Post by captaggie on Dec 9, 2008 21:52:22 GMT -5
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Chancellor Brady's remarks at the Greensboro Coliseum announcement
December 5, 2008
(Note: I excluded some paragraphs)
Thank you, Jim, for that wonderful introduction. I am so grateful for the warm welcome and for your personal support, as well as the support of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation, during the four months since my arrival in Greensboro. This is a marvelous community and we are pleased to be part of it.
I’m delighted to be here today. I am excited to have this opportunity to share with you a special announcement that I believe will positively impact Spartan Athletics and generate some new excitement for sports fans in Greensboro and beyond.
In the course of my career I’ve been a Buckeye, a Commodore, a Yellow Jacket, a member of the Wolfpack, and a Duck, and I can’t tell you how pleased I am to finally be a proud Spartan!
Elevating UNCG Athletics
Since assuming my role as Chancellor of UNCG, one of my priorities has been to take a vigorous approach to elevating the UNCG athletics program. This semester, I have been working with a great team of individuals to discuss ways in which we can enhance the visibility of Spartan Athletics and make new investments in support of the program, consistent with UNCG’s NCAA Division I status.
Our athletics program is proof positive that we attract high-caliber student-athletes to campus who have a desire to succeed in the classroom as well as on the court, the playing field, or the pitch. These student-athletes make a special contribution to enhancing both the campus and Greensboro communities...
...A Strategic Investment
From the students and coaches who participate in our 16 NCAA Division I sports...to the faculty, staff, students and community members who attend athletic events to share in the thrill of competition, athletics is a significant element of the university experience. For members of our community, Spartan Athletics provides family-friendly entertainment that is affordable and accessible. It is also an important factor in building our brand and in helping UNCG garner regional and national exposure. For these reasons, the Spartan Athletics program merits our support and strategic investment. We are now prepared to take significant steps designed to elevate the program on our campus as well as in the Greensboro community and the Piedmont Triad.
For those of you who were here at the November meeting of the Greensboro Sports Council, I announced the university’s plan to raise the profile of Spartan Athletics. Today, I am pleased to provide you with specifics on how we will achieve that goal.
First, I want to let Greensboro know that Spartan basketball is on the rise. Significant steps have already been taken to schedule men’s basketball games here at the Greensboro Coliseum. This will enhance UNCG’s relationship with, and leverage the many benefits of, this outstanding facility. I encourage you to make plans to attend the UNCG/Davidson College game here at the Coliseum on February 5th.
In addition, it is our goal to give sports fans the opportunity to watch highly-anticipated basketball match-ups at the coliseum permanently beginning with the 2009-10 season. The university has contracted with Fred Barakat, retired associate commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, who will assist in our efforts to aggressively market Spartan Athletics. Mr. Barakat’s primary focus will be to schedule games with competitive non-conference opponents, including ACC teams. We are delighted to have him on board and to also have the support of Matt Brown, Scott Johnson, and their colleagues at the Greensboro Coliseum who are excited about making this arena the main venue for UNCG men’s basketball.
I am delighted to have the full support of the UNCG Board of Trustees and the Spartan Club Executive Committee. Kurt Kronenfeld, chair of the Executive Committee, is with us today. Thanks, Kurt, for your support and the support of all Spartan Club members.
It is wonderful to see widespread and enthusiastic support for this move and to know that our constituents understand that by strengthening our relationship with the Coliseum, we not only take the Spartan basketball program to new heights, but the entire UNCG athletics program along with it.
Benefits of Bringing Spartan Basketball to the Coliseum
There are a number of benefits to this strategic move. First and foremost, we believe that enhancing the visibility of Spartan Athletics will contribute to the student experience at UNCG. In the course of my academic career I have been associated with universities defined by outstanding academic programs and great athletics programs. Investment in one does not have to come at the expense of the other.
Second, I believe we are positioning the program to create a larger community fan base. We want to be your home town team. The benefits go on to include potential increased alumni participation and financial support, greater regional and national recognition, heightened partnerships and loyalty within the Greensboro community and, finally, the ability to help stimulate the economy.
ACC Tournament Hosts Five of the Next Seven Years
And our timing for UNCG to schedule ACC opponents could not be better. The conference tournament for ACC men’s basketball will be played at the Greensboro Coliseum in 2010, 11, 13, 14 and 15.
In addition to contracting with Fred Barakat, UNCG is engaging a contract with national sports marketing firm ISP Collegiate Services. ISP will work with us to analyze our marketing, promotional and ticketing strategies with specific focus on how we elevate the Spartan brand internally on our campus. Their expertise in all areas of athletics nationwide is well known...
..Finally, I want to convey special thanks for all of the encouragement we’ve received from the local business community, especially Jim Melvin who has supported and helped lead our efforts from Day One. It is important that we have the support of significant community members, and Jim Melvin has given just that since my very first days as Chancellor.
We have a great team working to create new possibilities for Spartan Athletics and for the Greensboro community as a whole. We are excited that you are excited. And, in fact, perhaps no one is more excited than our very own student body. Am I right?
Blue & Gold Day
Today marks our first ever “Blue & Gold Day,” and you can see the Spartan colors everywhere on campus. I am delighted that members of the UNCG Pep Squad are here with us today as well as the always-popular and ever-present “Blue Crew.” These students reflect the enthusiasm on campus for Spartan Athletics. Student-athletes are their friends and classmates. They are proud to cheer on one another and to compete on behalf of the UNCG Spartans. Our commitment to investing in Spartan Athletics sends a strong message to all current and prospective students that we understand the importance of athletics in creating an exceptional student experience.
Spartans Play Davidson at the Coliseum on Feb. 5
I am very excited about what is to come. Remember to join us on February 5th. That day, you can see Spartan Basketball on the rise as we take on Davidson right here in the Coliseum. We want to fill the arena with Blue & Gold... and some of Davidson’s Red as well...
Chancellor Brady's remarks at the Greensboro Coliseum announcement
December 5, 2008
(Note: I excluded some paragraphs)
Thank you, Jim, for that wonderful introduction. I am so grateful for the warm welcome and for your personal support, as well as the support of the Joseph M. Bryan Foundation, during the four months since my arrival in Greensboro. This is a marvelous community and we are pleased to be part of it.
I’m delighted to be here today. I am excited to have this opportunity to share with you a special announcement that I believe will positively impact Spartan Athletics and generate some new excitement for sports fans in Greensboro and beyond.
In the course of my career I’ve been a Buckeye, a Commodore, a Yellow Jacket, a member of the Wolfpack, and a Duck, and I can’t tell you how pleased I am to finally be a proud Spartan!
Elevating UNCG Athletics
Since assuming my role as Chancellor of UNCG, one of my priorities has been to take a vigorous approach to elevating the UNCG athletics program. This semester, I have been working with a great team of individuals to discuss ways in which we can enhance the visibility of Spartan Athletics and make new investments in support of the program, consistent with UNCG’s NCAA Division I status.
Our athletics program is proof positive that we attract high-caliber student-athletes to campus who have a desire to succeed in the classroom as well as on the court, the playing field, or the pitch. These student-athletes make a special contribution to enhancing both the campus and Greensboro communities...
...A Strategic Investment
From the students and coaches who participate in our 16 NCAA Division I sports...to the faculty, staff, students and community members who attend athletic events to share in the thrill of competition, athletics is a significant element of the university experience. For members of our community, Spartan Athletics provides family-friendly entertainment that is affordable and accessible. It is also an important factor in building our brand and in helping UNCG garner regional and national exposure. For these reasons, the Spartan Athletics program merits our support and strategic investment. We are now prepared to take significant steps designed to elevate the program on our campus as well as in the Greensboro community and the Piedmont Triad.
For those of you who were here at the November meeting of the Greensboro Sports Council, I announced the university’s plan to raise the profile of Spartan Athletics. Today, I am pleased to provide you with specifics on how we will achieve that goal.
First, I want to let Greensboro know that Spartan basketball is on the rise. Significant steps have already been taken to schedule men’s basketball games here at the Greensboro Coliseum. This will enhance UNCG’s relationship with, and leverage the many benefits of, this outstanding facility. I encourage you to make plans to attend the UNCG/Davidson College game here at the Coliseum on February 5th.
In addition, it is our goal to give sports fans the opportunity to watch highly-anticipated basketball match-ups at the coliseum permanently beginning with the 2009-10 season. The university has contracted with Fred Barakat, retired associate commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, who will assist in our efforts to aggressively market Spartan Athletics. Mr. Barakat’s primary focus will be to schedule games with competitive non-conference opponents, including ACC teams. We are delighted to have him on board and to also have the support of Matt Brown, Scott Johnson, and their colleagues at the Greensboro Coliseum who are excited about making this arena the main venue for UNCG men’s basketball.
I am delighted to have the full support of the UNCG Board of Trustees and the Spartan Club Executive Committee. Kurt Kronenfeld, chair of the Executive Committee, is with us today. Thanks, Kurt, for your support and the support of all Spartan Club members.
It is wonderful to see widespread and enthusiastic support for this move and to know that our constituents understand that by strengthening our relationship with the Coliseum, we not only take the Spartan basketball program to new heights, but the entire UNCG athletics program along with it.
Benefits of Bringing Spartan Basketball to the Coliseum
There are a number of benefits to this strategic move. First and foremost, we believe that enhancing the visibility of Spartan Athletics will contribute to the student experience at UNCG. In the course of my academic career I have been associated with universities defined by outstanding academic programs and great athletics programs. Investment in one does not have to come at the expense of the other.
Second, I believe we are positioning the program to create a larger community fan base. We want to be your home town team. The benefits go on to include potential increased alumni participation and financial support, greater regional and national recognition, heightened partnerships and loyalty within the Greensboro community and, finally, the ability to help stimulate the economy.
ACC Tournament Hosts Five of the Next Seven Years
And our timing for UNCG to schedule ACC opponents could not be better. The conference tournament for ACC men’s basketball will be played at the Greensboro Coliseum in 2010, 11, 13, 14 and 15.
In addition to contracting with Fred Barakat, UNCG is engaging a contract with national sports marketing firm ISP Collegiate Services. ISP will work with us to analyze our marketing, promotional and ticketing strategies with specific focus on how we elevate the Spartan brand internally on our campus. Their expertise in all areas of athletics nationwide is well known...
..Finally, I want to convey special thanks for all of the encouragement we’ve received from the local business community, especially Jim Melvin who has supported and helped lead our efforts from Day One. It is important that we have the support of significant community members, and Jim Melvin has given just that since my very first days as Chancellor.
We have a great team working to create new possibilities for Spartan Athletics and for the Greensboro community as a whole. We are excited that you are excited. And, in fact, perhaps no one is more excited than our very own student body. Am I right?
Blue & Gold Day
Today marks our first ever “Blue & Gold Day,” and you can see the Spartan colors everywhere on campus. I am delighted that members of the UNCG Pep Squad are here with us today as well as the always-popular and ever-present “Blue Crew.” These students reflect the enthusiasm on campus for Spartan Athletics. Student-athletes are their friends and classmates. They are proud to cheer on one another and to compete on behalf of the UNCG Spartans. Our commitment to investing in Spartan Athletics sends a strong message to all current and prospective students that we understand the importance of athletics in creating an exceptional student experience.
Spartans Play Davidson at the Coliseum on Feb. 5
I am very excited about what is to come. Remember to join us on February 5th. That day, you can see Spartan Basketball on the rise as we take on Davidson right here in the Coliseum. We want to fill the arena with Blue & Gold... and some of Davidson’s Red as well...
