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SWAC Championship Game Attendance
- Thread starter Dr. Tripp
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I gotcha graduate! :tup:
Right. The SCG should be treated like an event and not just a game. In reality it should be treated like a bowl game weekend and marketed as such.
The SEC does it right way. They market the hell out of the championship game, but they also have great events surrounding the game for the whole family that makes it attractive. If I am not mistaken, the game was sold out weeks in advance. Now if the Bayou Classic--which is treated like an event can be sold out--why can't the most important game of the season?
Man if I read one more post of someone trying to compare the SWAC to the SEC...
Stop trying to compare the SWAC to the SEC. The difference between the two is BUDGET. You can't compare a 5 figure budget to a 6...possibby even 7 figure marketing budget.
And to the SWAC's defense...while one will always find areas to be critical...they have actually improved over the years in trying to market this game. If you are going to market this game to anyone, you have to market it to the locals in and around the Bham area.
To be fair...I also compared the SCG to the Bayou Classic. I mean, it is fair to compare the SEC to the SWAC game from a marketing standpoint. Forget the game for a moment. They do it better than the SWAC does. It is cool to steal some ideas from a successful entity to improve the product.
The game needs to marketed to all SWAC areas from the start of the season. Not when it gets close to the title game.
I know it's the championship game, but you have to give people a reason to go to B'Ham and you have to give resident of Alabama a reason other than the game to attend.
And even that isn't a fair comparison.
The amount of money the BC gets in sponsorship money just from State Farm alone blows the SCG away. Thus, Bickerstaff has some room to play with from a marketing stand point.
"NOISE TALKA"
Mr. Hatedandloved
EXACTLY.... Do yall REALLY not understand the HUGE differences....?
"NOISE TALKA"
Mr. Hatedandloved
Other cities have offered the same though so...
KCPVPanther
Well-Known Member
New Orleans is the only place SCG can thrive. However that won't work with the currrent position of the Bayou Classic. Shoot, the Bayou Classic trophy was better than SCG trophy. The Bayou Classic trumps the SCG game and officially in the mind of fans ends the season for Black College Football.
In addition in December all focus is on the bowl games so the ability to gain traction with Marketing in December is almost impossible for a game that is regarded less that any other game to be played in December including FCS and Div II playoff games. The SCG game means nothing to key people that matters. That is business advertisers and TV watchers.
KCPVPanther
In addition in December all focus is on the bowl games so the ability to gain traction with Marketing in December is almost impossible for a game that is regarded less that any other game to be played in December including FCS and Div II playoff games. The SCG game means nothing to key people that matters. That is business advertisers and TV watchers.
KCPVPanther
I think you make some really good points (I don't know about the Bayou Classic trophy however, I have never seen it).
SUjagTILLiDIE
Well-Known Member
Its a BCS, crystal ball, type trophy.
Oh, then that's nice. :clap:
BigCaesar74
New Member
Ok, say you move the game to Jackson, and its a year like where neither Grambling, Southern or none of the Mississippi schools make it, like the year A&M won the title. Who gonna come see any of the Texas schools or Pine Bluff play Bama State or A&M in Jackson. Nobody gonna be there. And dont say it cant happen cause it already did. At least that game had the A&M people to draw some crowd from. That same game in Jackson. would been empty. Its up to the schools to get there fanbase excited enough to travel.
SUjagTILLiDIE
Well-Known Member
Jackson is a SWAC town and with all those schools less than 2 hours away(Jackson,Southern,Gram,Alcorn,Valley) , they will get more people who's team didn't make the game. I know plenty of Jags would go, if the game was in Jackson. There would be Bus loads of Jags. I would never miss the SCG if it was in Jackson.
stroke
Well-Known Member
A few months ago we was talking about how the NCAA was going to take money that the Swac Championship makes...lol Yet our game was on ESPN Classic in a empty stadium w/ two TV guys that have been calling SWAC games forever and they still dont know jack about the schools or players..
On the flip side, the FCS playoffs was on regular espn and sold out. Annoucers knew all the players and they really did play by play and play review....
And we said the NCAA was after our championship money...lol
The SWAC championship could be in Miami w/ free tickets(game, airline) and free hotels and we still wouldnt have more then 40k in the staduim... Why? cause to be real their is no real intrest in the game... Everyone knew that Grambling was better then J state. Everyone know that the 07game was a fluke.
The Game want get any interest until some meaning is behind it. you cant keep having rematches that was whop sided in the first contest. and the season cant end with that game. I see The SWAC CG game gaining attendence if and only if we are playing against the FCS champion... or we talk another conference into having a championship game and having a bowl game... Problem we cant beat anyone outside the swac so the FCS champion isnt going to play us knowing we cant beat other losing FCS schools. And the playoffs work for other conferences...
I know in 01 (when the playoffs started after the bayou classic because of 911) we begged the SWAC to cancel the playoff and let us go to the playoffs..
On the flip side, the FCS playoffs was on regular espn and sold out. Annoucers knew all the players and they really did play by play and play review....
And we said the NCAA was after our championship money...lol
The SWAC championship could be in Miami w/ free tickets(game, airline) and free hotels and we still wouldnt have more then 40k in the staduim... Why? cause to be real their is no real intrest in the game... Everyone knew that Grambling was better then J state. Everyone know that the 07game was a fluke.
The Game want get any interest until some meaning is behind it. you cant keep having rematches that was whop sided in the first contest. and the season cant end with that game. I see The SWAC CG game gaining attendence if and only if we are playing against the FCS champion... or we talk another conference into having a championship game and having a bowl game... Problem we cant beat anyone outside the swac so the FCS champion isnt going to play us knowing we cant beat other losing FCS schools. And the playoffs work for other conferences...
I know in 01 (when the playoffs started after the bayou classic because of 911) we begged the SWAC to cancel the playoff and let us go to the playoffs..
Lewis
Peabody Warhorses
Lets put some reality to this conversation.
1) 25,000 is not bad for a FCS game, the playoff championship game at best may not excede this by much, and many years doesn't even make 25,000.
2) Birmingham SUCKS. now let me explain. In marketing, you can't just deal with reality, you gotta deal with what people think. Birminngham could be the greatest City in the US of A, but if people think it sucks, then that is what you gotta deal with. If you ask the average person in the SWAC area to start naming Cities they would like to visit for a weekend, Birmingham would not make the top 10. Most have a negative opinion of Birmingham. FACE FACTS, BIRMINGHAM IS NOT A TOURIST CITY.
3) for a SWAC game, you are not going to get over 15,000 true pure football fans. The rest will be there for the EVENT, like homecoming, bayou Classic, Magic City Classic, State Fair classic, etc.
4) Once something gets to event status, you will have lots of people that come to the event that don't come to the game. At least 1/3 of the people I know that go to the "Bayou Classic" don't actually go to the game.
5) The heart of the SWAC is LA and Miss. The farther you get away (geographically) from there, the tougher the sell. In addition, you eliminate the "1 day trip", if it is not a 1 day trip, then it better be an "EVENT", not just a football game.
6) Black folks don't like sitting outside in the cold.
7) Casinos make a big difference.
These things are reality.
1) 25,000 is not bad for a FCS game, the playoff championship game at best may not excede this by much, and many years doesn't even make 25,000.
2) Birmingham SUCKS. now let me explain. In marketing, you can't just deal with reality, you gotta deal with what people think. Birminngham could be the greatest City in the US of A, but if people think it sucks, then that is what you gotta deal with. If you ask the average person in the SWAC area to start naming Cities they would like to visit for a weekend, Birmingham would not make the top 10. Most have a negative opinion of Birmingham. FACE FACTS, BIRMINGHAM IS NOT A TOURIST CITY.
3) for a SWAC game, you are not going to get over 15,000 true pure football fans. The rest will be there for the EVENT, like homecoming, bayou Classic, Magic City Classic, State Fair classic, etc.
4) Once something gets to event status, you will have lots of people that come to the event that don't come to the game. At least 1/3 of the people I know that go to the "Bayou Classic" don't actually go to the game.
5) The heart of the SWAC is LA and Miss. The farther you get away (geographically) from there, the tougher the sell. In addition, you eliminate the "1 day trip", if it is not a 1 day trip, then it better be an "EVENT", not just a football game.
6) Black folks don't like sitting outside in the cold.
7) Casinos make a big difference.
These things are reality.
BigCaesar74
New Member
So you mean to tell me that you will get 10 to 15 thousand jag fans to come to jackson to see Pine Bluff and A&M play in the SCG. No they won't. Be real about it. Most people will not go to a game if it's not their team playing or a classic game. You will get a few die-hard fans but not many. The game do alright in N.O. but it would not be a major priority for the city. Thats why i said Biloxi if they had a stadium big enough to hold it. The city would bend over backwards and give the game everything it wanted
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SUjagTILLiDIE
Well-Known Member
Never said that. But I think atleast 2-4 thousand SU fans would have gone. All the Support clubs(SU has plenty of them) would have offered bus trips. Not to mention the 2-4 thousand Alcorn , Gram and Valley fans would have gone. Plus the 7-9 Jackson fans.
Lewis
Peabody Warhorses
OK, let me get this straight. DAMN NEAR EVERY YEAR you expect Southern and Grambling (we make it every year but 1) to drive all the damn way to Birmingham, but AM fans won't drive to Jackson? Now what is Wrong with that thinking.
If you follow that thinking, You definitely move the game. Birmingham in only close for 2 schools, and they don't even have SWAC Tradition. In Jackson, you are close half of the SWAC, 5 Swac Schools that will all come to see each other, that has the biggest followings in the SWAC. and it is WAAAAAY Closer. The year you refer to, Pine bluff folks drove all the way to Birmingham, Jackson was still a lot closer for them.
Lewis
Peabody Warhorses
You missed it, if you have Pine Bluff, or a texas school, You can chalk that up already as a loss no matter where they play. BUT, Jackson folks will come to see Southern, Alcorn or Valley. Southern Folks will come to see Jackson, or Alcorn or Grambling if it is close (not 6 hours away, however) More fans from each school will also come if they can get up, leave that morning, tailgate, hit the game and make it home that night.
Biloxi is OK.
Southern vs Jackson St in Jackson for SCG = Sell out.
BigCaesar74
New Member
What i'm saying is the same thing you said earlier. If its not a classic or an event. people arent going to support a game their team is not in. We all know what schools travel to games. It's not realistic to think that other schools are going to your school just because its closer to you than another. you will always get those die-hard that will support. but the casual fan will not support it
Jafus (Thinker)
Well-Known Member
My issues are as follows:
1) Match-ups (compelling)
2) Entertainment (lack of – this does not include casinos; I do not gamble, I personally would prefer to travel to a city were several college friends/fraternities brothers reside. We will find or create our own entertainment)
3) Weather/Facilities (I prefer warm weather)
4) Economics (the above three will determine what I am willing to spend to attend such an event)
I have watched (I will continue to watch) every game either in person or on television.
1) Match-ups (compelling)
2) Entertainment (lack of – this does not include casinos; I do not gamble, I personally would prefer to travel to a city were several college friends/fraternities brothers reside. We will find or create our own entertainment)
3) Weather/Facilities (I prefer warm weather)
4) Economics (the above three will determine what I am willing to spend to attend such an event)
I have watched (I will continue to watch) every game either in person or on television.
Lewis
Peabody Warhorses
I agree, the many of the casual fans won't, but us die hards would. Take this year. If it was within a 3 hour drive, I would have went. Birmingham was just to far and to sad of city. I know of a lot of others also. Do you even realize last year how many of us Southern fans came to Birmingham to game anyway???
I been several times when Southern didn't play, but you get tired of it after a while. Going way out to sorry arse Birmingham.
"NOISE TALKA"
Mr. Hatedandloved
There is some truth to the "SWAC-city" argument. While our conference office is now located there... I just don't see Birmingham as much of a "SWAC" city as Jackson is... No way in h*ll it is.
I believe no matter what you'll have a good deal of locals to support the event in Jackson. I feel like in birmingham if you ask some random people to name 8 SWAC schools and they couldn't. lol. Jackson is a SWAC-town, therefore I think it would make for a better BASE to work with, without regard to who's playing.
I still feel it's the primary responsibility of the schools IN THE GAME to bring out the masses, but unless the bham locals just threw on JSU and GSU gear Saturday ... i just dont think they were out AT ALL.
I believe no matter what you'll have a good deal of locals to support the event in Jackson. I feel like in birmingham if you ask some random people to name 8 SWAC schools and they couldn't. lol. Jackson is a SWAC-town, therefore I think it would make for a better BASE to work with, without regard to who's playing.
I still feel it's the primary responsibility of the schools IN THE GAME to bring out the masses, but unless the bham locals just threw on JSU and GSU gear Saturday ... i just dont think they were out AT ALL.
the band fan
Baseball Fan
Birmingham ain't a bad place....the suburbs offer plenty to do..it has a SW airlines hub
but again, it's not about SWAC school fans, it's about the casual fan the game has had trouble attracting....they come out for the magic city classic but dissappear after that...
but again, it's not about SWAC school fans, it's about the casual fan the game has had trouble attracting....they come out for the magic city classic but dissappear after that...
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