UI Hires Firm to better relations with its own fans LOL

[hawkfeever]

I'm not sure that's true. I developed my love for the Hawks when I was a kid. By the time I was 20 I was a dedicated fan. I could be wrong, but I wouldn't expect a lot of people who weren't fans in their 20's (and earlier, really) to suddenly become fans because they now have money when they're in their 30's or 40's.

I look at my kids (age 19-24) and they are much different than my generation (and I don't think it's just because they're young). They have expectations for entertainment that we couldn't imagine, much of it centered around their experience growing up with the internet: social media, video calls, instant media downloads etc. It takes more to engage them and they quickly get bored at games during the media timeouts. You need to engage them and the burrito lift isn't really cutting it.

Facebookers, Snap Chatters, Instagrammers. Less interaction with people face to face and much less physical activity. many kids can't even contemplate going outside to play.

And the thing you mentioned about them becoming bored easily. Always have to be doing something more and more exciting. Setting themselves up for huge disappointment. No wonder the mental health thing seems more prevalent today than ever.

 

[cocoem]

I have 3 seats in premium section. I also buy extra singles for other games as needed. Try to go to 1 or 2 away games.

Got four and used to go to a lot more away games. Take my boys who are grown and scattered across country now. We will get to a couple every year.

 

[cocoem]

Iowa is not handcuffed from playing a 2nd P5 team OOC. They are handcuffed from playing a 2nd P5 team OOC at a neutral site. There is absolutely nothing preventing Iowa from scheduling another P5 team to a home and home to match up the game in IC for when the Iowa St. game is in Ames.

They have numerous times....there are a handful of teams that play more than 1 P5 OOC opponent....handful. No one wants to give up the home gate.

 

[Hawk_4shur]

Well. Been reading through the threads here, and I sense a "subtle lean" toward the fans being dissatisfied.

 

[Hwk-I-St8]

Facebookers, Snap Chatters, Instagrammers. Less interaction with people face to face and much less physical activity. many kids can't even contemplate going outside to play.

And the thing you mentioned about them becoming bored easily. Always have to be doing something more and more exciting. Setting themselves up for huge disappointment. No wonder the mental health thing seems more prevalent today than ever.

I won't begin to disagree.

However, if you're in the business of selling an entertainment product to them, you need to understand the demographic and what will sell. If a business wants to take a moral stand against that behavior and try to force the point, more power to them, but it may not be in the best interests of the business.

Good, bad or ugly (I believe the latter two), it's the reality of our society these days. I can say that our kids were raised to put their phones away at the dinner table and in other similar social situations, but when at a concert, sporting event or other large crowd situation, they're all over it.

 

[cidhawkeye]

Agreed on field play might be the best marketing and
I like where you are going with thisn there is something to be said for a good product marketing itself. The jerseys, the blackout, the jump man image created using JJ's pick would be marketing. If we are going to use on field production as the best marketing we really need to up that win %.

Don't disagree about the on field product and the O$U game are important. However the wave made more people aware of Iowa than that game.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

I tried doing some more research into this and it appears the agency has not been hired yet. I am wondering if it was Barta who did this or higher up. Anyone know? Could the agency come out and say "barta needs to go?"

 

[blackbrd12]

How did he get to record ticket revenue in 2017? Barta that is.

I can tell by your question that you are missing the entire point.

 

[beans 33]

Very simply put, Iowa Football and Barta have priced themselves out of the market. It's supply/demand period. In 2015 at 12 and 0 with 2.0 Kirk coaching in Indy; there were 5,000 more Iowa fans trying to get in the stadium than the supply would allow. Hawk fans drank downtown Indy out of beer on both Friday and Saturday. I was there and it was amazing. In 2016, Kirk 1.0 resurfaces and a medium season of up and down with a blowout bowl loss to Florida. There is a passionate fan base at Iowa but they will not pay $95 a ticket. We just don't have the casual fan base for that unless we are 12 and 0.

 

[hawkcub]

In 2016 the Michigan game sold out at $85 a ticket if bought on an individual ticket basis. In 2017 Penn State and Ohio State did not sell out at $95. There were about four thousand empty seats each game. This tells me that the Casual fan will spend $85 tops.

So they decide to do the $95 price again. Iowa state will probably sell out. Wisconsin may sell out. So having 4000 extra fans per game dressed in red is worth the $80,000 you are going to get (4000 seats X 10 X 2).

 

[cidhawkeye]

What is the revenue for 70,000 at $85 and 66,000 at $95? Therein lies the answer

 

[hawkfeever]

I can tell by your question that you are missing the entire point.

No don't think so. Statement in effect is Barta has been terrible and has Iowa in tailspin. My counter claim is how in the heck are we at record ticket revenue in 2017 then? Those two don't equate.

 

[hawkfeever]

I won't begin to disagree.

However, if you're in the business of selling an entertainment product to them, you need to understand the demographic and what will sell. If a business wants to take a moral stand against that behavior and try to force the point, more power to them, but it may not be in the best interests of the business.


Good, bad or ugly (I believe the latter two), it's the reality of our society these days. I can say that our kids were raised to put their phones away at the dinner table and in other similar social situations, but when at a concert, sporting event or other large crowd situation, they're all over it.

The "Look at ME!" generation. Here is what I had for lunch and supper, where I went on vacation, my fabulous job and car and family, etc, etc, etc. Half of it is fantasy land.

 

[Urohawk]

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

I had season tickets all through undergrad and grad school (8 yrs) and moved to Michigan. Then I moved to KC and bought them for 4 years. Got tired of going because the experience became a pain in the rear to take my family. I think people that no longer attend are more that seem happy and continue to buy the product.

 

[Urohawk]

Win and the fans will come. Give the alums and fans something to take pride in.

Actually not true. There were 9000 tickets available for Purdue when we were going undefeated. Fans must want something else.

https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/s...a-purdue-kinnick-stadium-senior-day/75869982/

 

[Urohawk]

Oh and can I add that I am tired of sitting next to some of the fat asses. Either enforce a maximum size limit or make people buy two seats.

 

[localhawk55]

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

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

this brought a smile to my face

 

[iahawkeyes17]

Actually not true. There were 9000 tickets available for Purdue when we were going undefeated. Fans must want something else.

https://www.hawkcentral.com/story/s...a-purdue-kinnick-stadium-senior-day/75869982/

Attendance was 62,920 which with all things considered was pretty amazing for that day. Considering the big winter storm that came in the night before and didn't stop snowing till about little over an hour before the game that started at 1100. Sit next to people from Des Moines and they showed up little late to that one but mentioned all the cars in the ditch en route to Kinnick.

 

[trippnschmidt]

Attendance was 62,920 which with all things considered was pretty amazing for that day. Considering the big winter storm that came in the night before and didn't stop snowing till about little over an hour before the game that started at 1100. Sit next to people from Des Moines and they showed up little late to that one but mentioned all the cars in the ditch en route to Kinnick.

View embedded media

That was a brutal drive from Des Moines. I still can't believe we made it in one piece.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

A couple of observations from the thread so far.


Money/cost has been a determining factor for at least a couple people.

.

I think the money/cost factor might be better described as a cost/value factor...at least that's how it was for me. I have the money to do it, but the equation no longer says "buy".

With a neutered game day experience (compared to 10 years ago) and every game being televised I found myself going to 3-4 games/year instead of 6. Kirk's offense and tendency to lose to an ISU, NDSU, etc every year doesn't help either.

Resale value of the tickets has also plummeted. With the exception of the Michigan or tOSU night games, I take a loss where I used to break even at worst, sometimes make a profit when I had to sell rather than make the trip.

In short, the game day experience has not increased in value as the prices have. I can get tickets on the open market for the games I can make it to, without having to invest in season tickets every year. Hawkeye football makes money because the brand (and TV contract) is solid, but Iowa has mis-manged the game day experience and it has lost value.

 

[SoDakHawk]

http://www.thegazette.com/subject/sports/hawkeyes/university-of-iowa-athletics-looks-for-help-increasing-ticket-sales-fan-relations-20180402?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed:+GazetteOnlineSports+(TheGazette.com+Sports+News)

Well how about his for crap

- Pushing Nebraska, Rutgers, et al on us calling them Big 10 teams
- Driving up prices to $95 a ticket for some games
- Booting long time season ticket holders out because they don't donate enough.
- Forcing fans to buy BTN just to see hoops team. Then broadcast games at times all over the map.

See. I figured it out for them. Undo the crap and your fans will respond.

It all started with the Sally Mason tailgating crackdown. Gameday Iowa City was worth it just to show up for the pregame. Made #1 in Sports Illustrated, IIRC. Can't have that. Unleashed the fun-hating police and it's been downhill ever since.

 

[SoDakHawk]

That was me. I let mine go after 15 years. There was no single reason; My kids were getting to the age that they had some activities that conflicted with games, I went through a divorce and it makes things like season tickets a lot more difficult to justify buying, and finally I got sick of crap like adding Rutgers and Nebraska to the Big 10 and watering down the product. I still go to games, but I have rarely paid cost and I don't mind if I sit a couple out at home. Its not as important to me as it once was.

JR, I understand everything you said here. Where you lose credibility with some of us is the constant ranting about the Big 10 additions. We get it, you don't like it, but that wasn't solely a Barta/Iowa decision. Let's bag on Barta for the things he can control and give him a pass on things he cannot. He can control game day production, he can control tailgating policies, he can control scheduling by dumping the ISU series. Also, Nebraska was a great addition for Iowa and Iowa fans. That series with them has been fun and will only get better and better. You're barking up the wrong tree being upset about the Huskers.

 

[hawkfeever]

One thing to mention here, Barta gets beat up because he supposedly doesn't listen to anyone but himself, but then when he does listen to outside then he gets beat up there too.

 

[hawkfeever]

It all started with the Sally Mason tailgating crackdown. Gameday Iowa City was worth it just to show up for the pregame. Made #1 in Sports Illustrated, IIRC. Can't have that. Unleashed the fun-hating police and it's been downhill ever since.

Where 50 year olds came to act like they were 16 again.

 

[hawkfeever]

JR, I understand everything you said here. Where you lose credibility with some of us is the constant ranting about the Big 10 additions. We get it, you don't like it, but that wasn't solely a Barta/Iowa decision. Let's bag on Barta for the things he can control and give him a pass on things he cannot. He can control game day production, he can control tailgating policies, he can control scheduling by dumping the ISU series. Also, Nebraska was a great addition for Iowa and Iowa fans. That series with them has been fun and will only get better and better. You're barking up the wrong tree being upset about the Huskers.

He can't control off campus tailgating polices. Most people are not parking and tailgating on campus property.

 

[hawkfeever]

Attendance was 62,920 which with all things considered was pretty amazing for that day. Considering the big winter storm that came in the night before and didn't stop snowing till about little over an hour before the game that started at 1100. Sit next to people from Des Moines and they showed up little late to that one but mentioned all the cars in the ditch en route to Kinnick.

View embedded media

That was a cold day and the stairs were icy as h*ll. Only had to drive half hour to get there so no issue driving in and jumped on train. Will remember the Purdue mascot getting whacked with many many snowballs.

 

[iavagabond]

One thing to mention here, Barta gets beat up because he supposedly doesn't listen to anyone but himself, but then when he does listen to outside then he gets beat up there too.

Or.....he knows what the consultant is going to say but needs the impartial report so he can use it to support what he wants to do.....

 

[hawkfeever]

Oh and can I add that I am tired of sitting next to some of the fat asses. Either enforce a maximum size limit or make people buy two seats.

Agree here although I wouldn't use that language. If they would put actual seats in so one could relatively keep their own space that would be helpful.

 

[SoDakHawk]

Where 50 year olds came to act like they were 16 again.

There is some truth to this. I know a guy, friend of my parents actually, a surgeon that is a U of I grad. I went to a tailgate of my parents and their friends circa 2006 and, frankly, they were crazy. 50-60 year olds doing beer bongs and chugging beers while tailgating. It was a blast. I have also partied with "crews" that show up from different parts of Iowa. Middle aged people just there to party, have a good time, and watch the Hawks. Shout out to the Humboldt crew, I partied with you guys once before a Wisconsin game. Good times.

You know what, there is nothing wrong with any of this. Society has gotten way too uptight.

 

[SoDakHawk]

He can't control off campus tailgating polices. Most people are not parking and tailgating on campus property.

You don't think the U of I has influence over the local PD and city hall? You are very naïve. It's called town & gown relations. It's a real thing. The University is the big dog in town and can use its influence if it wants.

 

[hawkfeever]

You don't think the U of I has influence over the local PD and city hall? You are very naïve. It's called town & gown relations. It's a real thing. The University is the big dog in town and can use its influence if it wants.

No, I do not and certainly not Gary Barta. See University Heights. I do not think they like the game Saturdays. I would bet they would just as soon write Kirk ferentz a ticket.

 

[robchawk]

It all started with the Sally Mason tailgating crackdown. Gameday Iowa City was worth it just to show up for the pregame. Made #1 in Sports Illustrated, IIRC. Can't have that. Unleashed the fun-hating police and it's been downhill ever since.

This exactly, U of I was the fun school, party on,,,then Barta made a series of gaffes that gutted the around the stadium tailgating so it became the not so fun school.
Never forget when he made the statement he had some complaints regarding guys peeing in the lots and trees, instead of putting out more porta potties, he put out more police.
Here is another gaffe that is just beginning, Iowa is having issues selling tickets and instead of creating more oportunities for the average fan to mingle with coaches and staff, he reduces the number of I club outings,
Barta truly is out of touch with Iowa and what their fanbase has traditionally been.

 

[HawkIDrummer]

Where 50 year olds came to act like they were 16 again.

Uh, that's pretty much the allure of college football gamedays. Not necessarily getting sh**faced drunk, (most people are satisfied just having a couple of beers) but returning to campus, tailgating, connecting with your friends and feeling "young" is a huge reason alums come to that games...not just in Iowa City but on every campus. And for those aren't Alumni...it's as close as they'll get to having that.

That IS the college football experience. Take it away and you're left with amateur football.

 

[Wasnt-drunk-didnt-troll]

I don't know that attendance has ever really rebounded since 4-8. For a very long time the talk was "vote with your pocketbook" and people did. Even during '15 people didn't buy/renew during the season because they were so fed up with the prior years. It took alot of time for people to "vote with thier pocketbooks" and it isn't going to turn around quickly.

 

[iahawkeyes17]

This exactly, U of I was the fun school, party on,,,then Barta made a series of gaffes that gutted the around the stadium tailgating so it became the not so fun school.
Never forget when he made the statement he had some complaints regarding guys peeing in the lots and trees, instead of putting out more porta potties, he put out more police.
Here is another gaffe that is just beginning, Iowa is having issues selling tickets and instead of creating more oportunities for the average fan to mingle with coaches and staff, he reduces the number of I club outings,
Barta truly is out of touch with Iowa and what their fanbase has traditionally been.

I agree that Barta takes the blame for over seeing and doubling the cost of spots on the press box parking side and by rec building. Sally Mason to me is the one more to blame for the stuff with the crackdowns in 2010 and trying to curb the image of a party school for Iowa. Plus it doesn't help that over the years do to building we lost the hospital lot that is now a ramp, no more magic bus and worst of all no more Olive Court, RIP. You try and tell the kids today about how great Olive Ct was and sadly they will never get to experience something half as good as that or the magic bus.

 

[blackbrd12]

No don't think so. Statement in effect is Barta has been terrible and has Iowa in tailspin. My counter claim is how in the heck are we at record ticket revenue in 2017 then? Those two don't equate.

I would not go so far as to say Iowa football game attendence is in a tailspin, but it is in decline. Kinnick simply does not sell out as often as it once did, and the waiting list for season tickets has evaported. By charging higher ticket prices, Barta can offset declining attendence and show higher revenue. The thing is-this is a short term fix with repect to ticket revenue if the attendence continues to decline. My criticisms with this short term practice is that you eventually pay in the long run.

As to other concerns expressed by many others in this thread, I would summarize all of them by stating that many of these ongoing concerns have one thing in common, and that is a lack of responsiveness by the U of I. I have heard fans state many concerns over the years (some of them I agree with/some I do not) that have seemingly not been addressed. Combine these concerns with tone deafness, and some embarrassing PR blunders, and you have a perfect recipe for the disconnect that exists today between the fans and the AD. I would not place 100% of the blame at Barta's feet, but he is paid a respectable amount of money to lead his department.

One final thought- you mentioned the record ticket sales revenue in defense of Barta. Ok, that's fair because whatever that actual dollar figure is, it's really high. Here's another really high number to consider...the $10 million buyout Gary Barta gave to his struggling basketball coach when he decided to extend his contract.

 

[MeetTheFerentz]

What is the revenue for 70,000 at $85 and 66,000 at $95? Therein lies the answer

If only you owned a calculator.

(BTW, it's not that simple)

 

[cidhawkeye]

If only you owned a calculator.

(BTW, it's not that simple)

Feel free to complicate it. The admins there will look at the revenue stream, not much more than that. I was in a spot where getting my 4 kids to the games and into being a fan. We had some advantages in that area. Some don't and it will cost a generation of fans. However it's about the $$$'s

 

[dandh]

Feel free to complicate it. The admins there will look at the revenue stream, not much more than that. I was in a spot where getting my 4 kids to the games and into being a fan. We had some advantages in that area. Some don't and it will cost a generation of fans. However it's about the $$$'s

This. If people believe that Barta is not focused on maximizing revenue they are delusional. If lowering prices creates higher revenue, prices will be lowered.

 

[robchawk]

This. If people believe that Barta is not focused on maximizing revenue they are delusional. If lowering prices creates higher revenue, prices will be lowered.

and this shows how out of touch he is with college football and Iowa fans, this is a pros mentality. Take any pro team and if they win they sell out, if they lose, the paper bags come out, Green Bay is the one exception,
But Iowa is different, we have/had a lot of fans thru thick and thin. Barta needs to be looking out for the long term because right now he is losing ground in this state and it does not bode well for the long term.
WE have the 4th largest revenue stream in the Big10, does anyone here think we have the 4th best ADept in the Big10?
Other schools are doing so much more with so much less it is laughable.
In respect to Sally mason, I was one of many , sent a letter that among other things discussed the goings on at tailgating, my first thought was put in more bathrooms and these issues disappear, where I tailgate we had a whole end of a pkg lot with 3 portas and there would be a line 8-10 deep all morning before games so I thought finally...
Next game out came the police squads, dumping booze etc....still had the same 3 portas though.