Beyond the Arc: Prepping for a Gonzaga Game Day as the Halftime Lead

Anyone who has stepped inside The Kennel knows that Gonzaga basketball game days are pure magic. But behind the roar of the student section and the squeak of the sneakers, there’s a meticulously choreographed production. As the Halftime Lead, my game day actually starts long before the arena doors even open.

Here is a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to keep more than 6,000 Zags fans entertained when the clock hits zero in the first half.

The Pre-Game Puzzle:

My first hurdle is corralling the halftime talent. Whether we are hosting youth jump basketball teams, martial arts groups, or a local dance squad, I serve as their primary point of contact.

Before anyone even thinks about stepping onto the hardwood, I make sure every single participant has their waivers signed, submitted, and filed.

I track down, download, and test all of their music tracks on our system. In live sports entertainment, dead air is the ultimate enemy, so testing the audio cues beforehand is an absolute must.

Lighting Up The Kennel:

Once the talent logistics are locked, I shift gears to the visual experience. If you’ve ever admired the crisp graphics lighting up the video boards during halftime, that’s where my technical prep comes in. I use the Daktronics control system to load, organize, and sequence all the visual assets. It requires serious attention to detail and ensures that the right sponsor logos, performer lower-thirds, and crowd prompts are queued up flawlessly to match the on-court action.

Scripting the Voice of the Zags:

A great halftime act needs a great introduction. To make sure everything sounds as good as it looks, I help prep and format the scripts for our public address announcers. This means organizing the copy so it’s easy to read on the fly, double-checking the phonetic spellings of performers' names so we don't make any mistakes on the mic, and verifying that all our required sponsor reads hit their marks. When the announcer’s voice booms through the arena, I know the script they are reading from is airtight.

The 15-Minute Sprint:

When the first-half buzzer sounds, all of this prep work transforms into a 15-minute sprint of controlled chaos. It’s fast, it’s loud, and it’s incredibly rewarding. Getting to cue the music, watch the graphics light up the boards, and hear the crowd react makes all the administrative hustle worth it.

Once the court is cleared and the second half tips off, I finally get to take a breath - at least until the next home game.

Go Zags!