Ron Goch
The Telios Group
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Offer Fans Mobile Alerts Opt-In
December 29th 2008
Mobil alerts are catching on and now teams like the Chicago Bulls are offering special ticket offers via mobile alerts. You can check out the Bulls Mobile Alerts here. Fans simply enter their cell phone number and they receive instant updates on the Bulls and ticket specials.
It’s a great way to stay connected with fans and send ticket specials in advance or even same-day ticket specials to move unsold inventory.
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Wish Your Customers a Happy Birthday
December 22nd 2008
Our daughter celebrated her birthday yesterday and who do you think was the first to call and wish her a Happy Birthday? If you guessed either one of her relatives or a close friend, you’d be wrong on both guesses. The correct answer is Geoffrey.
Who is “Geoffrey” you may be asking, well, I was asking the same question, “Who’s Geoffrey?” Our daughter smiled and said, “Dad, Geoffrey is the giraffe from Toys R Us.” I said, “Oh, that Geoffrey.” (more…)
Meyer Connects With Florida Students
December 8th 2008
Many college athletic departments will welcome new football coaches to their campus and community, and it would be a great investment of time for college athletics administrators to review how Urban Meyer has made connecting with students a priority at each college he’s been a head coach.
Similar to his efforts at Bowling Green and Utah, Meyer met with each of the fraternities, sororities, and student groups prior to his first season at the University of Florida. He sent an invitation to the leadership of each UF student organization and scheduled a (more…)
Tigers Offer Fantasy Batting Practice
June 9th 2008
The Detroit Tigers offer fans a once-in-a-lifetime experience with the Tigers “Fantasy Batting Practice,” where participants have the opportunity to receive pitches from former Tiger’s player Dave Rozema.
Along with swinging for the fence in front of family and friends, participants can shag balls, field grounders, play catch, and sit in the Tiger’s dugout.
The Tigers offer the “Fantasy Batting Practice” – which is $199 per person – on eight different dates between June and September. Three of the eight dates sold out before June. Two of the dates that sold out included visitor clubhouse tours.
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A’s Dress Your Pet Contest
May 5th 2008
The Oakland A’s are conducting a fun promotion titled “Dress Your Pet,” where fans have the opportunity to submit digital photos by email of their pet dressed in A’s gear.
This is a great strategy for engaging fans, building a database, and enhancing a team’s website with fan’s pictures of their pets dressed in A’s gears. The winner will collect four tickets to an A’s home game and have their pet’s picture featured on the stadium big screen.
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Provide Kids with an Adventure Kit
November 19th 2007
I recently went on a “daddy-daughter trip” with our youngest daughter, and when we checked into the hotel, the front desk clerk handed my daughter an “Adventure Kids Kit.”
We’ve traveled to many hotels over the years, and this is the first time we’ve received anything like the “Adventure Kids Kit” my daughter received. (more…)
Free Tacos for America
October 22nd 2007
Taco Bell is certainly “Thinking Outside the Bun” with its “90 foot to free tacos for America” promotion.
Here’s how it works: If any player steals a base – any base and any player - during this year’s Fall Classic, Taco Bell will give away to everyone in America.
In Taco Bell’s full page USA Today advertisement, the question is posed, “What are the odds?” The answer, “Let’s just say the odds are in your favor.”
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Buffalo Sabres Emcee Contest
September 17th 2007
The Buffalo Sabres have created a neat competition among the fans for the opportunity to emcee 10 Sabres home games and they’re down to the final four contestants.
This is a great way to engage the Sabres fans and create publicity during the off=season.
You can follow this link to read the news release announcing the final four emcee contestants.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Make Media Guide Available for Sale
June 28th 2007
The Purdue Athletics Department has created a Publications Page where fans can purchase media guides. Don’t let those left-over media guides collect dust in a closet. Create a Publications Page and sell those media guides to fans.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Trade in Dad’s Ugly Tie
June 22nd 2007
My wife was reading the newspaper and shared with me a neat promotion a local donut shop conducted last week leading up to Father’s Day. As she read it aloud, I thought it could easily be altered by a sports team and conducted any time during the year, or possibly when a team offers Daddy-Daughter Day ticket specials. (more…)
Hit this Sign and Win a New Suit
June 11th 2007
The whole ‘hit the sign’ trend began at historic Ebbets Field in Brooklyn and here’s a tribute I came across – “Hit This Sign & Win a New Suit” - that just may get you thinking about how to implement your own “Hit Sign, Win Suit” promotion.”
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Email the Booth and Players
May 17th 2007
The Toledo Mud Hens have created two email promotions to engage their fans. The first is a email the booth promotion where fans have the opportunity to send a question to the radio booth where one question is read on-air each game.
The fan whose question is read on-air each game receives a prize pack. (more…)
The Ultimate Marriage Proposal Contest
May 9th 2007
Major League Baseball and Taco Bell are teaming to offer fans The Ultimate Marriage Proposal on what they have tabbed “the luckiest day of this century - 7/7/07.
In this enter to win contest, the contestant is encouraged to provide seven reasons why the person they’re proposing to is lucky to be marrying them. The lucky winner will have the opportunity to propose at a nationally televised game on Fox TV. (more…)
Cubs: How Far the Baseball Flies
April 24th 2007
When a Cubs player hits a homerun, WGN encourages viewers toi write down how far the baseball flies, send in the distance and they could win two round trip tickets from Southwest Airlines if their name is drawn and they have written down the right distance. (more…)
Braves Offer Designated Driver Program
April 19th 2007
I recently attended an Atlanta Braves game and came across a table on the concourse where the Braves and the Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety teamed to present a designated driver program to fans attending home Braves games.
Team Georgia is a safe and sober driving coalition, and you can view a Braves PSA on the Team Georgia website and additional information on the various safe programs involving prom, holidays and venues. (more…)
The 10th Inning and Fifth Quarters
April 18th 2007
So the only time you’ve ever heard of a 10th inning is when a baseball or softball team goes into extra innings, right? Well, 10th inning also has another purpose besides playing extra innings.
The 10th inning for some college and professional baseball teams is also an opportunity to offer fans a chance to receive autographs from their favorite players and coaches. (more…)
Founding Member of the Cubs Club
April 17th 2007
The Chicago Cubs, which happened to be my favorite baseball team, are unquestionably one of the most storied franchises in all of sports. It all started back on February 2, 1876 – that was the founding of the Cubs, along with seven other National League teams.
All these years later, the Cubs have created the “Cubs Club” and I’m proud to say I’m a Founding Member. The neat thing is our youngest daughter, who also loves the Cubs, is also a Founding Member of the Cubs Club. That’s because this year is the first year of the Cubs Club; a great idea and likely a Club with a very long membership list. (more…)
Come Early and Stay Late
April 13th 2007
Sports teams seem to always be looking for creative ways to get their fans to the arena or stadium earlier, and one arena football team is addressing both opportunities.
In a newspaper advertisement, the football team is encouraging fans to “come early” and “stay late” with a variety of fan experience programs. (more…)
Connecting Fans with the Head Coach
March 27th 2007
I recently visited the website of the Utah Blaze, a team in the AFL’s American Conference Western Division, and I like their “Ask the Coach” feature.
It’s well positioned on the Blaze website, has a simple and effective layout, and in addition to successfully providing its fans access to its head coach - former Dallas Cowboy and Hall of Fame quarterback Danny White – the Blaze secured a title sponsor for the interactive fan feature. (more…)
Harley-Davidson Nights
March 6th 2007
I’ve noticed more and more sports teams are hosting Harley-Davidson Nights with a motor cycle giveaway.
It’s a great prize for fans to win, and it also makes for great marketing for the team when the cycle features the team’s logo and is painted in the team’s colors.
Harley-Davidson groups usually enjoy having a ride - for example, from a dealership to the game - included in their group night activity or sponsorship, which again only brings your team great exposure since your team’s themed motor cycle likely would be the cycle leading the pack of riders to your arena. (more…)
Free Soda or Water for Designated Drivers
February 20th 2007
I attended the NBA All-Star Game this past weekend, as well as all the festivities and events leading up to the game, and it was a fantastic event.
One neat take away I will share in today’s Telios Tips Blog is the Budweiser Good Sport Responsibility Matters designated driver program offered at the game. (more…)
Host a Mother Son Luau at Your Next Game
February 15th 2007
As I shared a few days ago, me and our youngest daughter attended our third annual Daddy Daughter Valentine’s Day Dance and we had a blast.
While standing in line, I noticed a flyer on the wall that read, “Mother Son Luau, May 12.” Since Mother’s Day is Sun, May 13, this is a great idea and an event any sports team playing in the spring could plan now to host in May.
Aloha!
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Family Fun Fest
February 12th 2007
Last Friday, I suggested our readers consider using their sports facility during the day to entertain kids – and sell tickets – just as a local skate center does each day.
Many sports teams are looking to entertain kids and families at their sporting event. Why not create a partnership with one or more of your local fun centers and have them set up inflatable games, slides and bounce zones at your games and the fun center could have title sponsorship rights to the area?
It would be a great opportunity for you to offer a fun zone for kids, and a terrific opportunity for the fun center to promote its business and distribute special offers to its skating center.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Unlimited Skating and Bouncing
February 9th 2007
I was looking through one of the advertising circulars we received in our local newspaper and I came across an ad for a kids fun center that offers roller skating and a kids inflatable fun center.
For just $5, any child could skate from noon to 5 pm, which for most sports venues would be a time your sports facility may not be in use if your team is not practicing.
Why not offer a similar fun session for youth and their families who are looking for a fun dat time activity, and tie in a ticket to your sporting event?
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Post Game Skate
January 5th 2007
College and professional hockey teams have a great opportunity to offer its fans – especially the kids and families – a post-game skate following Friday or weekend games.
This is an excellent opportunity to engage fans beyond the game, provide additional value, and likely attract fans who may not normally come out for just a hockey game, but who would be motivated by the opportunity to skate on the ice with their family and friends.
If you have this opportunity, I encourage you to think about how you can leverage this post-game event to further enhance your relationship with fans, engage the fans with your players and coaches, and provide a bounce-back offer to one or more future games.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Skate with the Canes
December 11th 2006
The Carolina Hurricanes – 2005 Stanley Cup Champions – hosted this past month its annual “Skate with the Canes” event for fans.
It’s a terrific event to benefit the Canes Kids ‘N Community Foundation. The fans have an opportunity to rotate through three areas - an autograph area, a locker room tour and a skating session – in small groups of 250.
This is a neat program for hockey teams to offer, but it could be easily modified for any sport.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Colts Create a Walk of Fame
November 29th 2006
The Indianapolis Colts have created a unique Walk of Fame where fans can purchase bricks that will be placed in the Colts new stadium in 2008. It’s a great idea for involving the fans and generating revenue.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Recognizing Season Ticket Holders
November 3rd 2006
The Indianapolis Colts have created a neat program to recognize its season ticket holders who volunteer in the community.
Every week, the Colts Community Relations Department keeps its fans updated on the ways its players and coaches are giving back to the community through the Colts “Horseshoe Happenings” newsletter. The Colts decided it wanted to recognize another important member of its team – the Colts season ticket holders.During the 2006 season, through the Colts Community Quarterback Award program, presented by Bose McKinney & Evans, the Colts will recognize 25 season ticket holders who have demonstrated an outstanding commitment to their community through volunteerism.
The Colts created an online form, which you can access here – and season ticket holders can share with the Colts what they, or another season ticket holder, are doing in the community by completing the online nomination form.In an effort to enhance this program, we could have tickets underwritten by the presenting sponsor (Bose McKinney & Evans) and donate the tickets to the community group the season ticket holder has volunteered their time.
From the nominations the Colts received, they will select 25 individuals to be named “Community Quarterbacks.” Those season ticket holders will be recognized during a special luncheon in November at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, which is likely a Colts restaurant partner.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Host a Tip-Off Luncheon
September 12th 2006
The Chicago Bulls host an annual Tip-Off Luncheon and have scheduled this year’s event for Oct 27 to tip-off its 2006-07 season. Here’s a copy of the Tip-Off Luncheon Order Form.
If you haven’t hosted a tip-off event for your basketball fans, check out what the Bulls do and you may want to consider hosting your own tip-off event to engage your fans.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Open New Facility With Open Practice
August 17th 2006
The Iowa athletics department came up with a neat idea to open its newly renovated Kinnick Stadium prior to the football season kicking off.
The athletics department will conduct an Open Practice on Saturday, and has invited fans to check out the facility, enjoy concessions for half-price, while viewing the open practice. It’s a great way to show off the stadium renovations, provide fans a behind the scenes tour, conduct a run-through of their stadium operations (including concessions), and generate revenue.
If the Stadium ticket office is open, as well as the team shop, they likely will sell some individual game tickets and merchandise as well.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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Troy Hosts Football Fan Appreciation Night
August 15th 2006
The Troy athletics department will host its annual fan appreciation night, and each nearing a sellout for the event.
They’ve included a fund-raising twist to the event – anyone who donates $100, which includes two admission tickets to the event, will also be entered into a $10,000 drawing.
Fans also have the option to attend the event without being required to donate, and tickets without a donation are $25 apiece.
Click here for the full story on the event.
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Ron Goch, The Telios Group
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