Another Great Boyer Idea...

[bjm676]

The more ideas he comes up with, the more I think, "Rob Gallas who?"

 

 

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-sox03.html

 

Sox offer commuters easy way to see game

 

Downtown commuters planning a weekday outing to a White Sox game can save a few bucks and some rush-hour aggravation: Park at U.S. Cellular Field before work and take the CTA the rest of the way.

 

When the day's done, it's a quick Red Line ride to the 35th Street stop for the ballgame.

 

For commuters, the Lot A gates just off Wentworth between 31st and 35th streets open at 6 a.m., where you can pay cash or parking coupons.

 

"The Red Line is right here, and you don't have to fight traffic either way," Sox marketing guru Brooks Boyer said.

 

'It's very convenient'

 

"If you drive [downtown], it's going to cost you $20 or $25 to park, and then you come here and it'll cost you another $17 to park. Park and ride alleviates that," Boyer said.

 

Frankfort mom Mary Sheridan was one of the first to take advantage of the team's early morning parking spaces.

 

On Opening Day, she shaved about 10 minutes off her commute and pocketed the extra $14 in parking she would have paid a garage near work at Michigan and Oak.

 

"It's very convenient and ... after the game I was the first car out of the lot ... right out on Wentworth," said Sheridan, who goes to about 10 games a year.

 

Boyer said the park-and-ride option also is a winner for tailgaters if their grills and coolers aren't allowed at the office.

[DBAHO]

Another Great Boyer Idea: Free Flights to the Cell from Australia;

[southsider2k5]

Glad to see they got this done. This was something Brooks mentioned at Soxfest.

[Steff]

They did this for opening day and I know several people who took advantage. Awesome idea..

[DBAHO]

It's the little things like these that Brooks is doing, that is really going to make things a lot easier for the fans, and I'm sure they really appreciate it, and hopefully it will show in the attendance figures especially in the 2nd half of the year if the Sox are still in contention, which we all hope they are.

[LosMediasBlancas]

Is it cheaper to park at the Cell in the morning than right before game time?

[southsider2k5]

It's the little things like these that Brooks is doing, that is really going to make things a lot easier for the fans, and I'm sure they really appreciate it, and hopefully it will show in the attendance figures especially in the 2nd half of the year if the Sox are still in contention, which we all hope they are. 

 

The bandwagon will fill if the Sox are winning, there is no doubt. The genius of what Brooks is doing is building a fan base. There is a big, big difference. He is reversing 20 years of questionable to lacksadaisical practices by that department. He is getting the team exposure in new markets, and he is making the team attractive. He is slowly making it "cool" to be a southsider again. He is also doing everything in his power to make fans in every concievable fashion possible.

 

You like baseball but don't speak English? No problem, listen to the Sox in Spanish.

 

You want to see the Sox, but can't afford the $40 to park downtown at work, and at the ballpark, no problem, park here for $17, and pay $3 for the Red Line back and forth.

 

You're a teacher who doesn't make much? No problem here are 75% off passes.

 

You say you don't know who these guys are and all of our stars have been traded? No problem, watch the commercials and get to know these guys. Watch 20 spring training games, and listen to the player interviews.

 

You're serving our country, and are home for a break? No problem catch a game on us.

 

Have kids? No problem, Try fundementals and Kid's Days.

 

Have some ideas that might help promote this team? No problem, send the team an email and they will respond.

 

I am so excited about the direction of this franchise because of the front office, it isn't even funny.

[YASNY]

I didn't want to quote your whole post, but I totally agree. This is quite refreshing compared to the way things have gone in the past.

[shakes]

I hadn't heard about his until now. I will definitely be taking advantage of this.

 

Brooks is fantastic. I sent him an e-mail regarding fundraiser donations from the White Sox and received a response within hours. You would be hard pressed to find any professional sports organization that would do that. Let alone, the head of marketing.

[JUGGERNAUT]

I love the Win or Die Trying commercials. They aired several during FOX's new Sunday night toon festival.

 

But I feel Boyer needs to go further with this angle. People who are willing to pay $20-25 a day to park in the city are not accustomed to take the El. It would be better for the Sox to provide a shuttle service for them. Maybe charge $20 to park that day & include the shuttle for free. There is little traffic along State passed 31st street so I think timing wise it could come close to what it takes to walk, wait, board, ride & depart the El.

 

The shuttles can be something as simple as Mears airport shuttle vans. A relatively low cost to operate for the White Sox. Plus you can use the shuttle as floating billboard space to further make the Win or Die Trying campaign visible to the city.

 

The ideal situation would be to grow the season ticket holder base this way. Allow them to park at the stadium, & shuttle to/from work for the games. It would provide a much lower cost than the Flubs & likely generate publicity on how the Sox go out of their way to make attending games more convenient for their fans.

[The Critic]

Is it cheaper to park at the Cell in the morning than right before game time?

No, it's still 17 bucks, but that's much cheaper than most downtown lots and you get to stay there until after the game.

It's a terrific idea, IMO, from a PR department that is doing everything it can to make the USCF experience pleasant for Sox fans.

Tip of the cap to Brooks and company....

[Queen Prawn]

If that was a possibility for me, I would take advantage of it, definitely.

[LosMediasBlancas]

No, it's still 17 bucks, but that's much cheaper than most downtown lots and you get to stay there until after the game.

It's a terrific idea, IMO, from a PR department that is doing everything it can to make the USCF experience pleasant for Sox fans.

Tip of the cap to Brooks and company....

 

 

Don't get me wrong, it is a good idea, I'm not raining on the parade, but I think it's only an advantage if you are coming from the south side or certain burbs. But at least it's helpful to some people.

[LosMediasBlancas]

I love the Win or Die Trying commercials.  They aired several during FOX's new Sunday night toon festival.

 

But I feel Boyer needs to go further with this angle.  People who are willing to pay $20-25 a day to park in the city are not accustomed to take the El.  It would be better for the Sox to provide a shuttle service for them.  Maybe charge $20 to park that day & include the shuttle for free.  There is little traffic along State passed 31st street so I think timing wise it could come close to what it takes to walk, wait, board, ride & depart the El.

 

The shuttles can be something as simple as Mears airport shuttle vans.  A relatively low cost to operate for the White Sox.  Plus you can use the shuttle as floating billboard space to further make the Win or Die Trying campaign visible to the city.

 

The ideal situation would be to grow the season ticket holder base this way.  Allow them to park at the stadium, & shuttle to/from work for the games.  It would provide a much lower cost than the Flubs & likely generate publicity on how the Sox go out of their way to make attending games more convenient for their fans.

 

Shuttle them downtown to their jobs in the morning from the park??....for free?

[Steff]

Shuttle them downtown to their jobs in the morning from the park??....for free?

 

 

But of course... :rolly

 

 

The Great America cast could drive..

[southsideirish]

QUOTE(The Critic @ May 3, 2005 -> 04:34 PM)

No, it's still 17 bucks, but that's much cheaper than most downtown lots and you get to stay there until after the game.

It's a terrific idea, IMO, from a PR department that is doing everything it can to make the USCF experience pleasant for Sox fans.

Tip of the cap to Brooks and company....

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I would take advantage of it and I work downtown. In a way it is a price issue, but for some like me, I don't be believe it is price. It is more about convenience.

 

I pay 120 bucks a month for parking downtown so it is by far cheaper than 17 bucks a day. The reason it is more convenient is because I don't have to worry about 5 o'clock traffic to get down there. I can hop on the redline outside of my building with my buddies and be there in minutes. After the game I don't have to take the El back home with all the drunks. I will have the convenience of driving home in my comfortable car.

 

It is a great idea and I am suprised they haven't thought of it before. They should really find a way to take advantage of all that parking they have there.

[JUGGERNAUT]

Shuttle them downtown to their jobs in the morning from the park??....for free?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

Nothing is for free. $20 = $17 for parking , $3 for shuttle services.

You pay the $20 on your way to work & get two shuttle tickets. One for the ride into work & one for the ride to the game. If you loose your ticket, don't worry. They can fax you a new one.

 

This really isn't as fresh an idea as you think. The Metra has a similar package available for Bulls & Bears fans. You pay to park at a park & ride stop at a Metra station & then you get off at Clinton. They have express shuttle buses that take you to the games from there.

Edited May 3, 2005 by JUGGERNAUT

[LosMediasBlancas]

Nothing is for free.  $20 = $17 for parking , $3 for shuttle services. 

You pay the $20 on your way to work & get two shuttle tickets.  One for the ride into work & one for the ride to the game.  If you loose your ticket, don't worry.  They can fax you a new one.

 

This really isn't as fresh an idea as you think.  The Metra has a similar package available for Bulls & Bears fans.  You pay to park at a park & ride stop at a Metra station & then you get off at Clinton.  They have express shuttle buses that take you to the games from there.

Not quite the same thing, the Bears play downtown and on Sundays and the Bull's shuttle doesn't sound as convenient as your proposed Sox shuttle.

Edited May 3, 2005 by LosMediasBlancas

[Steff]

Not quite the same thing, the Bears play downtown and on Sundays and the Bull's shuttle doesn't sound as convenient as your proposed Sox shuttle.

 

 

As a Bears season ticket holder.. I can tell you that the Bears shuttle stinks!! It's easier and faster to just walk under McCormick place back to your car. As for using public trans for Bulls games.. umm.. no thank you. Not to generalize.. but IMO it aint safe over there at all. I would rather walk alone in the dead of night around Comiskey than over by the UC.

 

 

I agree with you that providing public trans on a weekday in rush hour is not realistic at all.

[JUGGERNAUT]

As a Bears season ticket holder.. I can tell you that the Bears shuttle stinks!! It's easier and faster to just walk under McCormick place back to your car. As for using public trans for Bulls games.. umm.. no thank you. Not to generalize.. but IMO it aint safe over there at all.    I would rather walk alone in the dead of night around Comiskey than over by the UC.

I agree with you that providing public trans on a weekday in rush hour is not realistic at all.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

I've taken the express bus from Clinton several times to both Bears & Bulls & I've never had a problem with. With respect to the UC I like it much better than parking nearby & walking. The bus takes you much closer to the stadium than parking does.

 

As for the Mears like shuttle service I've taken that to. I've ridden down State from Jackson to the Cell countless times & time wise door-to-door it's been very comparable to taking the Red line. The traffic on State is usually light .. even during rush hours.

 

Of course if you are going to do this there's no reason to limit it to just those parking at the Cell. Metra riders could benefit from this as well. Make the LaSalle street Metra station the central drop-off pickup point for this service. A White Sox shuttle van can take the same route I usually take & charge a flat $2 per ride.

 

From the LaSalle Station point you could offer door to door service for another flat $2 per ride to places of work in the loop. Plans are in the works to eventually build a Metra station at the Cell on the Rock Island route. This would replace the need for that shuttle service & enhance the inner loop shuttle service for the White Sox. The inner loop shuttle service gives Metra rides from the W, NW, & N an easy & safe connection to the cell at a cost comparable to the CTA.

 

It's the inner loop shuttle service that would give the White Sox the most exposure as the van's would be painted in the Win or Die Trying campaign. Increasing visibility throughout the loop should pay off in attracting new & occasional Sox patrons.

Edited May 3, 2005 by JUGGERNAUT

[Steff]

Yea.. ok. We took it every game last year and there's nothing express about it. Finally started parking over by Union Station.. that bus got us back to our car faster.

 

Regarding the Sox shuttle.. nice idea.. just not realistic.

[LosMediasBlancas]

I guess it would be worth trying as an experiment to see if enough fans take advantage of it and more importantly, if MORE fans come to the games because of it. I live on the northside and I work downtown, so it would be of no use to me, the red line is perfect for me. No parking, no driving, no traffic, three bucks total, no hassle. If it would just make it more convenient for the people who are already coming to the games, then I would not be as excited about it.

[Steff]

LMB.. or anyone else that would know.. what time does the Metra stop running back to the burbs normally..? I know during holiday's and the Taste they run longer.. but what's the normal stop time.

 

TIA.

[LosMediasBlancas]

LMB.. or anyone else that would know.. what time does the Metra stop running back to the burbs normally..? I know during holiday's and the Taste they run longer.. but what's the normal stop time.

 

TIA.

 

I think it depends on the route. I have one that is a block from my house and it's 24 hours, BUT after like midnight, you get one every hour and a half or so.

As a side note, the Scrubs have a new shuttle that will stop at this station, 1 block from my house. :puke

[Steff]

I think it depends on the route. I have one that is a block from my house and it's 24 hours, BUT after like midnight, you get one every hour and a half or so.

As a side note, the Scrubs have a new shuttle that will stop at this station, 1 block from my house. :puke

 

 

Is that Metra or an El....?? Back when I worked downtown they didn't have a 24 hour one... IIRC it stopped at 10:20 back to the Blue Island station. This was back in '98 though.