Top 10 things Cedar Rapids Rampage SC can do to be successful...

Okay, this isn't a top ten list like a certain beloved, recently retired, late night talk show host. This is serious business here. As in how to succeed in business as an MASL franchise in Cedar Rapids. Some of these are a bit obvious or Sports Franchise 101 but it's important to get these right. Here they are ranked in order of importance...

10) Sign a local player - Part of what has brought fans to Titans games is seeing Iowa players continue their careers at home. Now, this can't quite be replicated in soccer, but it wouldn't hurt to give Lance Rozeboom or Ian Christianson a call (though being on the Vancouver Whitecaps of MLS' reserve squad might hinder that) and make them the face of your franchise. Or you could see who the next Iowa football Tavian Banks that was a solid soccer player and give them a ring. It wouldn't hurt to put butts in the seats.

9) Camps - Now this seems like a no-brainer, but you've got to get as many of those corridor youth and soccer moms and dads that were mentioned at the franchise announcement to go to smartly priced camps and clinics. I say smartly priced because this is as much advertising your brand as it is another source of revenue. Pricing should make it profitable, but also send the message that this is the people's team.

8) Stylish Merchandise - This may seem like a trivial thing, but the little things can have a huge impact. All sports are tribal, but especially soccer. Tribes want to wear their symbols and colors and want to do it in a way that espouses their identities. Use the city iconography of Cedar Rapids. Make shirts, hats and jerseys stylish and appealing. The jersey is more important to get right than in any other sport because a higher percentage of fans buy the jersey in soccer than  in other sports. Hockey may be a close second, but you can't wear a hockey jersey in as many places and they are quite expensive. The jersey can act not just as another revenue stream, but as a great advertisement for your sponsor and your team. Get this right: Simple, classic, but not completely boring.

7) Engage the Hispanic community - I can't emphasize this point enough. This is a whole segment of the population that really doesn't show in force at other events as they are not catered to. The key here is that soccer is THEIR sport, it is #1. This is like arena football moving in for your Anglo-Saxon, fourth generation Iowan. Market to them via outlets they frequent/listen to/watch and do it in Spanish as well. Sign at least one very good Hispanic player. Show up at their events. Have a Latin Heritage night. This is one area soccer demographics differ from other sports, so make it work in your favor. They would also appreciate...

6) Create indoor leagues - Get BOTH kids and adults playing. There is a serious lack of indoor soccer opportunities in Cedar Rapids, especially for adults. Leagues for all ages gets people more engaged and introduces another revenue opportunity. Make different t-shirts with the Rampage logo and a number for the teams (gets that logo out in public), heck even call it the "Rampage Reserves League" and mine talent from it eventually. Make players feel a connection to the club.

5) Don't forget the grown-ups - A huge portion of soccer fans are young when compared to the other sports, and in that lovely marketing sweet-spot of being in their twenties and thirties. Make the Rampage THE place to be for these people on cold winter nights. Be innovative and active on social media. Do fun giveaways. Drink specials, ladies nights (don't underestimate the power of your female fans. They will drive your male fans on the fence), live music, etc. But like anything, this has to be balanced. Which leads to...

4) Be visible in the community - One thing the Titans do well is get out into the community. Get the Rampage players going to schools, parades, festivals, after-school programs, non-soccer camps, Newbo market on weekends, basically try not to let a public event or institution go by untouched. It is great free advertising and makes sure they don't forget you are there.

3) Be visible on TV/Radio/Media - Mediacom is already listed as a sponsor and this is fantastic. Hopefully Mediacom Connections 22 signs on to broadcast games on tape delay and (much like the Titans already do) and MAYBE even an away match in St. Louis or Milwaukee. There is just simply no way in creating repeat customers unless they see the product. Give a couple tickets away via a different outlet each week, so as to catch as wide a variety of people to just a taste of your product. But too many giveaways cheapens the product and makes customers lazy about spending. A little goes a long way. TV broadcasts advertise to them at home and gets them wanting to spend to see the product live.

2) Game presentation - If they do want to see the product live, don't drive them off. One of the major complaints of fans about the RoughRiders is the constant inundation of noise. Do NOT, for example, just have loud music running constantly over the PA. Now I'm not saying to never run music or sound effects over the PA, I'm just saying a little goes a long way. I am a hockey fan much more than a baseball fan, and yet one of the great things about a Kernels game is that one can actually carry on a conversation during the game. Something very difficult at RoughRiders games. Drums, horns, etc. during game play is great. Heck, the marketing wizards of the MLS attendance-shattering, Qwest Field-filling Seattle Sounders even have a marching band, the Sound Wave. Horns, drums, band music just creates an atmosphere that can't be duplicated. Just ask any college basketball or football fan. The Titans have done well with this.

1) Win - None of the above will be as successful without it. In fact, it is crucial for much of the above, and much of the little things above are crucial to it. People want to connect with that which gives them pride. They want to walk away entertained and satisfied. Winning goes a long way to doing that. The team on the field HAS to take precedent to achieve any long term success.