Case Study: Lipscomb University achieves safer, higher-capacity, and more engaging game-day experiences with SlickText

How college athletic departments can use texting to improve fan safety and engagement

Lipscomb University, a Division I school in Nashville, faced the challenge of reopening athletic events during COVID-19 while meeting local health requirements on a limited budget. Athletic officials needed a fast, easy-to-manage communication solution to enforce social distancing and report infractions, or they would have been limited to fewer than 200 fans instead of the nearly 1,000 they wanted; they chose SlickText’s texting platform and set up a dedicated health text line.

Using SlickText, Lipscomb implemented a crowd-control “assist” text line that won local approval for 1,000-fan capacity, cut costs to about 10% of what a pro-team-style plan would cost, and enabled staff to respond within roughly 30 seconds. The solution produced clear, measurable benefits — no missed update complaints, higher engagement (more text-to-win entries than three years of app sign-ups), high open rates — and SlickText’s platform became a core communications tool for the athletic department.

Lipscomb University

Brent McMillian

Associate AD for External Affairs