BleedGopher
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per the NY Times:
When Clemson played Notre Dame at home during a downpour last season, the weather dampened the Death Valley turf but not the crowd’s spirits. Part of the thanks for that went to Clemson football’s house D.J.
As the Tigers pulled out a 24-22 victory in a matchup of unbeatens, it was D.J. Sha (pronounced Shay) who provided the soundtrack. His image was broadcast on the stadium’s giant video screen, and his music kept the students from fleeing for the exits as the Tigers opened a two-touchdown lead early in the second half.
“It pretty much became a rain party with D.J. Sha and our student body,” recalled Mike Money, an assistant athletic director at Clemson.
Clemson, now ranked fifth, needed little effort to attract fans to Saturday night’s matchup against No. 3 Louisville. But hiring D.J. Sha was nonetheless part of a concerted attempt by Clemson officials to play more to the crowd — specifically to the younger segment of it.
More than ever, college football programs are finding it difficult to draw and retain the young fans who grow up to be lifelong season-ticket holders. In many athletic departments, the reasons can practically be cited as catechism: high-definition televisions, DVRs, diffuse fan bases and higher ticket and parking costs.
In response, programs are going well beyond recorded drumbeats and free T-shirts to serve the customers who represent the future of their fan base. North Carolina, like Clemson, brought in a house D.J. Texas invited local restaurants, like Mighty Fine and Amy’s Ice Creams, to expand its concession offerings. Arizona carved out prime seating for students, shifting them to the 40-yard line.
“What we’ve tried to do,” said Greg Byrne, Arizona’s athletic director, “is create a game-day experience that will make people say, ‘All right, televisions are big and all that, but it’s more fun being at the game.’”
At Arizona State, student attendance at home football games has nearly doubled since 2010, to about 9,000. William Kennedy, an associate athletic director, credited partnerships between officials and student leaders and the codifying of certain traditions, like calling the student section the 942 Crew, complete with its own Twitter feed. (No. 942 refers to the student section in the basketball arena, famed for its so-called Curtain of Distraction, which aims to destroy the focus of opposing free-throw shooters.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/02/s...eats-colleges-cue-the-dj.html?ref=sports&_r=0
Go Gophers!!
When Clemson played Notre Dame at home during a downpour last season, the weather dampened the Death Valley turf but not the crowd’s spirits. Part of the thanks for that went to Clemson football’s house D.J.
As the Tigers pulled out a 24-22 victory in a matchup of unbeatens, it was D.J. Sha (pronounced Shay) who provided the soundtrack. His image was broadcast on the stadium’s giant video screen, and his music kept the students from fleeing for the exits as the Tigers opened a two-touchdown lead early in the second half.
“It pretty much became a rain party with D.J. Sha and our student body,” recalled Mike Money, an assistant athletic director at Clemson.
Clemson, now ranked fifth, needed little effort to attract fans to Saturday night’s matchup against No. 3 Louisville. But hiring D.J. Sha was nonetheless part of a concerted attempt by Clemson officials to play more to the crowd — specifically to the younger segment of it.
More than ever, college football programs are finding it difficult to draw and retain the young fans who grow up to be lifelong season-ticket holders. In many athletic departments, the reasons can practically be cited as catechism: high-definition televisions, DVRs, diffuse fan bases and higher ticket and parking costs.
In response, programs are going well beyond recorded drumbeats and free T-shirts to serve the customers who represent the future of their fan base. North Carolina, like Clemson, brought in a house D.J. Texas invited local restaurants, like Mighty Fine and Amy’s Ice Creams, to expand its concession offerings. Arizona carved out prime seating for students, shifting them to the 40-yard line.
“What we’ve tried to do,” said Greg Byrne, Arizona’s athletic director, “is create a game-day experience that will make people say, ‘All right, televisions are big and all that, but it’s more fun being at the game.’”
At Arizona State, student attendance at home football games has nearly doubled since 2010, to about 9,000. William Kennedy, an associate athletic director, credited partnerships between officials and student leaders and the codifying of certain traditions, like calling the student section the 942 Crew, complete with its own Twitter feed. (No. 942 refers to the student section in the basketball arena, famed for its so-called Curtain of Distraction, which aims to destroy the focus of opposing free-throw shooters.)
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/02/s...eats-colleges-cue-the-dj.html?ref=sports&_r=0
Go Gophers!!
