Arizona hoops ticket article

[NT80]

Arizona hoops the hottest ticket in town

By James Kelley, Arizona Daily Wildcat

July 28, 2004

(U-WIRE) TUCSON, Ariz. -- There are a few things in life that one can be certain about: Death, taxes and the popularity of men's basketball at Arizona.

The Wildcats are the hottest ticket in town, explained assistant coach Josh Pastner.

"I think it is the most popular thing in the state of Arizona; every single game is on live television," Pastner said. "In Tucson, the fan support is terrific. We get tremendous support. We're very fortunate, very lucky for that."

Arizona has led the Pac-10 in attendance since 1984-85 and the 14,545-seat arena has been sold out since 1987-88.

"I think we are one of the top-five programs in the country, definitely No. 1 in the west," said Chris Del Conte, the associate athletics director.

North Carolina, Duke, Connecticut and Kentucky are the other top-five programs, Del Conte said.

Seats are so coveted that the season tickets are handled on a priority point basis and courtside seats, known as Scholarship Row, cost about as much as out-of-state tuition, room, board and meal money.

Pastner said they "absolutely" use the team's popularity in recruiting.

"It is something we really sell in the recruiting process, no doubt about it," Pastner said.

The student seats were limited to behind the basket and in the upper level after alumni bought the seats when Olson was hired. Normal lower-level seats go for $1,250.

Del Conte said that Arizona is in the top five in terms of the money it makes.

Students are also pretty passionate about the basketball team.

"The student following is great; I know a lot of students who come to school here for the basketball program," Pastner said. "We're just very fortunate to have the support we do; it is not everywhere you get that kind of support."

In 21 years under head coach Lute Olson, the UA has won a national championship, been to four Final Fours, been to seven Elite Eights, been to 11 Sweet Sixteens and has had 20 straight NCAA Tournament berths, the longest current streak in the NCAA -- and the same for its 17 consecutive 20-win seasons.

The Wildcats have been ranked in The Associated Press top 25 for 286 consecutive regular season weeks since Nov. 29, 1987. The UA began the 2001-02 season unranked in the preseason poll and after its first two games jumped to No. 8.

Arizona has been ranked No. 1 for 30 weeks, most recently for five in a row in 2002-03. The Wildcats have had 24 players picked in the NBA draft since 1989, tied for No. 1 with the Blue Devils.

After the 1997 national championship, fans rioted on nearby Fourth Avenue. After the Wildcats lost the 2001 championship game, there was another riot on Fourth Avenue.

In October 2002, when the UA was preseason No. 1, a ruckus arose outside the McKale Center after students had lined up to purchase tickets.

Sixteen police officers were called to stifle the uncontrolled mob of 2,000. Temporary barriers that were set up that morning were knocked over and security guards, who were handing out ticket vouchers earlier than they planned, had to stop when the crowd was pushing.

In 2001, the year the UA eliminated the lottery system because of requests by student government officials, sales went off without a hitch. Last year ASUA returned to the lottery system, and the ticket situation remains a hot-button issue for students.

"Tickets are such a hot commodity and that's a very good situation for us. Like I said, in the recruiting process, we sell that," Pastner said. "The only person who gets credit for that, for building it up, is Lute Olson."

[Gakusei]

Don't hold your breath. At least 50% of the 'die-hard' fans on the football board don't even make the Saturday games, and the attitude is that unless JJ takes the team to the dance, there's no reason to care.

Edited July 29, 2004 by Gakusei

[CMJ]

Well, once upon a time AZ was a football school.

[UNTLifer]

Don't hold your breath.  At least 50% of the 'die-hard' fans on the football board don't even make the Saturday games, and the attitude is that unless JJ takes the team to the dance, there's no reason to care.

Be careful who you call out and make sure your facts are straight before you start stating them.

[Gakusei]

The first Saturday game of the season, Hardin-Simmons, ESPN's site said we had 800 there. It was more like 400-500. The other two Saturday games might have reached 2,000, but I believe were more like 1,500.

The facts are straight.

[UNTLifer]

Maybe I read your post wrong. I took it to mean that 50% of the die-hard football fans don't make the football games on Saturday. I now see where you meant they don't make the bball games.

I think you will see an increase in bball attendance once the program consistently wins, the program is properly promoted and they host some D1 programs on a consistent basis. I'll give them Indiana last year, but besides that, nobody wants to see Hardin Simmons, Southeastern Oklahoma Baptist, Pan-Am, etc...

[Gakusei]

Well of course not, but every school plays warm-up games like that. We also hosted Baylor last year and had an away game at TCU. Both were fairly poorly attended by Mean Green faithful.

I just couldn't believe last season how incredibly busy the football board was during January-March compared with the basketball board. If someone's a fan of the school, they should at least make the Saturday basketball games. No matter what anyone says, we were passed over this time in realignment because of basketball.

Obviously there's no way we can duplicate everything a school like UTEP has done in basketball during these next 5 or so years, but it'd certainly help if we could get the Pit at least half full during Saturday games, if not 75-100% full. The Pit's supposed to be one of the worst places to play for visiting teams, but you'd never know it when all you can hear is the Pit Crew (20 ppl or so) over in the corner.

[UNT_92_Fan]

I agree with Gak on this one.... Everybody drops everything for football...heck I know i do! But when it comes to basketball it seems like few care. I know i was at every game i could make last season for both the men and women....looks like i will be more than required to be at every girls game this next season due to the whole girlfriend being on the team aspect....but besides that...the basketball team is a part of the whole picture here....Support one SUPPORT THEM ALL

Bring on the flaming!!!!!

[UNTFan23]

I hope all the peeps in the Pit Crew are looking for something cool to wear. I need to find mechanics outfit type thing that I can do some cool things with. Finding one that's green would be awesome.

[UNT_92_Fan]

we are lookin at just getting some sweet shirts....some of the "founders" if u wanna call us that were chatting about something else...I will keep ya updated!

[ADLER]

All you really need is polo type shirts with logos on both sides and PIT CREW on the right sleeve to make a decent race style shirt. Unlike coveralls, the shirts would be comfortable to wear to classes on gameday.

Greenstock could probably make them fairly inexpensively for the group.

Edited August 4, 2004 by ADLER