RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

[knsmith]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

There is that detail about them outcheering the home fans, I think part of that is that the louder groups are spread out a bit. There are the people in 17-19, the phone call guy and his friends in 33 and a few loud people down in 44. In the end for the people in charge whether they are RPI or BU fans it doesn't matter it so long as they are paying customers.

I've often wondered about the lack of RPI hockey marketing, is there some policy about not marketing or does Knowlten consider that beneath him. It seems like an area with 2 AHL teams and 2 DI teams should be able to get some good cross-promotion going. The devils advertise at the Field House, perhaps they should help RPI advertise at the TU Center. Maybe something as simple as during a game before the devils go on the road, but RPI is home mention that there will be hockey in Troy for those interested the next weekend.

A few years ago (right around the end of the Ralph era I believe), RPI was getting much heavier into local advertising (billboards, radio ads).

 

[fishcore12]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

There is that detail about them outcheering the home fans, I think part of that is that the louder groups are spread out a bit. There are the people in 17-19, the phone call guy and his friends in 33 and a few loud people down in 44. In the end for the people in charge whether they are RPI or BU fans it doesn't matter it so long as they are paying customers.

I've often wondered about the lack of RPI hockey marketing, is there some policy about not marketing or does Knowlten consider that beneath him. It seems like an area with 2 AHL teams and 2 DI teams should be able to get some good cross-promotion going. The devils advertise at the Field House, perhaps they should help RPI advertise at the TU Center. Maybe something as simple as during a game before the devils go on the road, but RPI is home mention that there will be hockey in Troy for those interested the next weekend.

I guess a marketing person was hired over the summer, but I dont know if that covers media or just in game marketing and promotions. Havent been to the TU Center this season to check a game out so I dont know if they are doing anything with the two colleges. Maybe someone who has gone can fill us in?

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

There is that detail about them outcheering the home fans, I think part of that is that the louder groups are spread out a bit. There are the people in 17-19, the phone call guy and his friends in 33 and a few loud people down in 44. In the end for the people in charge whether they are RPI or BU fans it doesn't matter it so long as they are paying customers.

I've often wondered about the lack of RPI hockey marketing, is there some policy about not marketing or does Knowlten consider that beneath him. It seems like an area with 2 AHL teams and 2 DI teams should be able to get some good cross-promotion going. The devils advertise at the Field House, perhaps they should help RPI advertise at the TU Center. Maybe something as simple as during a game before the devils go on the road, but RPI is home mention that there will be hockey in Troy for those interested the next weekend.

That would help if people actually went to the Albany Devils games. I haven't seen attendance records for the Phantoms, but I would guess that out of the four choices in the area, on a regular basis, RPI is the biggest seller.

 

[pensfan08]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

That would help if people actually went to the Albany Devils games. I haven't seen attendance records for the Phantoms, but I would guess that out of the four choices in the area, on a regular basis, RPI is the biggest seller.

I think the Phantoms average right around 4000, Devils should be near that, we are at 3000 from what you said earlier and Union is below that, but it's not their fault they have a tiny rink, I mean there isn't even enough room for 2 Zambonis. The Devils appear to have less because the TU can seat 8-9 thousand in the lower bowl.

 

[fishcore12]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

That would help if people actually went to the Albany Devils games. I haven't seen attendance records for the Phantoms, but I would guess that out of the four choices in the area, on a regular basis, RPI is the biggest seller.

The Phantoms are so bad this season they are just biding the time until they get moved again. Devils games are drawing less than 3,000 for weekend games, not sure what they are drawing on weeknight games. This area is a college town that some businessmen and rich old dudes cant comprehend so they keep bringing in minor league hockey teams.

 

[pensfan08]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

Oh, I was basing the phantoms off of the numbers I remember hearing for last year. I didn't realize the Devils were that bad attendence wise. Hopefully the Devils are given a few years to try and build a fanbase. If the local minor league teams are that bad for advertising maybe RPI should try to advertise at Sienna Basketball since they seem to be the biggest sports draw in the Albany area.

 

[rvd5star69]

I guess a marketing person was hired over the summer, but I dont know if that covers media or just in game marketing and promotions. Havent been to the TU Center this season to check a game out so I dont know if they are doing anything with the two colleges. Maybe someone who has gone can fill us in?

When Jerry played at phantoms crowd wasn't even 2000. The devils game I saw 1700. What a joke

 

[knsmith]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

I think the Phantoms average right around 4000, Devils should be near that, we are at 3000 from what you said earlier and Union is below that, but it's not their fault they have a tiny rink, I mean there isn't even enough room for 2 Zambonis. The Devils appear to have less because the TU can seat 8-9 thousand in the lower bowl.

The size of Union's rink is not relevant. They are a terrible draw regardless of their rink. The only time they have gotten over 2000 this year was for the RPI game. They did not even get to 80% capacity for their playoff games last year and were around 80% for their late-season conference games.

 

[Wholin1]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

The size of Union's rink is not relevant. They are a terrible draw regardless of their rink. The only time they have gotten over 2000 this year was for the RPI game. They did not even get to 80% capacity for their playoff games last year and were around 80% for their late-season conference games.

Union has averaged 1744 for six home dates. I forget, how many did RPI draw for their playoff dates last season? IIRC I think game 3 was about 1450.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

Ralph: I haven't received my 11/29 issue yet, how in the heck do you have the 12/6 issue? I would add that there was a small item in the first issue (11/22?) of THN's new glossy format...detailing the format changes inside. One of the changes will be that they'll no longer have updates on college leagues in each issue. The only college info will come in the form of player profiles...published whenever they decide we're worthy. They are providing me with even more reason to cancel my subscription.

I too keep thinking that there is no reason to keep subscribing to this. Years ago, it had a lot of stats, columns,etc. in a newspaper format. It has been becoming less and less interesting.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

Ralph: What does the article say? Where is it suggesting he will be drafted?

The only thing about the draft that was mentioned was that the ISS ranked him as #28. Besides for that there was discusssion of him being a civil engineering major, that he wouldn't be playing with Pirrri and JD'A, that he was young for college, etc. Nothing that you haven't read before.

 

[knsmith]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

Union has averaged 1744 for six home dates. I forget, how many did RPI draw for their playoff dates last season? IIRC I think game 3 was about 1450.

The statement I made is most certainly applicable to RPI as well. In fact, it would be even less qualified. Nevertheless, the suggestion that Union's rink is limiting attendance in a meaningful way remains laughable (as would the same suggestion for RPI).

However, because Union and RPI's attendances alike are not limited by their arenas, it is fair to compare them in absolute values. Objectively, RPI still draws far better than Union (although RPI's attendance is nothing to write home about).

 

[GreatLakerMohawk]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

Average AHL Attendance this season:

Albany: 2,687
Adirondack: 3,193

http://theahl.com/stats/schedule.php?view=attendance

RPI (or Union) marketing to these fan bases would be like shouting at the wall... Especially when RPI is outdrawing the Devils. These are the two worst drawing teams in the league. The one thing in Adirondack's favor is that the max capacity in Glens Falls is around 4,000.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

A few years ago (right around the end of the Ralph era I believe), RPI was getting much heavier into local advertising (billboards, radio ads).

You're right on this. I started hearing promotions my junior and senior year for RPI hockey on 810 WGY. Perhaps if word is also put out during the ad time on the local news broadcasts (around the sports report), that would help as well. As I'm not in the Albany area, I don't know how the commercial format works, but if the sports report is broken up into two parts, stick the RPI hockey ad right in between, and I'm sure you'd get more to show up.

I hope that one thing our new marketing director is looking at is how Siena and UAlbany get the word out for their basketball teams. That should help with strategies.

 

[redhead18]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

Dating back a few years like early 2000's, I remember seeing an ad for RPI hockey with a photo of the late Nate Marsters on the side and back of some CDTA buses. I havent seen much/if any advertising around for RPI hockey in recent memory though, all I see ads for these days on billboards and tv commercials is "Holy Hoops" Siena basketball.

 

[FlagDUDE08]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

Dating back a few years like early 2000's, I remember seeing an ad for RPI hockey with a photo of the late Nate Marsters on the side and back of some CDTA buses. I havent seen much/if any advertising around for RPI hockey in recent memory though, all I see ads for these days on billboards and tv commercials is "Holy Hoops" Siena basketball.

Are we even putting out TV ads? I may have seen, when I was at RPI, one TV spot for the Freakout, and even then I may be hallucinating. RPI Athletics' Youtube site shows a couple TV ad candidates involving Puckman working out, in an office, and walking the campus. Are those in the bank of commercials for the local TV stations? Let's get the word out!

 

[redhead18]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

Are we even putting out TV ads? I may have seen, when I was at RPI, one TV spot for the Freakout, and even then I may be hallucinating. RPI Athletics' Youtube site shows a couple TV ad candidates involving Puckman working out, in an office, and walking the campus. Are those in the bank of commercials for the local TV stations? Let's get the word out!

I havent seen any, unless im watching the wrong stations. Although I have seen commercials for the Devils and that doesnt seem to be working to get fans in the seats.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

Are we even putting out TV ads? I may have seen, when I was at RPI, one TV spot for the Freakout, and even then I may be hallucinating. RPI Athletics' Youtube site shows a couple TV ad candidates involving Puckman working out, in an office, and walking the campus. Are those in the bank of commercials for the local TV stations? Let's get the word out!

I asked that a while back and I think that someone said that they weren't shown on TV.

 

[ajt6954]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

I asked that a while back and I think that someone said that they weren't shown on TV.

When I was involved with Athletics marketing between 2003-2008, there wasn't a ton of money earmarked for advertising. We did the best we could with what we had at the time, online streaming radio ads with local radio stations (some bcast), bus kings (transit ads), and some banner ads on the Times Union website. Television is extremely expensive hence why I never recommended it, our budget would have dried up in a week. The video's of Puckman, while entertaining, really need to be plastered all over the place, including the local media websites...go viral.

When I first read of the new marketing hire, I was impressed with her resume. She seems like a smart cookie and I wouldn't be surprised to see her work in the local media once she gets her feet wet for a year or so. Remember, she isn't only focusing on RPI Hockey, but all other sports RPI participates in...I'm sure she has her hands full.

 

[Ralph Baer]

Re: RPI 2010-11 Part II: RPI, the Other Team, the Refs -- We're outnumbered 10 to 6.

Does anyone know who the guy is, who was wearing a hat and giving out the awards after the tourney?