There's more than football at Ball State Stadium tonight. Whilefootball may be billed as the main attraction, there are severalother events surrounding the Boston College matchup under the newpermanent lights.
"It's not just a football game," Director of GameDay OperationsChris Taylor said. "It's an event, basically."
Students who go through the southeast entrance to Ball Statewill find a "Be There Dinner" waiting for them. The dinner,provided by Dining Services, is a box meal provided for on-campusstudents who have a dining plan.
Also with representation will be the Interfraternity Council,who will have a DJ promote greek life at the entrance.
The Indiana Firebirds will have ticket representatives, themascot Spike and inflatables at the game.
Andy Griggs, an RCA recording artist, will sing the nationalanthem before the game, and during halftime GMAC and Ball StateAthletics will give a $1,000 scholarship to a student. Four radiostations will broadcast at Ball State Stadium, either before thegame or during the game itself.
For non-students there has been a new kids zone added by theNorth end zone. Two large playground sets have been installed tomake families with small children more likely to attend thegame.
All of the actions the athletic department are undertaking arepart of an effort to increase attendance. The NCAA passedregulation stating that, beginning this year, a minimum averageattendance of 15,000 is required to remain a Division-IA footballprogram. Ball State has not averaged 15,000 fans since 2001.
The Boston College game will be a good step in the rightdirection, as assistant ticket manager Rob Richards says thatattendance for the game should be comparable to the record-setting23,549 that were in attendance for the opener against Indiana Statelast year, a game that was also under the lights.
"We are expecting a great student turnout," Richards said. "Ifthe students turn out in numbers there is a chance to beat lastyear's record."
Richards said that, aside from the end sections, all assignedseating had been sold, as well as a "fair share" of generaladmission seating.
"We've been busy all week," he said. "In the past week and ahalf we've sold a lot of tickets."
Associate Athletics Director for Community Relations MattWolfert believes that with all the buzz built up about this year'sgame, it will be similar to the Indiana State game, both in termsof atmosphere and attendance.
"It's the place to be (tonight), get on board," he said. "Itshould be fun, there will be a fun atmosphere, it's going to begreat under the lights."
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