by Wynne Kenna, special to NYSR
Westchester Soccer Club welcomed close to 3,000 elementary and middle school aged campers around Westchester County to Memorial Field on July 8 for the club’s first ever Camp Day. Camp Day is an event to promote the club and ultimately grow their community.
The day consisted of an 11:30 am game, Westchester SC vs. Long Island Rough Riders, soccer activities throughout the stadium, food trucks, merch, the first ever appearance from their new mascot, Hutch, and player autographs post game.
An Event Built Beyond the Game
The schedule carried on well beyond the first and final whistles. The pregame activities and warm up drills kept the kids busy and ready for the game, as well as at halftime, which offered relay races with the kids. While the Westchester SC vs. Long Island Rough Riders match served as the centerpiece of the day, the club viewed the whole experience of the event equally as important as the minutes played
Unveiling of the Mascot
Not only was there excitement around the athletes on the field, there was added hype around the addition and introduction of Hutch, Westchester Soccer Club’s brand new mascot. Hutch spent the day engaging with the kids. Before kickoff, he made his rounds high fiving the fans, taking photos with them, and signing autographs.
During the match, Hutch spent his time with the kids in the stands as a way to connect and create a strong community with fans. Hearing the cheers and excitement from the kids after every fist bump and wave was a reminder of how special this day was to Westchester SC and the kids.
Meet and Greet
As the exhibition match came to an end, which resulted in a 3-3 tie, the athletes stayed after to greet the kids. They signed autographs for the kids who spent the entire day watching them compete, turning postgame interactions into life long memories with photos and conversions.
For Ari Kwitkin-Close, chief revenue officer for Westchester SC, the sight of players spending the day alongside young fans was a “PR dream,” the kind of goodwill that appears naturally when an event is built around valuable engagement. “This event is able to show us the type of reputation and values our club desires while strengthening what we have already built.”
Community Growth Through Soccer
Westchester SC’s commitment to community involvement is nothing new. The club is in its second year in the USL League One, and all branding and messaging focused on strengthening community ties in Westchester County. Camp Day reinforced the club’s community-first approach, giving the young club the opportunity to build trust and loyalty through engagement with kids.
For Westchester SC, Camp Day was never about one day of activities. The event doubled as a strategic effort to expand the club’s presence within the county and broaden its fan base beyond its current supporters. By connecting players and coaches with the campers, many of whom were likely attending their first match, the club is hoping the youth engagement will create growth in the long-run, turning first time attendees into loyal fans, leading to the next generation of Westchester SC fans.
Based on the successful turnout of nearly 3,000 people, it is clear that Westchester SC has an established road map to continue to attract new fans to the sport and the organization. Focusing on the fan experience, and continuing to reach a broader audience, will allow Westchester SC to strengthen its foundation and continue on its successful path.
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