Wake must figure out how to develop a geographical can base. The Triad has enough transplants who have no serious loyalty to the schools in the Triangle to make that possible. I'm not sure what that will require but national publicity brought by winning and having recognised stars (like Surratt and Newman) will surely help. The SID must figure that out!
Wake is still one of those "transplants" in the minds of some. There are still people who remember Wake as "that little Baptist college near Raleigh." The number of people who do continues to shrink.
The conversion of Winston-Salem from a factory town to a college town is very recent and still sinking in to the residents of the triad. Reynolds, Hanes, Burlington etc. along with Wachovia Bank, were the identity of the city. Wake Forest College. And later University, was a bit player, not the lead.
Today, the mills and industry are gone. The banks are gone (or going) and Wake Forest University is the new 800 pound gorilla in town - the dominant employer and financial engine for the city. That is a very new order of things. People often continue to see and think of things as they were, not as they are.
Wake needs to continue and expand the advertising of Wake as "the Triad's team." The success of the football team this century has helped move this narrative forward. Unfortunately, for the last decade, basketball has not had enough success to carry the aura of football success into the Spring months.
Improving the fan experience, as has been noted elsewhere.
I would like to see something like a feature HS "band of the week" which invites a local HS band to play each and every week (at least when Wake isn't playing Friday night.) Make it a bigger deal. Give the chosen band a certificate or plaque. Do something like this in addition to the massed band day.
