Penn Athletics just announced that The Line will be making its appearance Oct. 17-18, which is the first weekend back from Fall Break. First off, this is a little later than last year's Line.
Second, with the decreased significance of The Line, Penn Athletics is pulling out all the marketing strategies it can to get people to sleepover in the Palestra.
There's the standard promises of food (cheap hot dogs and free Qdoba tacos), of course, and Penn items, including "foam noodles, mini-hoop sets, megaphone, fan banner, and foam Quaker hat." Also, the yearly Red & Blue Crew t-shirt will be distributed.
But in addition to these things, Penn is taking it up another level. The Red and Blue Crew students will also get a chance to win several "items and experiences such as: team gear, autographed items, lunch with Coach Miller and the team, free tickets to away games including Princeton, sitting behind the team bench, watching closed team practices, playing a pick-up game at The Palestra, as well as a few surprise perks."
Will the potential to win such prizes encourage you to go to The Line? Let me know in the comments. Even you alums, feel free to post your thoughts on this new marketing strategy.
In other, random Penn marketing news, there's a Penn football poster in 30th Street Station. I guess Nelligan Sports Marketing wants to get the rush hour crowd to Penn games.
Tags: basketball, marketing, The Line
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October 13th, 2008 at 3:09 pm
I think all of the perks are a great idea, and it's about time. But sticking all of the students under one basket? They finally had the opportunity to make both sides a little bit crazier and dropped the ball.
When I was a student, I never missed out on getting the chairbacks and would be really pissed if I had to sit elsewhere. But that was back when those seats were filled every game. So if this really helps to increase attendance, it's a good move. I'm just happy I had chairbacks way back when.
I'm not really sure what the advantage is to being in the Line though. I loved spending the night, but what's the point if you can buy season tickets at a later date and get all the same perks and have the same general admission seats as someone who was on The Line?
October 13th, 2008 at 4:43 pm
You know what would convince me to sleep at the Palestra?
Guaranteed specific student section seats. With "general admission" it's just not worth it for me to waste a night.
October 20th, 2008 at 4:38 am
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