Photo courtesy of Nick Nakaya / Bonaventure mascot during Fan Jam 2021
Sitting in the packed bleachers of the Reilly Center during Fan Jam last year was the first time back in the stands for many fans at St. Bonaventure University. The energy and the rush of the “Wolf Pack” returned after the season of no fans because of the pandemic.
Fan Jam is the annual kickoff event for the Bonaventure Basketball season. The basketball players get introduced to the fans, which creates excitement for the upcoming season.
Fan Jam will be held on Oct. 14, at 7:15 p.m. at Bob Lanier Court in the Reilly Center.
As usual, Fan Jam is a free event. It is open to students and the general public. Unlike last year, general fans are not required to claim tickets to the event.
Similar to prior years, students will register to receive their wolf pack shirts at the event. Wolf pack shirts are free t-shirts provided by the university for students to wear during basketball games. At Fan Jam, students will select their shirt size, but they will receive the shirt at a later date.
On campus student groups such as cheerleaders, the Dance Team and the Step Team will perform at Fan Jam. Team videos and player introductions will be displayed on the big screen. Coach speeches are on the schedule, just as in prior years.
There will also be entertaining games as in the past. This year there will be a Shooting Stars Competition, a three-point-shot competition, during the event. Participants in this game will include a player from the men’s and women’s team and potentially a few students or faculty members will be involved.
Seth Johnson, Senior Associate Athletic Director for External Relations, said fans can expect the staples that have happened at past Fan Jams, but there will be some new additions to keep it fresh.
“The event won’t be the same old, same old, for seniors who’ve attended in the past, there’s always going to be some surprises, always something new,” said Johnson.
Last year, fans were excited to get back into the Reilly Center since they knew many of the players and hadn’t seen them in action in a year because of the pandemic. This year’s event is more important than ever, Johnson said.
“It’s huge to really introduce our fans, our students and our alumni to all the new faces on our team,” he said. “So, they know who they’re going to be seeing on the court this year.”
Johnson said he’s excited for fans to be back in the Reilly Center, starting with Fan Jam. He said he hopes people don’t take the opportunity to support the basketball teams for granted, especially because of the lack of fans during the pandemic.
“I hope we have a great turnout at Fan Jam. I hope people come out to enjoy their time here and get excited for this upcoming season,” Johnson said.
purcelkr20@bonaventure.edu
