Posted on Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 8:56 a.m.
Michigan athletic department's new marketing officer aims to sell out basketball games at Crisler Arena
By AnnArbor.com Staff
Hunter Lochmann, hired in December as the chief marketing officer for the Michigan athletic department, envisions a regularly sold out Crisler Arena, Crain's Detroit Business reports.
"That's a personal agenda," Lochmann told Crain's. "I've got to get to the bottom of why that doesn't happen. I want to get into the data on why people don't come to the games."
Comments
ogel1209
Sun, Mar 6, 2011 : 6:25 p.m.
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE give the students more seating--and no, I'm not a student. It would be nice to have the student section wrap around at both ends like at Duke and Carolina. Students cheer so much more than the stodgy older people in the blue section. The majority of the older people just cross their arms and watch the game in silence. You must go to a Duke or Carolina game to see what a difference is made having more students close to the court.
cnorman
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 6:21 p.m.
it's simple----first and foremost the product on the floor must improve / seating in the yellow section is waytoofar from the action/ parking in the crisler lot is atrocious. moving the university vehicles to a different parking location would be a first step. designate a special parking area for ushers and crisler workers.
SonnyDog09
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 5:44 p.m.
I was there last week for the Northwestern game. Paid $5 for a box of popcorn. Don't gouge the few fans that you have.
MLB
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 3:55 p.m.
Parking is difficult and particularly when weather is awful (10 below) makes walking long distances tough--(Is a park and ride possible?)--The food choices are atrocious--Could there be a dinner/lunch offered early like a tail gate for bball?--Offer empty seats in the blue section at half time to upper level fans (makes the stadium seem more full and creates more noise at court level)--Find a way to "donate" your season tickets for games you won't be able to get to--or sell them to someone else easily--Many season ticket holders I know often go away for 2-4 weeks in the winter--It should be easy to determine which fans are "loyal" and which are sometime attendees--Give "loyal" fans better seats--Promote more "Rose Garden" type free tickets--Always good to develop a new young fan base. None of these suggestions will be as good as having a really good and exciting team--number one objective!
MjC
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 2:48 p.m.
The games are fast, the UM band rocks, half-time shows are fun, maize rage student section is awesome, and tickets are priced about right. Basketball fans would be pleased to cheer on a winning program and this 2011 team is only going to get better (they don't disappoint). But ... seats in the no oxygen zone leave much to be desired. A new larger video score board would help; and the plans to remodel have long been needed (might help with recruitment too!).
Forever27
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 2:37 p.m.
He has to get the data to figure out why they aren't selling? two data points are all that matter when it comes to attendance, Wins and Losses. If they spend one dime on studies and research to figure out how to sell more tickets they've wasted their money.
a2roots
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 2:34 p.m.
So sorry, Hunter....
a2roots
Mon, Feb 14, 2011 : 2:33 p.m.
Come on Connor, it is quite simple. Our basketball teams over the past several years have stunk to high heaven. Poor coaching, poor recruiting and the black cloud from the Ed Martin debacle. People want to see a competitive team and hopefully one that wins more than it loses. Until we put teams on the court that are competitive Crisler will remain 50% occupied except for marquee games and those which the athletic department virtually gives away tickets. By the way as a season ticket holder I am not real happy with the reduced pricing to get people in the house. It is a slap in the face and wallet to season ticket holders. Bielien seems to be going in the right direction but I am not convinced he is the right guy.