After going to the ECU Spring game and reading the ESPN story today about mixed feeling from coaches about the value of the spring game,I was wanting to hear some fan feedback on the spring games.

W/o reading the story, I vote YES! We love them! IMO, schools are missing out on opportunities to engage and grow fanbases. Fundraising, marketing, PR, and events are how I make a living. I can tell you from experience that sporting related activities see positive ROI. Unless we get free tickets, the A game is the only one we attend.

(04-14-2014 05:55 PM)gulfcoastgal Wrote:  W/o reading the story, I vote YES! We love them! IMO, schools are missing out on opportunities to engage and grow fanbases. Fundraising, marketing, PR, and events are how I make a living. I can tell you from experience that sporting related activities see positive ROI. Unless we get free tickets, the A game is the only one we attend.

This is spot on. For me the spring game isn’t about the players or coaches it’s about the fans. It’s a chance for alumni and fans to meet up after a long winter driven by the love of football. It’s a chance for the program to showcase the talent for the upcoming season, hopefully sell a few more season ticket packages and build some good will. Most if not all programs have a live scrimmage which is closed to the media and public a practice or two before the spring game, that’s the opportunity for the coaching staff to evaluate the talent in game speed situations. IMO the spring game is and should be more about public relations.

To continue with what the last couple posters have gone, it is a good opportunity for the schools to promote season tickets and to fundraise.

As far as the coaches go, I bet most would just like to have another practice. Some schools do chose to skip the spring game and there are others who mix-in a practice within the sproing game itself.