When you drive down Jennison Street the next couple of days you will see signs of the Monon Bell game throughout the Wabash College athletic complex. No need to check your pulse though, the high temperature on Saturday is 84 and the month is still September.
Days after the announcement of a new stadium, the Little Giants will open their 2019 home football slate against Denison with Homecoming on Saturday at 2 p.m. All with the goal to try and upgrade the game day experience for their fans.
“There’s a number of things we’ve taken from sort of the Monon Bell game model and built upon that for the regular season,” Wabash athletic director Matt Tanney said. “It’s maybe not as an intensive setup as when we have 10,000 people here.”
Wabash is now offering parking and tailgating spaces at Mud Hollow Field, where Tanney hopes to recreate some of the same pregame magic that take places during the Monon Bell game.
“The tailgating piece is one that was so well received (at the Bell game),” he said. “Regardless of what’s happening in the stadium, and regardless of who we are playing, that Mud Hollow space is an energy filled sort of fun area pregame.”
Also new this fall will be a special-priced hospitality area in the end zone, where people can enjoy the game with food from Bon Appétit, alcoholic beverages for those 21 and over, and a new kid zone.
“We’ve created a hospitality area in the end zone that we are calling Wally’s in the end zone that’s really a different way to experience a football game at Wabash College, and give folks the opportunity,” Tanney said.
Wally’s will have a drink ledge around the perimeter of the end zone, where fans can enjoy their friends, beverage, and the game all at the same time.
As the final season at Byron P. Hollett Little Giant Stadium begins Saturday, Tanney hopes new game day experiences will keep fans coming back for years to come.
“We have so many folks that have been coming to our football games, and they’ve been coming for such a long time,” he said. “This is just a different way of experiencing the game.”
The Wabash athletics app is also now available on the app store and Google play store, where you can track all your favorite Little Giants teams.
Tickets for home games this season can be purchased online through University Tickets or at the gate the day of the game. Tickets for Homecoming are $10 for adults, and $7 for seniors and kids, while all other home games are $8 for adults, and $5 for seniors and kids. A ticket for Wally’s in the end zone is $25 for homecoming, and $20 for all other home games.
