Steal this idea

[soccer fan]

I think UIC does give seats out for free. They have a Communty Assist Program which has been around for a few years if I'm not mistaken. That's why I always seem to see tons youth taking up whole sections at games.

[Big D]

soccer said:

I think UIC does give seats out for free. They have a Communty Assist Program which has been around for a few years if I'm not mistaken. That's why I always seem to see tons youth taking up whole sections at games.

Yeah, they definitely give out free tix to large groups of kids, and I think that's great...it gives kids that probably wouldn't be able to normally attend UIC games a chance to go. But why stop there? I mean, how about putting together a discount program, and then reaching out to alumni and people that actually have a connection to the school? Why not send out a mailer to new UIC grads reminding them that they get first crack at discounted tix?

[fyi]

I'm pretty sure the athletic department does all of that and more.

There are single game discounts for almost every game of the year - Sparky Special, 25th Anniversary Pack, Alumni Days, Season Ticket Holder discounts, and more.

You don't need to be a genius to spend less than the walk-up price and attend every game at the Pavilion - season ticket holder, or not.

Just because there isn't a young alumni season ticket discount doesn't mean that they aren't reaching out to groups connected to the university, either. I know for a fact they spend a lot of time, money, and effort on promoting season tickets and single game specials to faculty, alumni, and others.

It is probably too easy a solution for you, but you should just ask someone there. I'd bet they would be willing to share with you how they go about promoting UIC basketball.

[soccer fan]

Yes to a young alumni package, but rather than a straight discount, I would recommend something more like the following: for $110.00 plus a $25.00 tax-deductible donation to UIC athletics, you get a lower level basketball season ticket plus a 2-ticket all-events pass.

This would be better than a straight discount because:

1. It would get the young alum in the habit of donating to the school.

2. It would (hopefully) get more people to soccer, baseball, etc.

3. It would provide a transition to full price for graduating Fury members.

4. The all events pass (more so than the basketball ticket) provides a readily-identifiable advantage to sticking around the neighborhood after graduation. It is time for UIC to start leveraging its proximity to its alumni base, and the closer the better.

Maybe it should be offered through the alumni association as part of their outreach to recent grads. It seems logical that alumni association members would be a prime demographic for full-price season tickets, anyway.