Aug. 10, 2011
BASEBALL GETS A NEW HOME
In case you haven’t already heard the news, we held a press conference today to officially announce our intention to make Hi Corbett Field our home baseball venue. This is an exciting opportunity for Arizona Baseball, and I invite you to read about the details. You can also watch a video of the news conference here.
CRUISING TO FOOTBALL GAMES
Our friends in the Phoenix area will be able to attend home football games via Cat Cruiser transportation.. There are four stops in the metropolitan area -- Phoenix, Chandler, North Scottsdale and Scottsdale, with round-trip fare at $30. It's a convenient way for Phoenix-area fans, parents, friends and alumni to hitch a ride to Arizona Stadium. The buses arrive at the tailgate area two hours before kickoff and depart from Arizona Stadium 30 minutes after games' end. Of course, you want to have football game tickets once you arrive...
COLORS GET THEIR DAY, OFFICIALLY
We already do a great job of wearing the colors on Wildcat Fridays but on Friday, Sept 2nd we'd like to recognize College Colors Day on the University of Arizona campus (and elsewhere, through the hearts and closets of our followers worldwide). College Colors day is a nationwide event to celebrate and promote the spirit that makes the college athletic traditions so great. I, along with the support of University President Eugene Sander and the Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce encourage all employees, students, alumni, fans, friends and supporters to wear the apparel of their favorite college -- and in our case that's Arizona’s red and blue. I've told our staff and all our supporters many times wearing the school colors can be persuasive in so many ways. It goes well beyond the logo. Take part and spread the word.
CUSTOMER SERVICE
I mentioned last week that our staff would be taking part in customer service training at McKale Center. The presenter was a friend who led me through similar guidance years ago when I was a student working for a Ritz-Carlton property. He's a pro. The crux -- in the abbreviated version of what takes DAYS at that fine establishment -- is that caring for our customers and delivering our best service is the only way we can do business with all of you. Admittedly a football or volleyball game is different than a hotel, but we want our supporters to know we care about their experience. I think you'll notice a difference in the future and it won't be accidental.
BUILDING A FOUNDATION AWAY FROM SPORT
The first day of University of Arizona classes is Aug. 22, less than two weeks from now. We'll be counting on our student-athletes to do their part in embracing the many forms of support we provide to help them off to a strong academic start. This is a crucial time for that, as student-athletes in many sports begin in-season training and practice schedules, and others begin off-season preparations. The balance between sport and school is difficult, but without a strong showing in the latter one is not able to perform in the former. We'll be encouraging our Wildcats to get off on the right foot when it comes to scholastics.
SPARKS SHOULD FLY
...But hopefully not like in this time-lapse photo by Luke Adams of the new videoboard at Arizona Stadium on a recent stormy night. Keep an eye on the construction progress… And make sure you’re in the stadium for the debut on Sept. 3 at the NAU football game.
IT'S A CAT, EVEN WITH THE WRONG COLORS
Wildcats Darren and Kelly Hofstra had their photo snapped -- in the colors -- with this genuine tiger in Thailand.
PARLEZ VOUS FRANCAIS?
First-year UA student Max Warneke showed it doesn't matter, because the colors spoke for themselves at this French hill climb bike outing this summer.
Continue to do what you can to help Arizona Athletics and:
1. Join the Wildcat Movement
2. Buy Season Tickets
3. Wear the Colors (Especially on Friday)
4. Get Others to Do the Same
Bear Down with Pride,
Greg Byrne
Director of Athletics
University of Arizona
uofaad@arizona.edu
