Do you run a business in a college town?

When it comes to football – does game day mean anything to you?    

If game day means nothing to you, stop reading and go to this page.

If you are still reading, then you are probably ready for game day.  But it might be a different game than the one I’m ready for.  I’m a Tar Heel fan so the information below is about Carolina.  If you aren’t a Carolina fan, I encourage you to keep reading and just substitute the appropriate names and numbers and colors for your team.

The numbers amaze me every time I see them.  When Kenan Stadium (in Chapel Hill) is sold out, that means 60,000 tickets have been sold.  The estimated economic impact is $7.5 million which generates $525,000 in sales tax – an extremely important source of revenue for our state and local governments – now more so than ever. 

If $7.5 million sounds too big to be true…all it takes is for each of the 60,000 fans coming to Kenan Stadium to spend $125 each.   It would be easy to do – ticket, game program, concessions, parking , bus ride, dinner on Franklin Street,  shopping in your store, etc.     Some spend more.  Some spend less.  But it’s a huge influx of people and cash into our community. 

The share for each of our businesses can range from none to a lot – depending on location, the type of business and mainly –  game day strategy.  Even businesses that don’t sell game day “items”,  can get a boost or two from the buzz about game day.  Boosts in energy,  productivity, morale – all of which have a way of boosting business. 

Here are 10 possible components of a game day strategy, most of which require no cash investment.

1.  Put Go Heels signs in your windows and doors.  You can get a ready-to-print signs right here.

2.  Hang a Carolina flag outside your business or in your window.

3. Make a window display of Carolina items that you sell in your store.

4.  Display Carolina items at the entrance to your store.

5.  No Carolina items in inventory?  Just add a few pompoms to whatever you do have.

6.  Use  Carolina Football screensavers on your computers.  Download these for free at from Tarheelblue.com.  Here’s the link.

7.  Offer game day or game week specials.  It doesn’t have to be a special price.  Just a cool name like:  Tar Heel Tire Special, Tar Heel Toddy, Pigskin Print Package, Touchdown Two-fer.  Add a couple named for the opposing team.  For example, this weekend, we play the Virginia Cavaliers, also known as the Wahoos.  So – you could offer Cavalier Caviar, a 6-pack of Cavalier Coca-Cola or a Wahoo Weekend Special.  

8.  Invite staff members to wear Carolina Blue all week – or at least on Friday and Saturday (if open).  If your budget allows, make this easy by purchasing tee shirts or jerseys for all to wear.

9. And be sure to show signs of class.  Welcome visiting fans of the opposing team with signs in the window.   Take it a step further and ask staff members to greet visitors by saying “Welcome to Chapel Hill”, “Welcome to Carrboro” or “Welcome to ________”(wherever you are). We make it easy by providing signs you can download for free.  Click here for info and easy downloads to  welcome fans this weekend.

10.  Looking for ways to direct your advertising to the fans that come to town for the games?  If they aren’t sold out already, your business can get a piece of the action by purchasing ads in the game program or the Daily Tar Heel.  Or by purchasing spots on the radio broadcast.

Got any game day suggestions to add to the list?