By Aarav Desai ’29
An upper view of the football field
Last year, Bellarmine experimented with something never seen before in its 175-year history: hosting its first-ever football game on its own campus. While there were few expectations for the inaugural Fan Fest, the event somehow managed to exceed them all. A jubilant student section, a lively Bellarmine Quad, and a Bellarmine victory meant that the first edition of Fan Fest could hardly have gone better. However, this year presented ASB leaders and Bellarmine staff with unprecedented challenges.
First, changes in leadership made ASB planning incredibly difficult. Previous ASB president Vivaan Chopra had graduated, and numerous seniors had also left the program. Additionally, new staff members slowed the brainstorming process. However, much of the event’s design had already been planned out by last year’s ASB team. Second, the possibility of a second Fan Fest seemed uncertain from the beginning. Last year, both Jalal Beachman, Bellarmine’s offensive coordinator, and ASB staff and members expressed pessimism about the possibility of hosting another Fan Fest. They cited multiple issues, including costs, a lack of permits, and overall logistical difficulties, as reasons why the process would be more challenging than the previous year. Lastly, the ASB budget had been cut by staff and Bellarmine administrators, making it more difficult to put on a full-scale Fan Fest.
Despite these challenges, ASB staff and members remained incredibly determined to pull off Bellarmine’s second Fan Fest. Ms. Glover, ASB co-administrator, explained their determination to bring the event back: “We did think it was going to be a one-time thing, but because it was so successful last year, with almost 5,000 people being present last year, and just getting people on the campus, I think that that was something that we wanted to do again.” By coordinating with people such as Mr. Jemison, Mr. Salvidar from athletics, and members of the broader community to secure parking permits, an event that had initially seemed almost impossible became a reality.
However, everyone involved in ASB recognized the need to do something different, as expectations were now higher. Building on both the successes and shortcomings of the previous year, the event became, in Ms. Glover’s words, “a lot more lit.” She went on to explain the differences: “We definitely learned from last year and what we could have done better. For example, the food was selling out last year… so this year, we had five vendors there, and then we had our own food truck out on the field, and new carnival games.” These changes, along with new activities and lessons learned from the previous year, helped create a community gathering that was even bigger than the one before.
While the Homecoming game resulted in a disappointing loss for a rising Bellarmine football team, students, teachers, and coordinators still considered Fan Fest a success. Ms. Glover explained, “I think Fan Fest went really, really well. The student section was very full, and there were a lot of spirit on the field, off the field.” Not only did Bellarmine students bring the energy, but Mr. Jemison’s halftime show also helped energize the football team in the second half.
Student section bleachers at Fan Fest
Ultimately, when brainstorming ideas for a second Fan Fest, teachers, ASB members and staff, and everyone else involved wanted to keep one thing in mind: the Bellarmine community. It is a community that is incredibly diverse yet united by its shared love for the school. Regardless of the game’s outcome, the turnout, or the activities, Ms. Glover believes that both Bellarmine Fan Fests accomplished one important goal: “showing how much we care for each other at Bell.” Despite the challenges, the Fan Fest became an event that students, alumni, teachers, and parents had hoped to see return—and one that delivered beyond expectations.