In preparation for the first Thursday night football game since 1994, campus organizations have planned special pre-game events to encourage student attendance.
Game attendance has seen a decline since 3,100 students filled Wallace Wade Stadium to watch the Aug. 30 game against Elon University, said junior Tucker Albert, Duke Student Government vice present of social culture. He expects Thursday's game against the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill will reverse that trend and draw a record number of students. DSG planned many pre-game events to ensure students have the full game experience even though the game is on a weeknight, Albert said.
"One, it is against UNC—our rivals," he said. "Two, it is a must win to get to the ACC championship. Three, the football program has been proving [itself] and with that has come more attendance."
In addition to Wednesday's Aer and Small Town Records concert—which were reminiscent of the annual personal checks concert before the home UNC basketball game—DevilsGate will be giving out free food and t-shirts before the game. Sophomore Shaker Samman, leader of Duke football fan group Cutsboro, sophomore Sam Morton, president of Small Town Records, and Harli Grant, campus concerts programming chair, organized the concert. The concert will give students an extra push to come out to the football game, Samman said.
Following a long-established tradition, Duke will be playing for the Victory Bell against UNC. The past two games have been won by Duke.
Since Coach David Cutcliffe has taken over the football program, there has been a spike in attendance as the team has been winning more, Tucker said. Under Cutcliffe's leadership, the team broke an 18-year bowl drought in 2012.
The game will be a nice change of pace from the usual Thursday schedule for students, he added.
"I think all of DSG and Duke itself is very excited to see the attendance in this game," Tucker said.
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