Friday, August 21, 2009
HOW TO BE FAN-FRIENDLY: A PRIMER.
When we were waiting for food last night (Blue Smoke, if you care), I saw Mr. Met walk toward Kiddie Field. Given that I haven’t seen him walking around anywhere all year, I made the comment “Given how bad things are around here, he should be manning a kissing booth at every game.”
Which got me thinking: what could the Mets organization be doing now to make things more bearable for us for the rest of the year?
Please note that I am not in favor of activating any player currently on the DL for ceremonial purposes, just to get them back on the field in 2009. (Sorry, Jerry.) I am also not interested in discussing trades or strategy (although keeping Wilson Valdez out of the lineup might be a good idea). I’m talking about simple ways to increase goodwill in the fanbase, especially those people who already bought their tickets last December and can’t sell them now.
[Please note that I realize that the one thing they could and should do is play better baseball. Horse, barn, left.]
But, for a start, here are a few ideas:
1. MORE MR. MET
Mr. Met is the best goodwill ambassador in the world. He needs to walk around more and be more available before the games. In Seattle, there’s a spot on the field level called the “Moose Haus” where you can go and get your photograph taken with the MooseThis w. He’s there before the game until a certain time, and then twice during the game (2nd and 5th inning). They don’t force you to use the official photographer but he is there if you want to. Wouldn’t this be a fabulous use of the dumb-ass Verizon booth that is always empty? Or that idiotic dunk tank that has no water in it? I understand the handler issues, GET AN INTERN.
[PROVISO: THIS SPACE CANNOT BE SPONSORED BY ANY ADVERTISER EXCEPT STERLING METS LLC. I don’t want a freaking Arpielle logo on the wall. The scoreboard is bad enough.]
2. DISCOUNTS AND INCENTIVES:
a) Food: If Fenway Park can offer half price food on certain items for one hour after the gates open, then the Mets can do the same thing. Fenway doesn’t even have promotions beyond the magnetic schedule you get on opening day because they don’t have to, but yet they offer this incentive.
b) Tickets: offer 10% off tickets purchased inside the ballpark during the game. If you need to continually advertise the fact that single game tickets are still available in the middle of every game (really? why thank you for telling me, I wouldn’t have known otherwise!) then offer people an incentive to buy them. Buy one get one free. Buy one get one half off. Discount weeknight games. Buy a ticket and get a coupon good for 50% off a ticket to a future game. Yes you can limit the games and limit the quantity WITHIN REASON. But something.
3) OPEN UP THE ENTIRE STADIUM FOR BP
There’s no incentive for people who have already seen the ballpark to get there early unless they want Shake Shack. Remove the BP restriction. Let the kids down to the dugouts already.
4) AGGRESSIVELY ENCOURAGE PLAYERS TO SIGN AUTOGRAPHS
During BP at The Ballpark In Arlington, we observed a neat and orderly line of people in an aisle from top to bottom, just past the dugout. When I inquired, I was told that this was how the Rangers handled autographs, that players who wished to sign after BP would go stand there and would work through the line. There are ways to do this, the Mets just never ever bother. Well, I say that now is the time to give it a try. And before you say, “But who would want Wilson Valdez’ autograph?” keep in mind that to kids, it doesn’t matter, as long as they wear a uniform that says METS. This is the kind of thing that encourages and builds loyalty, both from the kids (TBF can tell you what he was wearing and where he was standing the first time a player flipped him a foul ball [It was Cecil Fielder at Tiger Stadium, if you care]) and their parents.
(And while you’re at it, sell baseballs and sharpies for $1 at that one store on the field level closest to the JRR for the first hour after the ballpark opens. You’ll still make a profit. Breaks my heart to see kids spending $6 on a freaking baseball.)
I realize this entire article should be called “How To Be Fan-Friendly” and that a veteran baseball organization shouldn’t need such a thing, but we all know better.
That’s what I have. What about you?
You go, Grrl!!
All most excellent ideas.
Non-injured players keeping themselves in the lineup and not making themselves off-the-field distractions over their own personal interests would go a long way as well.
Yes, I mean you, Sheff.