Duke Football Enhances Game-Day Experience with New Host and Special Seating
Duke football is setting the stage for an improved game-day atmosphere at Wallace Wade Stadium with several exciting adaptations slated for the 2024 season. The initiatives include hiring a new social media game-day host and introducing a premium seating area known as the Devils Deck.
Rachel DeMita Joins Duke Football as Social Media Host
Duke football announced on July 25, 2024, that Rachel DeMita, a prominent content creator and influencer, will join the team as their new social media game-day host. DeMita, who formerly played college basketball at Old Dominion, has a significant following thanks to her podcast, Courtside Club, where she dives into sports and pop culture. She also has a robust background in sports reporting with previous stints at the NBA, NBA 2KTV, Overtime, Bleacher Report, and CBS.
With over 1 million followers on Instagram and 303,000 subscribers on YouTube, DeMita’s online show has accumulated more than 100 million views across platforms. Her new role at Duke includes hosting on the stadium’s videoboard and making appearances across team social media channels during home games. As football remains a huge revenue generator for Duke, surpassing even basketball in financial impact, DeMita’s involvement is expected to enhance online engagement and visibility, potentially attracting new fans and top recruits.
Devils Deck: A New Way to Experience Duke Football
In addition to DeMita’s appointment, Duke football revealed the creation of the Devils Deck, a new spectator section intended to enrich the game-day environment. Located in the horseshoe area behind the north end zone, this section will provide an all-inclusive experience with all-you-can-eat food and non-alcoholic beverages, yard games, a bar, and a DJ. Access to this vibrant, tailgate-like atmosphere is available for an extra $45 on top of the regular ticket price, with around 1,500 fans able to enjoy these amenities each game.
Duke Football Head Coach Manny Diaz commented on the new feature, noting that his inspiration came from witnessing how dynamic environments can favorably affect games. Targeting predominantly alumni and residents of Durham, the Devils Deck aims to draw more spectators from these major demographic groups, while maintaining engagement through incentives like discounted student rates at $35.
Overall, the Devils Deck and other forthcoming improvements are designed not only to offer a superior fan experience but also to maintain high attendance rates, even with the stadium’s planned decrease in capacity from 40,004 to 35,018 seats. Coach Diaz and the Blue Devils are optimistic that these changes will spark greater enthusiasm and support for the team throughout their upcoming season, beginning with their opener against Elon on August 30, 2024.