Perspective on ...

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Return to Issue of July 26, 2010 

It’s been quite a whirlwind since my introduction in late March as Kent State’s 11th Director of Athletics. While we’ve tackled many different areas in a short period of time, no project is of greater importance than our 90Ksu: Everyone Counts initiative.

Already charged with meeting the NCAA-mandated attendance goal of 90,000 tickets sold for the season (an average of 15,000 per home game), Kent State is revamping the way it approaches football.

From day one, I’ve indicated that football is going to be a priority. With the NCAA attendance requirement already in place, we decided to take both notions and turn them into one campaign.

This isn’t just about selling tickets though. This is about improving the fan experience; about making Dix Stadium a destination six times each fall. We want students, alumni, our faculty and staff and the community as a whole to be actively involved in and take pride in Golden Flashes football.
The far-reaching 90Ksu plan includes everything from placing an increased emphasis on marketing, to creating a game day atmosphere that starts with a completely new pre-game tailgating experience centered around the Field House, to making a trip to Dix Stadium not only affordable, but memorable and fun.

My vision for success of the 90Ksu initiative includes parking lots filled with tailgaters, Dix Stadium packed with fans wearing their Blue and Gold and little kids running around on the field after a Kent State victory.

Intercollegiate Athletics is going to do everything we can to make that vision a reality, and that starts with engaging Kent State employees, first and foremost.

We’ve been speaking every day this summer to each Destination Kent State session to target our newest Golden Flashes fans. Now we’re enlisting your help.

As Kent State faculty and staff, you are entitled to a chairback season ticket for just $40. For less than $7 a game, you get a great seat for each one of our six home games. That’s a 33 percent savings on the per-game cost for the best seats in the stadium.

A talented, deep and determined Golden Flashes team kicks off the season in Dix Stadium Thursday, Sept. 2, at 7 p.m. against Murray State. The Oct. 9 Homecoming clash against local rival The University of Akron will begin at 3:30 p.m., while the remaining four home games will all start at 2 p.m. (10/30 vs. Ball State; 11/6 vs. Temple; 11/13 vs. Army and 11/26 vs. Ohio University).

To learn more about our plans for Kent State football, visit www.90Ksu.com or call the ticket office at 330-672-2244.

Sincerely,

Joel Nielsen
Director of Athletics

Return to Issue of July 26, 2010