In a collaborative effort between Wofford Sports Marketing, the Wofford Athletic Ticket Office and several other campus agencies, fans will notice a few changes this year inside the Benjamin Johnson Arena when the Terrier basketball seasons begin one week from tonight as the women host Coastal Carolina.
Here is a brief rundown of the changes coming for 2008-09:
Student Section move - For years, the Wofford students have taken a traditional place in the center section (Section 3) of the West Stands inside the Arena. Beginning this year, the Wofford students will slide over to West sections 4 and 5 - directly behind the Terrier bench. The reasons behind this are two-fold...First, this allows the students to sit beside the new pep band. Secondly, it will allow the students to utilize the end of the West Concourse for special gatherings, giveaways specifically for students and potential pre-game social gatherings. There will be new signage installed in the Arena as well marking the newly moved Student Section.
"The Thundering Terriers" - Under the direction of Ron Miller, Wofford will have a pep band this basketball season. The pep band will perform for most men's and women's basketball games (excluding games over the holiday break). "Ron came to us with a concept for making a jazz ensemble style group function as a pep band for basketball and perform at many other College functions. We are grateful to him for his dedication and energy in making this group a major part of our in-game entertainment. If there is one thing I have heard over and over again about how to improve our basketball games it is to have a large, loud pep band and we will have that now," said Wofford assistant athletic director for marketing and promotions Lenny Mathis.
Family Section seating - In an attempt to have fans move lower in the seating bowl, the section formerly inhabited by the students (West Section 3) is now available on game-nights as a "Family Section." Fans how have the opportunity to purchase an adult ticket in this section for $10 (normal reserved seat price) but children under the age of 12 will only be charged for the price of a child general admission ticket ($5.00). Meaning a family of four can sit at midcourt for a total of $30.
Popular past promotions return - Fans will be pleased that many of the exciting promotions they have enjoyed in the past will return in 2008-09 including the Spartanburg Martial Arts Demo Team and the Charlotte Bobcats Rhythm Cats drummer group. There will be two special theme-night doubleheaders - "Take a Kid to the Game" night will be held for the February 7 doubleheader (women vs. Furman, men vs. Samford) and "Terriers GO PINK" night will be February 23 (women vs. Georgia Southern, men vs. Western Carolina). Also, Wofford will continue to work with area elementary schools giving children the unique opportunity to perform at a college basketball game. Area schools include Fairforest Elementary (Nov. 19), Cleveland Street Elementary (Dec. 6), Hillcrest Middle School (Dec. 6), Pine Street School (Jan. 15), New Prospect Elementary (Jan. 17), Boiling Springs Elementary (Feb. 5) and Oakland Elementary (Mar. 2). All promotions are subject to change and a complete list may be found by clicking the Basketball Promotions icon found here.
Season, group and individual game ticket packages are now on-sale. For a ticket brochure or to order call the Wofford Athletic Ticket Office at 864-597-4090.
