Searching for the perfect opportunity to lure more Temple students into the gates at Lincoln Financial Field, the athletic department proposed an idea that would reward the school’s most dedicated fan.
Whoever attended every home football game of the season, would be entered into a drawing to win tuition for a semester.
Months later, the school crowned its winner, sophomore Jonathon Dawson, and is now duplicating the contest with its basketball seasons.
“Basically we wanted to give students an incentive to attend our athletic events, specifically men’s and women’s basketball and football,” said Scott Walcoff, Temple’s marketing, promotions and tickets director.
“We’re just asking them, ‘Hey, show up at the games, and if you do, you have a chance to be rewarded for it.'”
To keep track of those attending, scanning
areas have been assigned near the entrance at 15th and Montgomery streets. Whoever attends the most combined men’s and women’s home basketball games will be eligible for the prize, which is funded by the athletic department.
Students have been pleased with the competition thus far.
“It’s a good way to get people to go to all the games,” Dawson said. “I was surprised that they were able to just do that. I think the whole thing was just a good idea.
Dawson also said he wishes to be in the running for another semester’s worth of tuition.
But he’s not the only one.
The most fervent students of the school’s cheering section, “The Cherry Crusade,” will likely have a greater probability for winning.
However, the raffle is aimed at the casual
fan, the one who needs that extra
motivation to get out to the venue.
“It’s definitely something that interests
me,” said student Ryan McCool, who is registered in the school of liberal arts.
“I haven’t been able to get out to the first couple games as I would have liked to, but I’ve heard of the contest. It has created a buzz around campus, and I’d say it’s been successful so far.”
Another reason for the promotion is an attempt to raise the level of attendance at women’s basketball games, Walcoff said.
Students have naturally flocked to the men’s games, but the women’s team, despite winning three straight Atlantic Ten Conference Championships, has not seen the same support.
“We’re hoping that it will increase attendance; we definitely wanted to include women’s basketball in the mix,” Walcoff
added.
With 29 total men’s and women’s home games this season, it will be an accomplishment if the winning student reaches every game.
If more than one student has attended the highest number of games, then there will be another drawing to determine the winner.
Anthony Stipa can be reached at anthony.stipa@temple.edu.
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