Kgrimmwsu Member Username: Kgrimmwsu
Post Number: 113 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 - 10:23 pm: | |
I was wondering if any WMU alum's here on the board attended and what was their opinion of the current billboard campaign being used in Metro Detroit and throughout the state to attract new students. It was a great game (WMU beat Illinois 23-17), but next year's matchup against MSU at Ford Field should sell out. |
Mortgageking Member Username: Mortgageking
Post Number: 252 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 - 10:43 pm: | |
Great game, it made me proud to be a Bronco. I hate the signs, esp: "Grab the Reigns." When it comes to advertising for a university, I believe that less is more; not advertising like they're trying to get people into a McDonalds or something. Something simple and classy that makes people think "higher education." Maybe a big WMU in block letters. (Message edited by mortgageking on November 10, 2008) |
Chuckjav Member Username: Chuckjav
Post Number: 1093 Registered: 09-2007
| Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 - 10:58 pm: | |
Mortgageking...regarding WMU billboards, I agree 100%. Also, to build upon what you had mentioned - regarding billboard simplicity; this is particularly true when advertising a school in Kalamazoo, to an otherwise unfamiliar southeastern Michigan audience. |
Michigansheik Member Username: Michigansheik
Post Number: 320 Registered: 09-2005
| Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 - 11:06 pm: | |
i have fun at the game, go broncos! looking forward to next years game! not a fan of the current billboards. |
Spiritofdetroit Member Username: Spiritofdetroit
Post Number: 1240 Registered: 11-2006
| Posted on Monday, November 10, 2008 - 11:35 pm: | |
less than 13,000 in the crowd... ouch. |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 2083 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 11:05 am: | |
That has a lot to do with Illinois. They didn't travel well for this game (can't blame em I guess). Of that 13,000 (folks that were there estimate that number was about 5,000 short somehow), at least 10-11k were WMU fans. |
Mickeymac Member Username: Mickeymac
Post Number: 49 Registered: 08-2008
| Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 5:56 pm: | |
Not a football fan, but since WMU is right here in my home turf of Kalamazoo, I thought I would stick my head in. |
Vivadetroit Member Username: Vivadetroit
Post Number: 109 Registered: 04-2008
| Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 8:27 pm: | |
I'm not a WMU alumni, but my brother is and he loves the billboards. I am not a fan of them, but if it pulls kids in to go to WMU, then good for the school. I was at the game and it was a good turnout for WMU since they have a hard time getting students to go to the games in Kzoo. My brother, who was a former WSA prez, is friends w/ some of the bigwigs at WMU and they were asking how they could get kids to stay at the games or even go to them. He mentioned a ploy that they had in the late 90s - give away a semester's tuition to one lucky kid per game - only catch is that you had to stay til the last 2 minutes of the game. That will pull 'em in! Can't wait til next year's game w/ Michigan State. That one will sell out for sure!! Go State! |
Detroit_pride Member Username: Detroit_pride
Post Number: 34 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 9:13 pm: | |
WMU Alum here and went to the game. It is good to be able to support the team with having to drive to Kalamazoo. I'm not for certain, but I have a feeling that there are quite a few alumni living in the Metro Detroit area. Ford Field on the other hand only had two concession stands open on each side of the field. THe lines were ridiculous and they lost a lot of sales due to that. They did however sell beer at the event....different then when the NCAA basketball was here last March, not sure why that is. As far as the billboards....keep them up. I've been seeing Central, Eastern, Wayne State and even Toledo is putting up signs trying to attract the students. |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 2084 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 9:23 pm: | |
WMU students pack the student section and stay for the whole game now, seriously. I'm a 2005 alum and they never used to...but I've been to 2 games in Kalamazoo this year, and the students have stayed. |
Chuckjav Member Username: Chuckjav
Post Number: 1094 Registered: 09-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 10:02 pm: | |
Speaking (again) of the WMU billboards...anything is better than the old "Don't Stop Now - Try Western" campaign of the mid-late 1970s. ...Pert' near made me feel inferior for to-goin' thar. (Message edited by chuckjav on November 11, 2008) |
Bibs Member Username: Bibs
Post Number: 733 Registered: 10-2003
| Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 10:52 pm: | |
If Lynwood Bartley wasn't giving them so much homework then they would be able to go to the football games! Lynwood is probably long retired. But any Alum that had him will certainly remember his name! |
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2
Post Number: 2836 Registered: 07-2007
| Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 11:17 pm: | |
Go Bronco's, alum, student council member. Does anyone remember the Puking Moose Saloon? Student ghetto parties on Davis. |
Kgrimmwsu Member Username: Kgrimmwsu
Post Number: 114 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Tuesday, November 11, 2008 - 11:47 pm: | |
As bad as many people think WMU's football attendance is,it has consistently ranked number #1 in the Mid-American Conference for the past decade and holds most of the attendance records in the MAC. (I dont count the PSU/Temple game at Lincoln Financial) "Waldo Stadium has become one of the top drawing stadiums in the MAC in recent years. In 2000, WMU sold out its season opener against Indiana State, setting a MAC home attendance mark in the process with 36,361 fans." (From www.wmubroncos.com) We have to remember how difficult it is to attract people to these games since WMU is reasonable driving distance to MSU,UofM,and Notre Dame. |
Mortgageking Member Username: Mortgageking
Post Number: 253 Registered: 12-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 12:06 am: | |
My place on Eldred Street (two houses up from Jimmy Johns). A quick stumble to the Stadium, the Ghetto and of course, Waldos.
We were well known for our rope-swing. You could swing that thing out over the street. Its a wonder that nobody was ever seriously hurt. We also had a treehouse in the back yard. |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 2085 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 11:54 am: | |
I lived on Lafayette, student ghetto the sequel. |
Kgrimmwsu Member Username: Kgrimmwsu
Post Number: 115 Registered: 06-2004
| Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 6:44 pm: | |
My favorite part of WMU will always be the view from East Hall overlooking all of Kalamazoo. Now there's a place to hang out and have a couple beers |
Detroit_pride Member Username: Detroit_pride
Post Number: 35 Registered: 02-2008
| Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 7:17 pm: | |
I was there the day they closed down the knollwood tavern....only thing left were Zima's and Memories. Followed by some breakfast stew at MAggies. |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 2086 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 10:04 pm: | |
Isn't the parking services building there now? Or across the street. Something like that. I find that funny. Never had the chance to go to the Knollwood. Though I do mourn the loss of the original Bilbo's. At least Waldo's is just as awesomely shitty as always. |
Quonset_hut Member Username: Quonset_hut
Post Number: 19 Registered: 08-2008
| Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 10:21 pm: | |
"Reaching such a figure in the 65,000-seat venue has been more difficult than imagined, though an estimated 12,000-15,000 fans are all that's needed to break even financially, said Monty Porter, WMU's associated athletic director of business affairs. Porter says WMU is on the hook for between $425,000 and $475,000, factoring in a $300,000 guarantee to the University of Illinois and its Ford Field costs. "If the numbers aren't as high as we'd like them to be, the Ford Field folks will scale back the personnel they need, which will lower the opening numbers," Porter said." http://www.mlive.com/broncos/i ndex.ssf/2008/11/ticket_sales_ sluggish_for_wmui.html Going from the Ford Field Parking Ramp to the Stadium was the shortest walk ever to see a football game. They closed off the upper decks and must have relocated anyone who bought seats in those areas. The limited concession stands open was a way to economize per the article. |
Lefty2 Member Username: Lefty2
Post Number: 2861 Registered: 07-2007
| Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 10:56 pm: | |
well at least they beat the a big ten team. WMU owes 450K WTF. |
Focusonthed Member Username: Focusonthed
Post Number: 2087 Registered: 02-2006
| Posted on Wednesday, November 12, 2008 - 11:39 pm: | |
That article was written last week. They owed $300k to the UofI for the game, and then the rest to Ford Field or the Lions or whoever. It's not like they owe $450k MORE. |