Villanova University Event Success
Throughout the Big East and March Madness tournaments, the app had the most up-to-date information about where and when future games were held, detail about local watching parties and who would be there, special giveaways and links to register for related-events.
Updating any information was easy using the Stova platform, as any changes were automatically synced to the app. For example, if a watching party for Villanova alumni in Boston’s venue changed, Upton could update that information in Stova and that information would automatically sync with the app. Then organizers were able to send out push notifications to users, giving them an additional way to communicate to the community that went beyond traditional email, says Upton.
The app was also a great resource for staff, who had easy access to both information about the tournament and real-time RSVP reports via administrative-only modules built right in the app. “This was a huge step forward for us as they were available to our front-line fundraisers on the road during the tournament,” Upton explains. These fundraisers were able to pull up a RSVP report for any event to see which of their prospects were registered, allowing them to make time to speak with them.
Finally, the app came in handy about a week and a half before March Madness’ Final Four Tournament, when Villanova used Stova’s mobile check-in module and badge scanning to help make the local events in San Antonio (where the tournament was being held) as easy as possible. “We were able to make mobile check in visible in the app to just staff members, so that they could jump in during any event and scan badges.” Upton says “This helped prevent bottle necking at the door and get people into events quickly, so they could spend more time enjoying them instead of waiting online.”
Overall, Upton says Villanova’s first March Madness was a success as it helped reach their goals of creating an enhanced, up-to-date communication tool for the tournament. And attendees found it important as well, as there was a steady stream of app downloads each week, with a noticeable consistent increase by the hundreds after Villanova moved on to each round. While email was largely used to promote the app, Upton says the biggest promoter of the app was word of mouth.