“We’re definitely going to use the PBH vans, and I think we’ll end up subsidizing a few subway passes,” Byrd said. “They already have reduced fares in Boston, but I think we can work out something with [the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority] for free field trips.”

The expectation is that football season will amount to a trial run for a system Byrd and Ardrey would like to see expand to include other sports come winter.

“We had talked about events like hockey games during the week, lacrosse games, women’s volleyball and definitely basketball,” Byrd said. “It’ll be event-to-event in those sports. [O’Connor] made it pretty clear that as long as tickets were available we’d have first rights to them.”

But the program’s potential extends beyond sporting events, and Spectacle will likely look to tap into Harvard’s arts programs as well.

“One of the things we’re building is steering committee for student representatives among prominent community service organizations,” said Ardrey, who also co-directed Eleganza. “It’s about where they’d like it go—a cappella, choral music, plays. There’s so much going on at this campus.”

The program kicks off Sept. 18, when the Crimson welcomes Holy Cross in the season opener.

“All these kids rubbing shoulders with the old Harvard fans,” Byrd said. “It’ll be interesting.”

—Staff writer Timothy J. McGinn can be reached at mcginn@fas.harvard.edu.