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UD pushing toward First Four sellout

About 10,000 all-session passes have been sold for March 13-14 event.

By Doug Harris, Staff Writer Updated 12:09 PM Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Ticket sales have been strong for the NCAA First Four tournament games, but the University of Dayton has some work to do to reach its goal of having capacity crowds for both nights of the event.

UD has sold about 10,000 all-session passes for the two doubleheaders March 13 and 14 at UD Arena, which can accommodate about 13,200 fans for the tourney. The games will pit the last four at-large teams in the field against each other, while the four lowest-seeded teams also will square off.

The games drew just more than 10,000 spectators each night last season.

“I think from an operational standpoint and a relationship with the NCAA, we have literally done everything we could do to make sure this event comes to Dayton and stays in Dayton,” UD Athletics Director Tim Wabler said. “Now it’s, can we just put that exclamation point by going out and selling this out and showing the rest of the country that they shouldn’t even bid on this in the future because it just belongs in Dayton? That’s where we’re at right now.”

There are some lower-arena seats available behind the baskets at $120 for all four games. Upper-arena tickets cost $80. Last season, VCU beat Southern Cal here to launch a surprise run to the Final Four.

Tim O’Connell, the UD Arena director, said sales are starting to surge again after a brief lull.

“The Local Organizing Committee is working real hard to help us sell this out,” he said. “Their goal, everybody’s goal, is to sell it out, and, quite frankly, I think it’s a doable thing.”

UD Arena has hosted 87 men’s tourney games, the most of any venue in NCAA history.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2125 or dharris@DaytonDailyNews.com.