May 8, 2001

Boca Raton News
Guest Commentary: Howard Schnellenberger

With 119 days to go, there is a great deal to accomplish outside the gridiron. While a high percentage of people are aware that Florida Atlantic University has a football team, many may not know that starting September 1, 2001 at 4:00, FAU plays seven home games in Pro Player Stadium. The initial season kicks off against Slippery Rock University and sets us against 11 attractive Division I-AA and Division II opponents.

With marketing, advertising, and public relations resources in place, we are launching an all-out awareness campaign. We'll make the Fighting Owls fan base aware and informed of the extremely affordable price to attend top of the line college football in Paradise at one of the greatest football venues. Our job is to move fans to purchase opening season tickets.

Direct mail, e-mail, radio, television, and personal appearances will ignite the wave of enthusiasm. Fans may choose from 100 sky boxes at the discounted price of $9,660, 5,000 club seats at $105 per seat for the season plus a $250 contribution to the Owl Fund, and, 14,000 sideline lower deck seats at $105 per seat plus a smaller contribution. The turn and end zone offers 13,000 seats reserved for our Family Plan that gives a family of four season tickets for $168. The Grand Special provides four tickets, four soft drinks, four bags of peanuts, and four hot dogs at each game for $280.

As an extra benefit, Pro Player Stadium has graciously reduced the price of game day parking to $10. In addition, discounted ticket prices are provided for FAU students, faculty and staff, alumni and members of the Lifelong Learning Society.

Working side by side and hand in glove, our newly developed marketing team will be handling Team FAU sponsorships, offering exclusive individual game sponsorships, clearing the airwaves for 11 simulcasts, recruiting talent for television and radio coach's shows, and, managing special events to be coordinated with game days and sundry other activities. To immortalize the first game and entire inaugural season, an artist is creating a ticket design and theme to carry us through 2001.

As this prairie fire that has been burning so steadily over the last three years approaches the gigantic forest, all fans can join in the momentum in some special way. I hope they'll show new-found loyalty by attending each home game and tuning in to away game radio and television broadcasts.

I invite fans to adopt FAU as the neighborhood college team. Life will be enhanced when the fan chooses to fall in love with this young team. High enthusiasm, strong determination, and exciting games are the promise that our staff and team make. Be part of it and join Team FAU!