I usually listen to the games via internet radio since I am out of state. Sucks I would have to pay for a radio broadcast, but if I have video for all the games, $10/ month is not bad.

BUT… in the grand scheme of things, to build a fan base I think they should make it FREE to everyone to build a the fan base, get more people interested by letting them watch the away games that no one can really go to.

So I say NO, do not charge!

owlfamily said

USMCOWL said

I'm not going to pay for it espically when i can listen to the games for free on the radio. I'm a student, and unemployed at the moment, so the only income we have is my wife's paycheck, and my va education payment.

And herein lies the Rub.

ESPN760's signal just plain SUCKS for South Palm Beach County. After about 7 PM or so its nothing but static with audio bleed over from a spanish music station. So you wont be ABLE to listen to the game if your in the Boca area.

You can get it during the day in Boca, barely…

Otherwise, you need to be about Woolbright or North at night.

They thought if they charge everyone $5 to park for bball games they'd make more money as well. Wonder if they'd like to rethink that? Students park for free and everyone else who doesn't want to pay the $5 just parked somewhere else on campus and walked.

Stop being greedy! We know money and revenue is an issue, find another way. You're biting off more than you can chew and it's going to come back and bite you in the butt. Already have 1 member who won't renew his season tickets.

Ask Pay Per-View how they're charging to watch something is going? Yes I know it's not the samething, and a lot of ppl still buy PPV but there numbers have declined big time. Why pay for something I can find on the net for free?

I'm surprised nobody's played the "if you really cared about FAU, you would pay" card yet.

BMarkey said

FAU pays ESPN760 to cover the games? Is it like an infomercial with FAU buying the time? Does FAU get the ad revenue?

If I'm understanding Rick's explanation correctly:
- FAU pays ESPN to put on the show
- ESPN gets a guaranteed audience so they can sell airtime and make ad revenue
- Under this model, FAU loses money in the hopes that it placates a fanbase enough that they keep buying tickets to home games, which is where the money comes back to FAU
- Under the new model, FAU gets streaming revenue on top of the ticket revenue

That's the short-term scenario. The longer-term scenario involves how many fans, or potential fans, say no-thanks and just turn their attention elsewhere. There is no shortage of other activities. From a marketing timing perspective, consider these factors: FAU is not a team with a long-time winning tradition, nor is it coming off a 11-1 season. Rather, it staggered to a 1-11 record last year; some of its players quit on themselves, their coaches and fans; it couldn't fill its nice new stadium even for the opening game in it (and attendance got far worse in subsequent games); it couldn't score a point in the opening game in its new stadium and it was fortunate to win even the one game; and it hasn't had a winning season since 2008. That's what has happened. Now add some opinion: Every – every – prediction I have seen for 2012 has the Owls among the dregs, if not the dregs, of the weakest conference in the FBS. (I hope and expect that FAU will be better, but this is merely conjecture.) If anyone sees marketing strength at this time in any of this, he/she is far more astute than I am. Of course, I am only a retired businessman with an FAU degree in poli sci. So what do I know?

It would have been a good idea when the football team was having great seasons, but I would put it on the back burner until the football team gets successful again. As for the basketball season, I would offer a package for the basketball season of both the men's and women's team. At least those teams are showing some level of success. As for baseball, I wouldn't charge anything because as successful as the team is, we really cant draw a good crowd unless we play Miami or FIU. Thats what my plan would be.

grayowl said

That's the short-term scenario. The longer-term scenario involves how many fans, or potential fans, say no-thanks and just turn their attention elsewhere. There is no shortage of other activities. From a marketing timing perspective, consider these factors: FAU is not a team with a long-time winning tradition, nor is it coming off a 11-1 season. Rather, it staggered to a 1-11 record last year; some of its players quit on themselves, their coaches and fans; it couldn't fill its nice new stadium even for the opening game in it (and attendance got far worse in subsequent games); it couldn't score a point in the opening game in its new stadium and it was fortunate to win even the one game; and it hasn't had a winning season since 2008. That's what has happened. Now add some opinion: Every – every – prediction I have seen for 2012 has the Owls among the dregs, if not the dregs, of the weakest conference in the FBS. (I hope and expect that FAU will be better, but this is merely conjecture.) If anyone sees marketing strength at this time in any of this, he/she is far more astute than I am. Of course, I am only a retired businessman with an FAU degree in poli sci. So what do I know?

+!00 grayowl

Like I say, does FAU still have a Business School?

Oh yeah, it's that big building right across the street from the half to a third full new stadium! Apparantly nobody in our Athletics Dept. took a class let alone majored in Business. And OBVIOUSLY NO MBA's either!

And from the results of the poll, not to favorable reaction from the FAU faithful few that there are!

C'mon new AD, get involved in this fast. You have to create DEMAND before you can sell any product. And a BAD 1-11 on top (or bottom) of a four year "decline" and a three year losing streak don't cut it at all!

I get video.

I really do. In fact its nice IMHO that people who cant travel back home could get to watch home games. And finally thanks to the new stadium we can do this. Lockhart didnt even have the capability to stream I dont believe.

Grayowl, NC, Illinois, GA

As members of the far flung FAU fans would you pay $30.00 to watch every home football game via the net?  That is what MTSU does from what a fan told me and that makes sense IMHO.


I do think they should offer season ticket holders and Owl Club members the package at either a discount or free.

Family Zone Season Ticket holder: 10% off of the PPV package
Season Ticket Holder only : 50% off of the PPV packages
OwlClub Member: Free PPV Annual Pass

Those categories/groups have "Invested" in the program thru season tickets and this would be a nice way to say thank you.

I DONT understand the audio part at all. If its being broadcast over the airways, then I think they should allow it to be streamed on the ESPN760's website.

grayowl said

That's the short-term scenario. The longer-term scenario involves how many fans, or potential fans, say no-thanks and just turn their attention elsewhere. There is no shortage of other activities. From a marketing timing perspective, consider these factors: FAU is not a team with a long-time winning tradition, nor is it coming off a 11-1 season. Rather, it staggered to a 1-11 record last year; some of its players quit on themselves, their coaches and fans; it couldn't fill its nice new stadium even for the opening game in it (and attendance got far worse in subsequent games); it couldn't score a point in the opening game in its new stadium and it was fortunate to win even the one game; and it hasn't had a winning season since 2008. That's what has happened. Now add some opinion: Every – every – prediction I have seen for 2012 has the Owls among the dregs, if not the dregs, of the weakest conference in the FBS. (I hope and expect that FAU will be better, but this is merely conjecture.) If anyone sees marketing strength at this time in any of this, he/she is far more astute than I am. Of course, I am only a retired businessman with an FAU degree in poli sci. So what do I know?

Rick, bust out that Post of the Day trophy… we got a winner here.

owlfamily said

I get video.

I really do. In fact its nice IMHO that people who cant travel back home could get to watch home games. And finally thanks to the new stadium we can do this. Lockhart didnt even have the capability to stream I dont believe.

Grayowl, NC, Illinois, GA

As members of the far flung FAU fans would you pay $30.00 to watch every home football game via the net?  That is what MTSU does from what a fan told me and that makes sense IMHO.


I do think they should offer season ticket holders and Owl Club members the package at either a discount or free.

Family Zone Season Ticket holder: 10% off of the PPV package
Season Ticket Holder only : 50% off of the PPV packages
OwlClub Member: Free PPV Annual Pass

Those categories/groups have "Invested" in the program thru season tickets and this would be a nice way to say thank you.

I DONT understand the audio part at all. If its being broadcast over the airways, then I think they should allow it to be streamed on the ESPN760's website.

I might pay something to WATCH the game on the web depending on how much the package costs. I would not pay to listen only especially since there are paying sponsors. I've been a pretty faithfully listener with the Internet over all these years. It's easier to tune in now with an iPad and iPhone. I got in trouble with my wife back in the early days when we had a cookout over our house with guests. I kept leaving the party to run upstairs to the office to listen to the game on the desk top.