In a world where sporting events are played behind closed doors, it might feel a bit empty inside Carver Arena and Renaissance Coliseum. However, fans can still be in attendance to watch the Braves take the court, albeit in the form of cardboard.
Bradley sporting events will be filled with cardboard cutouts of fans in the stands in place of actual fans to start the season. Students, fans and alumni have until Dec. 20 to purchase cutouts at $75 for a single picture or $125 for a pair of pictures. All proceeds from purchases will go toward the Braves Club’s Ever Onward Initiative, a fundraiser launched in mid-November to help student-athletes succeed both academically and vocationally.
Cardboard cutouts have been a common feature at sporting events held during the ongoing pandemic, including at MLB and NFL games. Nathan Bramwell, Bradley Associate Athletic Director for Marketing and Tickets, said it provides new opportunities for Bradley fans across the country.
“We’ve had a wide variety of fans … people that are fans of us that live on the East Coast or West Coast and typically only are able to only watch the Braves play. Well, now they get to be there through their cardboard cutouts,” Bramwell said.
Bradley installed 90 cardboard cutouts at Carver Arena the day before Tuesday’s home opener against Judson. Another wave of cutouts will be installed at the arena for fans who missed the Nov. 20 deadline to submit their photos. Bramwell estimates that the department could end up with as many as 200 total cutouts before conference season begins.
Meanwhile, there will be cutouts at Renaissance Coliseum for both women’s basketball and volleyball, which is important because both seasons will overlap. However, they have yet to arrive, but will in time for the next home game on Dec.13.
“We have 24 or 25 ready to be installed at Renaissance,” Bramwell said. “Somewhere between 75 to 100 [total cutouts] is what we would expect to have at Renaissance as well.”
Though cardboard cutouts could be strange to see for the essential personnel allowed at each game, it is uncertain how long they will be the only figures in both arenas.
“While we would be incredibly happy if fans were able to attend by the end of this men’s basketball season, other than that, the hope is obviously for things to be back to normal for the 2021-22 season,” Bramwell said.
For now, Bradley, like many athletics programs across the country, has to get creative while dealing with COVID-19 mitigations. Despite the fun nature of the cutouts, Bramwell said games without fans will take time to get used to.
“If 2020 has taught us anything in the sports industry, it’s embrace the weird,” Bramwell said. “I know it’s weird, but it’s better than an empty seat.”
