Booster Club Aims to Increase Student Attendance

Students sitting in bleachers ready for the Pink Out game on Feb. 10. Photo Courtesy: Dylan Bonner ‘26

On Feb. 10, the Marist Booster Club collaborated with Greek organizations on campus for a Pink Out at the Women’s Basketball game vs. Iona.

Booster Club president Dylan Bonner ‘26 explained that the Booster Club has noted that Marist faces low student attendance at many of their games. They approached the issue with an incentivization strategy that will reward the Greek organization that attends the most sporting events during the spring semester.

They also recognized that students and fans alike care just as much about the experience of attending the game as the outcome of the game. Their goal is to make the fan experience more interactive for everyone, not just those involved in Greek Life.

As for the “Pink Out,” Bonner “marketed the Pink Out game to every Greek organization on campus and explained the importance of the game [honoring breast cancer survivors], and every Greek organization showed 100% support leading up to the game.”

Bonner worked closely with the Tri Sigma Sorority in honoring a sister’s mother, who recently passed from breast cancer. Play4Kay, a foundation created to honor legendary college basketball coach Kay Yow and her battle with breast cancer, was the theme for the women’s basketball team, and “Fight Like Peggy” was the slogan for the Greek organizations and the Booster Club.

According to Tri Sigma president Megan Gregor ‘25, the phrase "Fight like Peggy" is a tribute to the life of Peggy Ohlsen.

“Fighting against breast cancer in secrecy for over a decade, Mrs. Ohlsen showed her family what true selflessness, strength, and bravery look like,” said Gregor. “Today, her legacy is a reminder of resilience and courage to all of us in Tri Sigma and beyond. Mrs. Ohlsen left us with her four beautiful children, Brielle, Hailey, Colin, and Braden, as well as her husband, Glenn, to carry on her legacy. Brielle, one of our current members, is the embodiment of all these qualities to a tee.”

The Booster Club reports that the “Pink Out” saw about 1,900 fans, “[causing] a 72% fan increase in the first-ever event, and we plan on raising those numbers even higher.”

“Planning this event was quite fun but stressful at the same time because it was the Booster Club’s first event since the ‘rebirth.’ Club meetings lasted two hours each time, which involved extensive planning for in-person promotion, last-minute flyers underneath the doors of each freshman dorm room and decoration of the Murray Student Center Dining Hall and McCann Arena’s student section,” said Bonner.

At the men’s basketball game on March 1, the Booster Club collaborated with Theta Delta Chi, Kappa Sigma, Tri Sigma and other student organizations such as the Student Government Association and the Student Activities Office for a “Red Out.”

During halftime, the Booster Club sponsored a 10-person knockout game in which the winner would take home a brand new Xbox One Series X - an experience that brought the Marist community out to watch their peers compete.

Shania Fernandez ‘26, who played in the knockout game, said, “It was a fun experience to be a part of. I used to play basketball in high school, so it was awesome to be back on the court, even if it was only for one game of knockout. I would love to participate in more activities like this in the future, especially if it was for another chance to win something cool like the Xbox.”

Bonner could not unveil all of the Booster Club’s plans but hinted at tailgates revolving around lacrosse games this spring. They are also looking towards next semester, where they will host tailgate events for the new wave of Marist Football’s coaching staff.