Okay, so just to throw it out there and see if we're all on the same page...
That article I wrote a year or so ago that RBHoya's referring to is the one where I talk about there being all these different "categories" of sports fans at GU. The point being that you have to recognize that (part of that, as RB points out, is recognizing that at this point about half the campus doesn't give a crap) and use different promotional strategies to reach those people. The goal in the end is to move everyone "up a level"--people only interested in a good time become actual fans of the teams, casual fans become die-hards, die-hards end up hanging out with 007 on the "whole 'nother level" (whatever THAT means
;D).
Apparently Georgetown thinks of its athletics programs in a similar way when it comes to funding, with this whole "national", "regional", "local" thing.
So are we cool, given that fact, with recognizing that when it comes to promoting games, some sports are going to "matter more" for lack of a better term to Hoya Blue?
First, let me point out that Hoya Blue made a committment this year to do at least one event for every on campus sport--which is a massive improvement to start with. In years past--maybe since that mythical game against Long Beach State in 1998 (you know I think Misty May might've played on that team)--you weren't getting any event for a volleyball game out of a Hoya Blue PERIOD.
But there's still clearly a hierarchy of how you promote games--and there should be, I think.
Basketball's the #1--you've got an entire event (Midnight Madness/Hoyapalooza) devoted to the opening of the season, several away game roadtrips planned, pep rallies, lots of flyers and signs every game, away game TV viewings, and a ton of coordinated effort in a massive student section. As many students as are going to show up for anything GU-sports related come to the MCI Center, it's a given.
Football and soccer right now are on the next level down. Hoya Blue has done BBQ's for most games. They do flyering for each. They've tried to create a defined student section at each sport (Hoya Hooligans and Pots n' Spoons: Shotgun Draw Brigade) that has had the effect of increasing what used to be sparse attendance and made it a heck of a lot more rowdy. But most students still aren't checking it out (save Homecoming) despite the new hardcore following of student fans who do show up every game. Lacrosse figures to fall into this category in the spring.
Below that you've got your field hockey, volleyball, swimming, etc. You'll get an occassional "event" like the one on Friday--probably hastily planned, probably oriented around something ELSE (like a costume contest or an afterparty incentive). The goal seems to be--ANYBODY that shows up is better than no one, and if they have a good time that's a plus.
I don't think it's a bad thing even if "only" 10-15 HB kids did show up on Friday (although RB's right IMO that 20-25 is a good safe guess). Nor does it sound like anyone in this thread feels that way. I think the disappointment was with an ill-advised decision of some genius in the AD to pull a "let's break a 1,000 plus attendance record that we obviously set with a big promotion when our team was nationally competitive and playing a traditional powerhouse back in 1998...but let's NOT PROMOTE IT AT ALL until a day before." Based on what I asked of HB people on Friday, that wasn't their idea and I don't think they knew enough to do any better than they did promoting.
I should point out that one of my criticisms of Hoya Blue this year has been that they've been slow in getting volunteers involved past their core "group of 20 or so" that I always see at games. But there's actually a built-in advantage to having a "group of 20 or so"--your attendance at just about any event has a built-in floor of...oh...about "20 or so". Worked out well Friday.
The common thread in all of the examples above though is that HB has successfully taken the attendance at these sports and "bumped it up a level". That's really what they should be aiming for. And having afterparties that go past 11...just saying. RBHoya's right again (he does that a lot) that building that "culture" HB wants on campus isn't going to happen overnight. It has to come incrementally, one level at a time.