ARIZONA ATHLETICS DOWNTOWN STREETCAR TOUR
With the start of the Arizona Athletics season this week, we were brainstorming ways to get out in the community and build on the already established excitement that Tucson shows for our athletics department. We decided to do a Sun Link Streetcar tour from campus to downtown and spend time talking with riders and downtown patrons about what the year has in store.
We’ve enlisted some of our coaches to join us on the ride, which will culminate with lunch at The Cup Café in the Hotel Congress. I’ll be joined by our new head baseball coach Jay Johnson, head women’s golf coach Laura Ianello, assistant women’s golf coach Derek Radley and our new head gymnastics coach Tabitha Yim. We’ll take the Streetcar at Stop 18 by Hillenbrand Stadium on the UA campus around 11 a.m. and pick up Senior Associate to the President of UA Jon Dudas at Stop 17 adjacent to the 2nd St. Garage and Highland. Wilbur and Wilma will join the tour at Stop 15 by Main Gate Square before we head to Stop 9W on Congress at 6th Ave. Members of the UA cheer squad will be located at the downtown stop when we arrive.
From there, we’ll head to The Cup Café, which is owned by UA alum Richard Oseran, for lunch and to visit with patrons at the restaurant. After lunch, we’ll visit various nearby locations in the downtown area.
So, if you’re looking for something to do for lunch tomorrow, hop on the Streetcar, head down to The Cup Café and help us spread the excitement for what is sure to be another great year of Arizona Athletics.
MORE ON OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH NIKE
We wanted to follow up on last week’s announcement of our extension with NIKE. The overwhelming response from our student-athletes and coaches was very positive. It also was the right time for us to extend as the original agreement was slated to run until 2019. By reworking the agreement, which will now last until June 30, 2025, we were able to secure a big jump in value immediately. Also, as we continue to offer student-athletes additional benefits to an already valuable scholarship, we felt it was important to continue to offer them access to the top footwear, apparel and equipment company in the world. There is a reason they are the best and that is who we want to be associated with.
We also wanted to maintain our great working relationship with NIKE. They have been such a valuable partner for many years and have been instrumental in our success during that time. Based on our research and the ensuing reaction after the announcement, we thought it was important to extend and enhance our agreement, and we think we’ll continue to see the benefits of this relationship moving forward.
2015 UA SPORTS HALL OF FAME INDUCTION CEREMONY AND DINNER
The University of Arizona Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner is quickly approaching and we want to provide another reminder that you can be there on this historical night. The induction ceremony and dinner will be held on Friday, Sept. 4 at the Westin La Paloma Resort and Spa.
Individual tickets may be purchased for $50 by calling the Office of Special Events at (520) 621-2331 or by clicking HERE. Reservations must be made by this Friday, Aug. 21. For questions regarding the event, please contact Natasha Harrison atnaharris@arizona.edu or at (520) 621-0503.
INTRODUCING ARIZONA TEXT 4 TIX
Technology continues to shift more and more functions to the palm of our hands thanks to the evolution of the smart phone. In order to take advantage of this, we have partnered with ReplyBuy to simplify the ticket buying process with Arizona Text 4 Tix. This program allows fans to buy tickets (including special offers) with a simple text message. Just register your mobile phone number and you’ll receive text messages when tickets are available. To order tickets, you simply send a reply text and your tickets are instantly delivered to your mobile device. There is no charge to sign up for Arizona Text 4 Tix. You are only charged when you send a reply text message. Click HERE for more information or to register.
$99 FOOTBALL SEASON TICKETS GOING FAST
We are just about two weeks away from the start of the 2015 season. Season ticket sales are up from last year. The $99 season tickets in the value areas have been extremely popular and we are running out of seat inventory. Youth season tickets (kids ages 3-12) are also located in the value area and start at just $50 per seat. Don’t delay any longer if you have been contemplating getting season tickets at the entry level price. Click HERE to buy online or call (520) 621-CATS (2287).
SOCCER KICKS OFF 2015-16 COMPETITION CALENDAR
Our first official 2015-16 Arizona Athletics event is the women’s soccer opener Friday night vs. Abilene Christian. The match starts at 7 pm. and will be played at Mulcahy Stadium. The soccer stadium is located off campus at 2300 E. 15th Street. New this year, we have arranged for additional parking in the Shriner’s parking lot, which is located right across the street (on the corner of E. 15th and Tucson Blvd.). Parking is free for any soccer season ticket holders and $5 for the general public. Wildcat Club members who are also season ticket holders receive the opportunity to park in-venue (restrictions apply). For more information on parking, please click HERE. The opener will feature a schedule poster giveaway, free face painting, free shuttle service from campus for students and the debut of the new Roadrunner Food Truck. The Wildcats also play Sunday night vs. Santa Clara at 6 p.m. A limited amount of free t-shirts will be available for fans as a giveaway.
Interest in Arizona soccer is at an all-time high as we have set a record for season ticket sales. There is still time to become a season ticket holder and take advantage of the benefits that come with it, such as a free scarf and the use of a chair back seat. Season tickets start at $40 for adults and only $25 for kids ages 3-12. ClickHERE to buy season tickets today or call (520) 621-CATS (2287). Single-match tickets start at $8 per seat if you buy online or in advance. If you’re in Tucson, get to Mulcahy and support the Wildcats!
FORMER POMMIES MAKING AN IMPACT IN THE PROS
We were alerted to some fun news this week that we wanted to share with you. It seems some of our UA Pomline alums are making it big in the pros. Just recently, Megan Carcioppolo, who graduated last year, earned a spot on the Dallas Cowboys cheerleading squad. Megan was a valuable member of the pomline for three years, serving as captain for the last two.
Megan isn’t the only one representing the UA at the next level. Based on the information we received, there are five other UA Pomline alums applying their trade professionally. Megan Nolen is a member of the Phoenix Suns dance team, while Jessie Meck performs as a Laker Girl. In addition, there are three former pommies on the San Diego Chargers squad, Devin Dilday, Whitney Dilday and Allie Marques.
To give you an idea of the process these women go through in order to obtain one of these highly-coveted positions, we wanted to share Megan’s story. Her journey began just weeks before graduation when she auditioned with over 500 young women from around the world. Auditions continued over the next three months and Megan was one of 34 chosen to represent the Dallas Cowboys. She was also selected as one of 17 members of the Show Team, which travels nationally and internationally representing the Dallas Cowboys. If you’d like, you can get a window into the process as Megan and the rest of the Dallas Cowboy cheerleaders are featured in the CMT series DCC: Making the Team, which airs on Thursday’s at 8 p.m.
Congratulations and we hope you’ll continue to Bear Down as you represent Arizona with your professional teams.
TWITTER GIVEAWAY
Another great job on the Twitter giveaway. Congrats to Aubrey Lloyd (@AubreyLloyd22) for being selected as this week’s winner of the #ByrneTwitterGiveaway. A member of the athletics department staff will DM you with more information on how to secure your prize so make sure you’re following @AZAthletics.
Here is this week’s Twitter giveaway message:
Good luck to @ArizonaWSoccer as they start their season at home on Friday at 7 pm. @Greg_Byrne #ByrneTwitterGiveaway
Each week, we’ll provide a phrase accompanied by the twitter handle @GregByrne and the hashtag #ByrneTwitterGiveaway for Wildcat Wednesday subscribers to tweet. We’ll select the winner(s) at random and announce in the following edition of Wildcat Wednesday. We hope you’ll have some fun with this and participate each week. As long as we’re seeing a lot of participation, we’ll keep the giveaways going throughout the year.
Good luck!
COMPLIANCE CORNER
Did you know that inappropriate actions by local businesses can affect the eligibility of student-athletes and damage the University of Arizona’s national reputation? According to NCAA rules, student-athletes are prohibited from receiving extra benefits and preferential treatment. Any special discounts or arrangements that are not otherwise available to the general student population or public are impermissible and may not be given to student-athletes, their friends, or family. Some examples of impermissible benefits and preferential treatment include free or reduced-cost admission into events or establishments that aren’t otherwise available to regular students, and free or reduced-cost goods or services that are not otherwise available to regular students.
Local businesses are wonderful supporters and we want to continue that relationship, but we need continuous help throughout the community to ensure that our student-athletes remain eligible for competition by adhering to NCAA rules in the interactions you may have with our student-athletes. If you have any questions, please contact the Compliance Office at (520) 621-4796.
ARIZONA NUGGETS
Softball incoming freshman Alyssa Palomino shattered the RBI record at the Junior Women’s World Championships with 27 in the 10-game tournament, helping the U.S. Junior National team to gold … Swimming’s Kevin Cordes broke a world record as part of Team USA’s mixed 400 medley relay at the World Championships earlier this month … Volleyball’s Madi Kingdon is the latest Wildcat to turn pro as she will begin her professional career in Azerbaijan next month.
WEAR THE COLORS – SHARE THE PHOTOS
Thank you for wearing the colors and sharing your Arizona pride! If your photo submission did not make this week’s edition of the Wildcat Wednesday, please check our “Wildcat Wednesday” album at facebook.com/ArizonaAthletics.
NOTE: Please submit photos for Wildcat Wednesday with an original email touofaad@arizona.edu using the subject line ‘Wildcat Wednesday photo.’ Also, please ensure all submissions are clear and properly lit. We also ask that you identify everyone in the photo so we can highlight them accordingly.
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