Any and all ideas to boost Argos growth in the GTA- all input welcomed

[1971GreyCup]

Club Seat Section: the Argos currently sell club seats which includes a lounge and wifi.

Other teams include a hot buffet and players alumni. Given that Alumni games are marketed, Alumni return frequently, exclusive player access at half time seems like a natural. A hot buffet makes sense even if ticket prices are increased.

[1971GreyCup]

Annually the Argos offer a travel with the team promotion. Since they already charter a plane and get 100 away ticket use +50 hotel rooms, why not do 9 promos per year. Fans that promote the teams expansion qualify. Marginal cost to the team, and a lifetime experience for the fan. Builds on the idea that the CFL is the most accessible league in sports.

[Jayahre]

Annually the Argos offer a travel with the team promotion. Since they already charter a plane and get 100 away ticket use +50 hotel rooms, why not do 9 promos per year. Fans that promote the teams expansion qualify. Marginal cost to the team, and a lifetime experience for the fan. Builds on the idea that the CFL is the most accessible league in sports.

But it would only work for the western road trips. Two of the road games this year are in Hamilton, therefore only one trip to Ottawa and one to Montreal this year and both by train.

Other ideas like adding a hot buffet to the club seats? really? do you think that would put bums in the seats?
We need some real ideas!!
I'm sure they have the MLSE marketing department working on ideas. It boils down to attracting the young millenials, the TFC type crowd

[Jon Gonzo]

Beat the bushes at the grassroots. Get a big, aggressive and enthusiastic sales team to scour the city and work on GROUP SALES. Sell the experience, the players, the team. Strive for continuity with a roster. Boys and Girls Club, Knights of Columbus, YM/YWCA, Make a Wish, Legions. Get someone on the fringes like in KW, Newmarket, Keswick, Oshawa....working class & corporate.

The deals of today will be the regular customers of tomorrow if the experience/ and the team is good enough!

[ArgoGabe22]

1. Get local breweries have a promotion like Budweiser did with NFL, NHL. Give away collector shirts or caps with the various logos over the years.

2. Have promoters on foot around Toronto talk to people. Give away stickers, key chains, pins and some sort of ticket promo like 25% off or buy one get one coupon.

3. Cheaper nose bleed zone for students.

4. Branch out and have events around the GTA, Peel, Durham, etc.

5. Bring back see you on field, even for at least one game a season. I'm sure the turf will be fine if they allow it once.

6. Organize flag football tournaments in elementary/high schools. Have players come and visit the kids.

[Scooter McCray]

But it would only work for the western road trips. Two of the road games this year are in Hamilton, therefore only one trip to Ottawa and one to Montreal this year and both by train.

Other ideas like adding a hot buffet to the club seats? really? do you think that would put bums in the seats?
We need some real ideas!!
I'm sure they have the MLSE marketing department working on ideas. It boils down to attracting the young millenials, the TFC type crowd

MLSE marketing team? Where we're they last year? Do they need to market Leafs - no. Do they need to market Raptors? - no since Leaf STH are required to buy Raptors tickets. TFC ? Not sure what they do there but it works to full out the stadium. I think it's a great idea to promote travel with the team. Very innovative and exciting and inclusive. They need to get the corporations back to buy seats and become sponsors.

[Neely2005]

But it would only work for the western road trips. Two of the road games this year are in Hamilton, therefore only one trip to Ottawa and one to Montreal this year and both by train.

Other ideas like adding a hot buffet to the club seats? really? do you think that would put bums in the seats?
We need some real ideas!!
I'm sure they have the MLSE marketing department working on ideas. It boils down to attracting the young millenials, the TFC type crowd

All input welcomed, no need for the negativity.

[Neely2005]

Here's something that Montreal is doing:

See 3 Alouettes' guaranteed home wins with the 3-WIN PACKAGE, available for only $79!

Buy your package for the first 3 home games of the regular season… and if the team does not win its first 3 home games, you'll get tickets for the next home game. (Seats are limited and only available in 2 sections of the stadium).* *** **

[Downtownfan]

Beat the bushes at the grassroots. Get a big, aggressive and enthusiastic sales team to scour the city and work on GROUP SALES. Sell the experience, the players, the team. Strive for continuity with a roster. Boys and Girls Club, Knights of Columbus, YM/YWCA, Make a Wish, Legions. Get someone on the fringes like in KW, Newmarket, Keswick, Oshawa....working class & corporate.

The deals of today will be the regular customers of tomorrow if the experience/ and the team is good enough!

This. We need to "get to" ordinary people and groups. We are actually only about 5K away from having over 20K per game at the stadium, which would be pretty awesome. With committed sales people, I am sure we could get there, and hope we do.

[1971GreyCup]

A problem that the corporate teams face vs. the community teams will be a lack of resources to bring to bear. The community teams can mobilize local groups to promote in the community. Corporate teams need to hire up for the same initiatives. This can be very problematic in the new, austere league.

["Issues"Mcgee]

Simple. Get Drake to go to games and to tell everyone how awesome they are during a winning season.

[Fumblitis]

Invite your non or casual CFL family/friends to games, take advantage of free ticket giveaways and gather them together for road games at a local pub.

[Will]

The Argos got Dart Guy aboard. He says he's been an Argo fan for a long time.

[Neely2005]

New CFL ad campaign targets women and millennials:

http://3downnation.com/2017/05/04/ne...en-millenials/

[1971GreyCup]

Bring back the Quarterback Club weekly event. It's working well in other CFL cities.

[Topshelf]

They have to make an impact signing to put this team on the map, and only one player can do that..... Johnny Manziel.
It was discussed in a previous thread, but it really is the only way for them to immediately generate interest. It worked with the Rocket, it worked initially for Ricky Williams, sign Manziel and sell out the home opener.
As an added bonus, Toronto would once again become the big market villains of the cfl.

[paulwoods13]

This is getting redundant, but here we go again. It worked with the Rocket -- for Week 1 of that season, and the Eastern Final. Otherwise attendance was up only slightly from the previous season (although the Argos drew huge crowds on their road trips). By 1992, there was no impact from Rocket whatsoever.

It did not work with Ricky Williams. Attendance went down from 2005 (if we can believe any of the figures that were reported by the ownership of that era). And after one year, Ricky was gone and nothing had been done to help the franchise in any sustainable way.

If a signing like Manziel is the only thing that can generate interest, we're doomed. I happen to believe the franchise's fortunes can be improved slowly and steadily and without short-term stunts that inevitably rebound in the other direction afterward.

[jerrym]

A signing like Manziel is more likely to invite ridicule than interest.

[Topshelf]

The grassroots approach would be to look at the Ottawa model, I think the first step has to be deciding who your target audience is.
This year the Argos have a much better home schedule. It's year two of BMO, and new ownership has had a full year to try to come up with a marketing plan.
Long term they need marketable stars and continuity of roster.
But short term you need something to put the team on the map again. I started following the team in the Dunnigan/Ismail years, through the flutie era, but now would have trouble naming any players other than Ray. The team needs visibility, continuity, and a fun game day atmosphere. But they could use a splash to kick start the process.

[Harpastum]

I agree with everything you say Topshelf.
And since none of this is rocket science - I'd like to think ownership is in full agreement as well.
Funny - I was thinking just today - I've been a season seats holder off & on since the early 90's.
And it's scary how I too - used to be able to name a good number of players - but not so anymore...
Is that the fault of management - or do I blame it on early Alzheimer's?