This Saturday at 6 p.m., Tufts will travel to Wesleyan for the first ever New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) football game played at night under floodlights, making league history.
This move forward by the NESCAC presents Tufts athletics, as well as all other CAC participants, with a number of opportunities to raise game attendance and school spirit. Nighttime football games bring to mind certain imagery: a crisp fall evening, stands full of supportive peers and alumni and the winning teams fans pouring out of the stadium together to continue the celebration that night.
The fact that this game is the seasons first makes it even more exciting for both fans and the Tufts football team itself this is the Jumbos chance to start anew and to rile fans up for what could be a successful fall. Although the NESCAC is a legitimate league in its own right, a trend toward more evening games will bolster its already-solid reputation. With nighttime games, there would be an influx of fans from Tufts and other schools alike.
This season, however, Saturdays game will be the only NESCAC matchup under the big lights. According to Wesleyans official newsletter, the lights at Andrus Field are only temporarily installed for the game.
Maybe its time, though, for this to become a more regular part of the NESCAC football schedule, and perhaps Tufts should consider lighting up Ellis Oval for a game in seasons to come. Night games at home would accomplish a variety of things, including providing students with another activity to do at night on the weekends and potentially becoming an anticipated annual tradition. In addition, holding home football games at night could attract greater numbers of fans who might otherwise have conflicting engagements during daytime events, perhaps even providing more revenue for the Athletics Department and the university. The increase in attendance might boost team morale since more fans are there to root the players on. Tufts, like Wesleyan, would need to obtain the lighting sufficient for play. Though it may be implausible to invest in a permanent option, temporary lights can be installed.
Nighttime games might just bring our football team the kick it needs to succeed and Tufts athletics the spirit it needs to become more integral to Tufts reputation.
