INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -- The University of Delaware was recently named
one of 32 winners in the annual NCAA Division I "Pack the House"
Challenge for women's basketball.
"Pack the House" is a national effort in which conferences and
institutions compete to build attendance. NCAA Division I women's
basketball marketing staffs selected a home game and designated that
date as a "Pack the House" game with the goal of setting an attendance
record.
One winner from each of the 32 conferences and one from a group of
independent institutions are chosen each year, with the selections being
based on marketing plan creativity and attendance criteria.
For its winning efforts, UD received an award of $500 which was donated
to the Kay Yow Cancer Fund in honor of the former North Carolina State
women's basketball coach who passed away after a courageous battle with
cancer in 2009.
A total of 153 institutions took part this year with the event
attracting over 431,000 fans. Delaware was one of 11 schools whose
efforts resulted in a sellout crowd and one of 69 who surpassed their
single-game attendance highs from last year.
Delaware, which also captured the Pack the House Challenge award in 2008
and 2010, was recognized once again for its outstanding marketing
efforts during the Blue Hens' Jan. 22 regionally-televised game vs. CAA
foe Drexel at the Bob Carpenter Center. Among the fans at the game was
Vice-President Joe Biden.
Fans were encouraged to help "Pack the House" and sell out the Bob
Carpenter Center for the game. To assist in the efforts, UD offered a
Take a Kid to the Game ticket promotion with discounted tickets for
adults and free tickets for youths.
Gameday giveaways included t-shirts compliments of gameday sponsor,
First State Orthopaedics, which were given to the first 250 fans, as
well as 1,250 "Go Blue or Go Home!" rally towels that were distributed
among students and the first fans in attendance. In addition, the Family
Fun Zone was open to fans 90 minutes before tip-off and a postgame
autograph session with the entire team was held immediately following
the game.
Delaware's Pack the House efforts were spearheaded within the External
Relations unit and lead by Assistant Director of Athletics, Marketing &
Promotions Kristy Fletcher and Director of Athletic Ticket Operations
Trent Bartling.
"To see the Blue Hens fans come out in full force to support our
student-athletes is what we hope for every game, but to see the
thrilling atmosphere in the BOB at a game like this, the UD spirit of
our fans and the love they have for this team, you can't help but be
excited," said Fletcher. "We are very appreciative of the loyalty and
passion of our fans, as well as this recognition from the NCAA for our
efforts."
Delaware set a school record for women's basketball average attendance
in 2011-12 as the Blue Hens drew an average of 3,907 fans for the 12
home games at the 5,000-seat Bob Carpenter Center, an 86 percent
increase from the previous season. Two of the games - Jan. 22 vs. Drexel
and Feb. 26 vs. Northeastern - were sellouts.
"In the fifth year of this initiative, we are pleased to see the
continued increase in attendance, excitement and exposure for our
women's basketball programs," said Greg Christopher, chair of the
Division I Women's Basketball Committee and director of athletics at
Bowling Green State University. "The year-in and year-out success of
Pack the House is a direct tribute to the commitment level put forth by
the personnel at each campus. These efforts continue to help grow the game."
Other conference winners were: Vermont (America East), Virginia
(Atlantic Coast), Florida Gulf Coast (Atlantic Sun), Massachusetts
(Atlantic 10), Marquette (Big East), Sacramento State (Big Sky),
Winthrop (Big South), Iowa (Big Ten), Kansas State (Big 12), Long Beach
State (Big West), Memphis (Conference USA), New Jersey Institute (Great
West), Green Bay (Horizon), Pennsylvania (Ivy), Canisius (Metro
Atlantic), Central Michigan (Mid-American), Morgan State (Mid-Eastern),
Missouri State (Missouri Valley), Air Force (Mountain West), Central
Connecticut State (Northeast), California (Pacific-12), Bucknell
(Patriot), Kentucky (Southeastern), Georgia Southern (Southern), Sam
Houston State (Southland), Southern (SWAC), Oral Roberts (Summit), South
Alabama (Sun Belt), Portland (West Coast), Louisiana Tech (WAC), and
Longwood (Independents). California was named the overall winner.
