Spring Break
Column: 'Zooper' decision made
Collin Whitchurch / Assistant Sports Editor
Issue date: 2/10/09 Section: Sports
This newspaper has criticized the athletic department for a lot recently.
We were not pleased with the addition of the "Panther Patio," the pointless graphics on Lantz Arena's walls, or, for the most part, the direction of the men's basketball team.
However, one decision they made as of late ended up as a great success, and a complete surprise.
The "Zooperstars" promotion that the athletic department scheduled for both basketball team's home games last Saturday against Southeast Missouri seemed silly at first. The idea of a bunch of crazy, sports/animal-like blowup figures bouncing around Lantz Arena during these games seemed downright ridiculous.
Sure, the "Zooperstars" had been a success at other levels.
They have performed yearly at the Illinois High School Association's state basketball tournament, but it was unlikely they would cause any type of stir in Lantz Arena, where no more than 300 fans usually fill the gym on a given night.
I was wrong.
The "Zooperstars" were scheduled on the same day that several local girls basketball teams filled Lantz to cheer on the women's game. Additionally, 160 high school basketball players attended the men's game as the Fellowship Christian Athletes made the trip to Lantz.
The promotion, coupled with a gym filled with kids in the elementary-to-high school age, helped the "Zooperstars" promotion become a success for the athletic department.
"It was our first time doing something like this, and I was pretty excited to get them in here," said Eastern's director of marketing and corporate sales Ryan Gilmore, who arranged the event. "It made for an exciting atmosphere."
Gilmore would not disclose how much the department paid to have the "Zooperstars" come here, saying that because the "Zooperstars" negotiate differently with each event, he did not want to have that number out in the open. However, he said he would definitely consider bringing them back and he thought the event went well.
So while the numbers were not available, it is safe to say the "Zooperstars" will pay off in the long run for the athletic department. If for no other reason than that the youth basketball players - who clearly enjoyed the atmosphere - will want to come back and enjoy Eastern basketball games.
Eastern athletic director Barbara Burke said she thought the "Zooperstars" put on a great show.
"These are the types of things athletics is trying to incorporate into our home events to create a great environment for both our fans and our student-athletes," she said.
If the athletic department continues to come up with interesting, out-of-the-box promotions such as the "Zooperstars," it is definitely possible that the department will start to thrive. Gilmore said the next big promotion will be charging a dollar per ticket for the community to get into Eastern's senior night games on Feb. 21.
I hope - for the department's sake - these promotions continue to go over well.
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or at cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.
We were not pleased with the addition of the "Panther Patio," the pointless graphics on Lantz Arena's walls, or, for the most part, the direction of the men's basketball team.
However, one decision they made as of late ended up as a great success, and a complete surprise.
The "Zooperstars" promotion that the athletic department scheduled for both basketball team's home games last Saturday against Southeast Missouri seemed silly at first. The idea of a bunch of crazy, sports/animal-like blowup figures bouncing around Lantz Arena during these games seemed downright ridiculous.
Sure, the "Zooperstars" had been a success at other levels.
They have performed yearly at the Illinois High School Association's state basketball tournament, but it was unlikely they would cause any type of stir in Lantz Arena, where no more than 300 fans usually fill the gym on a given night.
I was wrong.
The "Zooperstars" were scheduled on the same day that several local girls basketball teams filled Lantz to cheer on the women's game. Additionally, 160 high school basketball players attended the men's game as the Fellowship Christian Athletes made the trip to Lantz.
The promotion, coupled with a gym filled with kids in the elementary-to-high school age, helped the "Zooperstars" promotion become a success for the athletic department.
"It was our first time doing something like this, and I was pretty excited to get them in here," said Eastern's director of marketing and corporate sales Ryan Gilmore, who arranged the event. "It made for an exciting atmosphere."
Gilmore would not disclose how much the department paid to have the "Zooperstars" come here, saying that because the "Zooperstars" negotiate differently with each event, he did not want to have that number out in the open. However, he said he would definitely consider bringing them back and he thought the event went well.
So while the numbers were not available, it is safe to say the "Zooperstars" will pay off in the long run for the athletic department. If for no other reason than that the youth basketball players - who clearly enjoyed the atmosphere - will want to come back and enjoy Eastern basketball games.
Eastern athletic director Barbara Burke said she thought the "Zooperstars" put on a great show.
"These are the types of things athletics is trying to incorporate into our home events to create a great environment for both our fans and our student-athletes," she said.
If the athletic department continues to come up with interesting, out-of-the-box promotions such as the "Zooperstars," it is definitely possible that the department will start to thrive. Gilmore said the next big promotion will be charging a dollar per ticket for the community to get into Eastern's senior night games on Feb. 21.
I hope - for the department's sake - these promotions continue to go over well.
Collin Whitchurch can be reached at 581-7944 or at cfwhitchurch@eiu.edu.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 4 of 8
Kurt
posted 2/10/09 @ 7:03 AM CST
As a transplant EIU support from 2004 it's amazing to me that anyone would be criticizing the job the AD and Marketing dept have done this year. This is especially the case for the women's basketball season. (Continued…)
Erin
posted 2/10/09 @ 8:26 AM CST
I think the DEN needs to stop criticizing and help be part of the promotion of EIU athletics. The Panther Patio is fantastic and will hopefully draw in more season ticket holders. (Continued…)
Panther Club Member
posted 2/10/09 @ 3:19 PM CST
My only complaint with the Panther Patio is that they changed the membership levels after the year started. The ideal way to implement it would have been to allow those who would have normally been allowed to use the club room at games access to the patio this year (keep it 21 and older). (Continued…)
C.G.
posted 2/11/09 @ 11:22 PM CST
I think some DEN readers are forgetting that all of the changes that have been made under new leadership have been POSITIVE changes. Bringing a nationally-reknowned group, the Zooperstars, to EIU was a genius marketing move!! Not to mention the fact that it ended up being a HUGE success!! It seems to me that if people want to criticize adding decals, the tunnel and an overall improved atmosphere of Lantz arena. (Continued…)
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