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JK_112880
(The Next Level!)
240 Posts |
 Posted - 08/19/2008 : 7:29:43 PM
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Just a little topic for discussion. I was thinking about this today and I'd like to hear the board's input on it:
Could the Reds' struggles and the Bengals' PR nightmares (i.e. Chris Henry) be a boon to the Cyclones in terms of increasing their fan base? Do you think sports fans in the Cincinnati area could/would finally say "enough is enough" and seek out alternative sports options in the area?
I personally doubt many fans will totally swear off pro sports in this town and I am not expecting it to happen. But I would guess that the Cyclones would be looking at this as an opportunity to increase their fan base.
Might those disgruntled fans give the Cyclones another look, especially in the wake of the Kelly Cup victory and the club's efforts to build a base here? What do you think the Cyclones organization can do to capitalize on this?
I don't have any ulterior motives for this post, I'm just throwing it out there as food for thought and seeing what other Cyclones fans think. Thanks for your input! |
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the bear
(Finally Got A Star!)
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - 09/01/2008 : 11:53:57 PM
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I don't think so. In 2001 and 2002, the Bengals were 5-11 and 2-14 (Mike Brown Step Down was the battle cry Bengals fans, and it will be again this season). In 2002, the Reds were 78-84 and 19 games out of 1st. I seem to remember Cyclone games drawing very poorly (2,000-3,000). Interest in the Cyclones, as well as all of minor league sports (and to a large extent, major league sports too) rely on the front office getting their ass in gear and promoting the team as they should. You cannot just open your doors and expect the fans, sponsors, and media to be there waiting for you. I think the Cyclones front office came around after the new year in promoting the team (doing more than just putting up a few billboards).
Besides, when the Cyclones were in the playoff run, the Reds were looked like they could be playoff contenders. I think this is all about the Cyclones reaching out to the public. |
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hrc666
(Loves To Post!)
1363 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 04:27:10 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by the bear
Interest in the Cyclones.... rely on the front office getting their ass in gear and promoting the team as they should. You cannot just open your doors and expect the fans, sponsors, and media to be there waiting for you. I think the Cyclones front office came around after the new year in promoting the team (doing more than just putting up a few billboards).
Let's give credit where credit is due.
The Cyclone's management did get off their a**es and aggressively promoted the team through advertising along with lowering prices and combined that with a concerted media relations effort. It ultimately paid off. They averaged over 5,000 per weekend game in the regular season after they did these things. Previously they had been averaging less than 3000 per weekend game.
In the playoffs, the Cyclones averaged 4935 per game-4th in the league and 95% more than their regular season average. They also averaged over 6000 per weekend playoff game and averaged 9435 in the finals.
I assume the team will be equally aggressive in their advertising and promotion this season. I expect the team to average over 4000 per game compared to their average of 2523 per game last season. The continued poor performance of the Reds and the expected mediocrity of the Bengals may help the Cyclones. They can certainly leverage their Kelly Cup Championship in their promotions. If the momentum of last season's post Jan 1 attendance and spectacular playoff finals series attendance continues, the Cyclones could far exceed my 4000/game estimate.
If the team becomes an 'in thing' to do among the younger crowd, then the sky might be the limit for the team regarding attendance. With $10 tickets, dollar beer and a winning team, they could fill the need for Cincinnati area fans appetite for a winning professional sports team and cheap, fun entertainment. We'll know fairly early in the season if the Cyclones are really back on the sports radar in Cincinnati or if the post Jan 1 and playoff attendance was an abberation. |
"The only way David Desharnais will see an NHL game is if he buys a ticket".
--donnie hockey
"David Desharnais will be invisible during 5 on 5 hockey. IN THE AHL"
--donnie hockey
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Edited by - hrc666 on 09/02/2008 04:30:48 AM |
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fruitloop
(Rookie)
USA
35 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 1:34:57 PM
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no.
a cincinnati sports year goes like this:
january: the debate between uc and uk basketball begins.
february: the debate continues, and xavier gets mentioned.
march: did you fill out your bracket?
april: it's opening day! this is going to be the reds' year!
may: the young talent will come around.
june: they could still get the wild card.
july: how may all-stars did they get?
august: have you been following training camp?
september: who-dey!
october: the buckeyes/bearcats/wildcats don't look too bad.
november: pittsburgh's got a weak schedule.
december: when is the crosstown shootout?
remember how much press the cyclones got last year? |
"drop the puck it's time to go!" - dropkick murphys |
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elvis77
(Loves To Post!)
1435 Posts |
Posted - 09/02/2008 : 4:19:33 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by fruitloop
no.
a cincinnati sports year goes like this:
january: the debate between uc and uk basketball begins.
february: the debate continues, and xavier gets mentioned.
march: did you fill out your bracket?
april: it's opening day! this is going to be the reds' year!
may: the young talent will come around.
june: they could still get the wild card.
july: how may all-stars did they get?
august: have you been following training camp?
september: who-dey!
october: the buckeyes/bearcats/wildcats don't look too bad.
november: pittsburgh's got a weak schedule.
december: when is the crosstown shootout?
remember how much press the cyclones got last year?
you left out one thing during september through november....high school football gets just as much if not more coverage than the bengals...
i think the sales staff, john hammel and the management have done an excellent job growing the fan base, but they are going to have to keep it up to get the coverage. even if the team averages 4500 i just don't see the coverage increasing very much. hockey is a sport that, while incredible exciting, is not understood by most people. the biggest thing that can be done, in my opinion, is educate people on some of the basic rules of the game. a few years back when the NHL was still on espn they would have "hockey rules" nights where they would explain many of the penalties and rules of the game. i think the 'clones should do something similar. on nights when large crowds are expected, have a video playing before and after warm-ups that explains things like icing, offsides and some of the penalties. i think if people have a better understanding of what they are seeing it might go a long way in getting some of those people to come back to see a hockey game versus just coming on NASCAR/faith/whatever the promotion is night. after all, that's the goal isn't it to get people to come to see a hockey game. promotions cost the team money, so it seems to me that you'd want the large crowds from those nights to not only pay for those promotions but also to create a boost in attendance on non-promotion nights.
sorry rant over... |
"PBR can do that to you....1,2,3,12 beers and you're f**ked"
-oscar
"and i don't give a damn 'bout my bad reputation" - joan jett
"beer is proof that god loves us and wants us to be happy." - benjamin franklin
"is that a pulled pork sandwich i smell?"
"some things are just better without pants...."
www.cycwords.wordpress.com |
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JK_112880
(The Next Level!)
240 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 6:14:56 PM
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Good responses, everyone. This is exactly the kind of discussion I was hoping to get going. Elvis, I like your idea about the "hockey rules" night. I will admit that I still am a bit hazy on some of the rules of hockey as well. I doesn't affect my enjoyment of the game, but I do catch myself from time to time wondering "why was that a penalty?" or "what happened there?"
All in all, I tend to agree with hrc666. The Clones have made a huge effort into getting more fans to come to games, and the point of this thread was just to get some outside of the box thinking going as to what the team, and even us as fans, can do to help the Cyclones evolve into a more viable option for the average Greater Cincinnatian. Thanks for your replies and keep them coming! |
Edited by - JK_112880 on 09/03/2008 6:15:58 PM |
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robo21
(Finally Got A Star!)
USA
70 Posts |
Posted - 09/03/2008 : 11:50:16 PM
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| I liked what Dayton did several years ago. They had a Law firm sponsor the rules of the game. When there was a whistle they would explain what the call was in pre-done commercials on the jumbotron. They only did it a handful of times a night but it would be a good way to explain the rules and advertise for a sponsor. |
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Dr. Feelgood
(The Next Level!)
126 Posts |
Posted - 09/04/2008 : 6:05:36 PM
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| in today's enquirer sport's section a bengals season ticket holder states if he cancels his tickets he will put the money towards uc, 20 block of tickets to the reds, or spend it on a bunch of Cyclones games. :D Its only one person but the fact he said that made me happy. |
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screamin
(The Next Level!)
USA
112 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2008 : 3:57:56 PM
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| Seg was talking with Willy Cunningham today and somehow mentioned the Cyclones and Willy stated, "Who cares about the Cyclones, I don't care about them". It was on his stooge report. I say he's a stooge !!! |
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Dr. Feelgood
(The Next Level!)
126 Posts |
Posted - 09/05/2008 : 6:36:27 PM
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| willy is a stooge and always has been. i must be in the minority in that thought or he wouldn't have his job. |
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SCUBA
(Been Here Awhile)
USA
584 Posts |
Posted - 09/08/2008 : 12:20:45 AM
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| Seriously, I wasted...well wasted is a little harsh, I had a wonderful outing with my wife and two children, but I wasted $90.00 on Reds tickets, today and only the lonley Pirates are worse. and I have the Bengals now to contend with. A serious A$$ kicking at the hands of a team that Dave Lapum felt was winable. I'm shaking my head now because I bought tickets to next weeks home opener because now....it appears that i'm going to see the Bengals for another wounderful outing with my family because they sure as hell are not going to win.....nevertheless we have to listen to moronic comments from a two bit washed up Cincinnati talk radio host about how he doesn/t care about the Cyclones. He better start caring because most of us will be dead and blowing away the next time a Bengals or Reds championship team plays in Cincy |
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the bear
(Finally Got A Star!)
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - 09/11/2008 : 12:18:08 PM
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quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Feelgood
willy is a stooge and always has been. i must be in the minority in that thought or he wouldn't have his job.
I think that is why people listen to him. |
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