UTEP Athletics Director Provides Updates at #EPMAD Press Conference
Last Updated on June 13, 2018 at 12:00 AM
Originally published June 13, 2018
By University Communications
UTEP Communications
Director of Athletics Jim Senter briefed the media on numerous UTEP Athletics initiatives at the Every Person Makes a Difference (#EPMAD) news conference Wednesday at Albertsons, 3100 N. Mesa St.
“Since arriving in El Paso and assuming my new duties, our fans have continuously told me that they want more from our department,” Senter said. “More engagement, more options, more fun and more winning. I feel confident that the winning is going to happen! What we feel strongly about is that we need everyone to be more involved and committed to the process of what it takes to win. The truth is we believe that ‘Every Person Makes A Difference’ #EPMAD and today’s announcements are just a few examples of how we have been engaging our fans and will continue to look for new and creative ways to involve everyone so they can be a positive difference maker for UTEP Athletics.”
#EPMAD Campaign
As a corporate sponsor for UTEP Athletics, Albertsons will be selling exclusive limited edition “Difference Maker” T-shirts. “Albertsons is proud to support UTEP as a Difference Maker,” said Lori Raya, president of Albertsons. “UTEP makes a difference in the lives of its students each day. It’s an honor to be the exclusive retail partner for UTEP’s Difference Maker T-shirts.”
Town Hall Meetings
Athletics officials compiled a “Top-10 List” of items most frequently brought up by fans at the series of Town Hall meetings across El Paso. These items are:
1). Fix tailgating.
2). Get UTEP students more involved in Athletics.
3). Make games more fun.
4). Add baseball and men’s soccer.
5). Go to the Mountain West Conference.
6). Better marketing.
7). Develop and create traditions.
8). Engage the East Side.
9). Build community spirit.
10). Build a Spanish-speaking fan base.
Fan Council
The 30-member UTEP Fan Council has been launched and had its first meeting June 4 at the Foster Stevens Basketball Center. Items on the “Top-10” list from the Town Halls were discussed. UTEP Athletics officials also gave presentations on the budget, the conference situation, and the marketing plan for 2018-2019. The Fan Council will gather quarterly with the next meeting scheduled for Sept. 4.
Fan Fest
The 2018 UTEP football gameday experience will be enhanced with the addition of the Fan Fest. Located in the Memorial Gym parking lot facing Glory Road and Randolph Drive, the Fan Fest will be free to the public and suitable for all ages with food, music, entertainment and kid-friendly games. The Fan Fest will be open from 2 to 5 p.m. for the Miners’ season opener versus Northern Arizona. More details will be announced later this summer.
FirstLight Federal Credit Union Miner Kid’s Club
The Miner Kid’s Club now features a free membership option courtesy of FirstLight Federal Credit Union. Packets include free admission to all Olympic sporting events (soccer, softball, tennis, track and field and volleyball) and access to all free athletic events (Football Fan Day, Orange and White basketball scrimmage, Kid’s Club Days, etc.) with special on-field and on-court experiences at all sporting events. Packets will be distributed throughout the summer at various events across El Paso, and are also available through UTEP Athletics. To activate the membership, parents can enroll their child online at utepathletics.com to receive their free membership card and sign up for Pete’s Birthday Club.
A Gameday Membership upgrade is also available for $30. This includes all benefits of the free membership, plus free admission to all football, men’s basketball and women’s basketball regular season games (free youth ticket with accompanying adult ticket at any level/ticket must be purchased at the University Ticket Center or venue location on gameday only). Other benefits of the GameDay Membership are an official gameday T-shirt, official gameday premiums and the chance to be the “Kid’s Club CEO” at a football, men’s or women’s basketball game or other UTEP athletic event.
Kids can open their Miner Kid’s Savings Account with FirstLight Federal Credit Union to earn more perks and prizes. Visit FirstLightFCU.org/Miner-Kids-Savings soon for more details.
“FirstLight Federal Credit Union is delighted to partner with UTEP Athletics since 2014,” said Natalia Flores, marketing manager for FirstLight. “It’s our mission to support the communities that we serve, and this year, we are extremely proud to sponsor the Miner Kid’s Club and offer a new Miner Kid’s Savings Account to help them achieve their dreams.”
More details: www.utepathletics.com/kidsclub
Miner Savings Magazine/Football Schedule Card
The new Miner Savings Magazine is free to all UTEP fans and provides special savings and rewards from local restaurants and businesses. The UTEP football schedule card features a yearlong BOGO Church’s Chicken meal deal. Fans can present their schedule card at participating Miner Savings locations for deals (for the full list of establishments taking part in the program, visit www.utepathletics.com/minersavingsmag. Fans can also register online at www.utepathletics.com/minersavingsmag to receive weekly deals, free food and prizes.
Miners Got Talent
The “Miners Got Talent” competition is new for 2018! The talent show is open to all ages, individuals and groups. Tryouts are scheduled for June 16 from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. at Memorial Gym, with fans voting for their favorite performers. The lucky winners will be selected to perform at halftime of UTEP men’s and women’s basketball home games, with the top-three finalists receiving cash prizes. Signup: www.utepathletics.com/mgt