BLOG: Dawn Ellerbe Attends NCAA Women's Final Four
4/5/2018 12:34:00 PM | General
By Dawn Ellerbe, CSUN Associate Athletics Director for Marketing, Branding and Fan Development
COLUMBUS, Ohio - What a weekend! I feel quite fortunate to have participated in collegiate athletics as a student-athlete. Now as an Athletics Administrator, the feeling is just as special. Regardless of the division, championships are special. Advancing to them, competing in them and winning them, it is all very special! The 2018 Women's Basketball Final Four exceeded all expectations!
As a member of the Division I NCAA Women's Basketball Advancement Committee, I had the opportunity to attend our most recent committee meetings held during the Women's Basketball Final Four in Columbus, Ohio.
From a fan perspective, the city of Columbus was outstanding, Tourney Town as fantastic, and as a competitor, you could not ask for a higher level of passion and fierceness on the court! From a marketing perspective, I am inspired to create a better fan experience and find new ways increase attendance and advance the game of women's basketball right here at CSUN.
The Women's Basketball Oversight Advancement Committee is tasked with creating a strategic plan to grow the game of women's basketball in the areas of student-athlete experience, ticket pricing strategies, ticket sales, revenue generation, budget, marketing, building attendance, fan experience and site selection.
This year's Women's Basketball Final Four attendance numbers were at their highest since 2008. The primary ticket inventory was sold out in February and this Final Four was the fast-selling Women's Final Four on record.
Before I could even get the games there was action overload at Tourney Town. Tourney Town was a celebration of all things basketball packed with special appearances, autograph signings, interactive games, giveaways, basketball contests, and the battle of the bands, celebrity basketball, a fashion showcase and more.
During the festivities at Tourney Town, I participated on the "Team Building with the Pros" panel with Zack Lassiter (Deputy Athletics Director at Oregon State) and Carol Callan (USA Basketball Women's National Team Director).
We shared tips on building a successful team, how to communicate effectively, successful collaboration, and how to identifying strengths in team members. The discussion led to the topic of what it takes to become an effective leader, and which connections can be made between building a basketball team and building an administrative staff.
Let's keep the main thing the main thing…THE GAMES!
Michelle Voepel (espnw.com) describes this Final Four as the best ever! Buzzer-beating shots. Two (almost three) overtime games. The overall No. 1 see losing for the first time all season. A program winning a second NCAA title 17 years after its first. A dozen or more future WNBA players taking the court may keep fans debating as long as they remember this Women's Final Four. For everyone who wondered if all four No. 1 seeds reaching Nationwide Arena would result in a boringly predictable Women's Final Four -- it didn't. In terms of sheer drama, this weekend was the best women's college basketball has ever seen.
From this fan's perspective, and from the cheering of 19,599 others in the Nationwide Arena, the Women's Basketball Final Four was an unforgettable experience.
Now that I am back on campus and reflect on the 2018 Women's Basketball season, I'd be remiss to not mention the inspiration I receive regularly from our very own women's basketball team.
In the last five years, they've won three Big West Tournament Championships, and in those same five years made three NCAA Tournament appearances. They earned a team GPA of 3.08 (Fall 2017), and the athletes earn their degrees.
I am proud that the past five seasons I've been an administrator with CSUN Athletics, the basketball season has started and ended with this squad competing, winning, and advancing. It continues to be very special.
#GoMatadors
COLUMBUS, Ohio - What a weekend! I feel quite fortunate to have participated in collegiate athletics as a student-athlete. Now as an Athletics Administrator, the feeling is just as special. Regardless of the division, championships are special. Advancing to them, competing in them and winning them, it is all very special! The 2018 Women's Basketball Final Four exceeded all expectations!
As a member of the Division I NCAA Women's Basketball Advancement Committee, I had the opportunity to attend our most recent committee meetings held during the Women's Basketball Final Four in Columbus, Ohio.From a fan perspective, the city of Columbus was outstanding, Tourney Town as fantastic, and as a competitor, you could not ask for a higher level of passion and fierceness on the court! From a marketing perspective, I am inspired to create a better fan experience and find new ways increase attendance and advance the game of women's basketball right here at CSUN.
The Women's Basketball Oversight Advancement Committee is tasked with creating a strategic plan to grow the game of women's basketball in the areas of student-athlete experience, ticket pricing strategies, ticket sales, revenue generation, budget, marketing, building attendance, fan experience and site selection.
This year's Women's Basketball Final Four attendance numbers were at their highest since 2008. The primary ticket inventory was sold out in February and this Final Four was the fast-selling Women's Final Four on record.
Before I could even get the games there was action overload at Tourney Town. Tourney Town was a celebration of all things basketball packed with special appearances, autograph signings, interactive games, giveaways, basketball contests, and the battle of the bands, celebrity basketball, a fashion showcase and more.
During the festivities at Tourney Town, I participated on the "Team Building with the Pros" panel with Zack Lassiter (Deputy Athletics Director at Oregon State) and Carol Callan (USA Basketball Women's National Team Director).
We shared tips on building a successful team, how to communicate effectively, successful collaboration, and how to identifying strengths in team members. The discussion led to the topic of what it takes to become an effective leader, and which connections can be made between building a basketball team and building an administrative staff.
Let's keep the main thing the main thing…THE GAMES!
Michelle Voepel (espnw.com) describes this Final Four as the best ever! Buzzer-beating shots. Two (almost three) overtime games. The overall No. 1 see losing for the first time all season. A program winning a second NCAA title 17 years after its first. A dozen or more future WNBA players taking the court may keep fans debating as long as they remember this Women's Final Four. For everyone who wondered if all four No. 1 seeds reaching Nationwide Arena would result in a boringly predictable Women's Final Four -- it didn't. In terms of sheer drama, this weekend was the best women's college basketball has ever seen.
From this fan's perspective, and from the cheering of 19,599 others in the Nationwide Arena, the Women's Basketball Final Four was an unforgettable experience.
Now that I am back on campus and reflect on the 2018 Women's Basketball season, I'd be remiss to not mention the inspiration I receive regularly from our very own women's basketball team.In the last five years, they've won three Big West Tournament Championships, and in those same five years made three NCAA Tournament appearances. They earned a team GPA of 3.08 (Fall 2017), and the athletes earn their degrees.
I am proud that the past five seasons I've been an administrator with CSUN Athletics, the basketball season has started and ended with this squad competing, winning, and advancing. It continues to be very special.
#GoMatadors
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