With free food, contests and photo ops with basketball players, Wednesday's carnival-like basketball student ticket sale at the HUB-Robeson Center yielded the highest ticket sale ever for the men's team.
The event sold 635 men's basketball season tickets, Matthew Checchio, the marketing coordinator for basketball said. Last year, the athletic department sold 350 to 400 men's basketball season tickets on the first day of sales, he said.
Data was not readily available on how many women's basketball season tickets had been sold Wednesday, though about 100 people purchased both men's and women's season tickets, Checchio said.
Wednesday's event at the HUB marked the first time Penn State's athletic department held a live sale of basketball tickets.
Students purchased tickets from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday in Alumni Hall. Last year, tickets were sold online with student season football tickets.
Games, free food and a number of raffles, including one to win a bedroom makeover by members of the men's basketball team, were intended to entice more students to buy season tickets, Checchio said.
"We're trying to create a fun event to kind of unofficially kick off the season," Checchio said. "Coming off last year, with 6,000 people at a single game, interest in both teams are actually growing."
Towering above most of the crowd in the HUB, forward Jeff Brooks was on hand with several other members of the men's and women's basketball teams.
"The more students we have, the better we play," Brooks said.
Most basketball games see about 1,500 to 2,500 students, Associate Athletic Director of Marketing and Communications Greg Myford said last week. Checchio did not know how many student tickets are available at each game.
Events like Wednesday's can help build awareness and support for the basketball team, Brooks said.
"We're trying to build tradition for our team," he said. "It's a process."
Lady Lions shooting guard Meggan Quinn, while handing out popcorn to students, said the women's team needs more students at its games.
"It's more intimidating to play against schools that have a crazy student section," she said.
Some students who stopped by for the free food and prizes said they plan to attend games next year.
"I'm planning to go to a couple of games," said Eric Gabor (junior-finance), who was in line for a free pulled pork sandwich from Prospectors, adding Wednesday's event was "definitely drumming up anticipation."
Kelly Burns (junior-marketing), who has bought tickets since she was a freshman, purchased men's basketball season tickets.
"All Penn State athletes have a lot of talent and we should support all sports teams," she said.
David Jackson, a forward on the men's team, said an energetic student section makes all the difference for the team.
"They give us energy," he said. "We feed off the crowd just as much as they feed off us, and we're going to give them something to cheer about."
Brooks had even higher hopes for this year's team.
"We're going to the NCAA tournament," he said, grinning. "We're going to have a great year."
