Promoting UIC

[UICJohn]

There have been many ideas passed around and thoughts from all of us members. If the Fury or other similar groups are not going to do their job, we have all expressed interest to some degree of how we can do our part. So let's get down to it: What can and should be done? Starting this weekend, the studetns will be gone for approximately one month, so is there anything that can be done to promote UIC and their team by the time we/they return?

I do not remember who said what or the exact ideas, but some include fliers, booths, and things of that sort. I think that this is a good start. NewFound, I know what you mean about useless fliers and things of that sort, and I think we all know that this isn't going to put 7,000 in the seats night in and night out, but we have to start somewhere. We have agreed fliers should have things on them such as past accolades, schedules, and what about the giveaways that night?

One thing that I do know is the student's views of the team have to be changed. I was talking to my clustermate before the UWM game and he barely knew we had a team and was very surprised by the fact that we are good. It amazes me still when this happens! Next off, students at the game, I couldn't believe some of their attitudes. "Why is everyone standing?" I mean, come on! Get up for your team. Newfound pointed it out perfectly; some of them are so nervous like they're on their first date, they don't want to cheer or chant or anything with fear of how they will look or something. Look at Duke students! They're freakin' weird!

Getting down to it, I want to do something and I know others are willing too. I will do what I can. I live at UIC and am not too far that I can't travel over break. Copies aren't that expensive (8 cents a copy) and I'd be willing to front of money if needed.

Finally, would or should emailing the person who runs the Fury be of any help? I mean, they get some sort of funding so this shouldn't be hard for them. If so, we should probably come up with some sort of letter or proposal at least.

I know it was long, but just alot of our ideas in one posting.

[Big D]

UICJohn,

You mentioning your clustermate really shows how clueless the majority of this campus is. But I believe that there are some people just waiting to be converted. I mean, even if we can get 100 students to each home game....that's pretty good. 100 organized students could do some damage (although of course we'd rather have more).

I wouldn't really know where to start. Anybody have any ideas? I tried emailing the head of the Fury. I told her we had some ideas for trying to increase fan support and asked what her ideas were. I got no response. I'm not expecting one...maybe she didn't respond because I didn't do it from a UIC email address but I gave her this board link....so she had to know I was serious. Hell, she probably didn't even know people like us existed. Maybe if a UIC student emailed her with some ideas, then she may consider it....maybe say you'd like to join the fury and get more involved with marketing the team to other students....

If the Fury would be willing to consistently help with all of this, that would be great, but if not, it's going to be up to us. What we need are some really dedicated, and energetic people to get the word out.

I'd like to think that the best start would be to make up some flyers and get into the dorms and pass them out....even going as far as knocking on doors and recruiting people...if no answer, slide it under the door and post some on the elevators, stairs, etc. The flyers could have a UIC logo, and team name (I wouldn't doubt it if some people didn't know we were the Flames), game description (or description of next few games or something), message board link...maybe something like "Join The Fury" at the Inferno (Pavilion), but that may be bad, as the Fury is often not there. I also think some talk about 3 straight 20-win seasons, 3 NCAA appearances in the last few years, NIT trip....blah blah....

As far as printing, does UIC still charge to print copies? I guess if we wanted color, we'd have to fork over some money....but for black/white....we could just use UIC.

The booth is probably the best idea....right smack in the middle of campus with a banner or something....with those flyers....again, energetic, recruiting type people are needed. If we could somehow find a way to get some t-shirts we could hand them out and tell people to get to the game....the only problem here is, they could take our shirts but just never show up. Maybe we could have a mailing list that they would sign up to.....

I don't know...I'm really talking out of my @ss. I just think that if we wait for the Fury to do it, it's not gonna happen....I mean, I'm assuming a decent number of people showed up for the bonfire....so they're willing to come out....they just have to be shown a good time.

Maybe get-togethers at bars as big groups can happen beforehand and then you could all travel to the Pavilion together.....here's where NewFoundGlory's got a point....get to the bars...have some drinks....meet some people, and form a community that wants to go to the game and give the opponent hell.....

OK, I better stop now....there are all these ideas but where to start is the problem...maybe someone can add to this.......

[FlameFan]

These are all great ideas, but the first game that anyone will be able to really impact is Cleveland State on Jan. 15. That is the first home game after the next semester starts.

Flyers seem to be the right place to start. Even black & white is better than what is going on now. The key is to get some more die hard fans, then things will start to spread.

I would not count on the Fury to do much, but it is worth trying to work with them or get their help.

[UICJohn]

Okay, and now for my response. Sorry if it will be lengthy...

-You mentioning your clustermate really shows how clueless the majority of this campus is. But I believe that there are some people just waiting to be converted. I mean, even if we can get 100 students to each home game....that's pretty good. 100 organized students could do some damage (although of course we'd rather have more).

I know exactly what you mean. I know that for every student who has no idea there is at least one student who is dying for something to do on campus. I know of people who say "Oh man, we have nothing to do. Nothing goes on here". Well, if you want something to do, you have to do something about it no matter where you go! And on top of that, the game are FREE. You would not believe how many students don't know this.


-I wouldn't really know where to start. Anybody have any ideas? I tried emailing the head of the Fury. I told her we had some ideas for trying to increase fan support and asked what her ideas were. I got no response. I'm not expecting one...maybe she didn't respond because I didn't do it from a UIC email address but I gave her this board link....so she had to know I was serious. Hell, she probably didn't even know people like us existed. Maybe if a UIC student emailed her with some ideas, then she may consider it....maybe say you'd like to join the fury and get more involved with marketing the team to other students....

If the Fury would be willing to consistently help with all of this, that would be great, but if not, it's going to be up to us. What we need are some really dedicated, and energetic people to get the word out.

This is kind of what I was getting at. If we could get a something and I could send it to her. I am a student, so if you think she'd take it more seriously then I would be willing to. I was just thinking the Fury because if you join it, you have to have some sort of interest in the team. Hell, maybe we're wrong and maybe the Fury members who are there want to do more but aren't given the opportunity? Overall, I am not sure where to start either, but I think with the break, now is a great time.


I'd like to think that the best start would be to make up some flyers and get into the dorms and pass them out....even going as far as knocking on doors and recruiting people...if no answer, slide it under the door and post some on the elevators, stairs, etc. The flyers could have a UIC logo, and team name (I wouldn't doubt it if some people didn't know we were the Flames), game description (or description of next few games or something), message board link...maybe something like "Join The Fury" at the Inferno (Pavilion), but that may be bad, as the Fury is often not there. I also think some talk about 3 straight 20-win seasons, 3 NCAA appearances in the last few years, NIT trip....blah blah....


All are good ideas. I think fliers are definitely the right place to start. All of those things on there, as well as that the games are free to students. To me, that is a huge deal. And like I said, you would not believe how many students have no idea. My girlfriend came with me to the Georgia Tech game and asked how much tickets are. Needless to say, I was baffled!


As far as printing, does UIC still charge to print copies? I guess if we wanted color, we'd have to fork over some money....but for black/white....we could just use UIC.

-If done in the computer lab, they cost 8 cents a copy, but as a student I am given 15 dollars per semester. Honestly, I don't use it so I wouldn't mind using my charge money. The thing that I was thinking is if we could do it through the Fury, it might be cheaper, but either way, doesn't matter much to me. If they are free as some sort of group though, i don't know.

-The booth is probably the best idea....right smack in the middle of campus with a banner or something....with those flyers....again, energetic, recruiting type people are needed. If we could somehow find a way to get some t-shirts we could hand them out and tell people to get to the game....the only problem here is, they could take our shirts but just never show up. Maybe we could have a mailing list that they would sign up to.....

The thing about the booth is that it is really hard to reserve one, especially if we're not part of some sort of group. it might be easier to get one if we were part of the Fury, but I don't know who runs that or if anybody else would be willing to do it with me. But for a clas, we had to use a booth, and it was really hard to get one. That's all I remember about that.

-I don't know...I'm really talking out of my @ss. I just think that if we wait for the Fury to do it, it's not gonna happen....I mean, I'm assuming a decent number of people showed up for the bonfire....so they're willing to come out....they just have to be shown a good time.

If the right things are done, people will definitely show up. It is a slow process, but it's going. However, if things are done differently, it could be much quicker. This is why something needs to be done, and I'm not holding my breath when it comes to the Fury.

-Maybe get-togethers at bars as big groups can happen beforehand and then you could all travel to the Pavilion together.....here's where NewFoundGlory's got a point....get to the bars...have some drinks....meet some people, and form a community that wants to go to the game and give the opponent hell.....

I think that is a good point. It's like a pre-game ritual. It makes football immensely popular. And it is not as if some bars are so far from UIC that you can't walk or something.

Just a few things I think need to be done as a whole. We have to get groups of people interested, not just one. I go to alot of games by myself because nobody I really know is interested. I am not normal! Most normal students wouldn't go by themselves. Secondly, we cannot concentrate on the average fan right now, but the fans who care and just don't know enough yet.

[Big D]

OK, well let's get this started then....does anyone have experience with making flyers or anything....or know how to work with graphics really well.....if not, I will go ahead and try to throw something together....not sure how great it'll be as I probably don't have the resources I need but it can't be that hard.....

[UICJohn]

Out of simple Microsoft Word, I have no clue.

[TheKMan]

Big said:

OK, well let's get this started then....does anyone have experience with making flyers or anything....or know how to work with graphics really well.....if not, I will go ahead and try to throw something together....not sure how great it'll be as I probably don't have the resources I need but it can't be that hard.....

Big D,

A friend of mine is quite good at computer imaging. Here are some of his prior works. These are featured on another website I frequently visit:






If you have any particular guidelines or information to include within a flyer, I'll be more than willing to pass them on. I realize fliers wouldn't be nearly this colorful or detailed, but incase anyone was interested in meshing images his skills could be useful.

[Big D]

Welcome to the board TheKMan...did you used to post on the old UIC board because I don't recognize your name? In any case, spread the word to any potential fans you may know....

Those images are really nice, but you're right, for a flyer, I'm not sure they'd be necessary. However, if we ever get a UIC website off the ground, that might be something to look into.

As far as the flyers are concerned, from the posts above, we're just trying to get students to attend games....so we thought the flyers should include info like the typical who, what, when, and where, and for how much (FREE)....and then also, talk about how we have 3 straight 20-win seasons, 3 trips to the NCAA since 98, an NIT visit, an how we're the reigning HL tourney champs, etc. Also, we thought putting a link to this board might be a good idea....

Do you have any other suggestions?

[masterpyk]

Hey here is a quick and easy way to start to promote!

1) UIC Campus message board
tigger.uic.edu/announce/
You can post anything you want. So make it happen, Advertise home games, advertising tailgate party in the parking lot invite people to stop by (BYOB) before the game.
for away games do the same thing advertise away games that are going to be on TV, then find a local bar which will show the game. "Watch your UIC Flames battle ACC powerhouse Duke Blue Devils, at (insert bar name here) enjoy the game with fellow UIC fans and enjoy food and drink specials (if any)"
UIC needs a fan friendly bar that will show UIC games 1st and foremost. Some bars taht would work
1. Jak's Tap (Jackson Ave) I have watched the HL CHampionship game there, and also the UIC vs. Kansas game.
2. Illinois Bar and Grill (which is pretty empty most of the time and has good number of TV's).
3. Hawkeyes (can get really busy but has some nice TV).
4. Rick Bar ( got couple of TV and a Huge Big Screen (would have to call ahead of time to see if they would fire that puppy up (most of the time they dont have it on, also not busy).
5. Spectrum Bar and Grill over on Halsted (its supposed ot be a sports bar so why not).
6. Moretti's dont know too much about but i think last year they advertised the UIC games being on TV

2) Chicago Flame
They have a spot for free personal ads. Make a personal ad. "I Want to See You, dressed in red, at the Pavilion (Inferno) on Tuesday December 21. To cheer for the Flames, bring your friends, if you dont have any friends make some new ones."

3) Get some staplers and grab a bunch of UIC schedules (they used to also have post cards in SSB somewhere) and post this stuff where ever you can. Everyone else does it, why not! These things are already colorful i.e. grab attention, if people want them they can grab them off and have them. As grab a stack and as you visit restuarants bars etc. ask if you can leave a handful there, most places have no problem supporting the team and most places already have a section full of "promotional garbage and free newspapers". From personal experience I had a hell of a time getting a UIC schedule this year (the same pocket sized ones) so like lets make it available everywhere and anywhere. so anyone who lives on campus go for it.

[Big D]

Those are all really great ideas masterpyk. I've only been to Hawkeyes and Morretti's, but both have a good atmosphere, and are decent places to watch games....

Also, the tigger URL is definitely only for student/faculty postings so somebody on campus will have to take care of business.......

[WarriorFlame]

How about sidewalk spray chalk. Make a stencil with the infomation concerning the game..."Join the Fury! UIC vs. CSU. Jan. 15 7 pm." You can sidewalk chalk a lot of ground. Just a thought.

If you guys need help with graphics, I can design something for you.

[NewFoundGlory]

I think they already gave up.

[UICJohn]

Actually, no, we did not give up. There have been several ideas and working on some stuff. Maybe we shouldn't post all ideas on here though, seeing as there is just alot of negative thought coming from some places.