As the Spring Game approaches tomorrow, I cannot help but compare and contrast how our first opponent of the season, Georgia, has marketed its spring game to its fans versus how Carolina has 'marketed' its game.
Granted, I don't live in North Carolina, but my sense is the university has given it its typical treatment of upcoming football events, i.e. very little advertisement. Ho hum, oh the spring game is coming up, come if you'd like! I've gotten one email from Carolina Athletics about it and that's basically it.
Now compare this approach to that of UGA. From the second Kirby Smart took the job back in January, he has been raising awareness about the UGA Spring Game. He's labelled it "93K Day" and every single time he does a radio or television appearance (which is often) he makes sure to ask the Dawg Nation to come out and attend the spring game and get a full house of 93,000 people. "93K Day" is everywhere. It's on radio ads all the time. And what's more, it's working. I heard a report today that every hotel within a 30 mile radius of Athens is sold out for this weekend. It's been marketed as a must-attend event and the fanbase is responding.
Now, is a Spring Game the end-all, be-all? No, it isn't. But the take-home here is it sure would be nice if UNC would market the hell out of its football program like UGA has been doing with this spring game. Carolina just had its most successful season in 18 years and is poised to make another ACCCG run this season. I want to see more from the PR folks at Carolina Athletics. Blow up our emails, pay for radio ads (feel free to tell me if UNC has done this as I don't live in North Carolina), put up a ton of billboards, market the brand.
Carolina Football is on the rise and is here to stay. I sure wish we'd market it better, especially with home attendance being what it is -- lousy.
Granted, I don't live in North Carolina, but my sense is the university has given it its typical treatment of upcoming football events, i.e. very little advertisement. Ho hum, oh the spring game is coming up, come if you'd like! I've gotten one email from Carolina Athletics about it and that's basically it.
Now compare this approach to that of UGA. From the second Kirby Smart took the job back in January, he has been raising awareness about the UGA Spring Game. He's labelled it "93K Day" and every single time he does a radio or television appearance (which is often) he makes sure to ask the Dawg Nation to come out and attend the spring game and get a full house of 93,000 people. "93K Day" is everywhere. It's on radio ads all the time. And what's more, it's working. I heard a report today that every hotel within a 30 mile radius of Athens is sold out for this weekend. It's been marketed as a must-attend event and the fanbase is responding.
Now, is a Spring Game the end-all, be-all? No, it isn't. But the take-home here is it sure would be nice if UNC would market the hell out of its football program like UGA has been doing with this spring game. Carolina just had its most successful season in 18 years and is poised to make another ACCCG run this season. I want to see more from the PR folks at Carolina Athletics. Blow up our emails, pay for radio ads (feel free to tell me if UNC has done this as I don't live in North Carolina), put up a ton of billboards, market the brand.
Carolina Football is on the rise and is here to stay. I sure wish we'd market it better, especially with home attendance being what it is -- lousy.
