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Post by fishfan51 on Jul 29, 2007 20:41:26 GMT -5
I'm not trying to take a shot at the IceDogs...afterall, I have a pair of season tickets myself. That being said, I don't think they are doing much in terms of marketing the team through out the region.
This was a huge mistake that the Thunder made and in my opinion the reason they left.
I thought by now we would see players showing up at events all over the region EVERY weekend. I thought we would see stories/player profiles in the paper EVERY day. To be part of the community, you have to be visible in the community. I know they have made a few appearances (Fort Erie racetrack and the IceDog office) but I have yet to hear of any appearances in the Falls, Welland, Thorold, Port, NOTL, Fonthill etc.
There website is rarely updated (maybe once a week). There is no information on individual game ticket prices or flex packs on the website.
This is not a simple case of bring the team here and building will magically fill up, especially with obstacles they have (crappy arena, no parking).
In my opinion they should be pounding the pavement and pounding the pavement hard. I have yet to see it. Where is this marketing firm that they hired?
If I sound like I am being harsh, I think it's because I love the OHL and I want it to succeed here. I don't want this to be a pit stop and I want them to do anything and everything they can to make the region it's permanent home.
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Post by dogfan on Jul 29, 2007 21:25:15 GMT -5
FishFan,
I don't think you are being harsh at all. I'd agree, the Dogs haven't done much marketing yet. I think they may be a victim of their own success. Selling over 800 season's and they haven't started marketing may have some in the front office thinking this will be easy. The other side of this may be that the organization is very busy with matters. I noticed there was some construction at the arena this week so I peeked inside. They are doing lots of work and I did see Bill Burke inside. I hope the team can get refocused soon and get more tickets sold. I would love to see JGA sold out 34 times this season.
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Post by back2back on Jul 29, 2007 22:44:06 GMT -5
I agree with you fishfan, the IceDogs in my opinion have been invisible as of late. No newspaper ads, no stories in the local paper, no player appearances. I've taken a look at some of the other teams and they seem to have a newspaper article in the local paper once or twice a week. There was a small article about the new asst. coach a week or so ago and nothing else. Some of the blame has to be put on the Standard. They are doing a terrible job thus far, which really doesn't surprise me. They never really seem to support new teams in this area. Perhaps they don't want the extra bother of having to cover the games.
Obviously the rest of the blame has to be put on the IceDogs, as they control advertising and player appearances. Of course, I really can't imagine how many things they probably have to do in order to get ready for the season. I would think that setting up for the first season would be hard enough, never mind only having about 3 months to get everything into place. If anything, I think the IceDogs may be understaffed, especially considering the short time constraints they are under.
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Post by slamr on Jul 30, 2007 4:50:12 GMT -5
Agreed.
I believe the team hired a firm out of Toronto to do their marketing for them. I have seen one ad in the paper promoting them back in June. That's it. Are they getting their moneys worth out of these guys?
I realize there's a lot to be done in a short order but promotion is vital for this club right now and it shouldn't be put on the back burner.
The lack of coverage in the local newspapers, though doesn't surprise me.
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Post by puckbunnydeluxe on Jul 30, 2007 13:55:56 GMT -5
In the past week the Ice Dogs staff were at the CAW Hall in St. Catharines at the Scotland/Ontario boxing night, Source For Sports Customer Appreciation Night and the Beechwood Golf Course Pro-Am. You will be able to see them this weekend at Canal Days in Port Colborne from Friday until Monday. Billboards throughout the Niagara Region will be in place within the next 10 days or so! Talks do some marketing partnerships with the Seaway Mall in Welland are currently taking place and Niagara Falls will be a major focus for mid August.
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Post by coldpooch on Jul 30, 2007 17:20:58 GMT -5
Hold on here people, do not get your socks in a knot.
They have more important things to do right know, that being finding billets and schooling for the kids, Homes for the coaches, staff and trainers. There is a ton of work being done on the rink and dressing rooms.
What more do you want.
By the way the players where at a fitness club two weekends ago, did you guys go and see them. The point was brought up about the papers especially the Standard, my Lord this paper should be called the "Sub Standard" as they have not done one thing for this team. If you have a beef put it on the papers and the fathers of this community.
Go to the team do not let them come to you.
Sheesh..........
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Post by puckhound on Jul 31, 2007 8:08:25 GMT -5
With the talent this team has the Icedogs will sell themselves... not much marketing required. Most emphasis should be placed outside of the city of St. Kitts. N.F. and Welland/Port will have to be convinced parking will not be an issue. Nothing said about a shuttle from the Penn or lower lot.
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Post by fishfan51 on Aug 2, 2007 7:56:11 GMT -5
Hold on here people, do not get your socks in a knot. They have more important things to do right know, that being finding billets and schooling for the kids, Homes for the coaches, staff and trainers. There is a ton of work being done on the rink and dressing rooms. What more do you want. By the way the players where at a fitness club two weekends ago, did you guys go and see them. The point was brought up about the papers especially the Standard, my Lord this paper should be called the "Sub Standard" as they have not done one thing for this team. If you have a beef put it on the papers and the fathers of this community. Go to the team do not let them come to you. Sheesh.......... I'm sure the marketing firm that they said that they hired isn't in charge of finding billets or homes for the coaches, staff and trainers. I agree that the Standard is is doing a crappy job at promoting the team, but that isn't their job. It is their job to follow/report on the team, not promote or market it for them. If this is a regional team why is nobody ripping the Review or the Tribune? As far as "going to the team not letting them come to you"......I have gone to the team, my friends and I have 5 season tickets. We can't "go to the team". If we have no idea where they are going to be. (website could be updated regularly) Nobody is "getting their socks in a knot", people just want the team to be here long term. And the best way to do that is plant yourself firmly in the community. If what puckbunny says about billboards and player appearances throughout the region is true, then GREAT! That's exactley what I'm talking about. |
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Post by ltb on Aug 11, 2007 9:03:41 GMT -5
I would say that the only thing I find frustrating, and I am trying to be patient about this. Is that if a visitor to the city were to drive by the arena or through the city, they would never know that St Catharines and its arena are soon to host the OHL Icedogs. They would know that we host the JrB Falcons but not the IceDogs! I just hope that come the season a little more excitement is generated by all, and that we at least have one sign up on the outside of the arena saying that the Niagara IceDogs play here!
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Post by sportscrazy on Aug 20, 2007 15:36:02 GMT -5
In the past week the Ice Dogs staff were at the CAW Hall in St. Catharines at the Scotland/Ontario boxing night, Source For Sports Customer Appreciation Night and the Beechwood Golf Course Pro-Am. You will be able to see them this weekend at Canal Days in Port Colborne from Friday until Monday. Billboards throughout the Niagara Region will be in place within the next 10 days or so! Talks do some marketing partnerships with the Seaway Mall in Welland are currently taking place and Niagara Falls will be a major focus for mid August. Its 8 days before training camp, and I have yet to see a billboard or any other type of marketing. There are still people in the region that know very little about the IceDogs or OHL hockey for that matter. If they don't start a marketing campaign soon, it may be too late. I don't know how many season tickets they have sold, but they will not get anywhere close to their goal of 2000. There just isn't enough marketing, media coverage or hype to obtain that many tickets sold. I am willing to bet that only hard core hockey fans have puchased season tickets. The casual fan knows very little about this team. |
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Post by fishfan51 on Aug 29, 2007 21:45:19 GMT -5
In the past week the Ice Dogs staff were at the CAW Hall in St. Catharines at the Scotland/Ontario boxing night, Source For Sports Customer Appreciation Night and the Beechwood Golf Course Pro-Am. You will be able to see them this weekend at Canal Days in Port Colborne from Friday until Monday. Billboards throughout the Niagara Region will be in place within the next 10 days or so! Talks do some marketing partnerships with the Seaway Mall in Welland are currently taking place and Niagara Falls will be a major focus for mid August. Have you heard anything about the signs that were supposed to be put up "throughout the Niagara Region"? You said in 10 days, it has been a month, any word? |
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