Tickets for Gonzaga and LMU Home Games

[LIONS90045]

Just for fun (I was not going to Washington state for the game), I checked on tickets for the recent LMU game at Gonzaga to see what they charge. The website said "tickets for individual games go on sale at 9 am on the day of the game with priority to those who donated $200 to the boosters." Seems like most fans are season ticket holders.
Can we get to this point at LMU? Maybe we were there in the past? When I renewed my season's tickets this year and upgraded to real seats (not bleachers), it seemed like there was no record of my last season purchase. This may help Dr. Husak and Coach Good in their quest to move us up the rankings ladder.
Any memories to share?

[ihatehusak]

If we had an AD who had a clue as to what he was doing we may have this situation. As an '87 Grad and 92 MBA Grad we had this situation occur under Quinn. It is time for you all to realize that the challenge we face is not the recruiting, or the coaches, it is the leadership in the AD office.

[crazycagegirl]

You know....there's someone you can talk to regarding the tickets....if there is no record of you holding those seats, maybe you aren't in contact with the sole person who used to oversee all of that? You can't go running to the AD with all your problems. You have to go through the correct hoops (no pun intended) to talk to everyone else before you start blaming the AD for it. LMU, from what I understand, is working a lot with trying to pull in season ticket holders - hence the newer Young Alums section with cheaper season tickets....it would help if we had a decent team, though....I'm surprised your season tickets were in the bleachers. I was able to buy tickets in the Young Alumni section for both the Gonzaga and Pepperdine games last year. I called Karina. If you have any questions, she would DEFINITELY be able to direct you to the right person, if she can't answer the question herself.

[Mr. LMU '04]

I know for a fact they keep track of season ticket holders. I used to do it for the ticket office and I now have the top priority for young alumni and how do explain others getting their same seats. You either have never had them or let your tickets lapse. By the ay you need to get a life.

[dedicatedlionfan]

I think one thing that also needs to be realized is the size of the Kennel and their constant success in the past couple years. LMU will get this in the next couple years when we suprise the WCC and let them know that LMU is back!!!!

[crazycagegirl]

Is that you, Matt?! Or is it Home Grown....hmmmmmmmm....

Yeah. Well, I'm sure it would help if we didn't have to bribe the student section with alcohol or free stuff, and they just wanted to come out of the sheer fact that we are actually THAT good. I mean....look beyond the Kennel and at every major college team....their fan base is huge because of the success. I cannot begin to count how many free things I got out of basketball games (shirts, hats, foam things, bandannas) because they were trying to get people to show up at the game. There were times when I got two and three of each free thing they gave out because they had so many extras.

[Mr. LMU '04]

By the way the Roar is modeled after the Kennel and other schools that have done the same. You can not put us in the Category if the BCS conferences. We do not have the budget most those schools do and many of them are in small towns with nothing better to do.

[lmu08]

LMU does absolutly nothing to market the program, even within the local community. There is a huge wealth of families with young children who are looking for cheap entertainment, and LMU does not reach out to them whatsoever. This seems like it would be the easiest way to fill the seats.

[ironlions]

With a few winning season we will have more of a budget to market the program. In the Worthy Knight days the athletics dept did a pretty good job with the light post banners around Westchester, a few billboards and some really clever and funny TV spots.

[lmutex]

The marketing was done by an outside agency, who did a great job in both strategy and execution "static cling". Not sure if it was a one-time thing, or if LMU put the account into review after the season, but their subsequent presence (or lack thereof) after that campaign is just another missed opportunity to create momentum.

[Mr. LMU '04]

Actually for a few years we tried sending out postcards that gave families free tickets to come to some of the games. We sent the to all of westchester and playa del rey. We did not get that much of a response.

[crazycagegirl]

I think it's pretty obvious that the only way to get a good turn out is if we have the potential to go far. Our record breaking crowds were in 04-05 and 05-06, when we were doing PHENOMENALLY.

I am amazed that people are complaining now. LMU does nothing to market? What about the thousands of dollars put into free promos for the big games? I wouldn't be surprised if the reason they had that money to put those B-Dubb banners in 05 was because of the revenue they made from the sell out crowds the year before.

The crowds are just as painfully small as they were when I first began attending games. When Athletics had the CAGE, we couldn't get ANYONE to join after '03. No one wanted to go to the games. We didn't have anything to offer them but a free t-shirt and free tickets to the WCC, as well as a front row seat to the game. Again, I say, it's pretty sad that the only way to get kids to go to a game is to tie alcohol into it, which was how Roar started (join, pay $5 and go to a kegger before every game).

[LIONS90045]

Thanks for the comments. Looks like I sparked some interest. I wasn't complaining and I do have a life.
My first game attended was a "freebee" from that postcard Mr. LMU '04 and I came out to see LMU play Virginia, my daughters alma mater. I came regularly afterwards when I did not have a conflict (or when the game wasn't on TV) and always enjoyed the games. I actually preferred the bleacher seats as you can see the field of play better and don't have to deal with the traffic coming up and down the aisles while the game is on.
I was concerned that we would sell out this year with Bayno on board, but no way, not even close. So I got the seat of my chosing in a chair with a back! Moving up in the world. Enjoying the season immensely with the growth of the team and looking forward to next season even more. It's a long time to November when you are ready to see our progress.
Anyway, thanks for all the comments. We'll catch up with Gonzaga one day.

[Mr. LMU '04]

Sorry wrschnicke,

The comment just touched a nerve. I spent a lot of time with the ticket office and marketing for athletics in the 03-04 season trying to get people out to those games and preparing for the next season. As it is in every place in LA, we need to win. I say that Los Angeles fans are not the most loyal but they do keep you honest and working hard because if you do not win, your attendance will hurt.

[lmutex]

Crazycage, a few thoughts, as we disagree on some things here:

You lament how sad it is that the ROAR plied students with beer, yet celebrate the free promos given by the administration. What's the difference between a red cup and faux ASLMU stunna-shades, as long as it gets kids to cheer for our team?

In 2005, we went 12-18, and in 2006, we went 13-18. I wouldn't call that phenomenal. I'd call that an improvement over our recent debacles, but nothing we can hang our hats on, especially when talking to recruits. I'd argue that would where marketing could make a difference, as enhancing our visibility in the LA-area could make up for our abysmal track record.

And maybe that's the larger problem here. We as LMU fans feel as if we're entitled a winner in Westchester, merely because of one magical run, during a time everyone was wearing hammer pants.

We've had one winning season in 15 years.