Giveaway Idea: Variable promotions based on attendance

by Dex on Dec 27, 2010 4:39 PM PST

Many years ago, I wrote a blog post suggesting things the Padres could do to boost attendance. I didn't want it to be a thing that required the team to make drastic changes to the team or the stadium.

Looking back on it, the Padres have actually done a bunch of the things. Did attendance go up? Maybe no, but it wasn't for lack of trying.

So here's my idea for the day: Variable Giveaways Based on Attendance

Hear me out.

Pick a promotion you would've already done and then do it better the more people show up.

For example, let's say you have a beer promotion where the price of beer for a night is a buck less. Now let's say, if the attendance hits 20k, the price of beer drops ANOTHER buck. If you hit 30k, you get the two bucks off the beer and then a coupon good for a dollar off beer any other night. If you sell out, you get a beer stein along with the beer promotion.

The goal being not only to get people out to attend a game with a promotion, but to give the fans a sense of ownership that they'll be affecting at least SOMETHING at the game, namely how good of a giveaway it's going to be.

And then post like the projected attendance so that people can be like, "Oh man... They're only 450 people away from upgrading that t-shirt to a t-shirt and underwears! I gotta call Leroy!" I think as you approach the next level of giveaway, you might be able to talk people into coming out to weeknight games like, "It's down to 100 people and we all get free bottles of bbq sauce!!!"

SOMEBODY GET MENTOR ON THE PHONE.

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Comments

This made me chuckle

Is Leroy the new savior?

They better have a Latos bobblehead in 2011.

Mat Latos is the real deal...Go Lakers, Pads, and Bolts

by mrbarneydangles on Dec 27, 2010 5:22 PM PST reply actions

Don't jinx him!

The bobblehead was the kiss of death last year.

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThinGwynn on Dec 27, 2010 6:27 PM PST up reply actions

Clayton still did alright

"You're like the nicest internet person I know." - theodore donald kerabatsos

by Jordan_Ming on Dec 27, 2010 6:35 PM PST up reply actions

And he stands proudly beside my television

Since you're a clearly man of impeccable taste and style, I want to ask you: what do you think of the boots?

by Friar Fever on Dec 28, 2010 9:29 AM PST up reply actions

Leroy is a great name

I’m half-tempted to name my firstborn child Leroy Tyrone.

Ehhhh, I don't deserve a signature...

by sdchicken on Dec 27, 2010 10:43 PM PST up reply actions

baseball meets groupon?

I think the Pads should give away $50,000 cash each home game.

I drink therefore I am.
W. C. Fields

by Hormel on Dec 27, 2010 6:26 PM PST reply actions

They ran a groupon promo last year.

It was $24 for a field level seat, a hat, a hot dog and a soda.

by field39 on Dec 27, 2010 11:16 PM PST up reply actions

I had no idea

look for a lot more of those
even the Pads only got $12 for the ticket, hat, dog, soda…

I drink therefore I am.
W. C. Fields

by Hormel on Dec 27, 2010 11:59 PM PST up reply actions

SOMEBODY GET MENTOR ON THE PHONE.

THAT’S YOUR JOB.

I need new pants.

by jodes0405 on Dec 27, 2010 9:17 PM PST reply actions 2 recs

I was here to say this.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Dec 28, 2010 9:35 AM PST up reply actions

Calling B.S...........

Not calling your post B.S. I’m refereing to the thousands of people that swear they are fans but are never there when needed. If it wasn’t for the piece of junk wanna be fans that San Diego has stuff like this wouldn’t be needed…Your idea isn’t all that bad, but cheaper beer shouldn’t be a selling point that brings fans to the field. They should come because they have pride and passion for the San Diego Padres. But we all know that those people are few and far between. It really is sad how many people just don’t get it anymore….

by Joshua Bowen on Dec 27, 2010 9:17 PM PST reply actions

Well....

Personally, I can’t afford to just go to any and every game possible. I choose 5-6 games that they give good stuff away when tickets go on sale in March. Then throughout the season, I’ll go to games where a good pitching matchup might take place. I strongly believe that going to games where they give things away does NOT make me or anyone else any less of a fan. I watch every televised game if I’m not in the stands. I attend San Diego State full time and do not have the time to go to most weekday games in the spring. That leaves me with weekends where they ALWAYS give stuff away. Plus, it’s not like giveaways and promotions are some kind of new-fangled attempt at drawing attendance. I have the pride and passion for the San Diego Padres, but I’m not going to tell the Pad Squad girls to keep their free t-shirt. I have needs.

Since you're a clearly man of impeccable taste and style, I want to ask you: what do you think of the boots?

by Friar Fever on Dec 28, 2010 9:24 AM PST up reply actions

5-6 games

is nothing to apologize about.

by strummer on Dec 28, 2010 10:35 AM PST up reply actions

Ok Look....

….I understand that people have limitations. I wish I could go to 81 games a year, but I work a full time job and go to school as well. I wasn’t talking about people that can’t physically make the games. I know life gets in the way. But San Diego has how many people in it, and we can’t even manage to get 30,000 every night unless the Dodgers are in town and all the L.A. people come down to watch the game. I know that there is 8-10,000 true die hard fans out there. You and me being two of them, but it takes a lot more than that to make an impact. And I’m not saying that free stuff isn’t nice, who doesn’t like free stuff. I’m talking about all the other nights when there is no free giveaways and only 18,000 might show up. We need to become a fan base that shows up all the time…..

by Joshua Bowen on Dec 28, 2010 11:45 AM PST up reply actions

The free stuf is great.

It is how I talk me wife into going to games. The 2 for 1 ticket promos don’t hurt either.

by field39 on Dec 28, 2010 11:51 AM PST up reply actions

You should pick another team to root for.

Oh internet, what a wicked web you weave.

by Mad_Villain on Dec 28, 2010 10:32 AM PST up reply actions

You Are Right!!!!!!!

I’m not a Padres fan…I’m a 100% hard core-die hard baseball fan who calls the San Diego Padres his favorite team. I’m sorry that when I post or comment that I don’t do whatever it takes to make the Padres look good. I try and comment with my head, not my heart or out my ass. I don’t believe in crying, complaining, or short answers. I enjoy good debates with thought out reasons and a believable theory. I never care if someone has a different opinion than mine, but if they are going to try and debate or counter, I hope it has a point. One or two word comments are just a waste of time. Finally, most of my comments will probably be different from all you guys because my dream and goal is to work in the front office of a MLB organization some day. So when I look at situations and I comment on them, I do it from a owner or GM’s point of view. I don’t look at it from a fans perspective. So I know going in that most people are going to hate what I say. Which I don’t mind. But people blow up and get affended way to easily and take things the wrong way…..

by Joshua Bowen on Dec 28, 2010 11:57 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs

define affended

Oh internet, what a wicked web you weave.

by Mad_Villain on Dec 28, 2010 12:05 PM PST up reply actions

Right There!!!

Just because I make a comment doesn’t mean I’m talking about you. I was simply making a statment and already you assume I’m talking about you. I’m not saying that everyone is stupid and no one else knows what they are talking about. I was simply saying that there is a large portion of people who don’t think before they speak. Only on very small occasions will I ever talk about one single individual. Most of the time I refer to the city and fan base as a whole. But i guess people only tend to read the first three or four sentences and than comment about what they don’t know. ( again, just in case, i’m not talking about you, i’m saying in general )…Plus, name calling, curse words, and trying to take shots at other people is a good way to see what people get affended and are only here to talk smack…..

by Joshua Bowen on Dec 28, 2010 12:52 PM PST up reply actions

K, I'm sorry, I guess it went over your head. It's offended, not affended.

Basically, you’re on the wrong site with that sentiment. Don’t show up on a blog devoted to dedicated fans and bitch about dedication.

Oh internet, what a wicked web you weave.

by Mad_Villain on Dec 28, 2010 1:47 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

I can't count the number of times I've made this point

Mayhaps it should be added to the Community Guidelines you see when you join the site?

The Padres are good, but make no mistake: we've gotta beef up the linwup.

If I had a nickel from every SBN blog that has banned me, Arrowhead Pride would owe me 5¢.

by StrangeBroP25 on Dec 28, 2010 2:57 PM PST up reply actions

Most of the time I refer to the city and fan base as a whole.

Ah, the “those people” mentality. That’s refreshing.

www.FriarsOnCardboard.blogspot.com
"jbox does not drink coffee, as it makes him clean house big time." ~Kev

by TheThinGwynn on Dec 28, 2010 4:52 PM PST up reply actions 1 recs

I am a little confused.

A large portion of the people who go to ball games are people who you seem to have a very low opinion of. The very same people who would be your customers, if you worked in MLB. Why would you want to work in an industry, in which you such a great distaste for the your customers?

by field39 on Dec 28, 2010 12:06 PM PST up reply actions

Stop talking out of your ass

You’re not a true ‘hard core-die hard’ fan.

Oh internet, what a wicked web you weave.

by Mad_Villain on Dec 28, 2010 12:07 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs

Again....

…I’m not talking about the people who are coming to the games. I’m talking about the people who comment and post things like “the Padres suck and I’m not coming back til they win” or “why the hell would you support this AAA team” or “why do we always get B.S. management who don’t know what they are doing”…Those people are the ones I’m talking about. I don’t have any distaste for people who show up and spend thier hard earned money on a night out at the ball game. Like I said, I understand life gets in the way and people can’t physically make it to the park sometimes. But everyday I hear or read people talking about how they will never go back to a game until the team starts winnnig. I guess they don’t realize that the Padres won 90 games last season and were in first place almost all year. So I get confused about thier reasons about not going, they say they want a winnig team, but even with 90 wins they don’t show up. Those are the people I’m talking about.

by Joshua Bowen on Dec 28, 2010 1:02 PM PST up reply actions

those types of people don't have a tendency to last very long on this blog

so i’m not entirely sure who you are directing your rant towards.

"I suggest more bike" ~KSK

drinkerswithawritingproblem.blogspot.com

by justdave on Dec 28, 2010 5:29 PM PST up reply actions

We already have a word for them.

They’re called foulweathers.

Isn't it enough to know that I ruined a pony making a gift for you? ◔ヮ◔
Uncommon Sportsman :: Absurdity in play

by Axion on Dec 28, 2010 9:29 PM PST up reply actions

So instead of showing great distaste for your customers...

… you want to show great distaste for your potential customers? Here, let me give you a free lesson in business:

Don’t tell your customers they suck. Don’t tell people who may one day become your customers they suck, or they will never become your customers.

Don’t say I never gave you anything.

by Darklighter on Dec 29, 2010 12:02 PM PST up reply actions

It might just be me,

But I think this is a brilliant idea Dex. Giving fans different ways of being involved and ownership of events is likely to keep them coming back like regular Brett Favres.

queen of the rec fairies (http://spunc.com.au/members/hunter/product/9780980517965/)

by Aussie fan on Dec 27, 2010 9:30 PM PST reply actions

This is actually a pretty good idea...

I don’t know how long it takes them to get the final full attendance number though, which could be a potential complication. I think its not fully tallied until later on in the game. This would make the beer promotion more difficult because people want their beer ASAP!

You could do something where you redeem your ticket for items later on…

Take the stupid jitb tacos, and as soon as attendance hits 25K you add a drink, when it hits 35K you add a dessert, and when there’s a sell-out you get any combo for free.

Something along those lines could be practical and fairly easy to implement… The beer idea is interesting though…. You know beer sales would plummet before the game and in the early innings until the attendance numbers came in though.

by Dugout Dude on Dec 27, 2010 10:17 PM PST reply actions