It's official! Not only are UD's athletic teams making headlines; the fans are, too. This year, fans have lined up in record numbers to purchase Fightin' Blue Hen football season tickets, with sales topping the 10,000 mark for the first time in the school's history.
By mid-August, more than 10,080 fans had purchased season tickets, compared to 8,700 season tickets sold for the 2003 season.
"Obviously, Delaware Stadium will be rocking this fall," Edgar Johnson, director of intercollegiate athletics, said. "It should be fun."
The loyalty of longtime fans, the growing interest of new True Blue Hen boosters and the efforts of the season ticket office and the intercollegiate athletics program marketing department are key contributors to the surge in season ticket sales, Johnson said.
"Everyone is very excited about the increased enthusiasm for Delaware football," Johnson said. "Selling more than 10,000 season tickets, setting an incredible sales record, confirm that Delaware football enjoys one of the strongest fan bases in all of I-AA football.
"It is a tribute to Coach K.C. Keeler, his staff and the team for the excitement they gave all Blue Hen football fans in 2003," Johnson said. It's a gratifying show of support and reinforces the sense of pride and ownership we all feel toward the Delaware football tradition."
A tradition of spirit
Delaware has a long and proud tradition of enthusiastic fans. In 2003, the Fightin' Blue Hens drew a total of 188,947 fans to Delaware Stadium, tops in Division I-AA. That total reflects 10 home games, including the three playoff games. UD, which also set a school record for regular season average attendance of 21,163 fans per game, is the only Division I-AA university to average more than 20,000 fans per games for each of the last five seasons. In addition, the nine largest Atlantic 10 Football Conference crowds during 2003 were in Delaware Stadium.
Student support was up dramatically in 2003, too, increasing by about 100 percent over the previous year, making it the best it has been in the past decade. Total student attendance in 2003 reached 16,562.
Making the day special
To add even more fun to Delaware football, a variety of special promotions are being presented this fall. For example, at the season's first game on Sept. 2, the first 10,000 fans to enter Delaware Stadium received a poster, sponsored by Coca Cola, celebrating the 2003 national champions. The poster was designed by Keith Heckert, AS '86, an art director in UD's Office of Public Relations.
A new dining area, The Bird Feeder, is designed especially for kids. Located under the west stands across from the Campus Shop, The Bird Feeder only sells junior-sized concessions for youngsters who are 24 to 48 inches high. In addition to food, kids can buy a commemorative T-shirt featuring The Bird Feeder design, with the words "Feed Me." The design is by Molly Chappell, an art director in public relations.
Near The Bird Feeder, parents can take their youngsters' photos in special cutouts featuring Coach K.C. Keeler, the cheerleaders and YoUDee.
And, the popular PRO Physical Therapy Hen House once again offers an interactive area just for kids. For 90 minutes before every home game, kids can check out Jungle John's reptile bus, watch the Juggling Hoffmans, play with three inflatable games and more.
A variety of special promotions are held during each home game:
And, then, there's also the game itself on Tubby Raymond Field.
Single game tickets are on sale at The Bob Carpenter Sports/Convocation Center and Trabant University Center box offices and through Ticketmaster. For more information, call (302) UD1-HENS (New Castle County), 1-800-695-HENS (Kent and Sussex County) or visit [www.udel.edu/sportsinfo/tickets/].