As I watched the University of Texas and Nebraska football game, which was an incredible game if you missed it, I began to wonder why women support their teams while in college, more than they do in the cities they live in.

I’m not saying that all women lose interests in sports after school, but it seems like a large number do. Maybe it?s because in school, women feel more connected to the institution and the players themselves. After all, the athletes are fellow classmates. Schools promote team spirit, hold pep rallies and other activities that get students excited and involved.

Most professional teams don?t do this. Perhaps they should take a page from a college or high school playbook and look at ways to get females interested in attending games, not just with their significant other, but because they are immersed in the game and its culture.

Many teams have designed programs to get women more involved in sports. The Dodger WIN (Women?s Initiative Network) is just one approach. The Washington Capitals set up the first female fan club called Club Scarlet. The Minnesota Twins created Wine, Women & Baseball pregame events. Other teams conduct educational programs such as football 101 to familiarize women with players and coaches, as well as the rules. These have been so successful that some teams are teaching 202 advanced courses.

Making women feel a part of the team is one key to success. Innovative ideas will propel sports teams? attendance and revenue.

This entry was posted on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 5:07 pm and is filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.