TicketsJune 23, 2009
Cincinnati, OH - The National Association of Collegiate Marketing Administrators (NACMA) has selected its 2008-09 award winners and the University of Cincinnati was once again recognized for excellence in creativity and progressive programming in support of Bearcats Athletics.
The University of Cincinnati Marketing and Fan Development team captured silver in the "New Revenue Generating" category for the "Bowl Ticket Credit" program and bronze in the "Best Student Promotion" category. The winners were presented their awards during NACMA's 18th Annual Convention, June 18-21 in Orlando.
Initiated in 2003, the NACMA Awards program honors outstanding achievement in marketing and promotions. Awards are presented in 13 categories, with each category divided into three groups based upon school size and conference affiliations to promote fairness. A total of 700 entries were received for the 2008-09 year. UC won a Gold Medal in 2007-08 for "Best Promotional T-Shirt Design".
"We appreciate the support of Bearcats' fans for responding to these initiatives that were pushed by our outstanding marketing and fan development team" stated senior associate director of athletics Mike Waddell. "The national recognition is very rewarding for our group of young professionals who work hard every day for our 18 teams. They go the extra mile to offer great promotions for the Bearcats fans and push conventional boundaries to drive results for our department. We are lucky to have such a great team behind the scenes." added Waddell.
The "Bowl Ticket Credit" is included in all UCATS level ticket purchases and can also be purchased throughout the year by non-season ticket holders. The program proved its worth during the 2008-09 bowl season as the Bearcats prepared for their first BCS bowl appearance, the 2009 FedEx Orange Bowl. Over a very brief pre-holiday sales drive, the UC Athletics Ticket Office saw a 157% increase in bowl ticket sales and a 1,054% increase in actual bowl ticket revenues. The success of the Bowl Ticket Program puts the Bearcats in great position for future bowl bids as invitations are based on how well teams can travel their fans to the bowl sites.
The award-winning student promotion took place during a Level 3 snow emergency on January 28, 2009, as the city of Cincinnati was basically shut down due to a blanket of ice and snow. UC had closed classes for the day, but the Georgetown Hoyas were prepared to battle the Bearcats men's basketball team that evening. After receiving approval from the University President, it was decided that the game would be played as scheduled. In a surprising turn of events, the Bearcats experienced their largest student attendance of the year by utilizing extreme guerilla marketing techniques, including email blasts throughout the day, information delivered promptly to residence halls and local off-campus housing units, and engaging the population with a flurry of social networking interactions . Total student attendance for the game was 2,556 (approximately 98% capacity) and spurred the Bearcats to a big 65-57 win in BIG EAST play.
The UC Athletics Marketing and Fan Development Team, 2008-09
| Jeff Rank | Assistant Director of Athletics, Marketing & Fan Development |
| Leslie Wenert | Assistant Director, Marketing & Fan Development |
| Brad Wurthman | Manager, Group Sales & Promotions |
| Greg Harrell | Manager, Group Sales & Promotions |
| JeMaul Groce | Manager, Group Sales & Promotions |
| Chris Pyles | Manager, Group Sales & Promotions |
| Jon Hartman | Marketing Intern |