By Jack Wynn
Sports at the University of Maryland receive a lot of attention, with expectations of success in many different sports. As a Big Ten school, it is easy to identify the big games, rivalries and important moments in an upcoming season, which Maryland Athletics tries to capitalize on. 

Maryland Athletics uses giveaways, t-shirt tosses, sponsorships and many other methods to improve fan engagement at games for various UMD teams. 

“I’m excited for future [UMD games and] events for sure,” said Mason Epstein, a junior mechanical engineering major. “The sports games are always a good time, especially basketball which I am very excited for.” 

Marissa Jarrett, a member of the UMD Cheerleading team and senior criminology major, said that attendees enjoy the free merch and shirts given away at games.

“I’ve seen so many people selling their shirts [to others] or saying, ‘Ohh, I’m definitely coming to this game for the shirt’ or asking people to grab one if they can’t attend themselves,” Jarrett said. 

Beyond giveaways, Maryland Athletics incorporates other strategies to keep fans entertained during games, such as the basketball skills challenge or the football 40-yard dash. 

The basketball skills challenge allows students to showcase their skills on the court, while the football 40-yard dash offers prizes for students who compete in a sprint across the field. These activities engage students and keep them involved in the games.

“I think the biggest message is we find ways for the games to be interesting for everyone,” said Sean Foreman, senior economics major and strategic marketing and fan engagement intern with Maryland Athletics. “Whether you like the sport that’s being played or really care about actually supporting the [UMD] team, we work really hard to find ways to keep people engaged for the entire game.”

One notable moment for fan engagement came at the end of the University of Southern California versus UMD football game, where hundreds of students rushed the field to celebrate a big comeback victory as underdogs.

“It was awesome,” Epstein said. “[Rushing the field] was definitely one of my top three experiences as a sports fan in my life. It was really cool to celebrate with all the other fans, especially considering that the beginning of the season wasn’t very exciting.”

The homecoming game drew out many alumni who came to support their alma mater. Other big games have drawn out celebrities such as tennis champion Francis Tiafoe and Gov. Wes Moore, who practiced with the football team over the summer.

“We’ve got to continue doing stuff, coming up with new ideas to continue to improve attendance,” Foreman said. “We need students to show up so that we can actually execute these things and give away our [merchandise].”

According to Foreman, fan engagement will continue to improve, especially if popular teams continue to win games. It is up to the students and fans to create a competitive atmosphere to encourage success for UMD sports.

Featured Image: The XFINITY Center after a sports practice. Photo by Jack Wynn.