Indiana Showed how to Properly Implement a "Color-Out" Today

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alltimetwinsfan

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It's perpetually a frustrating endeavor to me to go to one of our "Gold Outs", be it in football or basketball, knowing it's destined to fail. And, for those of us that simply get it (a.k.a.-not in the marketing department), it was both clear and more frustrating to watch the Indiana game today, and see that they perfectly performed their own "White Out" today.

It's simple, folks...you make sure they wear the color by simply giving away the shirts at the game.

Today at the game, they gave away 17,000 white T-shirts with a simple red screen print on it with their logo.

How hard is this to make this happen?

To my knowledge, they had no sponsor logo on the back, but rather a "Never Give Up" slogan on it. However, I'm guessing that you could get, say, a group of two or three sponsors to have their logos on the back to promote themselves. We'd need, say, 14,000 of them. Sure, not everyone will put them on, but a good majority would.

The point is...you need to force them to wear the Gold, if that's what you want...make sure they don't forget to wear gold by FORCING them to wear the gold...give them a good reason. Further, once you give them the shirt, I can guarantee some of them will wear it back again sometime. I can guarantee that a lot of the arenas and stadium that you see now that are completely solid (Illinois, Oklahoma State, Penn State football, etc.) probably started out by having some sort of giveaway, and it just caught on from there.

In the end, either go all out or don't do it at all. Either give the shirts away, either through the marketing budget or through sponsorships, or don't even offer the promotion. Doing it half-assed is nothing more than embarrassing in most cases.
 

alltimetwinsfan said:
It's perpetually a frustrating endeavor to me to go to one of our "Gold Outs", be it in football or basketball, knowing it's destined to fail. And, for those of us that simply get it (a.k.a.-not in the marketing department), it was both clear and more frustrating to watch the Indiana game today, and see that they perfectly performed their own "White Out" today.

It's simple, folks...you make sure they wear the color by simply giving away the shirts at the game.

Today at the game, they gave away 17,000 white T-shirts with a simple red screen print on it with their logo.

How hard is this to make this happen?

To my knowledge, they had no sponsor logo on the back, but rather a "Never Give Up" slogan on it. However, I'm guessing that you could get, say, a group of two or three sponsors to have their logos on the back to promote themselves. We'd need, say, 14,000 of them. Sure, not everyone will put them on, but a good majority would.

The point is...you need to force them to wear the Gold, if that's what you want...make sure they don't forget to wear gold by FORCING them to wear the gold...give them a good reason. Further, once you give them the shirt, I can guarantee some of them will wear it back again sometime. I can guarantee that a lot of the arenas and stadium that you see now that are completely solid (Illinois, Oklahoma State, Penn State football, etc.) probably started out by having some sort of giveaway, and it just caught on from there.

In the end, either go all out or don't do it at all. Either give the shirts away, either through the marketing budget or through sponsorships, or don't even offer the promotion. Doing it half-assed is nothing more than embarrassing in most cases.
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Just FYI, when Penn State has a "White Out" for their football games, they don't pass out shirts to 110,000 people. Those 110,000 just understand; and they wear white.

Minnesota fans are Minnesota fans; fairly apathetic overall. But you're right in that it's the apathetic ones that need the extra prodding - so like you said, pass out 14,500 gold shirts and have the door attendants let them know as they pass by that we're having a gold out. There's no other way to do it with an apathetic fan base.
 

You're right, Indiana did do a good job today with the white out; I was surprised.

For Illinois, the orange thing began when Illinois started the "Paint the Hall Orange" games, which within the last 10 years. They didn't give away any free shirts, but with the good teams rolling through, the fans ran with the idea. Since "paint the hall" games started, fans just started wearing orange for football too.

Also, I know all students get an orange shirt as freshman from the school, but the students have always worn orange.

Probably more than you care to hear, but whatever. I'm excited about Thursday-should be a good game. I really like your coaches and programs and always hope UofM does well.

<a href="http://s631.photobucket.com/albums/uu36/whitesox315/?action=view&current=399390737_7a3d508730_b.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i631.photobucket.com/albums/uu36/whitesox315/399390737_7a3d508730_b.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
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Chief,

That's a great photo. It's amazing that even the countless blue-hair 80-year-olds at Assembly Hall wear orange. It is very impressive.
 

The problem with our fans is that they don't think of the givaways as part of the day. They just think of it as a nice trinket to take home. During each of the past two gold outs at Williams Arena, the marketing staff gave out gold Tubby Towels (last year) and gold pom-poms (this year). At a mimimum, that should have given an aura of gold when the team took the floor. But, what happened? All of our fans simply put the items in their purses and shoulder bags and said, "oh, neat, somthing to give grand daughter Sally when I see her next Tuesday."

So, I'd guess that if they all got t-shirts, it would be the same deal. They wouldn't take the time to even put them on. They'd just stash them away in their purses and sit in the stands as they normally do and say "that's great, a t-shirt for grand son Timmy when he visits us this summer from Duluth."
 


tjgopher said:
The problem with our fans is that they don't think of the givaways as part of the day. They just think of it as a nice trinket to take home. During each of the past two gold outs at Williams Arena, the marketing staff gave out gold Tubby Towels (last year) and gold pom-poms (this year). At a mimimum, that should have given an aura of gold when the team took the floor. But, what happened? All of our fans simply put the items in their purses and shoulder bags and said, "oh, neat, somthing to give grand daughter Sally when I see her next Tuesday."

So, I'd guess that if they all got t-shirts, it would be the same deal. They wouldn't take the time to even put them on. They'd just stash them away in their purses and sit in the stands as they normally do and say "that's great, a t-shirt for grand son Timmy when he visits us this summer from Duluth."
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Sadly, this is much more truth than I possibly could have imagined when I began the post. Thanks for bringing me back to reality!
 

Actually, there were tons of the pom-poms left behind - I'd be happier if people had taken them home!

Comparing Penn State Football, a powerhouse with a legendary coach and what they can accomplish with conformity with us is not cuing into reality either. I have a client from Nebraska, and her 80 year old mother gets up and wears red on every Saturday through the football season - like all of Nebraska whether they attend the game or not.

Then there is the problem that our colors are Maroon and Gold, and many people have years of maroon wear and aren't interested in changing - a sentiment expressed here amongst the most faithful. The Gold Out is a relatively new emphasis.

Lets face it, blaming the crowd and fans for a lackluster support isn't quite fair as it has reflected a lackluster program, indeed a disgraced program. At the risk of channeling Renegade Rambler, from the perspective of the University as a whole, the Clem Crash was the worst kind of disaster to befall the university because it reflected on the integrity of the U as a whole. Hiring Tubby is absolutely perfect for the U, for the program, the players, for fans, and, I pray every night, for Tubby.
I say: Hand out the free T-shirts and give the program time to build a little momentum among the fans - it'll happen, esp. if Tubby can sustain a respectable graduation rate.
 

Granted, not everyone follows sports as close as I do. But you would think if you were a season ticket holder you would follow the team somewhat and some how here about a Gold Out but I could be wrong. Anyway Purdue has the same problem. Fans are always told to wear black, hell it doesn't even need to say Purdue. Pretty simple, right? No some people don't get it. Some people come in Gold. After they have been told 100 times wear black. I understand it might be hot wearing black in home football games in the beginning of the season, ok I'll give you a pass. Now it's basketball season. You are INDOORS, it will be warm no excuse. Pretty much I have come to the theory that some people are either 1. really dumb or 2. just don't get it no matter what.
 

Maybe it is because Gold Out doesn't make sense. Say Gold Rush and people might pick it up. that Illini snap is amazing tho.
 



I've always thought Pom-Poms or random foam things get in the way of cheering. Nothing like hearing 14,000 pompoms rubbing together. If they want to do a gold out, send out a t-shirt to every season ticket holder, and a big reminder when all other tickets are mailed.
 

I've always thought Pom-Poms or random foam things get in the way of cheering
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Agreed, its hard to clap and wave pom-poms at the same time.
 

white out

Do you think the "White Out" helped Indiana in the game? If so, by how many points? How many games do teams stand to win by getting their fans to wear the same color at home games?

To me we could go on endlessly about why Minnesota fans don't all show up wearing gold at the games, but I don't see it as a big issue. I think you can still get plenty of homecourt advantage when the fans wear a combination of maroon and gold and whatever else.

In short, there are probably 500 things I would want to "fix" about Gopher athletics before I started caring about whether "Gold Outs" are successful.
 

FYI - The new athletic director at IU decided he was going to give away t-shirts for this white-out and that they would cover the cost. Once they started talking about it, Adidas, their shoe sponsor came forward to cover the cost of the t-shirts.

I think part of the problem with MN is that neither we don't necessarily have a dominant color between gold and maroon. When you think of Illinois, you think Orange.
 



Moonlight said:
Agreed, its hard to clap and wave pom-poms at the same time.
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Except clapping is actually a smaller portion of cheering than screaming, whistling, hooting and hollering. You can do those things with pom poms. Not saying pom-poms or hankies are a great idea, just saying when 60,000 waved Homer Hankies at the Metrodome, those hankies didn't get in the way of making noise.

It is do-able. Apparently, just not at the Barn.
 

If they want to do a gold out, send out a t-shirt to every season ticket holder, and a big reminder when all other tickets are mailed.
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This is the real problem - the powers that be don't decide what games will be a Gold Out until after the season has begun (or at least don't advertise it until then). If people had it printed on their season ticket when it arrived, I feel like it would be a better effort. If it were printed on the ticket, and the ticket were issued with a t-shirt, that would be even better. Ultimately, I think that would work the best, since season ticket holders could also request their size, instead of getting a standard XXL if the promotion were done where each seat had a shirt on it when folks arrived.

I also wonder if Gold will begin to become to dominant color as more and more kids from the past 10-15 years, who wore Gold in the student section, begin to buy season tickets.
 

If season ticket holders had a t-shirt to wear to every game, and wore it every game, we wouldn't have a need to declare gold outs. It would look like Illinois, and that would be fantastic.
 

Re: All "Color-Out" Events =

Lame-in.

All are silly and a waste of time. Stop discussing or there will be trouble.
 

From the Barn said:
If season ticket holders had a t-shirt to wear to every game, and wore it every game, we wouldn't have a need to declare gold outs. It would look like Illinois, and that would be fantastic.
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How many season ticket holders would wear the t-shirt to the games, if they were mailed one? I would put the number at less than 20%.
 

tjgopher said:
How many season ticket holders would wear the t-shirt to the games, if they were mailed one? I would put the number at less than 20%.
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I agree. Handing them out at the game is the only way it would work.
 

Let's face it...

Pasty white Minnesota Scandinavians (and Germans) look terrible in a washed out color like gold, and the team doesn't even wear gold some of the time (kill those white uniforms). Let's Maroon out instead. A much better, warmer color for cold Minnesota winters. Down with gold -- UP with MAROON!!!!!
 

old chap said:
I think part of the problem with MN is that neither we don't necessarily have a dominant color between gold and maroon. When you think of Illinois, you think Orange.
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I would say Illinois' main color used to be navy but has changed to orange (this decade) since paint the hall.
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I agree that the t shirts have to be given out for "gold out" to be successful. It would also look much better as then the gold would be one uniform color as, I am sure you have noticed, there are a ton of variations of "gold" available in Minnesota gear.

I know when the NBA teams do there color outs they give away the t shirts as well. The "U" might only have to give away t shirts once or twice. Once people saw a Gold Out being successful, maybe they would want to be active in it and choose to wear gold on there own fo rthe next one.
 

Lets be honest, a large part of our fans that go to games are worthless for being a part of the 6th man team.

Sweet Pic chief, thats kind of weird seeing the stadium circular like that but must provide for some great views.
 

Illinois

The orange looks great but what a horrible arena especially the sight lines. It makes me more and more thankful that we have the barn. Assembly Hall does not even have seats right on the court.

Go Gophers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 

maroonfive said:
The orange looks great but what a horrible arena especially the sight lines. It makes me more and more thankful that we have the barn. Assembly Hall does not even have seats right on the court.

Go Gophers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Think of the bull fighting potential though!
 

playhosea! said:
Do you think the "White Out" helped Indiana in the game? If so, by how many points? How many games do teams stand to win by getting their fans to wear the same color at home games?

To me we could go on endlessly about why Minnesota fans don't all show up wearing gold at the games, but I don't see it as a big issue. I think you can still get plenty of homecourt advantage when the fans wear a combination of maroon and gold and whatever else.

In short, there are probably 500 things I would want to "fix" about Gopher athletics before I started caring about whether "Gold Outs" are successful.
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The BTN announcers sure thought the T-shirts were playing lock-down defense. You would have thought it was the first ____-out ever.
 


chiefilliniwek said:
They have crazy shows in there all the time. The best is the monster truck.
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How the hell do they fit multiple Monster Trucks on a space the size of basketball court? Can they even turn? Hell how can they even get in the arena?
 

mnboiler said:
How the hell do they fit multiple Monster Trucks on a space the size of basketball court? Can they even turn? Hell how can they even get in the arena?
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The floor is a lot bigger than it looks i guess- when the take the court out and all the chairs. They even have the big tyrannosaurus rex thing at the show
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