While it may seem like it takes forever to grow a business, the day it catches on will make the whole process worth it. The key is to experiment when you feel a period of stagnation has set in. For bar and restaurant owners, looking for satellite TV packages is one way to spark interest in one customer base or another. HD baseball packages have so many games included, every day, that the investment is obvious. Here are some ways this move could work for your business.
1. It could open a big can of worms. You never know what’s waiting, or who’s living, just around the corner from your bar, but if you’ve got your HD screen tuned for some ball games one day, you just might find out. Baseball fans sometimes don’t head butt or chest bang the way football fans do, so keep an eye out for the focused but seemingly casual observer. Once word gets out that your bar is taking the ball games every day, you may see the impact sooner than you thought.
2. It’s a daily ritual. Soccer season has changed a bit, but there are still only one or two days a week where games are played. Basketball teams can play up to three games a week. For baseball players, having one day off a week is a luxury. If there was a rainout or the schedule is simply unfavorable, then there may be no days off for more than two weeks. In other words, there’s always a game on the air, which means you’ll never be without coverage.
3. Seven months barely cover the entire season. If you think baseball’s regular season is too long (it is), just throw in spring training and the playoffs. What you’re looking at is seven more months before all is said and done. Beginning in March (February for batteries) and ending in November, HD baseball packages give subscribers their money’s worth. If you have fans in the area for every game, imagine the sales potential.
4. Adding bodies means adding atmosphere. While you may not have seen your bar as a sports fan-only spot, adding something like an MLB package doesn’t necessarily mean it will be. Simply adding ambiance will appeal to all types of people, from baseball fans and their friends to people who like to be in a crowded place. No one likes to walk into an empty bar, no matter what time of day.
5. Your bar could become a safe haven. For fans who live far from their hometowns, finding a place to watch the game is like finding a home away from Minnesota, San Francisco, or wherever they grew up. Setting up a safe haven like this won’t alienate the fans in your town, unless it’s a rival team. In that case, a certain amount of finesse will be required.