Demon Dream Home Giveaway to benefit Northwestern State University athletics department

graphic courtesy of Northwestern State Athletics

You could win a $265,000 home by purchasing a $100 raffle ticket from the Northwestern State athletics department. NSU partnered with Rhodes Properties and Developments to create the Demon Dream Home Giveaway to support the operating budgets for the school’s 14 varsity sports. Northwestern State Athletic Director Kevin Bostian says they approached him with the idea of donating the three-bedroom house to raffle off, and he was all for it.

“Great idea; it’s not something that’s done every day. It hasn’t been done here, and it’s a way that we can generate revenue without having to put it specifically on the individual backs of donors,” Bostian said.

The over 1,400-square-foot house is located in the new Hidden Oak subdivision near Sibley Lake in Natchitoches. The deadline to purchase a raffle ticket is Tuesday, and a winner will be drawn next Friday. Bostian says other prizes are available, and you can do whatever you want with the house.

“At the end of the day, you’re supporting our 375 student athletes that we have in our 14 sports, and you’re doing it to help support them. We need the money; and we want to give them the best resources to be successful, and this is one way that we can generate those funds to help do that,” Bostian noted.

Bostian says operating costs are higher than ever, and Northwestern State is getting creative to generate revenue. He says the athletics department recently hosted a country music concert, and the Demon Dream Home giveaway is another initiative that has been received well.

“People in the community are excited about it. They understand what we’re trying to do. I’ve actually had several people say they appreciate me putting my neck out on the line to try to do something different; try to do something to excite the fanbase, but generate revenue where it’s not on individuals,” Bostian explained.

Bastion says he hopes to generate a couple hundred thousand dollars to be split among Northwestern State’s 14 athletics programs with nearly 400 student-athletes.