Football booster club manages seating demands

Mollie Ownbey, Sports

The fans and supporters are eager for the rapidly approaching Wildcat football season and the new football Stadium.  Due to overwhelming fan support and interest in the new on-campus stadium it made the challenge of selling as many chair back seats as possible fairly simple for parents and players.

The sales were extremely high, and soon the football booster club was faced with the difficult result more chair-backs than available had been sold.

Plans for how to go about this  situation were discussed in a meeting between Coach Wood, President of the Booster Club, Greg Lancelot, and the executive board of the booster club.

After the meeting, Coach Wood and Booster club members came to an executive decision to offer three  of the best options and solutions. Chair back holders were offered the refund in the difference of cost between chair backs and reserved bench seats.

They could choose to get portable chair backs that are supplied by the booster club for them to keep, or they could just donate the cost difference to the booster club program.

“Coach agreed with three options offered and insisted that the seniors be given priority in allocating the available chair backs to those that ordered them,” said Lancelot.

This problem caused many dilemmas, but the booster club believes that they made the correct decisions and things were resolved smoothly. Fans were very cooperative and understanding of the situation.

“Everyone that supports our football program are always willing to go above and beyond for our players,” said Wood.

Many fans who purchased the chair backs and then were asked give them up questioned why the number of chair backs sold could not be installed since construction is still underway.

“We we’re unable to add additional rows of chair backs due to the lead time associated with the construction schedule and the timing pressure to be ready for the Sept. 19th  home opener vs. Conway,” said Lancelot.

The Conway home opener was the first time any Springdale home football game has ever had chair back seats available for fans. Therefore, supporters have been very understanding to the seating problems.

“Coach Wood is very hopeful that additional chair backs can be added in the future years to help better meet the demand,” said Lancelot.

The over sell of chair backs was a major problem, but it showed the amount of support and excitement for the brand new Wildcat Stadium. Everyone was thrilled with the total sales.

“We just want to make sure there is a person in every seat on the opening night,” said Wood.