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From the packed student section at volleyball’s annual Dig Pink game to the painfully empty bleachers at a cold and rainy baseball game in March, student turnout for sports game has its highs and lows.
There are many reasons why students might not go to games, but the athletics department has launched a number of ways for students to stay informed about Spartan teams.
US Athletic Director Randy Comfort believes that communication is a large part of getting students to go to athletic games.
“We spent a very long time building and launching a website and mobile app that clearly communicates the time, teams, and location of every game,” he said.
Launched this fall, the Spartan Athletics website offers a one-stop location for athletes, fans, and families to find game schedules, spirit store gear, season athlete registration, and game tickets.
Although families must request tickets in advance, a new feature this year, they is still no-cost for home games. Only visiting team fans pay entry, a standard practice across peer independent schools: “We don’t [charge admission] to make money,” Comfort said. “We do it so we can improve the quality of the games.”
Some of the funds from ticket sales were invested into a shot clock in Briggs Gymnasium in an effort to improve the game watching experience.
While the department puts a lot of thought into spotlighting every team’s sporting events, some garner better attendance than others. Soccer, basketball and volleyball on average get the most attendance. However, all sports are featured on the website and the Instagram @spaspartanthletics.
What’s next to improve the athletics experience? Changes to the restrooms, concession stands, and sound and audio systems in Drake arena and Briggs gymnasium. “All of these projects will take some time,” Comfort said, “but they are part of long-term plans.”
For athletes on the field, the track or the arena, fans showing up means the world. Hockey forward Lucas Schanno credits the fans for energizing the team.
“The student section leads us to give a really solid performance,” Schanno said.
