WSU football fans will have new virtual opportunities to celebrate the team and connect with their fellow Cougs this season.
WSU Global, WSU Athletics and the university’s alumni association are each hosting events this season for fans who are rooting responsibly away from Pullman. WSU’s first game against Oregon State kicks off at 7:30 p.m. Saturday and is being broadcast on FS1.
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WSU Alumni Association
The Washington State University Alumni Association is hosting a Happy Halftime event for the season’s first game against Oregon State University on Nov. 7. Fans are asked to sign up ahead of time and encouraged to bring their favorite beverage and enthusiasm for Cougar football.
Themed games, prizes and breakout rooms where different area chapters will be convening before second half kickoff will all be a part of WSUAA Happy Halftime. The event is open to all WSU football fans and alumni, whose feedback will be used in planning future halftime festivities this season.
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WSU Athletics
WSU Athletics is planning to a 30-min pregame show that’ll air on their Facebook page prior to home games. These events will feature unique content like performances by the WSU marching band. Fans can also follow WSU Football’s social media pages for critical updates during home games.
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WSU Global
For WSU students, a Virtual Gameday Lounge is being hosted by WSU Global Connections, boasting an array of content and games throughout the Nov. 7 game. The second screen experience is being done in coordination with departments across the WSU system, allowing fans to meet up and socialize safely from their homes. Prizes will be awarded throughout the game and mailed to the homes of winners.
Rooting responsibly
All of these opportunities present fans with ways to celebrate success on the football field without being there in person. Fans are asked not to travel to Pullman this year for home football games because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Tailgating is not allowed this season on the Pullman campus and spectators will not be allowed inside or outside of Martin Stadium.
The importance of keeping fans away from sporting venues this season was made clear in a series of mathematical models developed by a WSU research team. The team found that in-person sports like football and basketball games created increased COVID-19 cases among students by 25% in the best -case scenario to 822% in the worst-case scenario.
While fans won’t be in the stands at Martin Stadium, they can fill seats by purchasing cardboard cutouts for $35 apiece. Three hundred students with a valid student ID number will also be able to get a free cardboard cutout courtesy of WSU Athletics. Cutouts will also be available for the upcoming basketball season.
Each of the departments organizing events for this weekend’s will be posting information about future events as decisions are made.
