- Drop AC/DC. Half the band is dead or dieing. Stop all the ads in the middle of the game. Show instant replays.

9. Finally, schedule some interesting match ups in the preseason.

You need some entertainment and experience when you're destroying Southwest Missouri School of the Blind 30-7 on a hot August day.

You can take food into the game, just not something like McDonalds. We always take the allotted 1 gallon clear plastic bag with snack stuff in it. never had an issue taking it in. We then eat (if we want to) at the vendors on Melrose. Since the pizza guy left there I don't eat there much either.

 

[hawkfeever]

You all have perfectly manicured lawns and hate it when kids walk on them, don't you?

Scowling at the neighbors who have dandelions.

 

[hawkfeever]

Can't believe I haven't seen better WIFI mentioned. That always seems to be the ire, although that would be #100 on my list of 100 things to change.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

Stop with the nonsense.

If one person says it more are thinking it.

 

[wneff]

This pretty easy:



7. Let fans create some of the experience. See almost all MLS games. Here is an example of KC's cauldron. They bring instruments, signs, flags, etc.

I have always advocated a non-student cheering section in the north end zone along the lines of the American Outlaws. Not sure if you would have local chapters, but it would be a funraising group as opposed to the I-Club's fundraising. And, then pray to God it carries over to basketball. Gear it toward recent graduates and/or those who never attended. As long as it is not profane, they have a blank check to do whatever they want. If you are in that area, you know that you will stand all game and have a good time.
And, pretty sure the NCAA prohibits noise making devices other than the cowbells at Mississippi State, which were grandfathered in.

 

[greenelite]

If one person says it more are thinking it.

1 person thought the CrackHawk was a good idea too. That one person was in our Marketing department so not a very good analogy.

 

[DewHawk]

Consultant is the job I've always wanted: tell other people what to do, then leave...with a hefty paycheck.

What could ANYONE tell the athletic department that its personnel shouldn't already know? My gosh...promoting a program that people are standing in line to support shouldn't be too difficult.

Hiring a consultant is another sign that there is too much money floating around major college sports.

It has been written that "the love of money is the root of all evil." But I guess that's from a book the Iowa Athletic Department and Jim Delaney haven't read. Maybe they should hire a consultant to explain that one to them.

I Consulted (business operations) after my early retirement and the pay was good. But, my problem was most organizations do not want to really hear what they should change. They want the consultant, in most cases, to regurgitate/reinforce what senior management wants to accomplish. So, ultimately consulting was a short term affair and not for me.

 

[beans 33]

Airbhghater,

Did Barta respond?

 

[IowaNiceHawk]

I would be very surprised if this isn't a common practice among most schools of this size.

Didn't we just see a thread attesting to the FACT that IOWA Hawkeye sports revenues is in Top 20, or Top 25.

Do some fans want us to be like the clowns, or something ?

GO HAWKS

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

The more I think about it the more I like having a section specifically for fans who want to stand and cheer. With the new bowled in designed Kinnick could get LOUD. Setting up a place for the crazies to go nuts would make Kinnick even more hostile. I think a super easy thing the admin can do is start embracing "Kinnick at night". Kinnick is a very hard place to play and over the last couple years night games have been especially hard no matter who we are playing. Embrace how special that place becomes when the sun goes down.

 

[hawkcub]

I was mainly referring to people who after initial crackdown that act like the police just write citations to every fan and make them dump out alcohol and looking to bust people and as the poster said give "dirty looks and crack down on loud people". Most of them would rather not do much and collect their OT pay unless someone does something pretty dumb while they are drunk, i.e. Vodka Sam behavior. So basically people can't walk around with an open container and act like it is the worst thing in the world and ruins their tailgating.

I agree with most of what you are posting. To act like the the tailgating atmosphere is like the crackdown years is silly. But one thing I noticed at some other stadiums is the police presence at other schools in the tailgating lots isn't even close to the presence is at Iowa. On a trip to Michigan I saw 1 police officer at the golf course. Michigan State I didn't see any till I got to the stadium.

At Iowa are most of the officers there just to get their OT? Probably, but the 4 officers rolling out of their gators just may be overkill.

 

[Suterman]

The landscape for LIVE sporting events is changing rapidly, almost daily. The same is true of the Networks carrying the games. The money the TV networks is paying out is unsustainable. Therefore it is not only smart but crucial for Iowa to stay ahead of the curve if they can. Hiring a consultant firm is proactive and something that many teams do and more doing the same every year. The athletic department is far from stupid. We are in the top 20/25 in revenue for a reason. The AD wants to stay there and hiring a consultant is one of the smartest moves they can make.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

This pretty easy:


4. Back off police presence: If you're not a threat to yourself or others and you're not pissing in public leave people alone. I gave up season tickets about the time the crack down was getting worse. No need for U Iowa cops (not local sheriff or ICPD) to patrol 3 blocks off campus.
.

This was the beginning of the decline. Many of us called it then, were told were were full of it, people don't need to be drunks etc etc. Now...it's gone soft (I know, that's what she said)

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

The Elephant in the middle of the room is Ferentz fatigue is real. It doesnt matter that he is a good ambassador and reliable, the neighbors have gotten new toys and we have not.

Edit: the more I read about this the more I am realizing it has to do with putting more butts in seats not necessarily making the people that are there enjoy it more.

 

[sober_teacher]

Can't believe I haven't seen better WIFI mentioned. That always seems to be the ire, although that would be #100 on my list of 100 things to change.

They are working on this at least.

If memory serves they hired one company to work on this a couple years ago. Not sure what the status is.

 

[cocoem]

I am sure you are right, and in fairness there is declining attendance in football across the board. To me its not the fault of the big HDTV in stereo per se, its because the cost of going is high and the HDTV is a better alternative than what existed before in the tube TV days.

He is 101% right...here is Alabama

Single Game Tickets
Single Game Options Price
Arkansas State $40
Texas A&M $110
Louisiana $55
Missouri $85
Mississippi State $85
Citadel $40
Auburn $140

 

[cocoem]

So you don't want all the new facilities, perks for the athletes, etc. I hear that all the time we need all that new stuff, but yet no one wants to pay for it.

I would like to know how many posting in this thread pay for season tickets and donate. Easy to say and it will get some riled up...but don't bitch if you don't participate