ASU Athletics Site Serves Its Purpose.

By: Colby and Andoni

 

              The purpose of the Arizona State University (ASU) Athletics website is to display information on ASU’s athletic teams’ latest developments, event schedules, event tickets, statistics and to generate revenue to offset the cost of operating the website. Websites are capable to containing nearly endless amounts of information, but that information is useless if a user cannot navigate the site to locate the specific information they are seeking. The ASU Athletics homepage is a web page that features an outstanding display layout, with good content and information that is properly organized to ease the user's search. However, it is plagued by large commercial advertisements that may irritate and distract the user from the purpose of the website. Overall, the ASU Athletics website is a very effective reservoir of information that is not only functional, but is visually appealing and inviting to a prospective user.

              

              One of the most important aspects of any website is the display and layout, even for a sports team’s website. A proper layout and display will keep content organized and help guide users to the information that they seek. ASU’s Athletics homepage has that kind of layout and display, giving the users as much ease of use as possible. It features a tab bar at the top as an access hub where sections are labeled to indicate where certain information can be found. This aspect makes navigation easy and keeps the content well organized. The display, mainly the general setup, has the tab bar in a convenient place that assures the users will be able to find it with ease. It is located above impressive graphics, which help keep the layout organized by providing places for the important information to be seen. The color display also suits the layout very well and is not overbearing or a nuisance to the user’s eyes. Though the site has a lot of information and plenty of features, the layout keeps it all under control by properly organizing everything to avoid a cluttered mess. As a whole, the website has a layout that is well organized and properly displays information, with easy access to all information. The layout is clearly the greatest strength of the site. With the strength of the layout and display, the ASU Athletics homepage successfully enables a user to manage all of its functions simultaneously.

              

              Nowadays, everyone is trying to stay connected by operating on Web 2.0 systems that allow them to network online. This website accommodates those needs by connecting to many popular social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, and even blogging sites like tumblr. These links are found in tabs sticking out from the right edge of the screen. They are clearly visible and noticed in this location, credited to the proper layout and display. Connections to these links helps users share information with friends, or followers. These connections help promote ASU’s athletics site and enable the user to network. The ability to link online to other sites is an important aspect for a website, since today’s online users are impatient and want information right away. By clicking one of the network links, such as the Facebook like tab, the users are transported to the site’s Facebook page. The user has the ability to “like” ASU Athletics website and receive updates as well as keep them connected to the website. Also, on the top right hand corner, several small icons are shown that give the options of connecting to not only the various social networking sites, but also to share via email and phone. The site promotes their newsletter that sends promotions and updates via email to its subscribers as well as an iPhone/android app. This makes the site more portable and mobile, allowing it to accommodate the likes and needs different demographics in the progressive online world of the Web 2.0 internet. Aside from all the social networking and online connectivity options the site provides, the ads on the homepage are also targeted towards the specific audience of ASU sports fanatics. The ability to network is appealing to the general demographic of sports fans, ASU fans, and students and parents that support ASU’s athletics department. The website is very Web 2.0, fulfilling all the needs of the modern-day internet prosumer, demonstrating its progressivity and versatility, suiting all kinds of users.

              

              Content is the core of what makes a website useful. Without proper content a website will seem very empty and its overall purpose never attained. The content in the ASU Athletics homepage is plentiful and informative. The schedules give the user access to the time, date, place and competitors which allows the user to informatively decide whether or not they will see or go to the event. The schedules also contain the scores and outcomes of previous games. The schedule can however, be difficult to find specific events that are late in the season because the schedule goes in chronological order, including past events, which can make it quite lengthy. Statistic information on the different sports is accessible and useful to someone who wants to know the fine details of the team and competitors. For example, if someone wanted information on a certain player’s season statistics on the women's softball team, it is available and contains all of the fine details a person who knows the sport would want to know. Although, some statistical information can be difficult track down or not exist at all. Some of the men’s cross country results for example, are incomplete and very vague as to the results of the last meet. Incomplete and nonexistent information is very rare on the website as a whole but it still exists. The main goal for the creators of this website is to generate money, the main goal for almost any website. The ASU Athletics homepage has access to the content of tickets and merchandise, which some users of this website search for this and gladly purchase. This content is very complete as expected with information on what tickets and merchandise are available, what’s sold out, and what’s coming soon. Another important part of proper content of this website is news on teams’ latest developments. The ASU Athletics homepage features the standard slideshow with captions of the outline of the story. When clicked more in depth coverage of the story is opened and displayed. Also, if a user wants to find other stories than just the top stories, those can be found as well, under one of the tabs. The website also features other miscellaneous content such as rosters, past season’s results, videos and pictures. These are nice to complete and support the main content of the website. As a whole, the content of the ASU Athletics homepage is very complete with a few exceptions and meets the goals and purpose of the website.

              

              Though many websites have wonderful display, with magnificent color schemes and displays, there is always that annoying factor that is needed to keep the site running smoothly and serving its purpose: the ads. Ads are almost always irritating and distracting, but can be kept at bay by adding a bit of subtlety, so that they are not so blatant and distracting. This is where the site fails. There are large portions of the homepage that are taken up by blaring ads, some of which are very distracting. Because the ads take up so much space and are so overwhelming, the site can feel cluttered and messy. Thankfully, the display and layout is so well done that it prevents this feeling from blocking or hiding information from the users. Yes, the homepage is riddled with ads and self-promotion, but it does not deviate from serving its main purpose. Though big and blatant, the ads are made easy to ignore due to their position in the overall layout, and are also displayed as a part of the Online Athletics store section on the right side of the page.  Once the user is beyond the homepage, the ads are more subtle and far less distracting. Ads are a necessary burden on the internet, especially in the current Web 2.0 online environment, and take some significant toll on ASU’s Athletics homepage. As usual, they are the site’s most significant downfall, among only a few, less obvious ones. However, their effects are not felt beyond the homepage and are buffered by the layout and display.

              
              So many factors contribute to the determination of a website’s quality. These factors include the website’s display, layout, content and web 2.0 functionality. All of these factors combine into answering the question; does the website meet its purpose? In this modern day and age, it is highly required to assess these factors in order to produce the most effective website possible. ASU’s Athletics website makes great use these factors, and therefore is able to perform effectively for an ever-growing audience with insatiable technological needs. Although a few flaws are present, most noticeably is the websites failure to diminish advertisement influence. They have very limited impact on the effectiveness and are further diminished by the sites impressive features. The website is successful overall at serving its purpose, which is to provide information regarding sports events for the Arizona State University Sun Devils and their many fans and followers.