Doing some thinking about the upcoming NZ Ice Hockey season, and wanting to kick in some additional donation to the team to help market the local team. The goal being not necessarily to get back the money plus in tickets, but to grow the fanbase, improve the game atmosphere for the players, and to grow the local club player base by attracting youth and adult beginner players.
So not looking to attract one off fans with a gimmick, but trying to draw people who might have interest in playing or become an ongoing fan.
NZ's big spectator sports are rugby and cricket. I would think that the rugby fans would be most likely to meet this definition of desired outcome. Would also want to attract the university students to attend. One of the main revenue sources is the bar at the rink. We have the local brewery as a sponsor and they provide us free beer to sell at the games.
Some of my brainstorming came up with these ideas:
Ad in Friday newspaper sports circular on game weekend (Friday/Saturday games). This is a separate special sports section that I notice many sports fans get the actual print version to read.
Radio ads a few days prior to game day. Target the rock stations.
Social media, perhaps a paid targeted "boosted" post to those locals who like sports related content.
A free van that shuttles back and forth to the university campus before and after the game. Maybe the odd trip has a free box of Speights in the van for consumption on the trip to prime the pump.
Tailgating with food trucks so all one needs to bring is the beer. I am surprised that tailgating doesn't catch on here for rugby. We've done it a few times on the fly for ice hockey and it has worked well, but with the usual crowd not really an attraction for new fans.
So my question is this: as sports fans, what marketing would reach you and make you consider buying tickets and going to the game with a few work mates? (We tried free tickets and those tickets usually end up in the hands of people who would go anyway, or those who go just because it is free and don't come back). The usual crowd is 300-400 paying customers. Ticket price is cheap ($15 NZD...about $10 US). Rink capacity is up to 1200. I would like to target 500-600 attendance as a realistic goal, and attract 15 new players to the club.
How would you suggest going about this on a low budget?
I remember the past head of the Oakland Zoo used to post here. Is he still around? He would probably have some ideas.
You can take the piss out of me if you want, just be funny about it. I am also looking for serious replies.
Thanks in advance.
So not looking to attract one off fans with a gimmick, but trying to draw people who might have interest in playing or become an ongoing fan.
NZ's big spectator sports are rugby and cricket. I would think that the rugby fans would be most likely to meet this definition of desired outcome. Would also want to attract the university students to attend. One of the main revenue sources is the bar at the rink. We have the local brewery as a sponsor and they provide us free beer to sell at the games.
Some of my brainstorming came up with these ideas:
Ad in Friday newspaper sports circular on game weekend (Friday/Saturday games). This is a separate special sports section that I notice many sports fans get the actual print version to read.
Radio ads a few days prior to game day. Target the rock stations.
Social media, perhaps a paid targeted "boosted" post to those locals who like sports related content.
A free van that shuttles back and forth to the university campus before and after the game. Maybe the odd trip has a free box of Speights in the van for consumption on the trip to prime the pump.
Tailgating with food trucks so all one needs to bring is the beer. I am surprised that tailgating doesn't catch on here for rugby. We've done it a few times on the fly for ice hockey and it has worked well, but with the usual crowd not really an attraction for new fans.
So my question is this: as sports fans, what marketing would reach you and make you consider buying tickets and going to the game with a few work mates? (We tried free tickets and those tickets usually end up in the hands of people who would go anyway, or those who go just because it is free and don't come back). The usual crowd is 300-400 paying customers. Ticket price is cheap ($15 NZD...about $10 US). Rink capacity is up to 1200. I would like to target 500-600 attendance as a realistic goal, and attract 15 new players to the club.
How would you suggest going about this on a low budget?
I remember the past head of the Oakland Zoo used to post here. Is he still around? He would probably have some ideas.
You can take the piss out of me if you want, just be funny about it. I am also looking for serious replies.
Thanks in advance.