Bradley Associate Athletic Director Bobby Parker offers his take on Bradley Athletics and the sporting world in general in his "Blogging with BP" feature on BradleyBraves.com.
I just posted the 2013 Bradley Soccer promotions schedule and I am pretty excited about the opportunity to draw some big crowds to Shea Stadium this season. As Jim DeRose's program continued to elevate its status as a nationally-competitive program, the home crowds from Becker Park to McClallen Park to Shea Stadium continued to swell, but those crowds have tapered off in the last couple of years.
To be fair, the weather has been pretty rough the last two seasons with several games played in torrential downpours, and it seems like anytime there was a big game on the schedule the last couple of years, rain became a factor. Some things you just cannot control. Brooke Buzard, our new Director of Marketing and New Media, may not be able to control the weather, but she has put together an impressive marketing plan for the upcoming season and I am confident her work will help produce some big crowds at Shea Stadium again this fall.
While you can read all about the promotions HERE, let me highlight a couple of my favorites:
Sept. 28 - World Cup Night/President's Night Out/Soccer Alumni Weekend. This one has it all. Our youth fans have the opportunity to experience a touch of the pageantry of the World Cup by participating in the pregame World Cup Walk flag presentation, as well as other World Cup themed promotions. Attending a World Cup game is on my Bucket List (Wednesday's planned blog entry), and while I do not pretend a Bradley Soccer game offers the same environment as as a World Cup game, I think the kids will enjoy the opportunity to be on the field with the teams pregame and march the flags out to midfield in advance of the introduction of starters.
You can also expect a large student turnout Sept. 28 when the Braves host Cal State Northridge, thanks to the annual President's Night Out promotion. The entire freshman class will get the VIP treatment for this one, continuing what has become a popular early-semester tradition. And I know the Bradley Soccer alumni have been hard at work planning their reunion weekend and I expect to see a great many of the former Braves back on The Hilltop for a fun weekend of activities, including recognition at the game.
Oh, and thanks to Avanti's, the Sept. 28 game will be followed by the first of two postgame fireworks shows this season. If you have not experienced postgame fireworks at Shea Stadium, that is your loss. They are always impressive.
Oct. 19 - Homecoming. Expect another great student turnout, which always helps to ramp up the energy at Shea Stadium. The Bradley University Homecoming Court will be crowned at halftime and our second postgame fireworks show will follow the game against Missouri Valley Conference newcomer Loyola Chicago. And the first 500 fans will receive the popular Bradley Soccer scarves.
Nov. 2 - Salute to Service Night and Senior Night. I am not sure we have done a great job of promoting this to the many military service men and women in the community, but active members of the military and their immediate families have been offered free admission to Bradley Soccer, Volleyball, Women's Basketball and Baseball games for several years, simply by presenting a valid ID at the ticket windows. For the soccer team's regular-season finale, that free admission offer will be extended to first responders (police, fire and EMS), as well, while their immediate families will have the opportunity to purchase tickets at the group rate ($3 adults, $1 children 14 and under). Additionally, all area not-for-profit organizations and Bradley University Greek organizations are invited to set up displays on the Shea Stadium concourse to highlight their philanthropic efforts.
These are just three of my favorite promotions for the upcoming soccer season, but there are all kinds of reasons for fans to enjoy Bradley Soccer games, often at discounted rates through group outings, and I haven't even mentioned the quality of the team. As I mentioned yesterday, the Braves bring back a deep and talented roster and they will be fighting for a third NCAA Tournament appearance in four years, so the quality of play should be great, too.
Be sure to check out the full Bradley Soccer promotions lineup and I hope to see you at Shea Stadium this Fall.
Previously in this post, I mentioned my Bucket List. I noticed earlier today that ESPN.com has offered a NCAA Bucket List of fan experiences and I have had the opportunity to personally experience seven of the items on the list: The College World Series, The Pit, Final Four Weekend, The Most Exciting 25 Seconds in College Football, Enduring the Izzone, Krzyzewskiville (ok, I didn't live among them, but I have witnessed it) and Hinkle Fieldhouse. What is on your Bucket List? I'm planning to share my Bucket List, more than just sports (but mostly sports), tomorrow.
Until next time ...
Blogging with BP
Aug. 19, 2013: Bahamas Delinquency and Soccer Hype
Aug. 15, 2013: Random thoughts from the Bahamas
Aug. 14, 2013: A true Hall of Famer
Aug. 12, 2013: Perspective Check Monday
Aug. 11, 2013: Travel recap
Aug. 9, 2013: Live Stats for the Summer of Thunder Classic
Aug. 8, 2013: Bradley Athletics Provides Family-Friendly Entertainment Options
Aug. 7, 2013: Recapping the Bahamas Preview Luncheon and Scrimmage
Aug. 6, 2013: Check out the Bradley Team Store
Aug. 5, 2013: Introduction and Bahamas Preview
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