Fan Experience Committee Making a Difference

Some have been lifelong Beaver fans; some are graduates of Oregon State University; others are following their parents, grandparents, uncles, or aunts' footsteps to Corvallis; and still others who have no prior school affiliation have gravitated to what this university embodies.

What they all have in common is the love for Oregon State Athletics and a willingness to be a part of making the program better. This 20-member Fan Experience Committee (FEC) is a group that was formed last spring as one of the first initiatives brought to OSU by Vice President/Director of Athletics Scott Barnes.

"What intrigued me was the thought of learning more about OSU Athletics and having the opportunity to share thoughts and have input from a fan's perspective," said Melissa Gilley, a lifelong fan and OSU graduate. "I could not have been more honored when I received a phone call from Mr. Barnes asking me to serve on this committee. It's been an amazing experience thus far and I have enjoyed every minute of it."
Oregon State's FEC is the brainchild of Barnes, who set up a similar program at his previous institution at the University of Pittsburgh.

"The goal of this committee is to learn how OSU Athletics can better serve our fans, and the best way to do that is to hear from a cross section of Beaver Nation about their experiences," Barnes said. "I'm very impressed with the recommendations this committee has already presented us in its short time of existence and I'm excited about the future of this team."

The committee, which has met three times, is charged with analyzing many different aspects of the game experiences at Oregon State's venues. Among the discussion points is traffic and parking congestion, concessions, facility enhancements and maintenance, and general and premium seating experiences among other themes.

"Every member of the committee has the sole focus of bettering the school and the athletics program over any personal gain or recognition," said Alex Luther, a sophomore at OSU who has been attending games with her family since she was three-years-old. "Every conversation I have with members of the committee is positive and shows a deeper focus for a love for Oregon State. The list of improvements and positive changes we can make has been exhilarating."

Oregon State Athletics has already acted on many suggestions with the goal of Beaver Nation enjoying memorable experiences at Reser Stadium this season as well as the other on-campus venues. Some of the elements that have already been completed or are in the process of are enhanced points of sale and other physical improvements (drink rails, seating, etc.) in the Terrace and The Toyota Club, increased healthy and fresh food options at all concessions, featured local vendors, aesthetic improvements (painting, graphics, signage, etc.), and the formation of a focus group on traffic egress.

"We have spent time talking about the pros and cons of events at all venues – what works, what we like and what we can do better," Gilley said. "There are a lot of ideas for improvements, some simple and some more complicated."

The FEC includes several OSU Athletics personnel and fans with a wide range of experiences. Committee members include Brett Wilkerson, Brette Ramsay, Jeff Lulay, Tyler Klassy, Jaime Sarabia, Laura Orth, Joseph Yoder, Katie Landgren, Chad Morow, Kavinda Arthenayake, Keahi McFadden, Scott Gascho, Michael Sander, Neil Marshall, Ken Strohmeyer, Dick Vardanega, Bonnie Osborne, Bert Loughmiller, Gilley and Luther. In addition, many other Beaver fans serve on a Fan Focus Group that collaborates with the FEC on a variety of issues and topics.

"While the FEC has a wealth of individuals with different backgrounds and experiences, the one thing we all have is a love for OSU and the goal of working together to accomplish great things," Gilley added.

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