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January 2009
Everyone’s a Winner at GW Home Basketball Games
By Julia Parmley Where can you crawl on the floor for cash, dance for food, or play musical chairs for free GW gear? Only at GW’s Charles E. Smith Center, where Colonials basketball fans can receive promotions and prizes at every men’s and women’s home game. “We try to make each game unique to maximize attendance,” says GW Athletics Marketing and Events Assistant Devin McCalla, B.A. ’02. “The goal is to fill the arena with people who enjoy themselves and return again with family and friends.” The 2008-09 GW basketball season features special promotions, fun giveaways, and themed nights. At every halftime, fans are selected to attempt a shot from half court to win roundtrip tickets from Jet Blue or answer GW trivia questions for a $25 Tonic Restaurant gift certificate. Selected crowd members participate in either a game of musical chairs for free GW gear, a $10 gift certificate to TGI Friday’s, or “Bungee Battle” for $30 toward a meal at Bertucci’s. Each game closes with the “Pita Pit Dance Contest,” in which the audience member with the craziest dance wins five free sandwiches. At every men’s game, two fans sitting in the nosebleed section are plucked for courtside seats and an appearance on the Jumbotron for UPS’s “Move It On Down.” Beginning Jan. 10 for the men’s team and Jan. 14 for the women’s team, the NIH Federal Credit Union will donate $1 for every point scored by the Colonials to GW’s Cancer Institute. McCalla estimates this year’s donation will exceed $2,000. The bank will also sponsor the “NIH Cash Crawl,” in which blindfolded contestants have 30 seconds to pick up cash from the court during halftime at men’s conference games. McCalla says there are plans to link games to local events and organizations, including Recyclemania and the Boys & Girls Club. This season also features the debut of the GW Sports Party Pack, an entertainment package complete with food and a visit from GW’s mascot George for Colonials basketball, volleyball, and gymnastic home games and matches. “This year we have a great crowd turnout at the Smith Center,” says McCalla. “The fans have a lot of energy and are enjoying the promotions. GW basketball really is the best bargain in town.” Basketball games with themes, special halftime performances, and sponsors include: • Jan. 21: NCAA’s “Pack the House Challenge,” an attendance competition, at the women’s game versus Villanova University. • Jan. 22: Performance by Anacostia Senior High School student band at the men’s game versus University of Dayton. • Jan. 24: “Knit-In” night, in which knitters can sit together and knit for GW’s Red Scarf Project, at the women’s game versus Duquesne University. • Jan. 25: NIH Federal Credit Union will sponsor and provide free giveaways at the men’s game versus University of Rhode Island. • Feb. 7: “Buff Out,” in which fans wear buff and blue colors, at the men’s game versus Fordham University. • Feb. 18: “Freshmen Game Night,” in which freshmen have a chance to win a high housing lottery pick in a raffle at the women’s game versus University of Massachusetts. • Feb. 19: “Faculty Appreciation Night,” recognizing athletes who made the athletic dean’s list, along with their favorite faculty member, at the men’s game versus St. Bonaventure University. • Feb. 21: “Pink Zone,” in which fans wear pink to promote breast cancer awareness, at the women’s game versus St. Bonaventure University. Also, at the game, student dancers from Taylor Elementary in Arlington, Va., will perform at halftime. For the latest schedule information, visit gwsports. cstv.com/. For fan information, visit www.colonials.gwu.edu.
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