Attendance is Barta's fault - Iowa only issue

hawkdrummer1 said:
At the risk of "back in my day"....yeah, 1:00 start was primo. The perfect game day. Plenty of time to tailgate without getting up at 6:00am (even the students made kickoff) Game over in time to go out for dinner, etc. Referring back to my post, it also allowed most out-of-towners to do it same day with a DD..especially the Chicago burbs fans. 11:00 and 2:30 are great for TV money...not so good for putting butts in the stands.
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I did the same day down and back twice last year to save money (11 hours round trip plus the pre-game & game), and I've decided that 38 is too old for that.

Since they canceled the spring game, my plan for Hawkeye football this year is to make one leisurely trip to the Rutgers game with my kid. Early in the season so the weather should be aces for both the game and driving, cheaper tickets, and it's still a conference game that we (should) win. I really like the idea of scheduling a conference game early like that. That's what I meant before; I'm going to be pickier now with as much as it costs.

I just don't have it in me anymore to spend half a paycheck to go through another NW game like last year. Miserable weather and an absolute piss poor display of football, mainly by coaches. Pulled into my driveway at 1:45 the next morning and thought to myself, "Nah..."
 
Fryowa said:
I did the same day down and back twice last year to save money (11 hours round trip plus the pre-game & game), and I've decided that 38 is too old for that.

Since they canceled the spring game, my plan for Hawkeye football this year is to make one leisurely trip to the Rutgers game with my kid. Early in the season so the weather should be aces for both the game and driving, cheaper tickets, and it's still a conference game that we (should) win. I really like the idea of scheduling a conference game early like that. That's what I meant before; I'm going to be pickier now with as much as it costs.

I just don't have it in me anymore to spend half a paycheck to go through another NW game like last year. Miserable weather and an absolute piss poor display of football, mainly by coaches. Pulled into my driveway at 1:45 the next morning and thought to myself, "Nah..."
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Sounds like you're in the Twin Cities too? (though I can do the round trip in significantly less than 11 hours) We always make the opener...I take a couple of extra days and visit family and friends in the homeland. If only the drive times were reversed between (L)ames and Iowa City.
 
hawkdrummer1 said:
Sounds like you're in the Twin Cities too? (though I can do the round trip in significantly less than 11 hours) We always make the opener...I take a couple of extra days and visit family and friends in the homeland. If only the drive times were reversed between (L)ames and Iowa City.
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I'm in way NW Iowa.
 
westender said:
I just don't think anyone should complain if they reduce seating capacity to more it more comfortable. I did renew again. I compare to going to a concert versus just listening to music on an electronic device. It is costly. They need to market more toward 1 or 2 game attendance type folks too. I am a dinosaur though. I have never snap chatted or instagrammed and have 0 desire to do so.
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They do market this. I dropped long-time set of tickets earlier this decade. I've been getting one of the 3-game packs directly from the U the last few years and can pick / choose which games I want to see. Not to mention, NO SEAT FEE.

You do have some option on seats, too. While it's usually corners and end zone in the 3-packs, I've found I actually prefer just off center in the end-zone over my former season tickets on the 20.
(Better crowd - rarely hear, "Sit Down!":rolleyes::mad: and less worry about the 2-Stars taking my beverages, which I don't even try to hide, anymore.)
That said, last year I was 45 yard line at NW game. Yes, it was like row 65 but that seat for all 7 games pulls > $1000 contribution + ticket $.:eek:
 
Me and my pretend season tickets will be in the north end zone again this year.

The advent of HD TV makes it a lot easier for some to stay at home and I can't blame them for that.
 
Whoever mentioned the stupid announcements and commercials during key parts of the game is spot on. I just read an article recently that talked about a new AD that came in to some school (can't remember which one off-hand), and called all the customers that had commercials or other promo spots at the game and told them thanks for their support, but the spots were boring and he wanted to use that time to bring more entertaining items to the fans. That's what Barta needs to do. We get more than enough money from TV and other sponsorship that we don't need Joe Corn Council using time to present a corn award during a tv timeout just to get his group branding time at the game.
 
SpiderRico said:
Whoever mentioned the stupid announcements and commercials during key parts of the game is spot on. I just read an article recently that talked about a new AD that came in to some school (can't remember which one off-hand), and called all the customers that had commercials or other promo spots at the game and told them thanks for their support, but the spots were boring and he wanted to use that time to bring more entertaining items to the fans. That's what Barta needs to do. We get more than enough money from TV and other sponsorship that we don't need Joe Corn Council using time to present a corn award during a tv timeout just to get his group branding time at the game.
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I'm sure there is mountains of data on this, but is there ever a negative impact from efforts at branding during an event, i.e., more harm than good comes from the promotion. The only one that I think might have applied was the Case IH RED ZONE!!!! crap that blared through the PA 3-4 years ago. It quickly ended because it was so reviled by those in the stadium.
 
homes said:
I'm sure there is mountains of data on this, but is there ever a negative impact from efforts at branding during an event, i.e., more harm than good comes from the promotion. The only one that I think might have applied was the Case IH RED ZONE!!!! crap that blared through the PA 3-4 years ago. It quickly ended because it was so reviled by those in the stadium.
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The Pancheros Burrito Lift is on par with the Case IH red zone stupidity. I refuse to ever go to Pancheros for that reason alone....
 
Fryowa said:
It's too expensive for the experience that you get now that you can watch it in 720p curled up on your couch for free. With better views, no buyer's remorse if your team get's blown out, 10 steps to the bathroom, no OWI risk for those of you who drink, and all the taco dip and pickle rolls you can stuff in your fat face. And if Stanley starts playing soft toss with Penn State's DBs, you can go mow grass.

Seriously though...for a family of 4 that lives, say 2 hours away, you've got $200 in tickets minimum, $50 round trip in gas, $100 in meals, popcorn, miscellaneous stuff, and that's just the bare minimum. So you spend $350-$500 to go watch Kirk Ferentz not play Noah Fant against NW and get beat when it's 17 degrees outside with a hammered tailgater swaying into you for three hours.

If you have to hotel it one night then you're in even deeper.

The people wondering why attendance declines are also people who think every family pulls two $100K plus incomes.
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I get everything you state. The other side is when you get a glorious game like Michigan or Ohio State. They were not for national titles but they were great to be there in person. Even the almost Penn State game of 2017 was great in person. So loud on that last drive. Missed it by an inch. And in terms of lesser opponents those are good ones for reduced price kid tickets as they don't care who the Hawks are playing and if parents want to take kids it makes it a little better ($25 a seat). So I think it is good to have a couple like that. But if I didn't have a kid I would not drive from Sioux City to watch those in person. I am lucky to live within a half hour. No hotels and no long hours in the car.

It isn't just income either. It is competition for one's time.
 
Xerxes said:
This will sound old-fashioned but I really miss the 1:00 start times in the 1980s and early 1990s when Iowa wasn't on TV. We didn't have to get up so early to get to the game and we stopped about halfway home to grab some food and were usually home by 9pm.
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That is the thing with all games on tv that hurts physical attendance. Remember listening to Gonder and Reilly as a kid on the small AM radio.
 
HerkyNeedsaTan said:
I couldn’t agree more and made sure to mention it on my last gameday experience survey. We have a band and cheerleaders for a reason- but every time the crowd gets roaring, the P.A. announcer interrupts with some stupid announcement or contest. I love the college atmosphere-way better then pro football-but all the commercials dilutes the experience! Good post!
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Well that have to do something with the 50 flipping tv timeouts they have every game. So many that are just back to back timeouts too.
 
homes said:
Tailgating, walking up to the stadium among the crowd with the expected (hope)of an Iowa win, the Iowa band marching into the stadium, the kid captain coming on the field with the honorary captain, the Boom, the Fight Song and On Iowa, Back in Black/Enter Sandman, the Swarm, Nile Kinnick's speech, the opening kickoff, the Wave, honoring our military hero, I-O-W-A after every touchdown, high fiving the guy next to you and below you and above you, the ups and downs of the game, walking back to your car replaying the key plays in the game (good and bad). It's all worth it to me. To each his own.
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The 10 minute long I - O - W - A chant in the 4th quarter against Iowa State was fantastic.
 
eyekwah said:
A lot of factors influence attendance, but when the home games are played have a large influence. Home or away the weather was brutal for a majority of Saturdays in 2018. The 11 o'clock starts also impact attendance. If you live 3 hours away from IC your looking at leaving home by 7:30 at the latest. If you worked all week and need some rest then getting to the game just seems like work.

I believe those that mention the cost factor. In the competitive world of college football recruiting facilities influence recruits. Unfortunately it has led Universities to extract money where ever they can get it. The football program basically supports the entire athletic department at most colleges. The TV revenue did not make ticket prices any less expensive nor has the fan experience benefited, unless you sit at home. The Title IX legislation has a direct influence on prices for tickets as well. Salaries for coaching staffs have escalated dramatically. Whether you want to acknowledge it or not simple economics 101 still applies.
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Iowa State game, UNI game, Wisconsin game, picture post card game days. A little hot for UNI game. Northern Illinois game was good weather as well. Maryland was windy and sunny. Nebraska game not bad, just started light rain in 4th quarter. Northwestern was cold and cloudy, but not overly windy.
 
homes said:
Tailgating, walking up to the stadium among the crowd with the expected (hope)of an Iowa win, the Iowa band marching into the stadium, the kid captain coming on the field with the honorary captain, the Boom, the Fight Song and On Iowa, Back in Black/Enter Sandman, the Swarm, Nile Kinnick's speech, the opening kickoff, the Wave, honoring our military hero, I-O-W-A after every touchdown, high fiving the guy next to you and below you and above you, the ups and downs of the game, walking back to your car replaying the key plays in the game (good and bad). It's all worth it to me. To each his own.
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The sights, the smells and the sounds (some not good but most great).
 
I see the Clowns sent out an e-mail that the Iowa game and UNI game will not be a part of any mini-game pack for them this time around. JP is got his big boy pants on now. Doesn't want the scourge from IC coming in.
 
westender said:
It isn't just income either. It is competition for one's time.
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It is for me. The only limitation I have whatsoever is income.

I get 7 weeks of PTO every year, I have the freedom to use it literally whenever I want, I’m not married so I have no spousal commitments, and my son is not in a weekend sport during football season.

But cost for two people to go to a Michigan or Ohio State game plus a hotel when they’re in town could easily push a grand. There are other things I’d do with $1,000 than drive to IC for a football game.
 
One thing that can be done that would increase the experience tremendously is stop the tv timeout after the kickoff. There's no need for it. That commercial time can be done at other times. There's nothing worse than having a score, going to timeout, kicking off, going to timeout.
 
Fryowa said:
So you spend $350-$500 to go watch Kirk Ferentz not play Noah Fant against NW and get beat when it's 17 degrees outside with a hammered tailgater swaying into you for three hours.
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This is one of the best sentences summarizing Kinnick I have ever seen. It is a work of art.
 
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