NC State Athletics to use SAS sports analytics to improve fan engagement

NC State Athletics and SAS will collaborate to use SAS sports analytics to improve the fan experience, provide better customer service and enhance fan engagement. Through a five-star rating system like that used to rate athletics recruits, SAS will help NC State Athletics optimize its ability to identify fans most likely to engage or donate.

With one of the most passionate fan bases in college athletics, this new partnership will ultimately help NC State increase attendance and game day atmosphere across all sports. Additionally, the athletic department will use SAS to analyze data and analytics related to academic success.

“We are thankful for fans whose support of Wolfpack athletics is a lifelong passion,” said Stephanie Menio, NC State Deputy Athletic Director. “SAS will help us be smarter about our data and analytics while also helping us engage fans in new ways that will fortify those relationships for years to come.”

While many athletic departments collect data about ticket sales, alumni, donors, fans, attendance, mobile apps, web browsing, venues and more, they often struggle to integrate the data from disparate sources and make sense of it. SAS will analyze the behavioral data outlined above to help NC State Athletics with ticket, donor and fan optimization. In addition, it will help NC State Athletics better communicate with fans by focusing messaging on things that are most important to the individual fan based on the person’s prior engagement with the university.  

The ratings can be used by external staff for targeted call and e-mail campaigns, direct mail, etc. SAS will serve as a cross-functional tool the athletic department can use to sell more tickets, increase donations and grow Wolfpack Club membership. The incremental revenue realized form this partnership will provide integral resources for NC State as it continues to provide an exceptional experience for more than 550 student-athletes and compete nationally across 23 sports.Initially, NC State will focus on using advanced analytics to help increase football and basketball season ticket sales by encouraging new sales or upgrading single-game buyers to full season plans. They will also use analytic insights to help drive additional Wolfpack Club memberships and donations.