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TOPIC: Where is the promotion |
| Ryan8
August 16, 2011
9:36:10 AM
Entry #: 3782450
| I was wondering besides today's paper why are the scores not called in nightly and why there was no promotion what so ever that the class A tournament was even going on? I see that even class B and C put there scores in the Pioneer Press. How do we get people interested in Class A ball if we don't promote it?
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| Class A-Hole
August 16, 2011
11:54:01 AM
Entry #: 3782555
| Couldn't agree more...it's a shame the lack of publicity this tournament gets.
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| AB4424
August 16, 2011
12:10:52 PM
Entry #: 3782575
| The only way to get more publicity is to get more guys interested in helping get the tournament going. The guys who currently set up the tournament do a lot of work just getting schedules together working with vendors and the host city. Not to mention all the set up that goes into this. Thank you to the people that put this tournament on every year, you do a terrific job. For those that want promotion, step up to the plate and talk to your league/team representatives and help out.
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| tall & lanky
August 16, 2011
12:21:19 PM
Entry #: 3782582
| I understand the frustration, however, who is really going to care about coming to a Amatuer game, even if they know about it????
It is the responsibility of the players in the tournament to get their family and friends to the games, first and foremost. If you cant get your family and friends to the games - WHO THE HECK ELSE WILL WANT TO WATCH YOU PLAY?!?!?!?
On top of that - what about the players from other teams in all 4 leagues???? Again, if guys in the leagues (who compete against you all year), dont care about showing up and supporting Class A Baseball, then WHO THE HECK ELSE IS GOING TO??!!?
I know its embarrasing/frustrating we have such a tough time getting people to come - but it is time we ALL look ourselves in the mirror and contribute. I have seen a few teams in the tourney show up for other games (not just their own), but have seen or heard of VERY FEW guys/teams that are not in teh tourney show any support at all.
If we want this tourney to grow it will take more than just money. We need to get participation from more teams in the Leagues. There needs to be something at stake before the season starts (ex. instead of flat fee of $200, maybe each team sells $200 worth of tickets? that way the money is still raised, but also more tickets are sold and more people will be at teh games. You already paid fo the tickets/passes, why not sell them or give them away to family, friends, players, etc... This would pretty much gaurentee more participation - and it would pretty much be free marketing for Class A...)
thoughts from a Veteran...
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| Red Raider 9
August 16, 2011
12:59:16 PM
Entry #: 3782623
| I agree with both of the last 2 comments. There are things that can be done to better market this tournament, but there needs to be people willing to get involved. The people that help put this tournament together are people that have been doing it a long time and need someone willing to give their time and ideas to help improve it. Shawn, Dennis, Andre, and Robin do a great job as commissioners to coordinate and run things behind the scenes. Many others give their time and expertise to help out:Chris Johnson, Rob Schildgen, Paul Odegaarde just to name a few as there are many more. If you think you have an idea to help improve this tournament contact your league commissioner and be willing to get involved.
T&L is also correct in the fact that we need to get our own people out to the games, but the biggest dissapointment is the lack of support from the eliminated teams. In years past my squad has both played deep into the tourney and been knocked out quickly. The years that we were out, myself and many of my teammates would come out to watch the remaining games. Whether the venue was Parade, Dunning, or Haddox guys would show up to heckle "friends" that are still playing or just to have an excuse for a few beers and a night out. This year above many in the past shows that there is parity in amateur ball in Minnesota. That hopefully will be enough to overcome the objection some have about watching the same 4-5 teams every year. Come out to the games and bring your teammates, where else are you going to get 3 hours of quality entertainment and 4 beers for $20.
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| 3strikekid
August 16, 2011
1:00:17 PM
Entry #: 3782625
| T&L, I agree completely with what you are saying about people not wanting to come and watch an amateur game. I disagree with instead of paying the flat fee that teams sell $200 worth tickets instead. The people that would buy the tickets from the teams are the people that would normally be paying at the gate. Your idea would result in less money for Class A since, instead of every team paying $200 and gate ticket sales, there would be $200 worth of tickets floating out there that people would use instead of buying at the game.
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| Ryan8
August 16, 2011
1:29:33 PM
Entry #: 3782644
| I agree that it takes a lot of commitment to get the tournament going every year but it is not that hard to call scores in and get the tournament game times and what teams are playing in the paper. look at this website for example in order to view the brackets you have to read the forum and look under the handouts page. Why are the games not listed right on the home page like during the regular season.
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| AB4424
August 16, 2011
1:45:56 PM
Entry #: 3782661
| You are more than welcome to contact the papers to report scores and you are more than welcome to help run a website to make it easier to find this stuff.
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| tall & lanky
August 16, 2011
1:54:34 PM
Entry #: 3782663
| strike 3 - i get your point and it makes sense. But think about it - every team in the league sells these tickets - no matter if they are in the tourney or not.....that is the begining of promoting our leagues (Class A Tourney).
In other words, you are telling me that Air Freight, Mpls Rocks (or another team that didnt make it) are going to send 20 people to the tourney to watch the games? No they arent....but if they were made to pay for these tickets at the beinging of the year, they will either show up to use them themselves (at which point they also buy beer, t-shirt, program and hotdog) or they give away or sell to friends and family (and they buy the beer, food, etc..)
all of a sudden we have 400 tickets/passes sold before the tournament starts. Yes, some of these people (25% of them) would come anyway - but what about the rest?? If nothing else, this starts to get the word of mouth out better than just saying "tell all your family friends and fellow league players to show up". There is incentive for each team to get the word out - they dont pay a lick for the tourney, they just sell the tickets...
this is the whole idea - promote from within...
after a few years of this, who knows maybe we have 400 fans at each game... It can be done, but it will take a little work, patience, and more participation from all teams in each league (not just the same 3-4 teams year after year).
This is just an idea....I welcome all thoughts, concerns, ideas regarding it. I agree with everyone else though, that the people involved do a lot of work already and it would be nice if everyone (all teams in Class A) did their part in promoting. This tournament is something all Class A teams should be shooting for and should also be proud of.
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| Ryan8
August 16, 2011
2:49:03 PM
Entry #: 3782714
| I'm not a player I'm a fan first of all. Second it should be the responsibility of the people who made the commitment to run the tournament this year to get the word out and get the scores and game times in the paper and on this site out there.All I'm saying is there are more people like me who enjoy watching amateur baseball and if we don't know when and where the games are and who's playing the only people your going to get to the games are family and some friends and by judging by the attendance last night they might not even know when to show up.
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| tall & lanky
August 16, 2011
3:01:22 PM
Entry #: 3782726
| Ryno8 - very good point... and thank you for supporting Class A ball.
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| Tnarg
August 16, 2011
3:47:20 PM
Entry #: 3782755
| I have a theory. Perhaps a few that put in a ton of effort struggle with the idea of self promoting in a 'toot your own horn' manner. Well I can tell you it would be great to get a ton of people to the Class A tournament. I've been out of touch for a while, but it always stung every year to hear all the attention Class B and C get while the A Tourney gets played in their shadow. I will say there are certain teams who represent well and certain teams not so much. Part of it lies on the program, but a little more promoting even if some feel it's self promoting is welcome.
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| MNBBALL
August 16, 2011
5:38:27 PM
Entry #: 3782827
| I agree with everyones points. Not even a score in the newspapers. This year there isn't even the schedule on the main page of this website with the tourney teams and team pictures. Thx Cyclone16 for posting under the handouts page. Last year some teams even uploaded stats etc. This year there absolutely nothing. :(
Kudos to the Skyline and Stockmens Irish. Where in the heck did North End all of a sudden come from?
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| Tiny Arch
August 17, 2011
9:28:32 AM
Entry #: 3783163
| Just my opinion, but if the teams make a connection to their local youth baseball programs by providing a few clinics for the youth in the town they might get more turnout for tournaments like this. It takes effort and coordination with local community groups if you want a fan-base. The lack of coordination or concern about building a fan-base is mainly the reason you have such a small number of fans in attendance. If the players don't care, however, then it doesn't really matter about the number of fans coming. Just keep going out their and enjoy playing baseball until you can't run the bases anymore. Best of luck to all teams still standing!
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| spitsack
August 17, 2011
9:34:32 AM
Entry #: 3783172
| Valid posts made by several and arguments for all sides of the coin.
Here is my stance as it has been many times over in terms of a priority template.....
1) Fields/costs/parking/admissions/misc expenses
2) Teams with equipment
3) Players
4) Balls
5) Umpires
6) Groundscrew
7) FREE ADVERTISING IN THE TRIB AND PRESS
8) OTHER FORMS OF INEXPENSIVE ADVERTISING
9) Concessions ect.
Yes those who are involved are overloaded and most definitely others could step forward to lend a hand especially from those who want more and do nothing. However, why work so hard and fail to realize the importance of simply reporting scores and or schedules?
Have the winning teams report scores, or a small group of people to take turns so as to defer all the extra time.
Furthermore, if team's fan bases are 90%+ friends and family during the season why would they or anyone else for that matter have reason to believe that would not continue to be the case during the tourney?
Most definitely it is a difficult proposition to increase fan base and it is certainly more difficult in town versus in some B and C communities. Yet several small proactive steps could increase interest and consequently fan base.
Also maintaining clubs with small turn over from year to year in terms of players is huge! As someone mentioned for those teams/leagues who want to get better it is difficult to do so with half a new team every year.
Props to North End and Stockmens being in the top bracket final.
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