Season Ticket Sales

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Thu Jun 30, 2005 12:42 pm

BobcatLionFan wrote:
CARDIAC_CATS wrote:
Blue and Gold wrote:Now we just need to get all of our fair weather fans into the bleachers after each kick off
I almost think we should get back to the old way they used to run the tailgating. You could tailgate up to 5 minutes before the game and during halftime, but during the game they would make go back in or leave the tailgate area. This may be unpopular with some, but you can still tailgate and also support the football team inside the stadium. I think if we went back to that old way in the student section it might be a lot better. This would make people get back into the stands. Thoughts?
Some people don't buy tickets, they just come to tailgate and enjoy the day.
The students are students, some are there to enjoy the entire experience, not just the game. As with a lot of schools, drinking is a concern, so that needs to be considered, but if they don't return, so be it. As I said, students are students. Let them enjoy within limits, this ends all to quickly for them and afterwards they can become diehard bobcat fans that don't understand why the new students don't come back in the game.

From the looks of the tailgating the last 2 years, it looks like a LOT of students don't have tickets

Just trying to find a way to fill up the stands quicker after halftime is all I'm looking for. I agree tailgating is a blast and often thehalftime just flies by .. I have been late getting back myself

I guess they should just leave it as it is. The atmosphere as a whole has been great I think the last 2-3 years.

Bozgriz · Post by **Bozgriz** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 10:32 am

Same situation in Missoula, with the same criticisms...

mquast53000 · Post by **mquast53000** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 11:07 am

I had recently read an article about Montana cities populations over the past 4 years (2000-2004) and Bozeman had a growth rate of 21% (largest growth for a city of over 20k, I think 4-5th largest growth out of all cities/towns in Montana). Belgrade was the fastest growing city in Montana with a 24% increase in four years. With all those additional people the Cats should really see an increase of fan support and for that matter an increase in ticket sales.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 12:52 pm

mquast53000 wrote:I had recently read an article about Montana cities populations over the past 4 years (2000-2004) and Bozeman had a growth rate of 21% (largest growth for a city of over 20k, I think 4-5th largest growth out of all cities/towns in Montana). Belgrade was the fastest growing city in Montana with a 24% increase in four years. With all those additional people the Cats should really see an increase of fan support and for that matter an increase in ticket sales.

I really think MSU needs to really market the Bobcats in and and around the Bozeman area more as well. They need to get the word out to new people that are moving in to come on out and have fun and support the Bobcats. The Bobcat season packages and single tickets are very reasonably priced and are a good entertainment value in my opinion. Lulay is worth the price of admission to watch just by himself

The other sports are very good priced entertainment as well (volleyball/bball) . The valley is really starting to grow and by marketing more in the Valley/Helena/Great Falls/Billings surrounding area I see NO REASON why we should not be able to fill our stadiums/seats on a regular basis. I know weather/hunting does affect the amount of people in the stands during football season, but if the valley keeps growing .. those core people that attend all the games should go up and increase the demand for tickets. I really think that is the difference between Missoula which has a lot larger population base around their immediate school than Bozeman does. You get a lot more CORE people locally that attend the games (that don't have to drive the winter roads) that keeps the attendance up.

And yes Griz fans, I know there are a lot of fans that drive the icy roads to attend the games. There are a lot of Bobcat fans as well, but Missoula does have a larger CORE population locally to draw from right now. That does look like it could be changing though. 24% growth to Belgrade is HIGH!!

theblackgecko · Post by **theblackgecko** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 2:07 pm

CARDIAC_CATS wrote:I really think MSU needs to really market the Bobcats in and and around the Bozeman area more as well. They need to get the word out to new people that are moving in to come on out and have fun and support the Bobcats. The Bobcat season packages and single tickets are very reasonably priced and are a good entertainment value in my opinion.

Great point. Montana State's marketing is terrible.

CARDIAC_CATS wrote: I really think that is the difference between Missoula which has a lot larger population base around their immediate school than Bozeman does. You get a lot more CORE people locally that attend the games (that don't have to drive the winter roads) that keeps the attendance up.

As a point of order, the population of Gallatin county is 75,637 versus 99,081 for Missoula county.

Gallatin County census figures

Missoula County census figures

edit by kmax to fix long url's that were messing with screen width.

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:10 pm

[quote="theblackgecko"As a point of order, the population of Gallatin county is 75,637 versus 99,081 for Missoula county.

Gallatin County census figures

Missoula County census figures

edit by kmax to fix long url's that were messing with screen width.[/quote]

As another point of contention... the largest 3 bordering counties around Gallatin and Missoula respectively.

Madison - 7,079 (largest city - Ennis)
Jefferson - 10, 857 (largest city - Boulder)
Park - 15,791 (largest city - Livingston)

versus

Lake - 27,919 (largest city - Polson)
Ravalli - 39,376 (largest city - Hamilton)
Flathead - 81,217 (largest city - Kalispell)

Now that is a better comparison to population bases the two schools can pull from. The 3 largest counties surrounding Gallatin Co offer a pop. base of 33,727 where the 3 largest counties surrounding Missoula Co offer a pop. base of 148,512. A difference of 114,785 in favor of Missoula. I wonder why its easier to draw 10,000 more per game there?

jagur1 · Post by **jagur1** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:15 pm

"I wonder why its easier to draw 10,000 more per game there?"

Griz win more games?
Girls are better looking in Msla?
Weather is nicer?
Better game day setting?
Playoff games? Some at night on ESPN
Bars aren't as crowded becouse Msla has more of them worth going to?
Cooler stadium?
23K get into and out of stadium faster than 12K do in Bozo?
Paved parking lots?
Stadium not nick named the Litter box by own fans?
Monte doesn't scare little kids like Champ?
Griz have Cheerleaders?

jagur1 · Post by **jagur1** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:18 pm

Now in all honesty Wildcat is right. Also if I might ask if you know somebody in Bozo that used to go to games and doesn't anymore ask them why? Buy a ticket and take somebody who has never gone show them the ropes make them feel at home. You guy/gals all go and like it so you don't see the negatives, find out what the negatives are and see if they can be corrected.

CARDIAC_CATS · Post by **CARDIAC_CATS** » Mon Jul 11, 2005 3:29 pm

jagur1 wrote:Now in all honesty Wildcat is right. Also if I might ask if you know somebody in Bozo that used to go to games and doesn't anymore ask them why? Buy a ticket and take somebody who has never gone show them the ropes make them feel at home. You guy/gals all go and like it so you don't see the negatives, find out what the negatives are and see if they can be corrected.

Great point Jaeger. That is exactly what I have been trying to do for some of the people I know here in Billings. I get them up to the game and show them how fun it is etc. (Even Griz fans). I have people coming up this year that I have taken to games before the previous years that are now season ticket holders (3 of them are Griz fans). Everyone we go up with loves to tailgate/have fun/watch the Bobcats kick some butt. EXPOSURE of new people to the games is critical. I took a guy that grew up in Alabama (went to Georgia/Clemson/Alabama games all the time) and he said that the game I took him to was the best game he had ever seen in his life .. PRO or COLLEGE. The game he saw ---> MSU/NAU in 2003. He is coming up to some more games this year.

There are a lot of people (including Griz fans) that live locally close to the Bozeman area and still have not a seen a game LIVE in Bozeman. The fans I have gotten to the games have a blast (even the Griz fans). So I definately think EXPOSURE and giving these people incentives to go to at least ONE game is huge for the program.

Marketing Marketing Marketing.

94VegasCat · Post by **94VegasCat** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:10 am

I was recently asked if I had bought season tix yet. I began to explain why I had not, and that I would be going every weekend anyway. The person doing the asking, said "I meant to u of m games. You do live in Missoula now. Why commute all the way to Bozeman?"

I told him that there was no way in hell that I would ever give money to the u of m. STUPID STUPID STUPID.

62GRIZ · Post by **62GRIZ** » Tue Jul 12, 2005 8:36 pm

Cat Pride writes:

As another point of contention... the largest 3 bordering counties around Gallatin and Missoula respectively.

Madison - 7,079 (largest city - Ennis)
Jefferson - 10, 857 (largest city - Boulder)
Park - 15,791 (largest city - Livingston)

versus

Lake - 27,919 (largest city - Polson)
Ravalli - 39,376 (largest city - Hamilton)
Flathead - 81,217 (largest city - Kalispell)

Now that is a better comparison to population bases the two schools can pull from. The 3 largest counties surrounding Gallatin Co offer a pop. base of 33,727 where the 3 largest counties surrounding Missoula Co offer a pop. base of 148,512. A difference of 114,785 in favor of Missoula. I wonder why its easier to draw 10,000 more per game there?

What a distortion you present. Flathead County does NOT surround Missoula County. It touches it one small spot in the wilderness in the Swan. If you really want to include Kalispell and environs then you must include Billings and Butte, as well. Your argument holds no water and an honest comparison of "population bases" will show greater populations closer to Bozeman than Missoula.

grizzh8r · Post by **grizzh8r** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:40 am

62GRIZ wrote:Cat Pride writes:
As another point of contention... the largest 3 bordering counties around Gallatin and Missoula respectively.

Madison - 7,079 (largest city - Ennis)
Jefferson - 10, 857 (largest city - Boulder)
Park - 15,791 (largest city - Livingston)

versus

Lake - 27,919 (largest city - Polson)
Ravalli - 39,376 (largest city - Hamilton)
Flathead - 81,217 (largest city - Kalispell)

Now that is a better comparison to population bases the two schools can pull from. The 3 largest counties surrounding Gallatin Co offer a pop. base of 33,727 where the 3 largest counties surrounding Missoula Co offer a pop. base of 148,512. A difference of 114,785 in favor of Missoula. I wonder why its easier to draw 10,000 more per game there?
What a distortion you present. Flathead County does NOT surround Missoula County. It touches it one small spot in the wilderness in the Swan. If you really want to include Kalispell and environs then you must include Billings and Butte, as well. Your argument holds no water and an honest comparison of "population bases" will show greater populations closer to Bozeman than Missoula.

Fine. Take out the Flathead completely, and add in every other county that borders Missoula County. The surrounding population is 91,845, and includes Mineral, Powell, Sanders, Lake, Granite, and Ravalli counties.

Now add together every county that borders Gallatin County. Park, Jefferson, Madison, Meagher, and Broadwater counties bring the total surrounding population to 40,234. Meagher shouldn't even be included, because it is so small, and because there is no fast way to Bozeman (the best my Brother can do is about 2 hours). The difference is still well beyond 50k people. THIS arguement holds water. Besides, you know a lot of fans make the trek from Kalispell to Mazolla on gameday...

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 7:32 am

Thank you!

62GRIZ · Post by **62GRIZ** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 9:31 am

[/quote] THIS arguement holds water. Besides, you know a lot of fans make the trek from Kalispell to Mazolla on gameday...

I thought you were trying to make the point that Missoula had more POTENTIAL fans closeby than Bozeman. Helena and Butte should also be added to Bozeman's potential fan base since they are closer than to Missoula. What is the magic of using adjoining counties? Why not use mileages - fans can cross county lines without a passport.

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:03 am

Both Helena and Butte cant be more than 10-15 miles closer to Bozeman than to Missoula. That doesnt hold anything. Besides, I thought that bandwagon town of Butte hated MSU since the firing of Sonny Lubick

If you are going this far with population bases, lets add Spokane to UMs mix. Since Spokane is about 2.5-3 hours from Missoula and Billings is 2 hrs from Bozeman, you might as well add Spokane to the mix too.

Anyways, this arguement is stupid. Missoula has a much larger population draw than Bozeman does. Bozeman is growing, and growing fast, but if anyone thinks that the population base MSU draws from (in its own neighboring region of the state) is even equivalent to UMs then they havent been in the state of Montana in the last 15 years.

Robcat · Post by **Robcat** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 10:35 am

I agree with Cat Pride, this agrument is stupid. Earlier in the year I did the same analysis on population base of Bozeman vs Missoula and no matter how you slice up the pie, Missoula has a larger base to draw from.

The bottom line is the Cats will have a sell out season and I am sure the Griz will as well. Thats good news for both schools. Will MSU ever fill 20,000 seats? Do not know, and I am not sure that is important. What is important to me is that the Cats continue to build on its winnig program and provide a great game day experience for the Fans.

MSU has a great stadium, is a great school, is situated in one of the most beautiful valleys in Montana, and has a great athletic program. I would not trade all of that for a 20,000 seat stadium in Missoula or any place else in Montana.

Who cares about the poulation base, I have never been at Bobcat Stadium and said to myself, I sure wish we had more population surrounding Gallitin county. Enough said. Go Cats!!!!!!!!!!!!

Cat Pride · Post by **Cat Pride** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:07 am

Robcat wrote:I agree with Cat Pride, this agrument is stupid. Earlier in the year I did the same analysis on population base of Bozeman vs Missoula and no matter how you slice up the pie, Missoula has a larger base to draw from.

The bottom line is the Cats will have a sell out season and I am sure the Griz will as well. Thats good news for both schools. Will MSU ever fill 20,000 seats? Do not know, and I am not sure that is important. What is important to me is that the Cats continue to build on its winnig program and provide a great game day experience for the Fans.

MSU has a great stadium, is a great school, is situated in one of the most beautiful valleys in Montana, and has a great athletic program. I would not trade all of that for a 20,000 seat stadium in Missoula or any place else in Montana.

Who cares about the poulation base, I have never been at Bobcat Stadium and said to myself, I sure wish we had more population surrounding Gallitin county. Enough said. Go Cats!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well said.

Bozgriz · Post by **Bozgriz** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:15 am

Cat Pride wrote:Anyways, this arguement is stupid

Yes, it is...

Post by **kmax** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 11:40 am

Bozgriz wrote:
Cat Pride wrote:Anyways, this arguement is stupid
Yes, it is...

At least there is something quantifiable to argue about, we could always go back to the "my school is better than your school" argument.

Bozgriz · Post by **Bozgriz** » Wed Jul 13, 2005 12:11 pm

kmax wrote:
Bozgriz wrote:
Cat Pride wrote:Anyways, this arguement is stupid
Yes, it is...
At least there is something quantifiable to argue about, we could always go back to the "my school is better than your school" argument.

True to an extent, however, there is no basis to the argument that UM has better attendance than msu due to population proximity. If that was true then msu billings would be the largest drawing school in the state...