Rain and Seasonal Attendance

[storm]

Cliff, we were down almost 2000 people for the season in 2006 when the Tigers made it to the world series. We believe we even took a small hit last year with them making it to the ALCS. You can however put on your advertisement that playoff games will be broadcast live at your event. If you have cable access, play the game, if not put it on the radio so people in line can here it.

Howie "Slobber" Erlich
Deadly Intentions Haunted Attraction
www.deadlyintentionshaunt.com

Showing a broadcast of a major sporting event while charging admission and without the properly licensed equipment can leave you open to liability. Advertising that you plan too is even more dangerous. And seriously if you can stay under the radar and not have an issue with the league, team, local Tv affiliate, or sponsors, will all the work and risk be worth it? You will spend money and time to take attention away from your show, and seriously who's gonna say "You know what lets go to the local haunt, I wanted to stay home or go to a bar with the guys to watch the game, but I would rather catch parts of it in line for a haunt".

Instead look at the benefit. You now know that a major segment of your target audience are sports fans. Companies pay tons of money just for that analysis. Now you know where to target advertising, sports radio, the sports section of a paper, even local high school sports. Market the nights of the game differently, aim at people who might want to get out of the house if they are not fans. Advertise early ticketing to get people home for the good part of the big game.

[Jim Warfield]

Mr. Storm!

[BrotherMysterio]

Instead look at the benefit. You now know that a major segment of your target audience are sports fans. Companies pay tons of money just for that analysis. Now you know where to target advertising, sports radio, the sports section of a paper, even local high school sports. Market the nights of the game differently, aim at people who might want to get out of the house if they are not fans. Advertise early ticketing to get people home for the good part of the big game.

Another idea, along with advertising in those venues, they could get a discount (student or senior) if they bring their sporting event ticket stub.

C.

[Howie Slobber Erlich]

The only way you could get in trouble is if you make them pay to watch or listen to the game. It is no different than a bar doing a promotion during the "big game." $1.25 Drafts when the game is on etc. No legal problem with placing a small mention on your advertising that the games will be broadcast while they wait. Now with all the free cell phone aps, it really doesn't make a difference anyhow. They can get up to date video and score on their phone if it means that much to them. in 2006 the aps were not as available as today. Either way, do what you want and have a great season!

Howie "Slobber" Erlich
Deadly Intentions Haunted Attraction
www.deadlyintentionshaunt.com

[Jim Warfield]

Do have to pay a fee to show certain things on their TVs, especially if the screen on their TV is over a certain size.
This is the case in the UK, awhile ago a woman bar owner got trouble because she bought a device that enabled her to suck in signals from a free off-shore source of the soccer games all England wanted to see. It went to court and the ruling looked as if it might go in her favor, which would ruin the big satellite company's massive business! (I don't remember how it ended)

[JamBam]

Rain insurance is literally a gamble. You tell them how much money to insure, how much rain, the days covered, the hours each day, and then they give you a price. They will require a weather spotter if you aren't near a weather station they recognize as valid. If it rains the amount or more that you specified on one of the days, during the hours specified, they will send you a check. You don't show them lost revenue projections or anything else. It is simply a gamble by both sides. Their actuaries look at the past weather history of your area in setting your premium.

When we ran a corn maze a few years ago, I figured out that the premium would be paid back in the first rain that qualified and money ahead if it rained enough on two days.

From what we experienced, small amount of customers come out in the rain anyway. Most will come another day. They will make their decision several hours before coming out on up to opening time. It is completely up to you as far as coverage and amount of rain you think will affect you.

Good luck

[BrotherMysterio]

From what we experienced, small amount of customers come out in the rain anyway. Most will come another day. They will make their decision several hours before coming out on up to opening time. It is completely up to you as far as coverage and amount of rain you think will affect you.

Was it ultimately a good or worthwhile investment?

C.