When I first started following the cats in the early 90s, they would hold a Midnight Magic that would usually come close to filling the bottom ring of seating. The way that they would do this was to hold various contests for the students, giving the participants chances for everything from meal plans to free tuition and books. Once they also had the Honda dealership bring in a car that had a sunroof and everyone in attendance was able to try to make and fly a paper airplane into one of the openings from their seats. It was neat to see around 1500-2000 planes flying to center court. a couple of other years they held the intermural basketball finals that evening in the convo as a starter for the event.
They also held a student body slam dunk contest and a three point shooting contest. after these were done then they would bring out the teams and they would do the slam dunk / 3pt shooting combined boys and girls / and a 15-20 min team scrimmage.  The marketing group also had t-shirts made that they sold for $10 dollars that were geared to a kind of halloween theme. I had my t-shirt for at least ten years.

The year they had the car contest, they waited to do it as the last thing for the night.  I think that there are several thing that can be done to generate interest from the student body. The things that I listed and any other ideas that are reasonable could be done.  

I know.  How much it cost provide level, safe court for players outdoors?  How much 3-point shooting affected by wind?  Chance of bad weather making event insane or floor slippery leading to player injury?  Cost to build stands?

This uptown outside idea is exciting...for about 4 seconds until you look at at with even a fraction of a realistic eye.

Keep rolling OUVan - you get it. 

Others are getting caught up in looking at this opportunity through traditional glasses – which I understand, especially from those not in marketing.  But it is an opportunity that can be executed even at this late date – safely, financially and with great marketing impact.  I have a client hosting 1,000 cyclist tomorrow, I am in charge of promotions and entertainment and our objective is the same as this event - connect and make it memorable for our target audience. 

 

Now the first question is who are we targeting?  If we want to simply talk to our tried and true fans; the customer we already have, then yes, keep it at the Convo and hope that we fill the lower bowl and everyone can excited because we talked to ourselves. - However, no long-term value is gained.

 

But is that who we really should be targeting?  Last year’s run opened our product to new fans, casual fans.  And where did they experience the game?  Where did they “engage” the team?  On Court Street where they flooded out of bars and dorms to celebrate the win over Georgetown.  We have an opportunity to reach out to them.  Let’s not make them come to the sterile Convo, for a scripted event, rather, let’s meet them where they met us.  Uptown on Court Street.

 

The great thing about basketball is that (as OU Van pointed out) even for a gym rat like Tommy, he has still probably played more hoops outside than inside - so taking the game outside is natural.  Who cares if the wind blows the shot on a three-point attempt?  You are losing site of the objective.  It is not to have a practice, it is to reach out to fans.

 

No one is talking about or even mentioned a diorama or even temporary bleachers - that is simply hyperbole that misrepresents the event .  The more  “production” you make it, the more you pull the team away from the fans.   All you need are 4 portable baskets from Wal-Mart and 4 locations that are not brick. 

 

You promote the evening as “uptown with the team.”  You start by having the 110 and team come down Court Street.  Groce, etc say a few words.  You set the baskets up at different locations – sort of a 4-stage presentation.  This opens up viewing.  No bleachers, standing room only.  At one station you have a dunk contest, another a 3-point competition, another hosts games of horse and the final one is 3-on-3.  Players can rotate.

 

You also take the opportunity to further engage folks uptown for the night and beyond.  Marks are stenciled on walls, light poles, etc, showing how high the best jumper on the team can get.  Marks are placed on the sidewalk showing the distance of a ¾ length shot made by Tommy (“wow, that’s so far").  Washington probably has large feet (OMG they are huge) – stencil them up and down Court Street – hand prints, etc.  Easy stuff that the Art Department can take care of. 

 

By the end of the night, you have extended your marketing to the fringe and casual fans.  Folks you want to come out to the games so that you fill more than the lower bowl. 

 

I know, I know, the city won’t allow it, the administration, etc. it may rain, etc.  All low-hanging reasons not to do it.  But it is amazing what can be accomplished through conversation.  So let's get the rules in place and work within them.

Ultimately, unfortunately this won't be pulled off, because the administration, like many on this board, look at opportunities and say “no/can’t/ "what we do is fine” / that's a 'dopey" idea rather than “how can we make this happen."  The “why” is obvious – it is stated above.  But the easy way out is to simply talk to ourselves and keep it at the Convo.  Which is a shame, because as the only “Madness” taking place outdoors, we would certainly get a mention on ESPN – “and in Athens, Ohio, Court Street is usually reserved for Halloween, but the Bobcats are following up their upset win over Georgetown last year, by taking practice to the street…”

 

 

I LOVE IT.

The Gus Macker 2010 season is done. Give Scott McNeal a call and I'm sure the Gus Macker organization could set up an outdoor court with bleachers in no time.

Great in quick-look theory.  Wrong in reality.

Where you gonna put all those fans?  Don't you think that the fans want to see the players show off their skills?  You think the coach's want DVW taking a long run up for a monster jam on a hard or wet or uneven surface.

Weather can, prob will affect the best of 3-point shooters.  What's your weather in on opening day outside in Athens?  I'm not so sure that a chalk mark so far away from a hoop will excite anyone.  Tommy making bombs would--but can you get that consistently outside in Ohio weather?

It belongs in The Convo.  Have your parade start uptown and end there.

Great, great ideas by OU Van and CC. I wish our marketing dept thought outside the box like this. No doubt this would stir up a ton of student interest.

cc cat, your kid's idea is starting to get lost on me. Are you not advocating for the Convo floor to be uprooted and placed uptown? You are suggesting that 'Hardwood Hysteria' be played on bricks? Or are you more in favor with renting a portable court that would be erected uptown, purchased with funds/budget that does not exist? Please clarify as your son/daughter's brilliant idea has gone over my head.

Yea, this outdoor Hardwood Hysteria sounds like a fantastic idea.  Our Athletic Department definitely has the financial resources and staffing to pull that event off.  Besides, I'm sure the anti-athletics crowd at the University would be ok with the AD asking for money for this one time special event.  That wouldn't give them any ammunition at all in the constant and very political battle for budgetary resources. 

I swear, there have been some outrageous threads on here before but this may honestly be the most outrageous.  At least top 5!  

Seek business sponsorship to cover the costs. 

Good marketing ideas often involve taking some risks in order to reach segments of the public not normally reached.  

Are those sponsorship dollars out or are they tapped? I think they are dry. You can only bring up pales of water from the same wells a finite number of times. I do agree that good mkting/advert campaigns require creativity and shooting for the stars. However, creativity needs to have solid financial backing and support as well and has to provide a storyline that warrants those dollars. This idea doesn't accomplish neither.

In my opinion, this is a classic message board idea that is along the lines of a conference realignment thread. For some people, it's a fun thing to talk about. However, it is really is just another far fetched fantastical discussion being perpetrated by grown men.

Fine, here are you answers: see above.

No need to erect a court.  All you need are baskets and paved street.  Look around you will find them.  We are not talking a game or scrimmage.  We are talking about creating an uptown experience - see my long post above that provides a template that can then be accommodated to fit uptown.  The approach presented is not high cost, but can have high impact.  Athletes will not be put at risk.  Yes, it will be different than what you have come to experience.  That's okay.