2008 Woodie Awards
SDSU to host UC-Davis at Howard Wood Field
Athletic department hopes to boost support for football team by playing in Sioux Falls
Tim Knutson
Issue date: 10/4/05 Section: Sports
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In a decision that was made a long time ago, the SDSU Athletic Department scheduled a home game at Howard Wood Field in Sioux Falls. The department made this decision in hopes of creating a new market to draw fans for football.
"We want to make SDSU South Dakota's team," said SDSU Athletic Director Fred Oien.
The athletic department thought about using a site like Sioux Falls after looking at other Division-I programs. Teams like the University of Colorado, Florida and Alabama all use multiple sites throughout the season in an attempt to draw as big of fan base as possible. The athletic department chose Oct. 8 because the state high school soccer tournament is being held in Brookings this weekend. This was a way to market the team in the Sioux Falls area, without hurting the local economy. A lot of people will already be here for events other than football, and hotels might be hard to find for football fans.
Sioux Falls, as well as outlying areas, has a lot of alumni to draw fans. By playing the game in Sioux Falls, fans that don't want to travel to Brookings have a chance to support the team. People that don't know a lot about Jacks football may come out and support the team, creating new fans.
The plan to play in Sioux Falls has not gone over well with everyone. The Students' Association is not opposed to playing in Sioux Falls, but did feel it would make it hard on students to see the game. The weekend of the game is a three-day weekend, making it hard for the Students' Association to accomplish some of the goals they had in terms of getting students to and from the game.
Students are also upset. Jessica Eikmeier, a senior and member of The "Pride of the Dakotas" Marching Band said, "I think there is a better way to market the football team than playing in Sioux Falls."
Tony Clodes, a senior construction site management major said, "I am excited about the road-trip. With the away games as far away as they are, we don't get the chance to see the Jacks anywhere but Coughlin. It is going to be fun to see them in a new setting."
"We want to make SDSU South Dakota's team," said SDSU Athletic Director Fred Oien.
The athletic department thought about using a site like Sioux Falls after looking at other Division-I programs. Teams like the University of Colorado, Florida and Alabama all use multiple sites throughout the season in an attempt to draw as big of fan base as possible. The athletic department chose Oct. 8 because the state high school soccer tournament is being held in Brookings this weekend. This was a way to market the team in the Sioux Falls area, without hurting the local economy. A lot of people will already be here for events other than football, and hotels might be hard to find for football fans.
Sioux Falls, as well as outlying areas, has a lot of alumni to draw fans. By playing the game in Sioux Falls, fans that don't want to travel to Brookings have a chance to support the team. People that don't know a lot about Jacks football may come out and support the team, creating new fans.
The plan to play in Sioux Falls has not gone over well with everyone. The Students' Association is not opposed to playing in Sioux Falls, but did feel it would make it hard on students to see the game. The weekend of the game is a three-day weekend, making it hard for the Students' Association to accomplish some of the goals they had in terms of getting students to and from the game.
Students are also upset. Jessica Eikmeier, a senior and member of The "Pride of the Dakotas" Marching Band said, "I think there is a better way to market the football team than playing in Sioux Falls."
Tony Clodes, a senior construction site management major said, "I am excited about the road-trip. With the away games as far away as they are, we don't get the chance to see the Jacks anywhere but Coughlin. It is going to be fun to see them in a new setting."