Fan Day Experience

These are suggestions I sent to Athletics the Spring of 2022, some might be dated or year-specific but most would be things that could be incorporated into a Marketing & Promotions plan going forward.
 
Promotions designed to engage and promote attendance by alumni:
 
“Come Back to Calihan — Welcome Class of ‘22 Alumni Day!” – Send all graduates of the Detroit Mercy class of 2022 a special letter (or e-mail) inviting them to continue being part of the Titan Athletics family. New alumni could receive an offer of free tickets to this game, and perhaps be presented with an opportunity to purchase season tickets (or mini-packages) and Titan Club membership at a special rate. This ideally would be scheduled for the home opener or first weekend game in the schedule. 
 
“Titan Winter Blast 2023” — an Alumni Relations-coordinated signature event that takes place prior to a MBB game, attendees will enjoy the chili cook-off, scrumptious Coney dogs from National Coney Island, frolicking horse-drawn trolley rides through campus, and numerous games and activities, fowling, face painting, etc. 
 
“Alumni Decade’s Night” — Coordinating with Alumni Relations, all grads from a targeted decade (e.g., ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, ‘80s, etc.) are offered free or discounted tickets to a game that will celebrate those years. Music, periodic scoreboard images, fan trivia contests, possibly throwback uniforms, etc., all relate to the selected decade which would rotate in future seasons. 
 
Leverage the Fall Homecoming event to kick off new and renewal season ticket sales to alumni -- Staff a booth at Homecoming (October 1) to promote interest in the MBB and WBB teams as well as other Titans sports. The booth should be supplied with schedules, posters, TC membership applications, info on Hoop Night in the D, a save-the-date flyer for the Titan Winter Blast, etc., ready to distribute to alumni who stop by to visit. Have MBB and WBB season ticket applications available, with someone ready to answer questions about seat selection and ticket plan options, perhaps offered at a “today only special rate.” Offer a drawing for tickets or Titan gear as a mechanism for collecting e-mail addresses for future solicitations. Shifts could be manned at intervals by some combination of Titan Club board members, coaches, other staff, and/or student athletes. 
 
“Remember the Titans” events to honor individuals who helped build the school’s basketball tradition:
 
“Remember Smoky Gaines Night” -- Smoky Gaines had a six-year coaching career at U-D, four years as an assistant on Dick Vitale’s staff followed by two years as head coach. His head coaching record here in Detroit was 47-10 and included appearances in the NIT and NCAA tournaments. Gaines’ death on September 5, 2020 was just before the two most recent Covid-plagued basketball seasons, but perhaps now is good time to more publicly honor his contributions to the Titans program. Gaines, a native Detroiter, was a standout basketball prospect out of Northeastern High School, earning All-State honors in 1959. It would be nice if we could invite his family and friends who still live in the area. 
 
"Celebrating Detroit’s Basketball Coaching Legend: Perry Watson Night” — a special event honoring Watson’s 15 seasons at UDM. PW is the second-winningest head coach in Titan history. He guided two teams to the NCAA Tournament (1998 and 1999) and two more to the NIT (2001 and 2002). Reach out to and invite all the Titan and Southwestern High School former athletes who were coached by Watson.
 
"Hall of Fame Game" — Contingent on members being added to the Titans HOF during the basketball season. 
 
Special promotions targeted to encourage attendance by current students:
 
“Section 313 in the ‘D’ Day” -- Have a special day early in the season schedule to help launch a revitalized student fan section. Ideally, this could include a giveaway promotion of Section 313 tee-shirts, pre- or post-game pizza party, etc. (Leading up to the season it would be ideal to recruit and mentor student leaders to help build group.) 
 
"Let’s Go Greek Night" – Get the fraternities and sororities more involved in promoting a Greek-themed event in Calihan. Sponsor contests between fraternity groups at time-outs or halftime. Arrange a Toga Party for Section 313 student fans. See if we can get some of the Greektown restaurants, the Atheneum Hotel, to donate gift certificates that could be used as raffle drawing prizes for fans in attendance. Encourage Greek organizations to invite their alumni back to the game.


"International Students Night" – More than ten percent of the University's enrollment comes from foreign countries. (Latest report I saw indicated a total of 762 international students on campus, 237 of whom are undergraduates.) This promotion, coordinated with the school's International Services Office, would involve a special invitation to a designated game and reception that introduces the students to American college basketball.
 
“Athletic Director’s Honor Roll” – Perhaps add an after-game pizza party to encourage student athletes to stay the entire game. 
 
Promotions which link to holidays and observance days in the regular calendar:
 
"Veterans Day/Military Appreciation Night” – For a game scheduled close on the calendar close to Veterans Day (November 11), all active duty, reserve, and veteran military personnel with proper identification will receive free admission to the game.
 
"Christmas at Calihan" – A "Redout" game in December packed with festive holiday activities, including: free photos with Santa; special holiday music by the Titan Pep Band; Toys-for-Tots donation free admission; discounts at the Titan Gift Store for last minute shoppers; free gift wrapping provided by student groups; Christmas carols from the University Chorus. At Detroit Mercy’s President's Holiday Party, generally held the first Friday in December, provide those in attendance with complimentary tickets to this game in recognition of their support of the University. 
 
"Happy New Years from Calihan Hall!" – One lucky fan will win a pass for free admission to all Titan basketball games that take place in 2023, and perhaps a cluster of other New Year-themed giveaways or activities. 
 
“Titans Groundhog Day!” -- For a game scheduled on or just after February 2, if Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow on this day and sees his shadow general admission to the Titans game are just $5, if he does not see a shadow, tickets discounted to $4. 
 
"I ❤️ the Titans Valentine's Day" – For a game on or near February 14 on the calendar, go with a Valentine’s Day theme. Provide opportunities for fans to win free gift certificates for romantic restaurant sites in the city. Offer a BOGO ticket deal for couples. A good game to designate for a "Redout!"  
 
"Presidents Day" game – For a game on or near February 20, advertise a promotion offering general admission for a "Lincoln" ($5) and selected concessions for a "Washington" ($1). 
 
Promotions centered primarily on young children:
 
"Calihan Kids Day" – One (or more) of the Saturday dates on the schedule could be specially targeted to invite youth groups (kids, their mentors and leaders) to campus. It would be great if we could secure an underwriting sponsor or two to support the event, but even if we can't, this is the type situation where perhaps we can provide free tickets to encourage attendance at a game. Some local groups that come to mind to consider inviting include: Detroit Police Athletic League, Alternatives for Girls, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Detroit Area Pre-College Engineering Program, Reggie McKenzie Foundation, Boys and Girls Clubs, Cub Scouts, Safety Patrols, etc.
 
"Tommy Titan's Birthday Party" – Offer a cluster of kid-friendly events for an afternoon game under the umbrella of Tommy Titan's birthday celebration. Invite Paws, Roary, Hooper and other local favorites to the party for a "Battle of the Mascots.”
 
“Excellence in Academics Day” – In partnership with targeted elementary schools, all students making the honor roll are provided tickets so they and their families can be the Titans’ guests at a weekend afternoon game. 
 
“Swish! Kids Shoot Free Throws” — For select matinee game(s), give kids a chance to step on the Calihan court to shoot some free throws. (They do this at Cleveland State.)
 
“Titan Cheer/Dance Teams Clinic” – Join these Titan spirit squads as part of a pre-game skills clinic. 
 
Promotions that tie in to other local sports teams:
 
“Detroit City FC Night @calihan Hall” -- This promotion would be aimed at attracting some of the Detroit City Football Club fan base to the friendly confines of Calihan Hall for a Titans basketball game. 
 
The DCFC has done an impressive job of building a loyal fan base in the relatively short span of a single decade. Although USL-level soccer is obviously different than mid-major college basketball, there are parallels between the Detroit Mercy Titans and the DCFC “Le Rouge”: both operate in the shadow of more media-covered pro and Big 10 teams, both are located in urban neighborhoods, both play in older basic-bones facilities, there are similar ticket prices, etc. The DCFC motto is “Passion for Our City, Passion for the Game.” DCFC typically draws 7,000+ fans to their home games in Hamtramck’s Keyworth Stadium, the June 18 game was an advance sellout. They have a rabid fan group called the Northern Guard that has received national and international attention for their passionate and creative support in the home field bleachers. The DCFC Twitter site currently has over 32,000 followers; the club as more than 38,000 followers on Facebook. The separate but aligned Northern Guard Supporters site on Twitter has over 25,000 followers and their Facebook site has 6,600 followers. 
 
A DCFC Night for a select Titan basketball game would provide a cozy wintertime event for these passionate soccer fans to reconnect and offer an opportunity for the DCFC supporters to help cheer on the local college basketball team. Ideally, we might work out an arrangement to advertise the promotion on the DCFC social media platforms.  Discounted admission could be offered to anyone wearing DCFC gear or using a digitally provided coupon. We could reserve a block of seats (perhaps in the north end upper bowl) of Calihan so the DCFC fans could assemble together during the game. The DCFC roster typically includes some UDM soccer alumni, perhaps they could be recognized at some point during the game.
 
"Motor City Sports Day” – Chance for lucky fans to win tickets, apparel, or gift certificates to metro area sporting events like Detroit Tigers, Lions, Pistons, Red Wings, Detroit Grand Prix, Rocket Mortgage Classic, etc. 
 
Promotions that connect with the surrounding community:
 
"Detroit Mercy Liv6 Neighborhood Hoops @ Calihan!" – This promotion is aimed at encouraging residents of the University District, Fitzgerald and Bagley subdivisions (and perhaps folks from other adjacent neighborhoods in the campus vicinity) and the Gesu parish community to attend one of the weekend matinee Titan home basketball games. Establish liaison with points of contacts of the Liv6 Alliance, neighborhood associations, block clubs, Gesu (and perhaps other nearby churches), etc., far in advance to determine optimum way to publicize the event and distribute tickets. To "prime the pump," offer tickets for the initial event at reduced or no cost; use this as an opportunity to broaden the fan base, gauge level of interest, obtain e-mail addresses, etc., for future solicitations.
 
"Made in Detroit Day" – Chance for lucky fans to win locally produced products like a Shinola watch, a Detroit Bicycle Company bike, a case of Faygo Red Pop or Vernors, "Made in Detroit" logo clothing, etc. 
 
"Liv6 Retail/Restaurant Day" – Perhaps scheduled to coincide with Small Business Saturday (November 26, 2022), this would provide an opportunity for Titan fans in attendance to enter a drawing for gift certificates to local neighborhood establishments such as Kuzzo's Chicken & Waffles, Noni's Sherwood Grill, Baker's Keyboard Lounge, Detroit Sip. Detroit Pizza Bar, Good Times, Good Cakes and Bakes, Motor City Brewing Works, Pequeno Cantina, Narrow Way Café, Eric’s I’ve Been Framed, Three Thirteen, etc.
 
"Do it in the 'D' Day" – Chance for lucky fans to win tickets, apparel, or gift certificates to sporting and entertainment venues and events like the Motown Museum, DSO, DIA exhibition, Music Hall, Fox Theater, etc. 
 
“¡Fiesta Titans!” -- A promotion that connects to Detroit’s nearly 100-year-old Mexicantown neighborhood, where residents and entrepreneurs who trace their roots to Mexico and other parts of Latin America have kept culture and small business alive. Invite a Mexican dance troupe such as Ballet Folklórico De Detroit to perform at halftime of the game. 
 
“Detroit Public Schools K-5 Benefit game.” -- The Titans and Michigan First Credit Union team up in a community effort to benefit Detroit Public Schools. 
 
“Titans Hoops in the 313” day — Offer general admission tickets specially priced at $3.13. Explore a promotional partnership with the Fahrenheit 313 sneaker exchange and the Three Thirteen clothing store, both retailers just up the road on Livernois. 
 
“Community Health Day" – Offer free admission to employees from our sponsoring health care companies, Health Alliance Plan and Henry Ford Health. Explore ways to get students from our large nursing program involved. 


"Detroit’s Hometown Hero’s (First Responders Appreciation Day)” -- All police officer, firefighters, nurses, etc., will receive free admission to the game. 
 
"Detroit Catholic Education Day" – Make this a reunion of sorts for the alumni of all Detroit Catholic schools (both currently operating and those that closed), with a portion of ticket sales revenue going to help some of the more financially strapped institutions in the remaining group. Perhaps this could be a Saturday afternoon game with a Catholic college opponent. We might want to partner with the Bishop Gallagher Society, a group in the area that tries to connect grads of Detroit Catholic schools.  Ask Alliance Catholic Credit Union to sponsor. 
 
Promotions with a local music theme:
 
"East Side/West Side: Battle of the Bands" – A "Band Day" featuring a couple premiere high school bands from opposite ends of the city. We could provide the participating schools with complimentary tickets so that parents and siblings of the students and school staff may attend the game as our guests.
 
"Titans Blues Blast” – The blues tradition runs long and deep in Detroit, and this music genre is popular among the young, oldsters, and all ages in between.  Some thematic ideas:
 
• A pre-game blues rendition of the national anthem prior to tip-off
• Connect chromatically by designating the game a “Blues Out," encouraging fans to wear blue to the game. The Titan players could don their blue uniforms.
• Blues Brothers impersonators entertain fans at timeouts and/or during halftime.
• Students sitting in "Section 313," the cheer team, and Titan Pep Band members are encouraged to wear dark sunglasses during the game. (Building on the University’s branding tagline, we could collect photographic images of the students in attendance and caption: "Building Boundless Futures: the future's so bright, we gotta wear shades!")
• Blues music images and a theme-related trivia contest are featured on the new video scoreboard.
• A blues band performs a short set of songs at the conclusion of the game. The school could reach out to 1972 University of Detroit graduate and local community activist Luther "Badman" Keith (www.badmanbluz.com), a popular local musician billed as having the ability to blend "blues, funk and rock to craft songs that put a smile on your face."  
• Detroit Mercy might also partner in some way with the Detroit Blues Society (www.detroitbluessociety.org), a local non-profit organization "dedicated to the preservation, education, and advancement of the blues tradition, as it relates to the Metro-Detroit area."
 
"Titan Basketball and All that Detroit Jazz" -- Kick things off with our very own pep band director's solo sax rendition of the National Anthem. Have a drawing for gift certificates and merchandise from neighboring Baker's Keyboard Lounge, the Detroit Jazz Festival, Cliff Bell's, Bert's Market Place, Dirty Dog Jazz Cafe, etc.
 
Promotions specific to potential opponents that are/might be on the home schedule in 2022-23:
 
"Metro Series game versus Oakland” – Explore partnering with the Detroit News, and/or Detroit Free Press and/or the Metro Times, to try and get them to be a media sponsor for the game in exchange for some online advertising space. 
 
"Jesuit Spotlight game” – There is a formal program already in place (the Jesuit Basketball Spotlight) that has as its stated mission "to capitalize on basketball games between Jesuit schools and, through those games, bring greater positive awareness and exposure to Jesuit education and its shared mission." If we have a Jesuit school on the schedule in 2022-23, promote the game in a special way and perhaps couple it with a service project opportunity for alumni and students. Perhaps there could be tie-ins with UD Jesuit and Detroit Loyola High Schools.
 
"Holy Toledo!" promotion – Contingent on a scheduled home game with the UT Rockets, one lucky fan wins a whimsical dream vacation to our south-of-the-Michigan-border neighbor, including gas money, tickets to a Mud Hens baseball game, and dinner at Tony Packos. (Five Toledo high schools will soon be joining the Detroit Catholic League — St. John’s Jesuit, St. Francis de Sales, Notre Dame Academy, St. Ursula Academy, and Toledo Central Catholic. Invite teachers and students from those schools to be our guests for the Titans/Toledo tussle.)
 
Miscellaneous promotions:

 
"Detroit Mercy Employee Appreciation Day" -- Say "thanks" to faculty and staff of the University by selecting a game where employees can request free tickets for their self and families. Explore the possibility of taping an episode UDM’s “Ask the Professor” quiz show at Calihan prior to the game.
 
“Titan Autograph Day” – Fans get an opportunity to get autographs from Detroit’s College Team. Distribute posters of the team so kids can take home a signed souvenir from the game. 
 
“Captured at Calihan Photo Day” – Following the game, fans get a chance to use their Smartphone or cameras to capture a picture with their favorite Titans. This would be a good way to leverage social media as fans share photos on Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat, Instagram, etc.

"Law/Dental School Night" – An event targeted to students and alumni of Detroit Mercy's two professional schools. Include a halftime contest of brains/brawn variety that pits a team of students from the law school against a group from the dental school. Offer a pre-game reception for law/dental alumni in the Ed & Brooks Room.
 
"Calihan Hall Dollar Day$" – Kids get in for $1 when accompanied by adult, special $1 concessions, providing a low-cost event for families looking to stretch their entertainment dollar.
 
"Titan Garage Sale" – Every few years the school has a "garage sale" where game-worn Detroit Mercy uniforms, warm-ups, gear, older gift shop merchandise, etc., are put out for sale in Calihan. This always seemed to be a popular activity, so perhaps it can be advertised well in advance and spun as a promotion.
 
"Remember the Titans Memorabilia Night" – A special opportunity for the Athletic Department, the University Library archivist, and/or longtime fans to display (and possibly swap and/or sell) game programs, media guides, and other various items relating to Titan sports teams of yesteryear. (If coupled with a $1 hot dog sale, we could bill the ancillary promotion “Franks for the Memories.")



"The Lofts@Calihan" promotion – For one or more of the scheduled home games, selected students or other fans get an opportunity to watch all the hoops action from the old press boxes high atop the arena, complete with free concessions. 


"Nain Rouge (the Red Dwarf) Comes to Calihan" – The Detroit urban legend of the "Nain Rouge"(http://www.marchedunainrouge.com) would be the context for an annual Titan basketball promotional event coinciding with a late-in-the-season home game. Someone costumed as the devilish imp would appear on the Dick Vitale Court at halftime or some other point in the game, only to be banished from Calihan Hall after a tussle with our very own Tommy Titan mascot. 
 
“Fan Appreciation Day" – Select a game near the end of the season to thank fans for their support by offering a drawing for giveaway of Titan merchandise. Grand prize could be a pair of season tickets for the 2023-24 basketball season.
 
“Senior Day” – Let’s make sure the send-off for our senior players is extra special. As recently suggested by Coach Davis, a post-game ceremony may be a way to enhance the event. 
 
Season’s long promotion:
 
“Free Buddy’s Pizza” -- Buddy's free pizza promotion when the Titans win and score at least 70 points is an exceptionally well-received UDM game tradition that resonates with the Calihan Hall faithful. A suggestion here is to advertise the promotion more frequently throughout the course of the season on the various Detroit Mercy Titans social media platforms.

Homecoming is Sept 28, not Oct 1. How about a "meet the Titans" event as part of Homecoming?

As I mentioned in the preface, this is something I put together in 2022, Homecoming was October 1 that year.

Contact a local car dealership and have them donate a new car, if an enrolled students hits a half court shot they win the car, Serra Chevrolet and OU had this contest at their last home game.

Have a business donate a $100,000, set up some type of raffle tied into the tickets, pull the ticket # of a fan and if that person hits a half court shot they win the $100,000. That could be done every game until someone wins it. The winning shot would definitely make ESPN highlights.

Praise Jesus! About time! Want fans? Give them something more than what they can get from watching at home.

Here are a few items that immediately come to mind:

1) tell the University to offer a music major. This will build the band. More band students, more students at game. More students at games, more fun.

2) decade nights. 80s night. I am a DJ and I will offer my services free. But play 80s music, trivia, encourage dress up (contests), etc.

3) star wars day. Get the local squadron dressed up to visit.

4) mascot game. Mascots from Jimmy John's. Local businesses. Pro teams.

5) professor titan. Little cost to this.

6) fly dogs. Little cost. But fun.

7) a high school band at every game promo. They sit with our band or next to.

8) catholic game. Offer tickets to catholic organizations for a dollar. KofC, seminarians, CYO, etc.

9) military appreciation. Need help with this one let me know.

10) local business game. Let Livernois businesses set up a boutique in and around Calihan?

11) motown game. Music (I can DJ), bring in people from the museum.

12) Detroit game. Come dressed up as your fav Detroit icon, get in free. Could combine with others.

More Detroit flavor at games. Detroit foods, music, etc.

Update Calihan Hall for the love of God! Get some sponsors to update all the bathrooms!

Keep the gift shop open hour before tip, during the entire game, and hour after.

Keep consessions stocked.

Upgrade sound systems. Again.

Have a kiss cam. Or have the camera move on fans throughout game. Dance cam. Lookalike cam.

Send Tommy Titan to mascot training. He doesnt do anything. Needs more interaction, etc.

Allow students at games to be students. Don't yell at them. At all. Don't police them too hard. If they get inappropriate (within reason), etc. just be glad they're there. Let them party for the love of God!

Play more popular music at games. Not rap that no one knows. Music you would expect to hear at a sporting event. Sweet Caroline, don't stop believing, etc.

Call me old school but if you win a lot of games I bet you can keep everything crappy and the game day experience will be 100 times better.


Gimmicks are for losers that need to get people to justify why they show up. 

I've made this a "sticky" post to stay up at the top, and copied to it here the recent post from statsguy: