2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Overview
Ohio University Athletics is looking to increase the overall attendance and
engagement of students at athletic events this year. The main goal is to increase
student attendance and influence on each home game. Athletics Marketing will
be focusing on football, women’s soccer, volleyball, field hockey, men’s
basketball, women’s basketball, wrestling, baseball and softball.

Each sport will have designated student days, involving various themes and
organizations, drawing more students out, in theory. These efforts will include
giveaways, competitions, prizes and more. Focusing on certain student
populations will create a smaller target market and give the department a
concentrated group of students to focus on.

Student attendance is something institutions are struggling with. The Ohio

University Athletics Marketing department has a focus this year on creating a
culture in which going to sporting events is a “must do” for students on campus.

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Overview
The marketing objectives for the 2016-2017 school year:

• Objective 1:
• Increase student attendance at football & men’s basketball games
• Objective 2:
• Increase student awareness and attendance for all Olympic sports
• Objective 3:
• Plan various student promotions at given sporting events throughout
year, enticing them to come and keeping them involved
• Objective 4:
• Utilize student interns to “blanket” the campus with various grassroots
marketing efforts
• Objective 5:
• Utilize various social media platforms to promote sporting events and
raise student awareness

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Intern Responsibilities
Utilize student interns to complete the following tasks during the week:

• West Green Blanketing • College Gate Set-Up and Flyer

• Athletic Blanketing Distribution
• College and Green Blanketing • Paint Graffiti Wall
• Uptown Blanketing • Dining Hall Entrance
• North East Green Blanketing Flyer Distribution
• East Green Blanketing • Apartment Flyer / Door Knocking
• South Green Blanketing • House Flyer / Door Knocking
• A Frame Sign Distribution • Scheduled Initiatives
• Rufus / Gator Ride Around • Baker Center TVs
• Baker Center Set-Up and • Baker Center Banners
Flyer Distribution • Dining Hall Table Tents
Students are responsible for “blanketing” the areas with 11x14 posters – the areas should be covered.
When they do the handouts, they interact with students, get them excited about the game, and inform them of promotions/giveaways

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Campus Plan
• Each event with a student focus will have a student specific graphic that goes out

• Athletics Marketing Interns will go out on campus and post all around campus

• As well, they will give handouts of those graphics to students all over campus

• Social media will also post the graphic, and or a GIF of the offerings
• Utilize all social media platforms and accounts that are relevant

• When there is a specific group of students targeted, athletics marketing will work
closely with the group to ensure students are aware
• Residence Life Challenges: partner with Residence Life and the Director
• Greek Life Challenges: partner with Greek Life and the Director
• Included in weekly newsletter to all Presidents
• Club Sports Night: partner with Graduate Assistant for Competitive sports
• Included in weekly newsletter to all Presidents

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Campus Surveying
• Interns will go out on campus and interact with their peers
• They will have a question set (5-6 core questions) that they will use to
engage in conversation with their peers
• Online surveying doesn’t get to the root of issues, nor do you get fully
thought out answers
• Students who take the time to participate in the survey, will be entered
into a raffle for $100 gift card

• Questions will include:

• Number of football / men’s basketball game attended
• What would motivate you to attend more games
• Why are students not involved and interactive at the games?
• If there is one thing you would improve about the student experience at
athletic events, what would it be?

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 OZONE
• Student super-fan group on campus
• $25 for freshman, $20 for upperclassman
• Receive a wristband for access to best student seats
• Receive a jersey as a member

• Perks include:
• Free/Discounted tickets for postseason games
• Including Bowl games and March Madness
• Free food at various athletic events
• Access to exclusive giveaways
• Social media giveaways

• Memberships can be purchased:

• Online or by calling the ticket office
• At any home football or men’s basketball game
• In the marketing office during business hours

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Football
• September 3rd vs. Texas State
• Opening Day / Labor Day Weekend
• Efforts to get all first year students to Peden Stadium
• All freshman will get “Class of 2020” sunglasses at
conclusion of 3rd quarter – vouchers given out at entrance

• September 24th vs. Gardner Webb

• Offer general admission student section tickets to all parents
• Parents of members of the Ozone can sit in the Ozone section/seats
• All on court promotions are students and their parent(s)

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Football
• Residence Life Challenge
• Saturday October 8th vs. Eastern Michigan
• Band Day / Heroes Day
• Competition amongst the residence halls
• Highest percentage represented wins a catered party
from Chick-Fil-A (must check out, no earlier than end of third quarter)
• Need additional incentive for RAs (long sleeve?)

• Greek Life Challenge

• Thursday November 3 vs. Buffalo
• Thursday Night Lights
• Competition amongst the various fraternities/sororities
• Highest percentage represented wins a catered party
from Chick-Fil-A (must check out, no earlier than end of third quarter)
• Work with Kristin to advertise and get them excited about it

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Volleyball
• August 26 Western Kentucky 6pm
• Student Blowout
• Bobcat Hat give away (first 100 students)
• Pregame Tailgate with food and soft drinks
• Free entrée from OMG Chicken coupon
• Raffle prize – over $100 in gift cards

• September 24 Buffalo 7pm

• Interns and volleyball players distribute flyers at the end of the football
game about volleyball game – football ticket gets you into volleyball
• October 8 Eastern Michigan 7pm
• Interns and volleyball players distribute flyers at the end of the football
game about volleyball game – football ticket gets you into volleyball

• November 4 Miami (OH) 7pm

• McDonalds Student tailgate
• Student raffle for anyone who brought canned goods for food drive

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Women’s Soccer
• August 21 Dayton 3pm
• Student designated game
• First 50 students in attendance get a mini vuvuzela

• September 9 Marshall 4pm

• Student tailgate
• Opens at 3pm
• McDonald’s and Taco Bell food giveaway for all students
• Bobcat Crew sock giveaway for the first 50 students in attendance

• October 23 Miami 1pm

• Student tailgate
• Breakfast (eggs, hash browns, bacon)
• Student scarf give-away for the first 50 students in attendance

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Field Hockey
• August 28 Indiana 1pm
• Student tailgate with McDonald’s
• Vuvuzela and hat giveaway
• First 50 students

• October 21 Kent State 3pm

• Student Game
• Senior Night
• DJ playing through pregame
• Food and beanie hat giveaway for all students in attendance

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Men’s Basketball
• November 12 vs. Southern
• Ozone Member Appreciation Day
• Exclusive giveaway to first 100 Ozone members in attendance (t-shirt)
• Exclusive OMG Chicken buffet for Ozone members

• December 3 vs. Bryant

• Residence Life Challenge winner Chick-fil-A party and on court recognition

• January 14 and 21 vs. Eastern Michigan (Men’s and Women’s game)

• Club Sports Night
• Club sport with the highest attendance percentage at both games, wins a
catered party from a vendor of their choice
• All teams that bring canned food items (minimum of 20 items) receive
community service hours
• Team that brings most canned foods, receives $100 extra for their budget

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Men’s Basketball
• February 18 vs. Bowling Green

• February 15 and 18 vs. Central Michigan and Bowling Green

• (Men’s and Women’s game)
• Greek Life Challenge
• Competition amongst the various fraternities/sororities
• Highest percentage represented wins a catered party
from Chick-Fil-A (must check out, no earlier than end of third quarter)
• Need to add an additional incentive (community service)?

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Women’s Basketball
• January 14 and 21 vs. Eastern Michigan (Men’s and Women’s game)
• Club Sports Night
• Club sport with the highest attendance percentage at both games, wins a
catered party from a vendor of their choice
• All teams that bring canned food items (minimum of 20 items) receive
community service hours
• Team that brings most canned foods, receives $100 extra for their budget
•
• January 21 and 24 vs. Eastern Michigan and Toldeo (Women’s and Men’s game)
• Residence Life Challenge
• Competition amongst the residence halls
• Highest percentage represented wins a catered party from Chick-Fil-A
(must check out, no earlier than midway through 2nd half)
• Add additional incentive for RAs who bring at least 25% of hall

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Women’s Basketball
• February 15 and 18 vs. Central Michigan and Bowling Green
(Men’s and Women’s game)
• Greek Life Challenge
• Competition amongst the various fraternities/sororities
• Highest percentage represented wins a catered party
from Chick-Fil-A (must check out, no earlier than end of third quarter)
• Need to add an additional incentive (community service)?

• February 25 vs. Miami

• Student tailgate

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions
 Wrestling
• 11th man promotion
• At every meet, a student is selected as the 11th man
• Student will be introduced with the team
• With the team for the National Anthem

• January 27th vs. Northern Iowa

• Battle of the Cats
• Heroes Day / ROTC
• Student Bash
• Tailgate with food TBD
• Camo shirts for first 100 students
• Beanie hat giveaway for first 100 students

2016-2017 Marketing Plan

Student Promotions