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First Home Game - Marketing

B

buckey

Well-known member
What is UM’s strategy for marketing the first home game (or any game)?

Does UM strategize a “sell” to the fan base other than the fact that the Griz are “hosting Butler”?

I noticed that UM is recognizing this weekend’s game Educators Day, which is great for an under appreciated profession. However, I’m not sure UM is reaching its full potential for kicking the season off.

I hate mentioning this but MSU has done a terrific job making “Gold Rush” known for opening weekend, they are sold out and playing Dixie State…. I mean Utah Tech…

Just watched Utah host Florida… Entire stadium RED! Almost couldn’t watch (EWU) - obviously some collaboration and planning going into this.

I’m not sure how many Griz home games I have attended in my lifetime, it’s either in the triple digits or very close (and I’m not old ha). It’s a great atmosphere and there is not one place I’d rather be on Saturday afternoon or night. I think UM is missing an opportunity to market this game as a “must be there event”.

There are too many seats still available, opening game should be sold out this year and every year following.

Can UM do better? I think so.

Go Griz!
 
What do they need to do better. There’s usually always excitement over the start of a new season. They sell out the stadium and almost always bring in an opponent that presents a winnable game or a blowout. A great way to kick off the fall on a 3 day weekend. You can spend a lot of dollars marketing something that markets itself or you can save those dollars when you need to make a big push to pack the stadium against a Weber or Idaho or Sac State later in the year.
 
The op's post reeks of cat envy so I'm not sure if it's legit or why I'm responding, but I simply cannot resist.

What, exactly, do you want them to promote? UM sold 1500 more season tickets then the next largest stadium in the bsc HOLDS . They have a blackout scheduled during the night game (which is way cooler than some damn "rush"). How should the promotion read? Maybe "we're so damn popular we sold 18500 season tickets and the only ones left for you to buy are 3 singles behind the tuba player?"

Cmon man.
 
As you noted Bucky, it's Educators Day. We agree it's a worthy recognition that kicks off the season.

As you already know, "Marketers" are tasked with anticipating and subsequently meeting ever-evolving customer demands by reacting quickly to market disruptions and trends, leveraging technology to scale content, and remaining agile, all the while minimizing risk and maximizing financial results. For more than twenty-five years, I was a leader of three of the four P's of Corporate Marketing for a Fortune 100 Company, and can tell you that though I live outside the 406 and am not exposed to traditional offline (commonly print and terrestrial media) or media like mailers and yard signs specifically designed to reach the literal grassroots of the community and the all-important regional audience, I do suspect there was the normal array of print ads, signing, billboards, TV and Radio in the run-up to and during this week. I do have to note being a big fan of the billboard that was shared in online media. While I'm at it, I should clarify, I was only in charge of one "P" at a time. Sorry for any confusion.

However, given my allegiance to the program, I am heavily exposed to online media and can tell you that I can clearly see technology being leveraged, with scale and content in a rhythm and frequency that stops short of being annoying, unlike what is occurring in the Gallatin. In short, I think what I am seeing is just the right level of marketing given that it's Labor Day weekend and they will have in excess of four thousand more folks in the stands in Missoula than in bozeman. Marketing Pro tip: While once taught in B-school as one of the essential paradigms of the practice, marketing "promotion" is no longer "carpet bombing" the audience with messaging. It's just too dammed expensive and results measurement is still essentially subjective. With finite budgets, you simply have to choose your opportunities wisely. The T-shirt promotional was scheduled for week three this season and as you also know, is a non-traditional, but complimentary color palette. Given the Native American nature of summer in Montana, I wouldn't have recommended that color attire for anything other than a night game. So I think the Montana marketing folks are right on the nose there.

One thing I'm pretty sure didn't get the focus it deserves is something that I am very excited for and will occur during the pregame show on the local ESPN station hosted by Colter Nuanez from 10-12, likely in their old location just over the footbridge. I am told that sometime during the first hour of the broadcast, former Raiders coach and MNF commentator John Gruden will be joining Colter to break down the challenges of defending against the left-handed QB. Perhaps like me, you suspect there are some not-so-subtle differences that could be shared widely via terrestrial and online media. Given the controversy over that topic from Monday's press event, I think it's great to have a widely-known and well-respected expert on offensive football on their program to discuss. Should be an outstanding conversation and an even better football weekend. I'd be remiss if I didn't remind everyone that the podcast featuring the Gruden interview will be available where you get your podcasts, on Sunday morning.

I know you didn't ask me specifically to evaluate this, but if I were to write the postmortem on this week's efforts, I'd give the online effort an A. I would defer to the local folks to give a letter grade to print and terrestrial media. Thanks for your time and for raising a very stimulating topic just before GameDay. Made my day.

And Go Griz!
 
While there are tickets left, it is also opening weekend of hunting season. I know a lot of Griz fans that will always miss a game on the opening weekend. That isn't new.
 
ElrodGrizzly said:
While there are tickets left, it is also opening weekend of hunting season. I know a lot of Griz fans that will always miss a game on the opening weekend. That isn't new.
Click to expand...

Great point. We all know that folks from Bozeman, nor their dogs, hunt.
 
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