Fort Collins – After a summer of “Let’s Go Ramin”‘ radio jingles and an intensive telemarketing campaign, Colorado State goes into its home opener against Nevada on Saturday about 1,000 season tickets short of what it sold a year ago, which was approximately 10,000.
“We’re about 1,000 behind. We’re a little disappointed we didn’t hit our goal of 10,000,” CSU athletic director Mark Driscoll said Monday.
CSU invested $100,000 into an advertising and direct marketing campaign to boost season-ticket sales up to last year’s numbers and beyond. Instead, they have lagged. There has been improvement in single- game, group and mini-package sales, Driscoll said.
“We didn’t get the immediate return so far,” he said. “We really won’t know the effectiveness until after the season. It didn’t spur ticket sales like we hoped. Part of the advertising, media, branding campaign is brand recognition, and it is a long-term investment.”
Likely not helping matters is the team’s 0-2 start: a 31-28 loss at Colorado and a 56-24 thumping at Minnesota.
“It’s hard to say, but winning never hurts,” Driscoll said.
The AD also cited the unpredictability of TV-dictated kickoff times as a deterrent to season ticket sales. The starting times for the Oct. 22 Wyoming game and Nov. 12 San Diego State season home finale haven’t been determined.
Ticket sales also have lagged for the 5:30 p.m. Sept. 29 Mountain West opener against Air Force. CSU has typically had trouble selling out Thursday night games because of work and traffic conflicts.
Saturday’s 4 p.m. kickoff will mark the completion of a 22- month, $15 million project to upgrade the stadium. The expanded club seating area and luxury boxes will also be used to host football recruiting dinners.
The school attracted 2,500 fans to an open house Saturday at Hughes Stadium. This Saturday, free shuttle bus service will run from the campus to the stadium for the first time.
Pat Stryker, who donated money for the stadium upgrade through her Bohemian Foundation, will be honored at halftime.
Footnotes
CSU coach Sonny Lubick said quarterback Justin Holland might not have been able to play last Saturday if the Rams had played a game. Holland was knocked out of the Minnesota game with an ankle sprain. He is expected to play this week. … Although running back Nnamdi Ohaeri (ankle) has made significant improvement, Lubick said Ohaeri won’t play before the Air Force game. … Nick Allotta and redshirt freshman Dane Stratton will compete for the starting offensive guard position in place of injured Brandon Alconcel (elbow). Cornerback Darryl Williams, who missed the Minnesota game with a concussion, will return to the lineup. …
Nevada defensive end Craig Bailey and punter Justin Bergendahl were named the respective Western Athletic Conference defensive and special- teams players of the week. Bailey led an effort to limit UNLV to 263 total yards, fewest given up by a WAC team this season. Bergendahl punted four times for a 52.8-yard average.
Natalie Meisler can be reached at 303-820-1295 or nmeisler@denverpost.com.
