March 10, 2008

COLUMBIA –
The University of South Carolina was the Southeastern Conference’s winner in the NCAA Division I “Pack the House” Challenge. Nearly two-thirds of the Division I membership participated in the effort to encourage fans to attend selected women’s basketball games from Jan. 1 through Feb. 17. One of 32 national winners, the Gamecocks drew 7,841 fans to their Jan. 13 game against Tennessee, the third-largest crowd ever to watch a women’s basketball game at the Colonial Center.

“The marketing staff was thrilled to be a part of this competition,” varsity sports marketing director Dawn Ellerbe said. “We appreciate the NCAA putting together these types of incentive programs to help drive attendance and raise awareness for women’s athletics.”

“Pack the House” is a first-year national effort in which conferences and institutions compete to build attendance. One winner from each of the 31 conferences and one from a group of independent institutions were named. Selections were based on marketing plan creativity and attendance criteria. The NCAA will award prizes and donate $500 to the nonprofit organization of each winning institution’s choice.

“We believe the effort motivated schools to attract new fans to our game,” said NCAA vice president for women’s basketball Sue Donohoe. “Campuses devoted additional time and resources to the competition. We are already being asked for information about next year. New alliances were formed among conference offices, member institutions and (NCAA) national office staff that will only strengthen efforts in the future.”

At South Carolina, Ellerbe’s marketing team on the event included Daniel Mortbitzer, Lauren Quick and Kimberly Denton. In addition to advertising in local media outlets, the group put together a plan that combined the attendance challenge with another more altruistic initiative later in the season. The first 500 South Carolina fans at the Jan. 13 game received a Gamecock Basketball piggy bank in which to collect change to donate to the Komen Foundation at the Feb. 10 matchup with Mississippi.

2008 “Pack the House” Conference Winners
America East – Hartford
Atlantic 10 – Rhode Island
ACC – Virginia
Atlantic Sun – Lipscomb
Big 12 – Oklahoma State
Big East – Louisville
Big Sky – Sacramento State
Big South – Winthrop
Big Ten – Michigan
Big West – UC Davis
CAA – Delaward
Conference USA – East Carolina
Horizon – Youngstown State
Ivy – Columbia
MAAC – Marist
MAC – Miami (Ohio)
MEAC – N.C. A&T
Missouri Valley – Evansville
Mountain West – Brigham Young
NEC – Wagner
Ohio Valley – Eastern Illinois
Pac-10 – UCLA
Patriot – Lehigh
SEC – South Carolina
Southern – Georgia Southern
Southland – Texas State
SWAC – Jackson State
Sun Belt – Middle Tennessee
Summit – IUPUI
West Coast – Portland
WAC – Louisiana Tech
Independent – Longwood

Italics indicates Grand Prize Winner