Florida Atlantic University Athletics
FAU's Bowl Victory and SBC Championship Increases Awareness
1/18/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
Jan. 18, 2008
BOCA RATON, FL - Florida Atlantic University's football team took to the field just seven years ago with the promise of great things to come for the athletic department, the university and the community. That dream became reality with a Sun Belt Conference title and a 44-27 victory over Memphis University in the New Orleans Bowl.
The excitement could be felt throughout New Orleans as Owl fans celebrated that December weekend, but the aftermath has been tremendous for the young athletic department and the university. The university has witnessed a 21 percent increase in licensing revenue in the first six months of the 2007-08 fiscal year.
"Much like all the pieces coming together for a championship team, the puzzle has begun to take shape in the FAU merchandise area. Athletics was especially given a tremendous boost following the football team's season ending success," said Dexter LaMont, FAU's assistant athletic director for marketing and licensing. "We began the 2007 academic year with more product placement than in years past, and as the season began to take shape, the merchandise began to move and move quickly after the conference title game, and then the New Orleans Bowl victory."
The victory over the University of Minnesota led to spikes in website views. Another jump was made prior to and following the FAU game against the University of South Florida, which was ranked No. 6 at the time. Following the Owls victories over Troy University, the defending Sun Belt Conference Champions, as well as at the New Orleans Bowl, there was a 59 percent increase in viewers to FAUSports.com and a 77 percent increase in individuals visiting the athletic website. More than 10,000 unique visitors read the "Bowl Victory" stories on the university's homepage, www.fau.edu, and more than 2,000 have read the story previewing the January 19th Football Team celebration.
Following the USF game, there also was a 31 percent increase in merchandise sold on the website. Following the championship victories, merchandise increased by 208 percent. The one-month sales were more than half of any previous year's annual sales. OLC Solutions, FAU's e-commerce partner, has more than doubled its monthly average in sales and saw a 125 percent increase in December. The first six months of the 2007-08 fiscal year saw FAU online sales surpass the store's first seven-year annual marks. OLC currently carries 56 items and has fulfilled orders from 34 different states.
The bookstore experienced the same effect, selling out of the Sun Belt Conference Championship shirts. The bookstore is currently in the midst of its third reorder for Sun Belt Conference Champions T-shirts, and the second order is going fast for the New Orleans Bowl Championship T-shirt.
These numbers not only affect the bottom line of the department's budget, but they also help to open doors to future merchants. Currently, FAU merchandise and products can be found on the Athletic Department's website, at the University's bookstore and at the following locations:
LIDS
Town Center at Boca Raton,
Boynton Beach Mall
Pembroke Lakes Mall
Broward Mall
Palm Beach Mall
Dolphin Mall
CHAMPS SPORTS
Town Center
Coral Square Mall
Aventura Mall
Wellington Mall
Boynton Beach
Pembroke Lakes Mall
Palm Beach Gardens
Palm Beach Mall
Treasure Coast Mall
Miami International Mall
SPORTS AUTHORITY
Boynton Beach
Boca Raton
WEBSITE - www.fausports.com
FAU BOOKSTORE - Boca Campus
WALGREENS
Seven stores around Boca Raton
