Basketball fans urged to join The Core this season
 As the Northwestern State men’s basketball team approaches a potentially historic season and the Lady Demons also have a bright outlook as 2008-09 practices begin Friday, with both programs having posted Southland Conference championships and NCAA Tournament appearances in the past four years, fans are encouraged to join “The Core” of NSU basketball season ticket holders.
“The Core” fan group has been established to recognize the loyal supporters of NSU basketball, the season ticket holders, said NSU athletic ticket manager Zach Williams. Along with discounted ticket prices, members of “The Core” get exclusive invitations to special events and receive “The Core” T-shirts, he said.
“Our players and coaches know their most loyal fans. They feed off the energy and support those fans provide,” said Williams. “We wanted to provide a distinct identity, and additional benefits, for our best supporters in Prather Coliseum, so we’ve created The Core to put a name to a group that our teams take pride in and visiting teams fear.”
Fans who had season tickets last year should complete their ticket renewals by next Saturday, Oct. 25, said Williams.
The 2008-09 season offers 27 games on 23 home dates, with season tickets going at less than $3 per game. Reserved midcourt chairback seats in the grandstand are $90, with general admission seating outside the midcourt areas on both sides of the playing floor at Prather Coliseum priced even more affordably, at $75 each.
The 300-plus floor-level chairback courtside seats are sold out, said Williams. There are more than 700 season ticket accounts for NSU basketball, with the goal to reach 1,000 season tickets this season.
“We have an incredibly affordable entertainment buy in NSU basketball season tickets,” said director of athletics Greg Burke. “We’ve had great success with both the men’s and women’s programs. Our student-athletes and coaches are active in our community and interact with fans at our games. We have enjoyed an exciting homecourt atmosphere that this year will be better than ever. Season tickets assure the best seats and the best deal.”
New ticket orders and renewals of last year’s season tickets can be made by calling the NSU ticket office at 318-357-4268 or online through a secure transaction on the www.nsudemons.com website, said Williams. New orders will be processed the best available ticket locations for reserved seat purchases following the completion of renewals, he said.
Coach Mike McConathy’s Demons have reached four consecutive Southland Conference Finals, playing in the tournament championship game annually since beginning the run in 2005. That matches the SLC record set in 1990-93 by Louisiana-Monroe. The Demons have played in six SLC Finals in McConathy’s nine seasons, which also matches the conference record for sustained success.
The Demons won the SLC regular-season titles in 2005 and 2006 and the East Division crown in 2007, advancing to the 2006 NCAA Tournament where they scored a first-round win over 15th-ranked Iowa.
The Lady Demons expect to contend for SLC championship honors this season after a 15-15 mark in 2007-08 under fifth-year head coach Jennifer Graf. They won the SLC and reached the 2004 NCAA Tournament.
There will be major improvements to Prather Coliseum, both in the arena itself and throughout fan-accessible areas of the building. New scoreboards and a new scoretable, all featuring data display panels for current game statistics, will combine with an array of new signage and an enhanced game environment entering the building to transform the Prather Coliseum experience for fans, said Williams.
[PRINTER FRIENDLY VERSION]
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