Weber State University has always had an active and supportive student section. Unlike other Utah universities, the student section lacked an official name until 2017, when organizers decided to deem the Wildcat student section “The Destruction Zone.”
The word “destruction” is the act or process of destroying and the name for a group of wildcats.
“(The name is) nothing too crazy, it’s pretty unique but at the same time it represents what every student is,” Brant Mecham, assistant athletics marketing director, said.
Similar to Utah State’s Hurd and the University of Utah’s Mighty Utah Student Section, the Destruction Zone invites students to gather together and cheer on their Wildcats while also heckling the visiting teams.
The energy and passion that Wildcat students show for their teams has increased as the number of students in the Destruction section has grown in the past few years.
Mecham noted that although Weber State is considered a commuter school, having a strong student section alleviates concerns students may have about attending Weber State athletics.
Joining the Destruction Zone allows students to be a part of something big on campus with other friends, classmates and to really get the college experience.
Head football coach Jay Hill believes a bunch of rowdy students intensifies the atmosphere in the crowd.
“We want the students here. They make us better,” Hill said. “The better the atmosphere and the louder it is in here, the better home field advantage we have.”
The growth of the Destruction Zone fuels a winning atmosphere among players. Senior defensive end Jonah Williams feels a definite motivational advantage because of the Destruction Zone.
“I don’t know the exact numbers, but we win most of our home games, and I know the Destruction Zone helps with that,” Williams said.
Social media interaction is one of the biggest and best ways the Destruction Zone and its leaders are able to reach the WSU student body.
The Destruction Zone operates multiple social media accounts, which Mecham called one of the best follows of any Weber State-related accounts for students on campus.
“As a marketing department, we could advertise as much as we want, but it all comes down to people inviting their friends and telling their classmates there’s a game,” Mecham said. “That’s usually when we see our best turnouts.”
As the fall semester gets underway, the Destruction Zone has big plans to increase their reach to the WSU student body. Mecham says that one of the biggest ways to generate interest is through incentives like various giveaways and discounts.
One deal that stands out allows students to get themselves and four additional guests into any Weber State game for free. Students simply need to show their Wildcard ID at the gate of any athletic event.
Online promotions will include multiple T-shirt and gear giveaways on social media. Vendors will offer discounted concessions at sporting events and promotional nights at different sporting events will be advertised on campus as well as on the Destruction Zone’s various accounts.
Fans can follow The Destruction Zone on its social media accounts. Find them on both Twitter and Instagram with the handle @WSUDestruction and on Facebook under the page name “WSU Destruction.”
