Dayton Flyers will not play Red and Blue game for second straight year

Renovations at UD Arena leave no room on schedule for annual scrimmage

The Dayton Flyers men's and women's basketball teams will not play the annual Red and Blue games for the second straight year, a UD spokesman confirmed Thursday, because of the renovations at UD Arena.

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No decision has yet been made on whether to replace the scrimmages, which in the past gave fans their first glimpses of the teams in action, with another event. Last year, Dayton held a Fan Festival Cookout at Welcome Stadium on Oct. 14. Players introduced themselves to fans and signed autographs before a Dayton football game.

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The second phase of the three-year, $72 million renovation of UD Arena was expected to be the busiest, and Dayton Athletic Director Neil Sullivan said in July there was a high probability there would not be a Red and Blue Game again this year.

“There’s a lot of activity going on over there almost around the clock,” Sullivan said, “and I anticipate according to our schedule, that’ll be well into October.”

With no Red and Blue games, the first chances for fans to see the teams in action will come in exhibition games at UD Arena. The Dayton women play Indianapolis on Nov. 1 at a time to be announced. The Dayton men play Capital, coached by former Flyer Damon Goodwin, on Nov. 2 at a time to be announced.

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