University of North Carolina athletic officials are taking steps to enhance department revenue and fans' gameday experience ahead of head football coach Bill Belichick's debut this fall.
As reported by The News & Observer in Raleigh, UNC Athletics chief revenue officer Rick Barakat spoke to the university’s Board of Trustees about the proposals Wednesday. They include adding a concert series, accompanied by a beer garden and student tailgates, at the heart of campus ahead of games.
University of North Carolina athletic officials are taking steps to enhance department revenue and fans' gameday experience ahead of head football coach Bill Belichick's debut this fall.
As reported by The News & Observer in Raleigh, UNC Athletics chief revenue officer Rick Barakat spoke to the university’s Board of Trustees about the proposals Wednesday. They include adding a concert series, accompanied by a beer garden and student tailgates, at the heart of campus ahead of games.
The concert, garden and tailgates would ideally be set up in front of Wilson Library on Polk Place, Barakat said. Athletic officials and staff in chancellor Lee Roberts’ office are attempting to make the plan a reality, gathering permits and other “necessary approvals” ahead of the Tarheels' season opener Sept. 1 against Texas Christian — a 7 p.m. kickoff.
According to Korie Dean and Jadyn Watson-Fisher of The News & Observer, Barakat said it would mark the first time that the university has offered officially sanctioned student tailgates.
Athletic director Bubba Cunningham added that vice chancellor Amy Johnson, who oversees student affairs, and her office has played a key role in the planning process. “Trying to do a student tailgate is not something that every school is anxious to do,” Cunningham said, as reported by The News & Observer.
Barakat estimated the additions could “hopefully” bring more than 3,000 students to the campus quad on gamedays and build off the “positive momentum” that has been generated among fans over the past few years by a similar block-party style event at the university’s Bell Tower. Additional tailgating sites under the new proposal could spread north on Polk Place to South Building, which houses the chancellor’s office.
The Bell Tower event will continue, even if the new gameday proposals are scrapped for some reason, such as inability to obtain permits.
“Ideally, that whole run is full on gameday, very populated, boisterous concert going on, food trucks, beer garden all night,” Barakat said. “So hopefully we can pull that off."
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