Fubar, Stirling’s sole nightclub, is paying a student’s entire rent for one year after the lucky customer won the jackpot prize in the club’s annual giveaway event, Fubaropoly.
The event began in September during Fresher’s Week and concluded on Wednesday October 29 when Lucy Taylor won the life-changing champion prize.
Across several weeks, customers received free McDonald’s Monopoly inspired tokens which could be exchanged for a variety of high-end prizes.
Over £15,000 was spent by the club on prizes ranging from iPads and TVs to local business vouchers.
Dave Thompson, the area manager, spoke to Brig about the reality of running expensive Freshers’ events and how he and his team have juggled their priorities to put their customers first.
He said: “We changed things up from booking a really big name for Freshers’ to doing this instead.
“The main reason was that DJs are now costing upwards of fifteen or twenty grand once you include flights, hotels and food, and it only really caters to people who like that specific type of music.
“We’ll still be doing those events before anyone gets worried, but for Freshers this year and last we wanted to try something that genuinely helped people.”
Dave spoke about Fubar’s ambitions to be more than a nightclub. He hopes that, with events like Fubaropoly, the club can support its customers while giving them a good night out.
He said: “Last year we gave away a car as the main prize, but in Stirling everything is on your doorstep, so a car wasn’t the best option. A few people even turned their noses up at driving the Fubar branded Fiat 500.
“The one thing everyone is struggling with right now is rent.
“Property investors are charging ridiculous amounts and prices are skyrocketing, so covering someone’s rent sounded like something people would genuinely be buzzing about winning. I know I would.
“Lucy was the perfect winner because this stopped her from literally having to work three jobs just to get by.”
Speaking about her big win, Lucy told Brig: “Winning the biggest prize of the year was surreal.
“I am so grateful and cannot thank Fubar and the team enough!
“Winning a whole year’s rent paid will allow me to save, focus more on university (rather than work) and relieve some of the financial pressure that comes with uni.”
Dave assured that Lucy’s prize, and other ones like it, are not just promotional activities designed to get students in the door and spending their loans. The team behind Fubar have a passion for Stirling, Dave said, and want to make a positive difference in the community.
He said: “If the venue’s directors and I didn’t genuinely love this city, would we really spend so much on the refurb, give away cars, pay someone’s rent for a year, and hand out prizes like Dyson Airwraps, TVs, holidays and vouchers?
“We could easily do what clubs in other cities do and just open the doors, but we actually care about keeping nightlife alive here.
“We’re always listening to people’s ideas. If students or locals want something different, come and chat to us or email me.
“We’re open to trying anything to keep the fun in Fubar, but please don’t just say Stirling is rubbish would proper feedback, or by trying to change up our sell-out Wednesdays.
“Support the industry and the people who are trying to deliver unique experiences. We want to make university nightlife as fun as it can possibly be, and we’re doing everything we can to make that happen.”
Featured image credit: Fubar
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