Ok, so it seems to be a popular enough topic in other discussion threads that we should cover it more in depth here: How can we get 5,000 in attendance at our first home game this year?
It could just be the circles we run in, but there seems to be a big buzz about the team and the upcoming season. We wrapped up with 3,000+ on July 4th — with a lot of hard core fans being out of town — and it really seemed to register for people who were not traditional soccer fans that this kind of sporting event was fun. We could take some inspiration from the buzz and excitement the UTC football team had this year that manifested in a crazy 14,000 attendance for the first game. A good deal of those attendees were probably just curious: would UTC be any good this year? Chattanooga FC no doubt has the same thing going for us. How can we capitalize on that?
What can the Chattahooligans do to help?
There are 1,800+ fans following the team on Facebook. Let’s say only 1,000 of those would be able to attend the first game. What if we each brought just one other person? There’s 2,000 people right there. What will draw the other 3,000? Can we simply count on curiosity or good advertising to pull people out of the woodwork?
Obviously some good preseason press in the TFP, The Pulse and all the online sources will be essential.
Getting the season schedule onto event/calendar web sites like Chattanooga Bridge and What’s Up Chattanooga would be very helpful too.
Is there potential cross-promotion? Chattanooga FC helps promote the Lookouts or UTC athletic clubs in return for them helping to promote CFC… Finding a way to get a lot of the 14,000 who attended the first UTC football game last fall? Make them curious?
The World Cup will be kicking off right about the time the season starts, what could CFC do to capitalize on that? Could they show games (serve food and beer!) at the stadium prior to our home games?
Since we were (are?) sponsored by VW: Could we maybe attract a soccer celebrity from DC United (or Wolfsburg!) to pay a visit and sign autographs at the game?
What else can we do Chatt FC faithful? Give us your best ideas.
I have a promotion idea that I've presented to CFC that would require about a dozen fans willing to commit 30 minutes – 1 hour each home game week to enact. I don't want to go into a lot of detail, but I'm trying to get some sort of reward/ thank you gift for the fans who help out – i.e. free tickets or CFC merchandise. I'll let folks know later this month what we've decided. (Although, in truth, even if the club says, "no thanks" I'll probably see if I can get some volunteers anyway – that's how El Conductor rolls.)
What about making sure ALL youth rec and select soccer players know that if they wear their soccer jerseys they can get in free? Like last year… that's easily a 1000 kids there and they for sure won't come without some parents or siblings or friends.
It would just take some good communication with the leagues and clubs in advance of the first home game…
Great ideas fellas…and I love the way El Conductor rolls…wish I could roll like him a little more:)
Could CFC take advantage of an MLS players strike? Or is it rendered irrelevant because no MLS teams are in our region?
What if we advertised for CFC in Atlanta (no MLS or NASL team yet) and in Knoxville (no team of any sort of soccer)?