In the 2017 football season, the University of Central Florida Athletics Department will bring the student section to both sides of Bright House Networks Stadium.
All part of the We Rise and Conquer Initiative, UCF Athletics will knock out two birds with one stone.
“The Knightmare is the heartbeat of the stadium,” the initiative states. “With the 12,000-strong Knightmare even closer to the field, the Knights will enjoy a greater home-field advantage as our opponents are forced to drive into a loud and rowdy student section going either direction.”
The turnout of the student section – and bringing students to games – has never been a problem at the start of the season. At the beginning of UCF’s infamous 0-12 season, the first game against FIU featured a packed student section. Even the Knights’ first home game in the following season against South Carolina State, soon a win in the pocket of Scott Frost, filled the student section from side to side. Attendance tapered as the season progressed in both years due to game outcomes, the 2016 season less so.
To combat sparse attendance in the Northeast corner of the stadium, among other areas, UCF Athletics has added the second student section for an immediate presence in the upcoming season.
A greater engagement of student support on both sides will increase fan experience overall and intimidation to the opposing team, UCF likely argues.
The ambitious We Rise and Conquer campaign will feature several new facilities and additions to the football program and gameday overall. UCF football head coach Scott Frost will no doubt enjoy the enhancements that come with the project – especially the potential for a much stronger student section.
Frost has said time and time again the need to bring students out to every game. Frost’s goal, his says, is to provide a product on the field that will fill Bright House Networks Stadium every game.
Along with value of fan experience will come an adjustment of ticket prices by seating to rearrange demand. Twenty-five sections will see an increase in prices and sixteen sections will see a respective decrease in an effort to even out attendance in certain sections. Most importantly, to draw attention to the upper sections directly across from Roth Tower.
A student section to the North, typically popular according to demand charts, will encourage fans to fill the less in-demand sections, all the while surrounding those fans with an energetic atmosphere.
Huge news has swept UCF Athletics over the past few months, including an alumnus’ $5 million donation to the department – the largest in UCF history, announcement of the We Rise and Conquer Initiative‘s first-class facilities; UCF Basketball’s win over Memphis, No. 15 Cincinnati, all-time record breaking performers, and turn on a dime from the previous season; UCF Baseball’s 8-1 record and 11-2 dominance over No. 2 University of Florida, and more.
With the latest announcements from Director of Athletics Danny White, students, alumni, and fans can expect much more to come.
Expansions, renovation, and future planning to the Kenneth G. Dixon Athletics Village on the face of campus begin immediately at the conclusion of the baseball season with the construction of John Euliano Baseball Park, according to White.
So, there’s no telling of the potential, yet, a second student section will bring for certain when the Knights open the 2017 season with FIU at home.
Given turnout in previous years, UCF Athletics will have their goals in sight.
