A VCU-painted bus in Manhattan’s Times Square. (Photo courtesy of Vector Media.)
Just in time for March Madness, two New York City sightseeing buses have been decked out in VCU colors and emblazoned with the phrase, “Havoc lives here. Go Rams.”
The buses are cruising around New York this week in support of the VCU men’s basketball team and its appearance in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament in Brooklyn.
Bill Schwartz (a 1986 VCU marketing graduate) and his fraternity brothers at Theta Delta Chi are behind the bus takeover.
Schwartz – who lives in New York City – is the CEO and founder of Vector Media, a company that designs wraps for buses and buildings across the country.
Schwartz got the idea in 2011, right after the Rams defeated Purdue in the third round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
“I was jumping up and down in my living room saying, ‘I can’t believe this, we’re actually going to the Sweet Sixteen,’ ” Schwartz said. “I called my art department to come up with a quick design and it was on the street the next day.”
Schwartz said he and his fraternity brothers had been trying to think of a way promote VCU to those unfamiliar with the university.
“We’re just very excited to be able to increase awareness of VCU in New York,” he said.
Vector Media CEO Bill Schwartz.
The wraps will stay on the buses during March Madness. Schwartz has reserved the buses for a few hours this week for VCU fans. The rest of the time, they’ll just make their usual routes around the city toting tourists here and there.
Glenn Hofmann, VCU executive associate athletic director, said the university loves the idea and the attention it drums up.
“The impact is tremendous. They drive around New York all day,” he said. “It’s advertising you can’t put a price on.”
Even better for the school, Schwartz said Vector and Theta Delta Chi pick up the tab – $30,000 to wrap each bus.
Hofmann said more than 2,000 VCU fans flock to the Atlantic 10 tournament each year. That’s more than any other school in the Atlantic 10 conference.
The No. 2-seeded Rams’ will make their first appearance at 6:30 tonight (Friday) when they take on Richmond. The No. 7-seeded Spiders beat Duquesne 76-64 on Thursday night, setting up a rematch of city rivals. VCU defeated Richmond 56-50 on March 6.
A VCU-painted bus in Manhattan’s Times Square. (Photo courtesy of Vector Media.)
Just in time for March Madness, two New York City sightseeing buses have been decked out in VCU colors and emblazoned with the phrase, “Havoc lives here. Go Rams.”
The buses are cruising around New York this week in support of the VCU men’s basketball team and its appearance in the Atlantic 10 Conference tournament in Brooklyn.
Bill Schwartz (a 1986 VCU marketing graduate) and his fraternity brothers at Theta Delta Chi are behind the bus takeover.
Schwartz – who lives in New York City – is the CEO and founder of Vector Media, a company that designs wraps for buses and buildings across the country.
Schwartz got the idea in 2011, right after the Rams defeated Purdue in the third round of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament.
“I was jumping up and down in my living room saying, ‘I can’t believe this, we’re actually going to the Sweet Sixteen,’ ” Schwartz said. “I called my art department to come up with a quick design and it was on the street the next day.”
Schwartz said he and his fraternity brothers had been trying to think of a way promote VCU to those unfamiliar with the university.
“We’re just very excited to be able to increase awareness of VCU in New York,” he said.
Vector Media CEO Bill Schwartz.
The wraps will stay on the buses during March Madness. Schwartz has reserved the buses for a few hours this week for VCU fans. The rest of the time, they’ll just make their usual routes around the city toting tourists here and there.
Glenn Hofmann, VCU executive associate athletic director, said the university loves the idea and the attention it drums up.
“The impact is tremendous. They drive around New York all day,” he said. “It’s advertising you can’t put a price on.”
Even better for the school, Schwartz said Vector and Theta Delta Chi pick up the tab – $30,000 to wrap each bus.
Hofmann said more than 2,000 VCU fans flock to the Atlantic 10 tournament each year. That’s more than any other school in the Atlantic 10 conference.
The No. 2-seeded Rams’ will make their first appearance at 6:30 tonight (Friday) when they take on Richmond. The No. 7-seeded Spiders beat Duquesne 76-64 on Thursday night, setting up a rematch of city rivals. VCU defeated Richmond 56-50 on March 6.
Just in case you aren’t already pumped up enough about VCUs chances in the A-10 tournament and NCAA Tournament, take a moment to enjoy John Feinstein gushing about how the Siegel Center has become one of the very best arenas in college basketball, period. I was fortunate enough to attend the VCU – Saint Louis game and I have never seen a basketball crowd so amped up for two hours straight. “Visiting teams almost never beat VCU inside one of college basketball’s best venues.” “When the band plays “400 degrees” and the students sing “It is havoc that you fear!”… Read more »