As the end of the year nears, and spring sports wrap up, the
Street Team has no choice but to reflect on the past year. What worked? What didn’t?
We laugh off the mishaps and begin to plan for the 2014-2015 school year.
Street Team, as many of you know was brand new. Never before
did the Husky Athletic department have a team that represented the student
body, a team that was meant solely to help raise attendance at Husky Athletic
sporting events. We scrambled to
find traction throughout the year and a lot of our efforts were on a trial and
error basis. Flyers, hot chocolate, cookies, free appearal...everything! Nevertheless we learned a lot, and now have a better taste of what
Street Team can do to really make a difference next year.
Throughout this past year, through our various marketing techniques we were able to see that there was one motivating force that drove students to the games beyond the next big give-away. We found that students
will go to events when other students do. Great! How do we identify these
“influencers” and once we do, how can they help us raise the Dawg Pack
attendance.
The conversation of a Dawg Pack influencer usually goes somewhat
like this;
“Hey, want to go to the softball game with me?” “Sorry bro,
I don’t have any money to spend” “Dude, it’s free with a student card, meet down
at the field in ten”
Or,
“Hey girls the men’s baseball team is ranked 6th
right now, lets get down there and go support the team”
These influencers are crucial to the student section’s
participation because here at the University of Washington, its not like we
students don’t love our Universities sporting events, it’s just easy to get
caught up in the hustle and bustle of things. Sometimes we need a friends’
encouragement to take a break from studying, or a buddy to walk down the
athletic facilities when it’s dark and rainy out.
Street Team’s major plan this spring as we launch into the
new year is to reach out to these influencers, and together, hopefully create
and sustain high attendance at the athletic events.
Last Friday we reached out to a few loyal Dawg Pack members
and we had a great response.
It’s called the Dawg Pack empowerment Committee; a selected
group of influencers that help make important decisions that will hopefully raise
morale and participation of the Dawg Pack. The Committee will get to help
design t-shirts and other apparel, brainstorm promotions, share ideas and
concerns, and the best part get to indulge in free food!
I spoke with Sarah Garson, a Dawg Pack influencer who
volunteered to take part in next years push to raise attendance at games. “I
think this is a good idea, there are so many people that can help by just
asking their friends to come with them.”
As of right now the Street Team has about 30 influencers,
but we are looking for more! If you are passionate about Husky Athletics, and
feel like you could make a difference for the Dawg Pack please contact us! You
passed the first test already, taking action!
The next Dawg Pack Empowerment Committee meeting will take
place next Friday 5/30.
Sarah Merion, a fellow Street Team member, and next years Street
Teams leader says she’s “excited for the brainstorm sessions, we want to hear
what the Dawg Pack has to say!”
Although this year is coming to a close, and events are
winding down, I am excited for what is in store for next year, especially with
the Dawg Pack Empowerment Committee. I think these proud huskies are the
influencers we need to make next years seasons ones for the books!
ANNNNNND we out
Natalie
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