In Reply to: BS posted by UCLA91 on March 24, 2025 at 20:22:37
Fair warning: A bit of a rant ahead—but not against the original post! I get why this opinion is so common. I even believed it myself at first. But over time, my perspective has shifted.
First off, let me say—I love LA. There’s nowhere else I’d rather live.
That said, I find it a bit elitist to dismiss smaller towns as having “nothing to do.” Do people really think there aren’t great shows, movies, or dining options in these places? That small college towns don’t have fantastic bars? That UCLA is somehow competing with The Getty for visitors on a Thursday night? Or that locals don’t enjoy their nearby mountains, lakes, or beaches?
I still believe marketing needs to improve. Part of that is how the university markets to its students but moreover how we are marketing to SoCal in general.
Take just one example: There’s only one Division I public university football team in the greater LA area, despite having multiple public universities. To me, that team belongs to more than just its home school—it should be embraced by UC Irvine, UC Riverside, and even local CSU campuses. With the right marketing, it could feel like their team too. Sure, it might seem like a stretch to some, but shifting the mindset just a little makes it completely reasonable. After all, plenty of fans support usc with even less connection to the school. Alumni may be the foundation of a fan base, but they’re far from the only ones who make it strong.