With the NCAA Division I-A attendance criteria of averaging 15,000 fans per home game looming for 2004, the Ball State athletics department hosted a marketing summit Thursday in Worthen Arena with the goal of developing a plan to meet the standard.
In addition to BSU personnel from athletics and marketing and university media partners, 10 guests also took part. Among that group were Disney vice president and Ball State alum Phil Lengyel, Board of Trustees member Greg Schenkel, and Mid-American Conference Commissioner Rick Chryst.
Athletics director Bubba Cunning-ham felt the summit served its purpose.
"It allowed the university to hear from people in the (marketing and promotion) industry," he said. "We got a brief assessment of how we present a game (Wednesday's men's basketball game), and we got a good dialogue of what our potential in that area is. It just gives us a perspective.
Overall, the feedback was very positive. It engaged groups from across campus and had a good mix with outside folks and media partners."
About increasing attendance at football games, night games are one potential resource that could be tapped.
Cunningham said serious consideration is being given to bumping the season opener from Saturday, Aug. 30 to the night of Thursday, Aug. 28.
"We've talked about it formally and informally the last few months," the AD said. "We need to bring it to closure soon, because there's an awful lot of planning involved in a night game. Each (sub)group (in the summit) we talked to was supportive."
For such a game, lights could be rented at an estimated $50,000. If the Missouri game the following Saturday was also made a night contest, the lights could be kept another week for a discount.
"The lights will give us greater flexibility to make an impact," Cunningham said. "At this point we need to consider all options. It becomes a funding issue -- can you create enough revenue?"
The football stadium renovation project was another point of discussion about increasing attendance. Schenkel spoke of the project's importance because of the stadium's visibility.
"Even if you're not a football fan, the facility provides a face for the university," Schenkel said. "We have to have it upgraded. We've made some great strides with the south end zone."
Cunningham agreed about the visibility, saying the stadium is like Ball State's "front porch."
"I think we understand the issues a lot better," Cunningham said of the renovation project and the attendance goal. "In the next few weeks we need to develop strategies and action plans to met those objectives."
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