Ron Goch
The Telios Group
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The Kids VIP Experience
May 31st 2006
We’ve all heard about the VIP experience for adults, but how about a special VIP experience just for kids?
The Detroit Shock of the WNBA has created a special VIP package for kids which includes courtside bean bag chair and all!
Check it here.
This is a great concept, not only for basketball, but it could work with most any sport. Give it a try. The kids will love it, and you may just be planting the seed for your adult VIP ticket holders of the future!
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Hawks Host Open House
May 30th 2006
Check out the Atlanta Hawks June 3 Open House events here and see what they have planned for the day, their new courtside seats, and special offer for the first 50 people in attendance.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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No Charge for Directory Assistance
May 29th 2006
Phone companies charge $1.00 or more for 411 information calls and I recently received an email communication sharing with me how to make free directory assistance calls that I thought would be appropriate to pass along as a Telios Tips blog post.
The email I received stated: “When you need to use the 411 information option, simply dial 1-800-FREE-411 or 1-800-373-3411 without incurring a charge.
I actually gave it a try myself and it’s a legitimate toll-free information line.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Auction VIP Package
May 26th 2006
Do you offer your fans each game the opportunity to bid online for a special VIP package that could include VIP tickets, an autographed item, and a tour of your facility?
If you do, good for you! If not, why not?
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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The Pre-Sale
May 25th 2006
Prior to your home opener on-sale date, do you offer a pre-sale opportunity for fans to purchase tickets at a reduced price?
If you do, good for you! If not, why not?
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Web Wednesdays
May 24th 2006
Have you heard of Web Wednesdays?
Many professional sports teams offer an online special for their Wednesday games and cleverly have called them Web Wednesdays.
The offers can vary from week to week, game to game, or they can remain the same throughout the season.
The Web Wednesday online ticket specials potentially could be sponsored, and are a neat way to offer an online ticket discount for your fans.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Why Not Bounce-Back for Every Purchase?
May 23rd 2006
I recently acted on an offer for a complimentary haircut. Now, I understand most people have their favorite place and favorite person they go to see – I do as well – but this was a sports-themed hair salon with televisions. The “free haircut ticket” stated: “You watch sports. We cut hair.”
Let’s see…I get to watch sports while I receive a free haircut. Since it’s nearly impossible to mess up my haircut, I took advantage of the free offer.
The ticket was nicely designed with Aisle (MVP), Box (1), and Seat (1) and had a picture of a guy receiving a haircut from a female stylist as he watched TV. On the back, they ticket included the address and phone number, a small map of the location, more pictures, and the slogan “Where guys are treated like M.V.P.s every day!”
Well, I went and received my complimentary haircut, watched pat of a basketball game, thanked and tipped the hair stylist as I normally do, and she handed me a home run ticket.
What’s a home run ticket? I’m glad you asked.
The home run ticket featured four discounts ranging from $1 to $4 – cleverly featured on the ticket as a single, double, triple and a home run – and each time you came in the discount increased from a $1, to $2, etc. Once you received your fourth haircut – a $4 discount – your fifth cut is…you guessed it, free.
A neat way to encourage repeat business – or as some say in the sports business – a neat bounce-back offer.
As I drove home and thought about the home run ticket, I asked myself the “why not” question. Why not offer a bounce-back offer each time someone purchases a sporting events ticket? Each time someone purchases online or at your box office, they receive a bounce-back offer.
The offer could change from game to game, but would encourage fans to purchase a discounted family plan to an upcoming game, or offer your fans a buy two receive two special to a future game.
Why not?
What do you have to lose? If you only hit a single, double or triple, that’s better than not taking a swing at all. And who knows, you just might hit a home run.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Increase Market Presence and Attendance
May 22nd 2006
I recently received a post card in the mail promoting the grand opening of a nearby bank. It was an invitation to the bank’s grand opening, and along with an enter to win for a family vacation to Disneyland, an Ipod, and gift certificates, they offered on the postcard a redeemable coupon for “a free pair of theater tickets with any new account.”
A sports organization could do the same kind of marketing partnership arrangement with a restaurant, theater, amusement park, museum, zoo, or any other entertainment business.
For example, if you partnered with a zoo, you could promote an offer similar to what the above bank did – or something completely different – and offer two complimentary zoo passes.
Another strategy could be to offer two complimentary zoo passes with each purchase of two of your tickets. Buy two and receive two. Why not buy 15 and receive 15? There are many ways you could structure the ticket giveaways you receive from your marketing partner.
In return, the zoo would utilize your tickets in the same fashion, and provide a variety of visibility and awareness for your organization by promoting the ticket giveaways in their publications, advertising, web site and all other avenues available to them, You could do the same for the zoo.
This could be done with one marketing partner or several marketing partners as a way to increase your presence in the market place, and to increase attendance and people having the opportunity to experience (sample) your sporting events.
Be prepared with a bounce-back offer for those attending your event. I’ll share some thoughts on bounce-back offers tomorrow.
Have an awesome day!
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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The Final Eight Blogs for this Week
May 19th 2006
Here is the last installment for this week of blogs I’ve enjoyed reading from time-to-time that you may find of interest:
B2B Business Lead Generation Blog
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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More Bloggers to Check Out
May 18th 2006
Here are five more blogs I’ve enjoyed reading from time-to-time that you may find of interest:
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Blog, Blog, Blog
May 17th 2006
Here are five more blogs I’ve enjoyed reading from time-to-time that you may find of interest:
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Five More Blogs to Check Out
May 16th 2006
Here are five more blogs I’ve enjoyed reading from time-to-time that you may find of interest:
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Blogs You May Be Interested to Read
May 15th 2006
If you’re reading this blog, you likely have visited many other blogs.
Here are a five blogs – if you haven’t visited them already – you may find of interest:
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Links to NASCAR Fan Programs
May 12th 2006
I’ll close out this week with links to NASCAR fan programs I hope you find interesting and helpful. There are plenty of programs, strategies and great ideas that can be easily applied to another sport, franchise, league or college athletics program.
Check out the three links below and see if you can take away a strategy that will assist you with staying connected to your fans with innovative touch points that offer fans unique, fun and rewarding experiences.
NASCAR Fans Can Shop & Earn RacePoints
Armed Services Targets NASCAR and its Fans
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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NASCAR President Donates Harley
May 11th 2006
Last week, NASCAR President Mike Helton donated and auctioned off a 2006 Harley motorcycle to benefit the Sam Ard Silent Auction.
You can read more about Helton’s donation, the Auction and Ard here.
NASCAR seems to always go out of its way to stay connected with its fans, and to assist communities, people and youth whenever possible.
Another example is driver Carl Edwards who partnered with the National PTA and Home Depot for a youth health and wellness program. You can click here to read more about the program.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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NASCAR to Name a Race after Fan
May 10th 2006
Only in NASCAR would a fan have the opportunity to actually have a sporting event named after them.
If you’re reading this for the first time, does this sound crazy to you or more like a great idea?
Personally, I like it, and there’s no reason another sports team or college athletics program couldn’t do the same.
Read more about this story here.
It’s great that NASCAR continues to find innovative ways to stay connected with its fans. Many sports franchises, leagues and college athletic programs have creative fan connection programs from time-to-time, but NASCAR seems to have consistently delivered on this front for years.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Tailgating in Richmond
May 9th 2006
Check out the story and information regarding tailgating in Richmond here. Is there an idea or two you can pick up for the tailgate events you host?
You can check out the weekend activities for the race here.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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NASCAR Develops Innovative Fan Programs
May 8th 2006
Do you follow NASCAR – the racing or the business? Did you know over 75 million people do?
Growing up, NASCAR wasn’t mentioned among my family or friends, so I didn’t have an appreciation for it – especially the marketing of NASCAR – as I do today.
If you don’t follow what NASCAR does from a business standpoint, I encourage you to visit its web site and at least check in from time-to-time with what they’re doing. You likely will pick up an idea or two that will help you with your sports business, or find a creative idea that would work well in your market.
I’m going to dedicate each of the five daily postings this week to the NASCAR business and some of the innovative business strategies and programs they continue to create this season.
NASCAR has a “NASCAR Members Club” and they will be hosting its first convention during the Nextel All-Star Weekend May 18-19 at the Charlotte Convention Center.
You can read more about the NASCAR Members Club here and learn more about its initiatives.
Since it launched in February of 2005, there are over 1,000 NASCAR Member Club chapters in all 50 states and the convention will be NASCAR’s first for the Club.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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The Spirit of Giving
May 5th 2006
I’ve always had the desire and enjoy finding opportunities to give.
This is easy to do and there are usually a lot of ways – each and every day – to help someone, or to do something special or out of the ordinary for someone.
I’m sure a lot people enjoy giving and assisting others as much as I do – whether it involves family, friends, or associates – it’s a lot of fun and all involved feel good.
I’ve met a lot of neat and special people over the years who are exceptional givers and who’ve impacted me in significant ways with their giving spirit.
I hope you’ve had similar experiences impact you as these experiences have impacted me throughout the years.
In the spirit of passing on what others have passed on to you, it would be neat – for those who don’t already make this a part of their every day activity – if you could find at least one way each day to give to others who can’t do a thing for you. See how good you feel as a result.
I didn’t always do this on a daily basis, but one time it did happen to me, and I’ll never forget that first time it did. I was motivated that very moment to do the same in hopes of having that same positive impact on others as this person had on me that day.
You likely will find this to be one of the most gratifying things you do each day, if not the most gratifying part of your day. I know I certainly have enjoyed it – especially the little things that seem to mean so much to others.
Enjoy the spirit of giving and have an awesome day!
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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How Well Do You Know Your Competition?
May 4th 2006
How well do you know the sports organizations and what they offer in your market? Have you researched each of your competitor’s web sites? Have you attended their events? What are they doing better than your organization? What could you learn from your competition?
If you don’t have the answers to the above questions regarding your competition, I encourage you to invest the time today to address each of these questions.
Have an awesome day!
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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How You Process Everything and Everyone
May 3rd 2006
Thanks for stopping by Telios Tips. I encourage you to take a minute today to reflect on Anthony de Mello’s observations in One Minute Wisdom:
Why is everyone here so happy except me?
“Because they have learned to see goodness and beauty everywhere,” said the Master.
Why don’t I see goodness and beauty everywhere?
“Because you cannot see outside of you what you fail to see inside.”
What do you see inside you? What you see will be a direct reflection of how you process everything and everyone, and that’s worth thinking about.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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I’m Comfortable Making Mistakes
May 2nd 2006
I once heard that one of the fastest ways to success is failing often.
Well, I’ve made a lot of mistakes over the years, so I just might be nearing my success years!
I haven’t always been comfortable being wrong, making mistakes, or failing. Actually, I used to be very uncomfortable with all three of these areas…afraid to fail; not wanting to make a mistake; and having the desire to be right.
In other words, quite the competitor, perfectionist, and know it all.
I’m still quite competitive, I strive for excellence versus perfection, and I’ve learned my wife is right much more often than I am!
I can’t say I’m comfortable making mistakes or failing, but I don’t take each as hard, knowing there’s a lesson to be learned, much to be gained, and much more to lose if you always try to be right.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Create a Business Alliance for Sports Teams
May 1st 2006
I read a story this weekend about a Theatre Alliance in Louisville and how this type of alliance has assisted the arts in Louisville and other places.
I couldn’t help but wonder if a similar “alliance” could be beneficial to the business of sports. What if college teams in certain areas created a business alliance, or if amateur and pro teams created a business alliance?
Check out the article here and I encourage you to give the idea for athletics some thought. If it works for the arts, why couldn’t it work for athletics?
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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