University Star

Strahan Coliseum has a new seating arrangement for the 2009 to 2010 Texas State men’s and women’s basketball seasons.

“The students wanted to sit closer to the floor, so we moved them all the way to the sideline for this year’s basketball season,” said Don Coryell, associate athletics director.

Among the changes made is the lower level reserved seating, which has been moved to the side closest to Aquarena Springs Drive. The rest of the seats will be the student section. The student section was previously courtside on one baseline under the goal. Students will now be courtside for both the baseline and the sideline.

The home and visiting teams’ benches have moved to the other side of the court where the lower level reserved seating will be.

“The new seating arrangement is way better than the previous one,” said Michael Flowers, ASG athletic liason. “Students sitting on the lower level will create a great atmosphere during the games.”

Strahan Coliseum seats 7,200 people for basketball games. The men’s basketball team home games averaged 1,544 fans in attendance last season. Women’s basketball games average 1,226 for home games.

Coryell said it has been a long time since Strahan Coliseum has sold out for a basketball game, perhaps never.

“We do expect the seating arrangement to result in an increase of student attendance,” Coryell said. “It would be great to see 5,000 students in the stands this Friday for the men’s and women’s first basketball games of their seasons.”

Last season’s home opener for the men’s basketball team resulted in a 104-81 win over Huston-Tillotson. The game drew 2,235 students in attendance. The women won their home opener last season 96-60 over Paul Quinn College with 1,990 students in attendance.