There’s likely only one Georgia Tech student that athletic director Dan Radakovich feels comfortable telling to get out of bed and get to the game — his son Christian.
The rest of them, Radakovich has bent to their will. Partially in response to Tech students who said that the Yellow Jackets’ many noon kickoffs last season were too early and too hot, the school has moved its annual spring game to Friday night.
It’s part of a strategy to make Bobby Dodd Stadium a more appealing destination.
“I remember talking to a student group a couple weeks ago, I said, ‘There’s no other place on campus that 7,000 to 8,000 students get together unless you pull a fire alarm,’” said Radakovich, who presumably was not recommending the tactic.
Last season, the average student attendance in the 9,100-seat student section was 5,920, up from 4,962 in 2010 but down from 6,870 in 2009. Associate athletic director Wayne Hogan said the department has seen declines at other schools.
Students are valuable for at least two reasons in Tech’s efforts to fill Bobby Dodd Stadium. They help create an atmosphere that differentiates Tech football games from the rest of the market. They also eventually become ticket-buying alumni.
In addition to the game, the athletic department will hold pregame and postgame concerts outside the stadium and will offer a fireworks show after the game, as well.
“We want them to look at this as, really, a fun respite,” said Radakovich, who in February hired former PGA Tour marketing executive Rick Thorpe as his associate athletic director for sales and fan experience.
