Ranting about the AD, Students, Attendance and Fan Support

[NorthTexasWeLove]

A lot of very good posts in this thread. 

Ultimately, the lowest hanging fruit is always going to be students. Our athletic department should be holding pre-season, mid-season, and post-season meetings with every single president/director of 100% of student groups. Get their input, what they and their groups would like to see at sporting events and get their commitments on getting their respective groups out to games. 

I mean, cmon, how freaking hard can this be.  

We were talking about minimal UNT people being around anymore a week or so ago. Student engagement/marketing would be a very good position for a UNT alum to fill. 

[MeanGreenGlory]

To those who disagree with the sentiment of this thread…let me try to reframe it… 
 

The AD is a business within the university with two products that primarily drive revenue for the entire business—football and men’s basketball. 
 

At the most basic level, there are four things a business must do to succeed:
 

First, you must create a good product that people will buy.
 

Second, you have to market/promote the living daylights out of the product to build desire and drive sales. 
 

Third, you have to deliver on the promises you made in your marketing/promotion and provide a great experience for your customers so that they want to buy from you again. 
 

Fourth, you must continually rinse and repeat steps 1–3. 
 

This isn’t rocket science. This is business 101. Many people on this board are directly responsible for some part of the process above in their own jobs and therefore recognize the incompetence being demonstrated by the AD (hence the frustration). 

“Build it and they will come” is the very rare exception, not the rule.  Very few businesses succeed without marketing and promotion. It’s why Apple still promotes every new iPhone they release. It’s why Coca-Cola runs nonstop ads even though they’ve dominated their market for decades. It’s why Frenchy’s has bright orange trucks parked around Denton that you can’t ignore even though they’re a community staple. It’s why Rolex sponsors F1 races to get signage and exposure throughout each broadcast. It’s why Amazon started branding their own boxes so that every package became a mobile advertisement for Prime.

The most popular brands in the world fight tooth and nail to continually promote their products and stay top of mind. Think it’s a coincidence that they’re the most popular brands in the world?

On the flip side, the UNT AD doesn’t market or promote anything and our ticket sales and attendance are flat lining. Think it’s a coincidence? 

Edited Tuesday at 06:35 AM by MeanGreenGlory

[97and03]

I guess blue hairs are everywhere? 
Cal having a little fun with their schedule release:

 

[Censored by Laurie]

8 hours ago, NorthTexasWeLove said:

A lot of very good posts in this thread. 

Ultimately, the lowest hanging fruit is always going to be students. Our athletic department should be holding pre-season, mid-season, and post-season meetings with every single president/director of 100% of student groups. Get their input, what they and their groups would like to see at sporting events and get their commitments on getting their respective groups out to games. 

I mean, cmon, how freaking hard can this be.  

We were talking about minimal UNT people being around anymore a week or so ago. Student engagement/marketing would be a very good position for a UNT alum to fill. 

damn...I hate agreeing with you. 

we have, what, like 15-20 home games per season? no reason not to have 10-12 themed "_____ Nights" to bring in different student and Denton community groups. here, just from my couch over my morning coffee...feel free AD

Students:
- Greek Night
- Rec Sports Night - honor the intramural basketball champ teams at half-time 
- International Student Night (assuming there are still international students next year...)
- Dorm Night...maybe not a night for each hall, but make it a comp between the dorms and RAs to see who can bring the biggest crowd

Community:
- Denton High/Denton Ryan/isn't there a 3rd HS now Nights
- Denton ISD Night where we bring in all the little kids
- First Responders - Police/Fire/Medical professionals
- Retro Night, but make it legit...break out those sexy old Blakeley unis, 70s tunes for al TOs, costume contest...maybe 70s era pricing at the concession stands
- Green Out / White Out / Black Out just to piss off Adler 

engage with the leaders of each of these groups months out from their games...promote everything a week or two ahead of time. for the community...maybe free tickets for their themed nights and 50% off the rest of the season...something just to get bodies and hopefully maintain at least some engagement moving forward

[keith]

I don't think it's a secret that an Athletic Director at a Division 1 university is a big job.  The position has a lot of responsibilities, some public and many "behind the scenes."  The current strategic plan of the AD was updated as a result of a review and benchmarking report conducted by College Sports Solutions (CSS) that kicked off in January 2022.  A link to the highlights of plan is included at the bottom if you have not read it.  The AD also publishes Annual Reports and while these serve as a nice review of the year, I think it would be better if the Annual Reports tied back specifically and directly to progress achieved toward the goals and objectives of the strategic plan. 

I've pulled out a few items of interest from the current strategic plan.

Under the Student-Athlete Experience

Update the facility masterplan to prioritize areas of needed expansion to accommodate highest levels of service to the development of student-athletes.

• Finalize needed funding to complete the Athletic Center Expansion project beginning construction by 2024.
• Complete the softball dugouts and clubhouse improvements in 2024.
• Complete Mean Green Village renovation by spring of 2024.  

Under Stakeholder Engagement and Stewardship

Enhance marketing, outreach and stewardship efforts to all UNT stakeholders with a focus on those in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

• Develop strategic communication plan to personalize messages and hit key targeted segments of our market.
• Work to enhance both the quantity and quality of apparel items available across DFW to more consistently enhance the UNT Athletics brand.
• Update departmental brand/style guide to ensure greater consistency in departmental branding efforts and to strengthen the UNT Athletics brand across DFW and Texas.
• Evaluate the rewards programs for students to assist with increasing attendance and engagement at ticketed events.
• Increase coach and student-athlete involvement in stewardship and community engagement/service efforts.

Enhance game day experience providing positive interactions, superior customer service, and greater satisfaction at all Mean Green sporting events.

• Creation of Gameday/Fan Experience Committee to assist with enhancements of the UNT fan experience.  [Is this Maniacs?]

Create a comprehensive stewardship plan that brings value to all stakeholders who invest in the Mean Green.

• Create marketing plan to increase average student attendance at football to 7,000 for non-holiday games and at basketball to 1,500 for non-holiday games by 2027.  

[I assume non-holiday games means games when students are on campus....not sure] 

Under Competitive Excellence and Championship Resources

Benchmark budgets within the American Athletic Conference and work to align each sport program among the top third of the conference over a five-year period.  [I assume this means top third in budget per sport and not top third in final season W-L standings]

Strive to secure two or more American Athletic Conference Championships each year.

Create a communication plan to ensure greater transparency with campus leadership, donors and fans regarding athletic department performance in key strategic metrics.

• Annually provide a state of the department address outlining progress and key priorities to donors.
• Quarterly email from the VP and Director of Athletics to address questions submitted by fans.
• Continue to enhance the timing and delivery of the department annual report.

Under Revenue Generation 

Develop revenue plans that enable the pursuit of goals outlined in this strategic plan.

• Restructure of MGSF to increase opportunities for fans/alumni to support and invest in our programs.
  • Double the total number of MGSF donors by 2027.
  • Increase MGSF giving to $2,500,000 annually by 2027.
  • Achieve 100% MGSF participation from all coaches and staff.
  • Create sport specific giving plans to support championship success and philanthropic giving to $250,000 annually by 2027.
• Secure $35,000,000 in major gift commitments by 2027, with $10,000,000 in major gifts in both 2023 and 2024.
• Increase revenue from outside concerts and events to $500,000/annually by 2025.
• Increase attendance and related revenue goals:
  • Football ticket revenues to $2 million by end of 2025.
  • Achieve 5% annual growth of full season tickets for football and men’s basketball.
  • Average over 23,000 fans per football season and target at least one sellout game per season.
  • Men’s basketball revenues over $500,000 annually by end of 2025-2026 season.
  • Women’s basketball average attendance in top 100 nationally.
  • Average 75% current venue capacity for all ticketed Olympic Sports (SOC/VB/SB).
• Identify a new naming rights sponsor for the football stadium by July 2023.
  • Renegotiate new apparel and equipment agreements.
  • Increase licensing revenue to $600,000 annually by 2027.

[I guess the reason we only shoot for one sell-out per season is because it's right there in the strategic plan]

https://meangreensports.com/feature/strategic-plan

[NorthTexasWeLove]

1 hour ago, keith said:

I don't think it's a secret that an Athletic Director at a Division 1 university is a big job.  The position has a lot of responsibilities, some public and many "behind the scenes."  The current strategic plan of the AD was updated as a result of a review and benchmarking report conducted by College Sports Solutions (CSS) that kicked off in January 2022.  A link to the highlights of plan is included at the bottom if you have not read it.  The AD also publishes Annual Reports and while these serve as a nice review of the year, I think it would be better if the Annual Reports tied back specifically and directly to progress achieved toward the goals and objectives of the strategic plan. 

I've pulled out a few items of interest from the current strategic plan.

Under the Student-Athlete Experience

Update the facility masterplan to prioritize areas of needed expansion to accommodate highest levels of service to the development of student-athletes.

• Finalize needed funding to complete the Athletic Center Expansion project beginning construction by 2024.
• Complete the softball dugouts and clubhouse improvements in 2024.
• Complete Mean Green Village renovation by spring of 2024.  

Under Stakeholder Engagement and Stewardship

Enhance marketing, outreach and stewardship efforts to all UNT stakeholders with a focus on those in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

• Develop strategic communication plan to personalize messages and hit key targeted segments of our market.
• Work to enhance both the quantity and quality of apparel items available across DFW to more consistently enhance the UNT Athletics brand.
• Update departmental brand/style guide to ensure greater consistency in departmental branding efforts and to strengthen the UNT Athletics brand across DFW and Texas.
• Evaluate the rewards programs for students to assist with increasing attendance and engagement at ticketed events.
• Increase coach and student-athlete involvement in stewardship and community engagement/service efforts.

 

Enhance game day experience providing positive interactions, superior customer service, and greater satisfaction at all Mean Green sporting events.

• Creation of Gameday/Fan Experience Committee to assist with enhancements of the UNT fan experience.  [Is this Maniacs?]

 

Create a comprehensive stewardship plan that brings value to all stakeholders who invest in the Mean Green.

• Create marketing plan to increase average student attendance at football to 7,000 for non-holiday games and at basketball to 1,500 for non-holiday games by 2027.  

[I assume non-holiday games means games when students are on campus....not sure] 

Under Competitive Excellence and Championship Resources

 

Benchmark budgets within the American Athletic Conference and work to align each sport program among the top third of the conference over a five-year period.  [I assume this means top third in budget per sport and not top third in final season W-L standings]

Strive to secure two or more American Athletic Conference Championships each year.

Create a communication plan to ensure greater transparency with campus leadership, donors and fans regarding athletic department performance in key strategic metrics.

• Annually provide a state of the department address outlining progress and key priorities to donors.
• Quarterly email from the VP and Director of Athletics to address questions submitted by fans.
• Continue to enhance the timing and delivery of the department annual report.

Under Revenue Generation 

Develop revenue plans that enable the pursuit of goals outlined in this strategic plan.

• Restructure of MGSF to increase opportunities for fans/alumni to support and invest in our programs.
  • Double the total number of MGSF donors by 2027.
  • Increase MGSF giving to $2,500,000 annually by 2027.
  • Achieve 100% MGSF participation from all coaches and staff.
  • Create sport specific giving plans to support championship success and philanthropic giving to $250,000 annually by 2027.
• Secure $35,000,000 in major gift commitments by 2027, with $10,000,000 in major gifts in both 2023 and 2024.
• Increase revenue from outside concerts and events to $500,000/annually by 2025.
• Increase attendance and related revenue goals:
  • Football ticket revenues to $2 million by end of 2025.
  • Achieve 5% annual growth of full season tickets for football and men’s basketball.
  • Average over 23,000 fans per football season and target at least one sellout game per season.
  • Men’s basketball revenues over $500,000 annually by end of 2025-2026 season.
  • Women’s basketball average attendance in top 100 nationally.
  • Average 75% current venue capacity for all ticketed Olympic Sports (SOC/VB/SB).
• Identify a new naming rights sponsor for the football stadium by July 2023.
  • Renegotiate new apparel and equipment agreements.
  • Increase licensing revenue to $600,000 annually by 2027.

[I guess the reason we only shoot for one sell-out per season is because it's right there in the strategic plan]

https://meangreensports.com/feature/strategic-plan

1500 students for our in-class basketball games is ideal, not unrealistic, and they are certainly not in any rush to hit that figure. Sloppy lazy. I guess they will wait until 2027 and do whatever it takes to hit 1500 students one game (when they should be doing whatever it takes every game) in 2027 to check that box off. 

 

[NT80]

3 hours ago, keith said:

 

Enhance marketing, outreach and stewardship efforts to all UNT stakeholders with a focus on those in the Dallas-Fort Worth market.

• Develop strategic communication plan to personalize messages and hit key targeted segments of our market.
•  
• Evaluate the rewards programs for students to assist with increasing attendance and engagement at ticketed events.
•  

 

Enhance game day experience providing positive interactions, superior customer service, and greater satisfaction at all Mean Green sporting events.

• Creation of Gameday/Fan Experience Committee to assist with enhancements of the UNT fan experience.  [Is this Maniacs?]

 

Create a comprehensive stewardship plan that brings value to all stakeholders who invest in the Mean Green.

• Create marketing plan to increase average student attendance at football to 7,000 for non-holiday games and at basketball to 1,500 for non-holiday games by 2027.  

 

 

Benchmark budgets within the American Athletic Conference and work to align each sport program among the top third of the conference over a five-year period.  [I assume this means top third in budget per sport and not top third in final season W-L standings]

Strive to secure two or more American Athletic Conference Championships each year.

Create a communication plan to ensure greater transparency with campus leadership, donors and fans regarding athletic department performance in key strategic metrics.

•  
• Quarterly email from the VP and Director of Athletics to address questions submitted by fans.
•  

Develop revenue plans that enable the pursuit of goals outlined in this strategic plan.

• Restructure of MGSF to increase opportunities for fans/alumni to support and invest in our programs.
  • Double the total number of MGSF donors by 2027.
  •  
• • Achieve 5% annual growth of full season tickets for football and men’s basketball.
  • Average over 23,000 fans per football season and target at least one sellout game per season.
  • Men’s basketball revenues over $500,000 annually by end of 2025-2026 season.
  •  

These goals are all fine and good, lots of nice words and phrases.

But it's the actual "doing it" part that is the hardest... and missing.

There are no methods or ways listed in how to attempt to achieve each of these items.  

[cousin oliver]

18 hours ago, SilverEagle said:

Stop blaming Mosley. I have watched (as a student/alumni) North Texas football since the early 70's and this is the best AD we've had since Hayden Fry. We always look for quick fixes for this and while winning certainly helps, it has never been the single cure......obviously.

This times 1000!  Why in god's name are some on here going after poor Jarrod?  He has always been very gracious to me and my girlfriend.  He seems to really sincerely care about UNT.

[ColoradoEagle]

5 minutes ago, cousin oliver said:

This times 1000!  Why in god's name are some on here going after poor Jarrod?  He has always been very gracious to me and my girlfriend.  He seems to really sincerely care about UNT.

Because he's paid $500k+ a year to run a business, and from the outside looking in, that business is in decline.

[NorthTexasWeLove]

8 minutes ago, cousin oliver said:

This times 1000!  Why in god's name are some on here going after poor Jarrod?  He has always been very gracious to me and my girlfriend.  He seems to really sincerely care about UNT.

This has to be satire. 

[Tommy Gadberry]

19 minutes ago, cousin oliver said:

This times 1000!  Why in god's name are some on here going after poor Jarrod?  He has always been very gracious to me and my girlfriend.  He seems to really sincerely care about UNT.

I like Jared as well but there is nothing wrong about setting goals and making improvements over the status quo at UNT.

[Censored by Laurie]

24 minutes ago, NorthTexasWeLove said:

This has to be satire. 

man...if it is...it is REALLY good. 

[NT80]

6 hours ago, cousin oliver said:

This times 1000!  Why in god's name are some on here going after poor Jarrod?  He has always been very gracious to me and my girlfriend.  He seems to really sincerely care about UNT.

Jared is nice.  But he needs to kick some students in the backsides to get them to come to games!

We had nice Sissoko playing basketball for awhile and he wasn't effective.  

Now we have focused, intense Sissoko playing basketball, making slams and taking names!

Edited Tuesday at 11:36 PM by NT80

[rojomojo]

Don't hire athletic directors that are content with staying at UNT. It sounds counterintuitive, but hiring people who want to reach the pinnacle of American college athletics will be the ones that are the most dedicated to boosting their resume and making major improvements to UNT

 

Wren Baker, possibly the best AD in UNT history is a great example of what I am trying to explain.

 

 

 

[rojomojo]

Jared's inability to fuel infrastructure improvements such as the Athletic Center expansion is what really makes me feel unconfident in his abilities. We were supposed to BREAK GROUND in the FALL OF 2023...

[keith]

5 hours ago, NorthTexasWeLove said:

1500 students for our in-class basketball games is ideal, not unrealistic, and they are certainly not in any rush to hit that figure. Sloppy lazy. I guess they will wait until 2027 and do whatever it takes to hit 1500 students one game (when they should be doing whatever it takes every game) in 2027 to check that box off. 

 

I had the same reaction to this one.  It would seem to me that a 1,500 student average over 9 or so games should be relatively easy to achieve and it should not need to wait until 2027 to achieve it.  One SMU-type home game on the schedule and they can put their feet up for the rest of the season.   Hopefully, this goal has been updated (maybe into a stretch goal) and it probably needs to include a minimum per game number as well.

When leaders/administrators don't know what to do they do what they all do, they hire a consultant to conduct a study and tell them what to do.  I think what they did here and it came from the aforementioned CSS study is form the Maniac student group.  I may be wrong here, but I believe the student-leaders of the Maniac group are paid agents of the Athletic Department.  Essentially, the AD punted the bulk of the student attendance problem to a few students they pay to try to drum up support from other students.  Anyone know for sure what the formal relationship is between the AD and Maniacs?  

[UNTLifer]

8 hours ago, Censored by Laurie said:

damn...I hate agreeing with you. 

we have, what, like 15-20 home games per season? no reason not to have 10-12 themed "_____ Nights" to bring in different student and Denton community groups. here, just from my couch over my morning coffee...feel free AD

Students:
- Greek Night
- Rec Sports Night - honor the intramural basketball champ teams at half-time 
- International Student Night (assuming there are still international students next year...)
- Dorm Night...maybe not a night for each hall, but make it a comp between the dorms and RAs to see who can bring the biggest crowd

Community:
- Denton High/Denton Ryan/isn't there a 3rd HS now Nights
- Denton ISD Night where we bring in all the little kids
- First Responders - Police/Fire/Medical professionals
- Retro Night, but make it legit...break out those sexy old Blakeley unis, 70s tunes for al TOs, costume contest...maybe 70s era pricing at the concession stands
- Green Out / White Out / Black Out just to piss off Adler 

engage with the leaders of each of these groups months out from their games...promote everything a week or two ahead of time. for the community...maybe free tickets for their themed nights and 50% off the rest of the season...something just to get bodies and hopefully maintain at least some engagement moving forward

Where do you think international students are going?

[Jonnyeagle]

14 minutes ago, UNTLifer said:

Where do you think international students are going?

A valid point Lifer as the NBA is attracting a lot more international fans as of late.

[UNTLifer]

16 minutes ago, Jonnyeagle said:

A valid point Lifer as the NBA is attracting a lot more international fans as of late.

Oh, he knows what he meant.  It's his liberal shot at the Trump administration.

[Censored by Laurie]

1 hour ago, UNTLifer said:

Oh, he knows what he meant.  It's his liberal shot at the Trump administration.

fine. we'll include ICE for First Responders night. 

see how many people show up for those nerds. 

[UNTLifer]

1 hour ago, Censored by Laurie said:

fine. we'll include ICE for First Responders night. 

see how many people show up for those nerds. 

Great idea. I am thrilled they are removing people that have criminal records, in or lead gangs and who entered our country illegally. I bet it isn’t an easy job and they deserve recognition as well. 

[DentonStang]

Winning and opponent quality is most important

[Censored by Laurie]

1 minute ago, DentonStang said:

Winning and opponent quality is most important

bossing @UNTLifer does very little for my NET ranking, I know. 

[untcampbell]

Pardon the interruption:

Steve Bannon, Peter Navarro. Gandhi-esque.

 

GMG

From around 1908 when he was first incarcerated in Johannesburg as his life and career increasingly turned towards disobedience, Gandhi began to characterize going to prison (or “gaol”) as a high “prestige” activity for all self-respecting Indians. It was nothing to be ashamed of, indeed, the very opposite.

[BillySee58]

1 hour ago, Censored by Laurie said:

bossing @UNTLifer does very little for my NET ranking, I know. 

Considering how much he posts on here, we’ll at least give you credit for a road win. Quad 3?