Grand Canyon University Athletics
'GCU in the Heart of Phoenix' opens
8/13/2018 9:00:00 AM | General
Marketing campaign links Lopes with hometown
Grand Canyon launched an unprecedented athletics marketing campaign for 2018-19 to capture the rapid rise of the university with its unique setting and its culture of service and community.
The Division I athletic program's rumble of growth starts at home in Phoenix and reverberates throughout the Valley in a "GCU in the Heart of Phoenix" theme that is as vibrant as the expanding campus.
The multimedia campaign's premise gets to the heart of what is being accomplished at GCU with a bustling university situated in the heart of Phoenix, successful teams earning their way into the hearts of Phoenicians and a student body's heart to serve the community.
"That message really epitomizes GCU and our relationship with the community, not only from an athletics perspective but also as it relates to our civic-minded students and employees and their desire to contribute to the public good," GCU President Brian Mueller said. "We have been incredibly blessed by the transformation of our university over the past 10 years, but we want to extend that prosperity to those around us."
That reach is felt by how GCU renovates neighborhood homes alongside Habitat for Humanity, partners with Phoenix Police on the Neighborhood Safety Initiative, helps K-12 students realize their academic potential through the Learning Lounge and creates businesses in GCU's neighborhood that drive the local economy.Â
Their work is contributing to the rise in property values in West Phoenix, where residents can also enjoy successful teams competing in top-notch facilities, like GCU Stadium, Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark and GCU Softball Stadium – all of which opened in the past two years. GCU student-athletes' devotion and perspiration were applied off-campus as well with 3,253 community service hours last school year.
A new athletics year will roll out on Aug. 24 with a packed house for the 7 p.m. men's soccer season opener against No. 12 Wisconsin at 6,000-seat GCU Stadium, following the women's soccer home opener vs. Houston Baptist at 4 p.m. The anticipation for 21 sports' new seasons is building off a historic 2017-18 campaign in which the Lopes won the WAC Commissioner's Cup as the conference's top athletic program. This year, men's basketball season tickets are almost sold out for a second consecutive season with a growing excitement for the rapidly rising basketball program and a nationally-recognized game-day atmosphere highlighted by the GCU Havocs Student Section.
With the launch of the campaign, the presence of GCU will be felt throughout Phoenix and its surrounding area with vibrant photo illustrations and messages on television commercials, radio advertisements and 10 billboards. It is a dynamic package of three key GCU elements – Phoenix, fans and facilities.
"The platform that we arrived at is beautiful," GCU Director of Creative and Media Marketing Chad Wilson said. "It really showcases the vibrancy of GCU and Phoenix. It shows the diverse nature of our athletes, our sports and is centered it in Phoenix."
The campaign will be intertwined with the community and with local businesses and will include events, community engagement and service initiatives. The "GCU in the Heart of Phoenix" campaign also will include a heavy social media push with the hashtag "#GCUheartofPHX."
"It isn't just about the great athletes we have or the great teams," Wilson said. "It's about how GCU connects with Phoenix."
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The Division I athletic program's rumble of growth starts at home in Phoenix and reverberates throughout the Valley in a "GCU in the Heart of Phoenix" theme that is as vibrant as the expanding campus.
The multimedia campaign's premise gets to the heart of what is being accomplished at GCU with a bustling university situated in the heart of Phoenix, successful teams earning their way into the hearts of Phoenicians and a student body's heart to serve the community.
"That message really epitomizes GCU and our relationship with the community, not only from an athletics perspective but also as it relates to our civic-minded students and employees and their desire to contribute to the public good," GCU President Brian Mueller said. "We have been incredibly blessed by the transformation of our university over the past 10 years, but we want to extend that prosperity to those around us."
That reach is felt by how GCU renovates neighborhood homes alongside Habitat for Humanity, partners with Phoenix Police on the Neighborhood Safety Initiative, helps K-12 students realize their academic potential through the Learning Lounge and creates businesses in GCU's neighborhood that drive the local economy.Â
Their work is contributing to the rise in property values in West Phoenix, where residents can also enjoy successful teams competing in top-notch facilities, like GCU Stadium, Brazell Field at GCU Ballpark and GCU Softball Stadium – all of which opened in the past two years. GCU student-athletes' devotion and perspiration were applied off-campus as well with 3,253 community service hours last school year.
A new athletics year will roll out on Aug. 24 with a packed house for the 7 p.m. men's soccer season opener against No. 12 Wisconsin at 6,000-seat GCU Stadium, following the women's soccer home opener vs. Houston Baptist at 4 p.m. The anticipation for 21 sports' new seasons is building off a historic 2017-18 campaign in which the Lopes won the WAC Commissioner's Cup as the conference's top athletic program. This year, men's basketball season tickets are almost sold out for a second consecutive season with a growing excitement for the rapidly rising basketball program and a nationally-recognized game-day atmosphere highlighted by the GCU Havocs Student Section.
With the launch of the campaign, the presence of GCU will be felt throughout Phoenix and its surrounding area with vibrant photo illustrations and messages on television commercials, radio advertisements and 10 billboards. It is a dynamic package of three key GCU elements – Phoenix, fans and facilities.
"The platform that we arrived at is beautiful," GCU Director of Creative and Media Marketing Chad Wilson said. "It really showcases the vibrancy of GCU and Phoenix. It shows the diverse nature of our athletes, our sports and is centered it in Phoenix."
The campaign will be intertwined with the community and with local businesses and will include events, community engagement and service initiatives. The "GCU in the Heart of Phoenix" campaign also will include a heavy social media push with the hashtag "#GCUheartofPHX."
"It isn't just about the great athletes we have or the great teams," Wilson said. "It's about how GCU connects with Phoenix."
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