NFL Giants President & CEO John Mara knew even before last year's training camp ended that it "needed to be a more 'fan-friendly' environment to fulfill the fans' wishes at the Quest Diagnostics Training Center," according to Jordan Raanan of the Newark STAR-LEDGER. The experience "wasn't up to par in his eyes," as sightlines "were poor, the fan engagement limited." The Giants "drew an average of 1,600 fans per day" in '14 for training camp. The bleachers this year "can accommodate approximately 2,500 fans." The team "asked fans what they wanted and in came the cartoonist, the balloonist, the bouncy houses, face-painter, video game truck and makeshift NFL Combine for children, all free of charge for anyone who attends Giants training camp." The bleachers "were raised for better sight-lines." Dippin' Dots ice cream and Rita's ices and $7 hot dog value meals were also "added to the menu." The Giants are "even bringing in cooling zones for fans on hot days and alumni are available for signings every day." The idea is that fans are "unlikely to leave without something Giants related." Giveaways "are an emphasis," and the Giants are "using branded sunglasses, pennants, posters and other promotional materials to keep attendees happy." After the bleachers "almost collapsed Friday on the first day of training camp as fans clamored for the autographs" of WRs Odell Beckham Jr. and Victor Cruz, the Giants "moved the post-practice autograph session to a new area and limited it to children 12 and under" (Newark STAR-LEDGER, 8/2). ESPN N.Y.'s Dan Graziano noted the bleachers in question are "temporary structures the Giants set up to accommodate fans who want to watch training camp practices" (ESPNNY.com, 8/1).
SHIRTS & SKINS: In Richmond, Ted Strong noted attendance at Redskins training camp "was up Saturday from the last two day’s dismal figures, but remained starkly lower than the same day in each of the camp’s first two years" at Bon Secours Training Center. Saturday "drew 5,266 fans, up from the camp’s first two days, when attendance hovered near 3,500." But the 5,266 figure was "far below the 11,127 who attended the first Saturday of last year’s camp and the 15,124 who attended the first Saturday" in '13 (RICHMOND TIMES-DISPATCH, 8/2).
SATURDAY IN THE PARK: In Charlotte, Joseph Person noted the Panthers have "brought their 'stadium in a park' vision to training camp" at Wofford College in Spartanburg, S.C. There is a "tiered tee box-type seating area and thousands of freshly planted flowers and shrubs like those found outside Bank of America Stadium." The beautification efforts are the "result of a partnership" between the Panthers and Lowe’s Home Improvement, which "supplied the landscaping materials, flower planters, lawn furniture and white picket fencing that give the Wofford practice fields a cleaner look not unlike Augusta National." Panthers President Danny Morrison: "That's exactly what we were trying to capture" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 8/2).
