Athletic Department, please consider............

[ADLER]

The 2003 New Orleans Bowl is a perfect example for a comparison of how a situation was handled by two schools presented with the same opportunities.

The game was the 2003 New Orleans Bowl. The only major attraction besides the game itself, was the French Quarter.

What did North Texas do? North Texas planned all it's events the evening before the game outside the French Quarter. For the second year in a row, the nice but expensive athletic boosters function was a good distance away from any tourist activities at Rigor Mortis Hall. The Green Brigade, the Cheer Team, and the Dance Team were also shipped out of the French Quarter for parties elsewhere, some on Mississippi riverboats, and the football team was sent for a nice dinner somewhere. They were all nice quaint events, but the overwhelming majority of North Texas fans, including all the students that travelled, were left in the French Quarter aimlessly wandering Bourbon Street while watching all the Memphis University festivities.

What did Memphis do? The Memphis AD made an announcement before his team had even left Memphis, "Let the other school go do whatever they are going to go do, WE'RE GOING TO MAKE BOURBON STREET OUR PARTY!"

Memphis arranged for multiple Bourbon Street bars to place preprinted WELCOME TIGERS banners outside, with many advertising drink specials. Memphis purchased thousands of blue beads from Mardi Gras Annex, rented enough parade floats from Kern Studios to carry the whole team, and then Marched the Tiger Band and a New Orleans Bowl Parade down Bourbon Street to where a stage was set up. The coaches, players, and the band were then able to throw one hell of a pep rally that included everyone and was the perfect start to the Bourbon Street parties that night. These events made the news in New Orleans that night, and surely were played back in Memphis.

Plain and simple: we got shown up.

Now we have North Texas again in a similar situation, except that North Texas has much more time to plan, more local resources to draw from, and an event that includes already planned New Years Eve festivities and midnight fireworks display at our disposal.

Are we going to alienate our fanbase by concentrating our efforts on having another 'nice little discrete gathering of jewelry jinglers' at a prim and proper banquet hall somewhere in Dallas, or are we going to plan events that are going to put tens of thousands of our fans into the Victory Park New Years Eve Party. You want to catch the attention of Dallas? Strike while the iron is hot; make arrangements to run your Heart of Dallas Bowl Parade right through that celebration, hold a pep rally, and MAKE IT OUR PARTY.

NOOOORTH!!!!

Edited December 9, 2013 by ADLER

[Eastwood Eagle]

By the sound of things I think that RV and his team is on this.

However, Dallas is large and there will be a lot of parties going on, so it might be hard to find "the spot" to go to.

[Harry]

TEAXXXASS

BINGO ADLER -- I recall that same situation and while this is a little different it is in many ways the same.

To me the KEY event is the Victory Part New Years Eve Celebration that will be televised on Channel 8....figure out a time to get everyone there -- schedule an event that is close by...think outside the box...

We have to figure out a way to get our crowd connected or tied into that event...it's huge it's the BIG payoff in so many ways... just think of the fans all decked out in green being broadcast to all of the people watching till the countdown...even hearing a HUGE NOOORTH TEXXAS chant going on in the background!!

The only other opportunity may well be the New Years parade but that is probably not feasible due to the early timing of the game...

[eulessismore]

Yep, the Victory Park NYE party is the thing. And every train line, A Train, Dart light rail, TRE, Amtrak, go there, or are just a short connection away ("next stop, Union Station, please collect your belongings and newspapers and prepare to depart the train"). Hoping we can get the College of Music and the UNT Dancers involved.

[Eastwood Eagle]

TEAXXXASS

BINGO ADLER -- I recall that same situation and while this is a little different it is in many ways the same.

To me the KEY event is the Victory Part New Years Eve Celebration that will be televised on Channel 8....figure out a time to get everyone there -- schedule an event that is close by...think outside the box...

We have to figure out a way to get our crowd connected or tied into that event...it's huge it's the BIG payoff in so many ways... just think of the fans all decked out in green being broadcast to all of the people watching till the countdown...even hearing a HUGE NOOORTH TEXXAS chant going on in the background!!

The only other opportunity may well be the New Years parade but that is probably not feasible due to the early timing of the game...

Call me a scrooge, but I would rather UNT do something away from Victory Park. I went a few years back and it was an absolute cluster-f. However, if they can somehow get us on the ticket for that event, then I think it could be worth it.

[Harry]

Call me a scrooge, but I would rather UNT do something away from Victory Park. I went a few years back and it was an absolute cluster-f. However, if they can somehow get us on the ticket for that event, then I think it could be worth it.

It's just an idea and you may be right --- I've never actually been to one just watched it on TV. The thing seems to have exploded through the years though and in my view would provide the biggest bang for the buck in terms of exposure.

[ADLER]

It's just an idea and you may be right --- I've never actually been to one just watched it on TV. The thing seems to have exploded through the years though and in my view would provide the biggest bang for the buck in terms of exposure.

That's how I feel, and we need the Metroplex, other than just Horton, to know that We Are Here.

From the Victory Park web site:

The party's on at Victory Park! This year's celebration will be set up on multiple stages with food and beverage tents and an awesome fireworks display. This free celebration will include continuous entertainment, including the Stream Energy Fireworks Spectacular at midnight.

The Victory Music Stage is located between the W Hotel and Victory Plaza on Olive Street, and the Big D NYE Stage is located in Victory Plaza next to the American Airlines Center. The performances are displayed throughout the venue on huge high definition screens and a state-of-the-art, concert quality audio system brings the music to you loud and clear.

WFAA-TV Channel 8 will provide live coverage of the event beginning at 10:30 p.m. including entertainment, special guests and the fireworks spectacular at midnight.

There will be multiple parking facilities located throughout the Victory Park area as well as adjacent lots within walking distance to Victory Plaza. DART is the recommended mode of transportation. Take the Green Line to Victory Station.

[JesseMartin]

As far as Memphis' blue beads go...I wonder if they knew the "commercial value" of those beads on Bourbon Street, hmm? I know we're not in NO this year, but I would expect quite a few people to freak out if they thought we were promoting "that sort of thing".

But I do agree that a concerted effort to get a huge crowd will help keep the involvement ball rolling. Are all events open to all North Texans, or are some just for MGC/Pres Council/etc? As I mentioned I'm trying to get some alumni reconnected and if I can get them to commit before they have other NYE plans then I might be able to add a couple more people to the roster.

[NM Green]

I like the idea of making a destination area for Mean Green fans at the party. The other thing that will be good is to have a few of the bars having Mean Green drink specials and flags displayed on Main or Elm Street. There are some good bars downtown to hit before and after the party. Make a Mean Green flag walk from those bars down to the NYE party. The pep rally really needs to be just outside the NYE event to grab the attention of the arriving crowd.

GMG

[Zeleny' Orel]

Take the Green Line to Victory Station.

Hope this last line in the Victory Park promo is a prediction of the bowl game results....GO MEAN GREEN!