Nov. 16, 2004
ORLANDO - Children in local youth groups such as the Boys and Girls Club will be able to attend the November 23rd University of Central Florida versus Kent State Football game free-of-charge as part of the UCF Golden Knights "Youth Day" celebration.
Festivities around the game include a Fan Faire immediately preceding the game, which features an "NFL Experience" - a football clinic with former National Football League players - as well as face painting, a moon bounce, "Joust Ring" and a visit by UCF mascot Knightro. The Fan Faire starts at 4:00 p.m. at Tinker Field, which is adjacent to the stadium; the football game will be held at the Citrus Bowl and starts at 7:00 p.m.
Tickets are being made available to youth groups, thanks to sponsorships from local businesses. Youth Day is designed to provide children with the opportunity to experience a college football game, which is something they may not have done before. Students in UCF's DeVos Sport Business Management graduate program are helping promote the Youth Day effort in conjunction with Knights Boosters staff.
The Youth Day promotion also serves as a fundraiser for Orlando's Pop Warner Football Leagues. The Leagues will sell tickets for the game and for each ticket sold, UCF will return $2.00 to the league. Adult tickets are $11.00 and youth tickets (for ages 12 and under) are $5.00. All Pop Warner Football participants will be invited to join the UCF team on the field prior to the game, and the team that sells the most tickets will be recognized on the field during the game.
UCF's Football Youth Day is sponsored by Coca-Cola®, Olive Garden and Publix. In addition to donating tickets to local youth organizations, Coca-Cola® will provide drinks during Fan Faire and Olive Garden is providing mini footballs and t-shirts to the Pop Warner team that sells the most tickets. Other sponsors include Rinker Materials and Orlando Regional Chamber of Commerce.
As part of a class project, students in the DeVos Sport Business Management Program were challenged to create a "buzz" about the game and increase attendance children 12 and under; their ability to meets these challenges will determine their class grades. This exercise is one of many "real world" sport business industry experiences that are an inherent part of the graduate program. Established in 2001, the DeVos Sport Business Management Graduate Program in the University of Central Florida's College of Business of Administration is a landmark program focused on providing the business skills necessary for graduate to conduct successful careers in the rapidly changing and dynamic sports industry while also emphasizing diversity, community service, and sport and social issues.