Kansas State vs Butler Basketball Game

This game was one of the most exciting games that I’ve been to this season, especially considering that the Dawgs were able to come out with the win! It felt really refreshing to be back in Hinkle with everyone after the break, and I think the team benefitted from the home crowd energy as well. I was lucky enough to get into Dawg Pound at a good time, so I was behind the south end basket. Being in Dawg Pound is always a fun and lively experience, and being able to participate in the typical chants done during the introductions, singing the Butler War song, and trolling the officials when necessary is surreal to me. As a longtime Butler Basketball fan, being in Hinkle never gets old for me, so taking the time to recognize some of the advertisement tactics done throughout the game was very eye opening. For instance, the common commercial break activities such as the ball toss or the long golf putt always felt like harmless time fillers in the past. Last night I recognized that these are effective advertisement opportunities, and these brands benefit from the consistent promotion they get on game days. Similarly, when looking around the arena, deals were promoted on the jumbotron after certain plays, the media desk displayed ads the entire game, and there were promotional displays in the upper levels as well. Although there are branding opportunities everywhere, what I love about Hinkle and Butler is the community and loyal fans that show up for every game each year. In fact, I visited with my family friends at half time who have had season tickets for nearly thirty years; that’s a bulldog loyalty that I hope to live up to. I also had a very full circle experience at the game myself, as I recognized a previous Butler Basketball player sitting courtside who I had taken a picture with a long time ago. With help from home, I was able to resurface the picture from 2015 and was determined to recreate the photo opportunity. Fortunately, I was able to, and the player, Kellen Dunham, was very kind throughout the entire interaction. I think I was able to make his trip back to Hinkle a memorable one, and he did the same for me.