The fall sports season will be here before you know it, and as an Athletic Director, you know that success doesn’t happen by accident. It takes planning and coordination to ensure your operations run smoothly. To help you get ahead of the game, we’ve put together 4 essential steps you can tackle today to set your fall sports season up for success.
1. Finalize Your Ticketing Strategy
Traditional ticketing methods, such as paper tickets, can create unnecessary stress on game days. Digital ticketing solutions allow your schools to eliminate long gate lines, reduce cash handling, and simplify fan entry. But to get the most out of digital ticketing, consistency is key!
If you’re offering online tickets for one sport, like football or basketball, make sure you’re doing the same for all your events. When your community is used to checking your ticketing page for available events, missing events, or offering tickets inconsistently, can lead to confusion and lost attendance.
- Ensure your event management experience is fully set up ahead of summer break, with pricing, seating, and access options finalized for all ticketed events before the first event.
- Create a centralized location for ticket sales to help set expectations and build a smoother experience for your community.
2. Enhance the Fan Experience
In today’s digital age, fans expect a seamless and convenient experience; mobile ticketing and contactless entry are no longer luxuries but the standard, reflecting how communities now research, purchase, pay, and check-in using their phones.The Hometown Fan App allows your fans to easily find, purchase, access, and manage their tickets, creating a user-friendly experience that boosts satisfaction and encourages repeat attendance.
- Start offering Season Passes and Season Tickets (or multi-game ticket bundles) to drive recurring revenue and promote fan loyalty.
- Remind parents, students, and community members to download the Hometown Fan App for quick and easy access to their tickets throughout the season.
3. Streamline Operations for Staff and Volunteers
Your teams — whether it’s ticketing staff, event security, or game-day volunteers — need the right tools to operate efficiently. A comprehensive event management system can minimize manual processes, provide real-time reporting, and ensure you’re fully staffed where it matters most.
What you can do today:
- Ensure all essential processes are documented and easily accessible to staff.
- Organize credit card readers and tablets as bundles for consistency and reliable connectivity.
Remember, consistency is key. Use the Hometown Gate App for all on-site operations – from ticket sales to concessions, merchandise, and even parking. The more unified your tools are, the easier it is for your team to deliver a seamless fan experience.
4. Plan for The Unexpected
Unpredictable weather delays and schedule changes can disrupt even the best-laid plans. Hometown’s “Notify Guest” capabilities allow you to communicate instantly with fans, adjust entry processes dynamically, and ensure your events stay organized no matter what happens. Real-time notifications are delivered as a text, email, and App Push notification for all ticket types.
What you can do today:
- Create a contingency plan for common game-day disruptions, including weather delays and schedule adjustments.
- Ensure your staff utilizes Offline Scanning mode to keep guests entering the event regardless of connectivity disruptions.
- Use the dynamic communication tools, such as email or text alerts, to quickly notify fans of schedule changes.
Set Yourself Up for Success
The best time to get your fall season plan in place is now; don’t wait until the season starts. Hometown makes it easy to prepare with our digital Fall Planning Kit. Share these resources with administration, coaches and staff.
