‘Cats Media Blitz
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“This is the most apathetic the city has been toward the Cubs that I’ve ever seen” – Brixen Ivy Owner Mark Schlenker (AP) A rare opportunity for the ‘Cats to start gaining some media mindshare. Flip over to see why….
“This is the most apathetic the city has been toward the Cubs that I’ve ever seen” – Brixen Ivy Owner Mark Schlenker (AP)
We can spend all week wringing our hands over the lack of run game and making 2010 vs 2009 comparisons and we likely will. However, as I head to a Cubs game tonight with phenomenal seats – the kind you dream about – I was unable to GIVE away one to any colleagues, friends etc…It is a sign of the unique times. Northwestern has a rare opportunity to gain some sports market share from Chicago sports fans. The 0-4 preseason has the most ardent Bears fan on the ledge. The Cubs are irrelevant and there isn’t a whole lot of buzz around the Bulls. Granted, the Hawks are the hot ticket, but we’ve still got some time before people are in hockey mindset (yes, I realize they raise the banner at the same time we’re playing Purdue). If not for the Sox recent run at the Twins it would be a sports wasteland around here. But before I get delusions of the Chicago sports fan recalibrating the epicenter towards Evanston it is worth noting the media buzz Notre Dame’s opening win has created. TV ratings are up 77% and the Trib and Sun-Times are falling overthemselves to praise thou Sir Kelly. NU has kicked-off the Monday of win number one with front page football advertisements and continues to get the message in the marketplace. The time is now folks.
Tonight, The Pat Fitzgerald Show debuts on Comcast Sports Net Chicago at 11 pm ct and will be replayed on Thursday on the BTN. I understand the show is mostly produced by students and while no NU show has ever so much as made a ratings blip, it is just another outward-bound messaging channel that I hope will be cut, parcelled and re-used online and elsewhere. Additionally I read NUBears – the beloved NU YouTube guru will be hosting a call-in show tonight on 88.1 FM or WCRX.net (call 312-663-3512) from 7pm ct – 9pm ct tonight.
It is time we take advantage of the opportunity to really try and start filling seats for Saturday and 9/25 against CMU. If the Bears lose to Detroit on Sunday, I’d be cranking the jump on to our bandwagon approach. I realize Chicago sportsdom is not mutually exclusive, but if we continue to win in a very down cycle in Chicago sports, it will make a difference. Start spreading the word and rallying your friends. Say what you want about the Vandy game, but we definitely know how to keep fans on the edge of their seats, no?
I do need to send a note to NU and Mike Polisky here. We realize your staff is brand new to the job, but a MUST on the 2011 to-do list is to create a solution for bonus ticket redemption that does not involve people getting to Evanston during weekday business hours to redeem their non-conference ticket. Who can possibly do that? There has to be a workaround as my inbox continues to trickle in with the “you’ve lost five potential fans” type emails.
Speaking of attendance I caught part of the Stanford home opener against Sacramento State. YIKES. If Fitz wanted to try and use one image to negatively recruit, the wide shot would have done the trick. The stadium was one-third full AT BEST. Let’s ensure Ryan Field does not look the same on Saturday against Illinois State. And yes, I must come clean. I will NOT be attending the home opener on Saturday – and worse – will have no access to communication tools to know the score or comment on the game (rest assured I’m making back-up plans for the site). You know me well enough to know this is a big deal, but let’s just say I live up to commitments to family and friends. We’ll be turning the page big time in the morning to discuss Illinois State on a weekend filled with great Big Ten games. Here’s to hoping ours is not one of them and that we go for the jugular early and work out the kinks.
You can also mail your redemption tickets in and they’ll leave them at will call. Just call the day before the game to make sure.
It’s a different guy, actually. I created the YouTube account NUBears after my initial one was banned (I had some NU clips up there, but the NFL took it down b/c of my Bears highlights). I’d change it if I could, but the only way to do it would be to create a whole new account. That just isn’t feasible. Otherwise, I don’t really use that username.
I didn’t realize Stanford didn’t draw well in their opener. Hopefully UCLA can take care of them this week (I know…).
I was thinking earlier at what point of the season could NU begin to get some legitimate local media coverage. I came to the conclusion that if we were 5-0 going into the Purdue game, we’d get some. But really, we’d have to be 6-0 going through the bye week and preparing for Michigan State before there would be a larger focus on this team.
Regarding Saturday’s game, pay attention to the path of the tropical storm moving north of the gulf now. It’s quite possible it will hit Chicago and cause plenty of rain Saturday. Hopefully it stays dry, particularly so I can get a good recording of the game without the HD signal going out on DirecTV. And also for injuries, of course.
I don’t have high hopes for attendance. The Central Michigan game is the one I’m currently wondering about, though.
Also note there are some terrific matchups around the country this weekend that the casual fan might prefer to sit home and watch. I fear the only way to get attention this weekend is taking to a 1-AA team.
I hear you on the bonus ticket redemption. The CMU game not so much just because you just have to remember it for either before/after the ISU game this weekend. The school I work at gets off for Rosh Hashanah, so I don’t even have to take off of work to perform the deed so I can turn my uncle and my bonus tickets for that game. I know from last year though that it was pain for me to get over there to get a ticket for my dad using the bonus voucher. Hopefully everyone is at least using their voucher though, which is the point of all it anyways. I know if I had an extra one, I know a person who wants to go to the CMU game.
Great Story, hey I found this story while surfing for lyric updates. Thanks for sharing I’ll email my friends about this too.
I don’t think anyone should be dogging Stanford for a mostly empty stadium against a I-AA team until we see how full Ryan Field is against Illinois State this weekend.
TICKET OFFICE HOURS:
I agree that the ticket office hours should be modified. When I’ve had to stop by to pick up tickets the past few years I’ve always had to make special arrangements in order to get there on time, which is a pain. The hours need to be more amenable to “the working fan.”
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