GoUSFBulls.com USF Athletics strategic plan to be unveiled

[Triple B]

 

1 hour ago, ArmyBull said:

Too bad we have not explored ideas on how to get alumni back to campus to see all of the improvements and progress.  I imagine that would create a connection where adults and kids could grow up regularly visiting campus.  Now, how could we get large amounts of fans to attend campus six or so times during the fall?  I will have to put some thought into this.  

I do totally agree that the OCS would have a positive affect in that regard but just not sure it would be near as big as seem to think it would. I think you're talking about a target group mainly made up of alumni who aren't football supporters and don't go to games now. I just find it hard to believe that there are a ton of folks not supporting because they don't play on campus. They don't support because they're not fans of football, USF football or can't afford to. Harlan has to find a way to get them interested in USF football first but I totally agree with Paisa and Woolly about the pre-97ers. MH has his work cut out for him ...

[Raetus]

I'll more than take all the hate that will come my way for saying this, but I'll just be honest and say that I don't see the value in season tickets or mega donations (for sports), at the moment. For me, personally (and only me), there's no ticket or area of Raymond James that I desire to hold or maintain. The best experience in the house is the student section and that (rightfully so) is reserved for the students. When that was no longer an option for me, I bounced around to various seats and areas and it's been a rather 'meh' experience in each of them. No matter where you sit, you're either standing too much or too little and someone is moaning about the person in front or back of them. It's also absurdly easy to get box seats to basically any game except for FSU, so I just don't see much of a ROI for season tickets.

RJS is a nice stadium, though, so I'm not knocking it, but it's not ours. I've inherited Michigan season tickets on the 40 yard line through marriage and I make sure to keep access to those even though there's no way I'll be able to make it to games there very often. I keep them because they've been in the family multiple generations and once they lapse, they're gone. There's nothing like that at RJS that makes me feel the need to keep access to them. Now, if USF said that they'd like to build a stadium of their own in five years and were offering a payment plan to allow first dib access to a section of prime seats... that's something I'd be incredibly interested in.

If you called me, today, with a payment plan of $200 a month for 5 years that gave me access to a set of prime seats in our to-be-built stadium, I'd jump on it in a second. That's $12k over a 5 year period AND I'd still, then, have to make a donation and purchase my tickets for each year. If you can find 5,000 people like myself, that's $60 million dollars and you've only allotted 5k seats in the stadium, yet, financed a significant chunk of the build. Sure, you haven't financed all of it, but you've made a great step forward.

That's what it will take to get significant money out of me -- something that I actually want. As I did enjoy my time at football, basketball, and soccer games while I was a student, I won't complain too much about the athletic fees, but the academic experience was mediocre while I was there in comparison to other universities that I'm affiliated with, so I feel I've given USF more than my fair share of funds for what I actually received in return. Therefore, I feel zero impetus to blindly donate money without receiving something quality in return. If USF is looking for blind zealous donations, they need to step-up their indoctrination game in the younger, formative years. They've taken some great steps forward in this regard, but that will take awhile to come home to roost.

I was at a gathering at the house of a prominent Tampa Bay family (I won't say names, but... real estate) and the topic of USF athletics came up. The general consensus was unless you're an alumni looking to give back or you're looking for an inexpensive way to put your name on something, there wasn't much value you there in donating to Football -- Basketball actually was much better received because of the Sun Dome. Many of them noted they already have suites at RJS, so they already had access to home games if they wanted to attend. From talking with people, none of them cared whether it was on or off campus, but a stadium that actually looked like it was owned by USF would be a big deal in their eyes for the University and was something that piqued interest. In general, it seemed none of these people would ever set foot in the place besides the grand opening, but they're always looking for an additional talking piece to add to their repertoire and something to let the grandkids use.

Also, it doesn't have to be strictly for a stadium, either; if they put forth something that I want, I'll be all about it. I'd pay $2500 for a parking pass that let me park in whatever zone I want up-to 5 times a year and was good for 15 years -- that'd be worth it to me. How many times will I actually use that pass? Probably 10-20... good value for the price? Nope. I could just park wherever I want and pay the parking tickets and it would be cheaper, but it's like offering VIP status at a night club... it's not actually a good deal, but people will pay for convenience and faux status. So far, though, I'm seeing zero creativity from USF, which may lead to apathy and stagnation from a sect of fans.

tl;dr: If USF thinks that they're going to raise the requisite support necessary to compete with more storied universities without offering something of merit in return, they're crazy. If that's the plan, they're more than welcome to continue down the current path and make the best use out of their continued level of support from tried-and-true donors who've always graciously supported the university. I'll go to football games and in the event I decide to sit in the stands instead of a box, I'll purchase them directly through USF or StubHub depending on where I can get the best seat.

Edited May 23, 2016 by Raetus

[Triple B]

9 hours ago, Sellular1 said:

Thanks for your continued lack of support.  Glad you're happy where we are.  Now please go away.

 

1 hour ago, brybull1970 said:

And that attitude is why the the USF fan base is small potatoes. Instead of creating an inclusive environment and trying to appeal to those of us who didn't go to USF but still are fans of the school, you'd rather play the "you are not as a big as a fan than me because you don't spend as much money as me" card. Good luck with that.

I guarantee that the USF fanbase is not represented by a drunk with a duck on his head ........... solely represented anyway.

[Sellular1]

13 minutes ago, Triple B said:

 

I guarantee that the USF fanbase is not represented by a drunk with a duck on his head ........... solely represented anyway.

Already apologized for my comment.  Something your ass doesn't do when you overstep.

[Triple B]

1 hour ago, Sellular1 said:

Already apologized for my comment.  Something your ass doesn't do when you overstep.

Obviously I knew you apologized because I incorporated your "lit" comment .... Lighten up, Francis.

[raptorcj]

1 hour ago, Sellular1 said:

Already apologized for my comment.  Something your ass doesn't do when you overstep.

Wait, rewind, somebody apologized for something on TBP!? There's hope...

[Triple B]

21 minutes ago, raptorcj said:

Wait, rewind, somebody apologized for something on TBP!? There's hope...

Actually, I didn't think there was much for him to apologize for to begin with ....

[CousinRicky]

On 5/22/2016 at 10:39 AM, Paisa el Toro said:

Bingo, Trips. Do we want bigger and better? Page 31 of the report indicates, as clear as a Tampa summer day, we need more donors--at all contribution levels. Woulard courted the whales, we need more people in on the ground floor of this green and gold lunacy. 

I don't believe that to be true. If anything, he had a problem landing the whales.

[Triple B]

2 hours ago, Raetus said:

If you called me, today, with a payment plan of $200 a month for 5 years that gave me access to a set of prime seats in our to-be-built stadium, I'd jump on it in a second. That's $12k over a 5 year period AND I'd still, then, have to make a donation and purchase my tickets for each year. If you can find 5,000 people like myself, that's $60 million dollars and you've only allotted 5k seats in the stadium, yet, financed a significant chunk of the build. Sure, you haven't financed all of it, but you've made a great step forward.

Interesting concept but you would have allotted a minimum of 10K seats, probably more because I doubt people with that level of commitment would be satisfied with just 2 tickets.

 

2 hours ago, Raetus said:

Many of them noted they already have suites at RJS, so they already had access to home games if they wanted to attend

That is something never seen brought up but could really be a hindrance when going after the non-USF high rollers in the TB area ...

[Raetus]

3 minutes ago, Triple B said:

Interesting concept but you would have allotted a minimum of 10K seats, probably more because I doubt people with that level of commitment would be satisfied with just 2 tickets...

Fair point, for sure. I'd want access to buy 2 seats for that price.