With the Macklemore and Ryan Lewis concert nearing, new opportunities for Dixie State University have arisen.
Mazie Ludlow, a junior communication major from Turlock, Calif., and vice president of communication and public relations, said that as a result of MTV working with DSU, MTV is looking to make DSU its Utah hub for Music Television University, or MTVU. She said if such a plan goes through, part of the deal will include new televisions to play MTVU on around campus.
“It’s opening up opportunities for students in general to work with MTV and to be recognized as a university,” she said.
Ludlow said with Macklemore and Ryan Lewis now charging $100,000 for shows, the timing was just right to bring the group.
“We got a really good deal for him, especially when you weigh the publicity and the press we’re getting as a university for [them] coming,” Ludlow said.
Spirit chair Jordyn Hanevold, a junior elementary education major from Logandale, Nev., said she thought the publicity would repair Dixie’s potentially damaged reputation.
“We’re getting tons of publicity,” she said. “It’s kind of putting a new light on our school. It’s really good because we’re becoming a university. Dixie has kind of had negative media for the name change.”
Ludlow said the school has actually earned money from the event, which is unusual since colleges and universities usually lose money putting on concerts. Some of the money has been earned back through ticket sales, as well as vendors paying to be present at the show.
Sami Warnick, the vice president of student life and a senior business administration major from Wanship, said some of the vendors include Hershey’s, which is bringing a photo booth, Findlay Hyundai and Party Sober Clothing.
Warnick also said the money earned would be placed into an account for future concerts.
Ludlow said though tickets are sold out, students will still have opportunities to win single tickets by keeping an eye on the Dixie Student Life page on Facebook, The Dixie Life Twitter handle, and The Dixie Life Instagram feed. She said only fifteen tickets were available.
Hanevold and Ludlow both agreed that student government nabbed the group at the right time; Macklemore and Ryan Lewis have found mainstream success with their single “Thrift Shop” and recently performed on Saturday Night Live.
“We just got really lucky, and Macklemore is kind of a really big deal right now, so we caught him at a really good time,” she said.
Ludlow said the concert would be one of DSU’s biggest events to come.
Ludlow said: “This is going to be the biggest thing that has happened yet, and that will probably happen at Dixie for years to come.”
