Women's basketball season ticket fan referral program
Oregon State University
Joe Klegseth, assistant marketing director

Who: General public.

What: A program that encourages season ticket holders to sell season tickets to friends and family.

When: Referrals count through September 1.

How: Use fliers (available in the marketing office) to spread the word about women's basketball tickets. If anyone has questions that the season ticket holder can't answer, have them call the marketing office. Place a special price and a premium (for example, a T-shirt) on season tickets. Contact information and payment should be forwarded directly to the athletics offices. After September 1, the school will hold a "Choose Your Seat" night, at which all new and current season ticket holders will have the opportunity to meet and greet the team and choose the best seats in the house. Season ticket holders get credit for any new season ticket they sell or any lead they send to the athletics marketing office that turns into a sale by September 1.

Incentives: For each season ticket sold, a raffle ticket and entry into a drawing for a trip for two to the Pacific-10 Conference women's basketball tournament. For 15 season tickets sold, a special invitation to dinner with the coaching staff. For 25 season tickets sold, an autographed basketball and a free trip to the Oregon game in Eugene. For the most season tickets sold, a round trip airline ticket to the Women's Final Four, hotel accommodations for three days and two nights and game tickets for two.

Results: Season ticket sales increased 215 percent from the previous year.

Football field goal kick
Arizona State University
Adam Wald, assistant director of marketing and promotions

Who: General public.

What: Football, T-shirts, three participants.

When: Halftime of a football game.

How: Work with a local sponsor to promote the event. Have people sign up at stores for a chance to participate in the contest. Notify winners one week in advance about participating in the event. On the day of the event, bring the participants onto the field, leaving enough time to go over the rules of the contest. Each contestant will get a chance to kick a field goal from the 5-yard line. If two or more participants make the kick, move to the 10-yard line. Keep moving back five yards until somebody wins. The winner receives two tickets to an away game with the team, hotel included.

Results: The contest has been a success. The crowd enjoyed the halftime and supported the contestants. The contestants had a great time, and the winners were happy with the prize. The sponsor also was pleased with the outcome and the exposure from the event.

SCU Ruff Riders
Santa Clara University

Strategically priced membership: The San Francisco Bay area offers a variety of sports activities and events that present direct competition to Santa Clara athletics. A student's decision to participate and attend an event usually is linked to the popularity or success of the event (not controllable) and price (controllable). Since its inception in 1999, the Ruff Riders have created a great opportunity for all Santa Clara students to take advantage of a discounted season ticket. Ruff Rider membership provides an affordable and sensible option for students to establish an immediate connection with athletics upon their arrival at Santa Clara University.

Steady revenue stream: Each academic year presents an opportunity for Santa Clara athletics to capitalize on Ruff Rider membership revenue. The membership program is offered to new and returning students, with the primary target being the incoming freshman class, with re-recruitment of sophomores, juniors and seniors. Partnerships with groups overseeing campus housing, the student body card, student records and student orientation have helped make the Ruff Rider membership program an integral part of the student registration process.

Student involvement and participation in Santa Clara athletics: A Ruff Rider Committee (six to eight members), representing a variety of student segments including class officers, resident advisors, student-athletes and others is responsible for social programming and event promotion. The committee meets three times per quarter with the Ruff Rider advisor to schedule events and discuss club issues.

Development opportunity: A Ruff Rider's connection to athletics ends at graduation. The goal of Santa Clara athletics is to keep them coming back for future events. Since a large percentage of alumni live in the Bay Area, the Ruff Riders represent a solid recruiting base for the Bronco Bench Foundation (the scholarship foundation for Santa Clara athletics) and its annual membership campaign. The Bench hosts a pair of events each year targeted at current Ruff Riders (for example, a barbecue before the first soccer match). Bench members have the opportunity to socialize and educate future members about the foundation's role in athletics, in addition to enjoying an athletics event. The Bench also provides a complimentary one-year membership to senior Ruff Riders. During their final year on campus, senior Ruff Riders are invited to select Bench events to begin the education process as they come closer to becoming official members. The membership grants Ruff Riders the opportunity to stay involved with athletics and potentially lead to future donations and gifts back to Santa Clara athletics.