The Pyramid sells out of best season tickets

Non-students hoping to get one of the best seats in the house at The Pyramid can lay that notion to rest. The 49er athletic ticket office announced Oct. 18 that all 1,024 "Gold Section" season tickets have been sold.

The section is comprised of seats with backs, as opposed to other areas of The Pyramid that feature bleacher-style seating. Despite the section selling out, the athletic ticket manager said students need not worry about getting good seats in The Pyramid. Students are being offered 1,000 free tickets for basketball games, said manager Mark Edrington.

Half of the free tickets are reserved for students living in oncampus housing; the rest on a first-come basis. Approximately 300 center-court seats will be designated for students, as well as another 200 behind the baskets.

"We've given students the best seats in the house," Edrington said.

In addition, another 500 tickets will be reserved for students at a discount rate of $3, said Bill Husak, director of the 49er Athletic Association.

The Cal State Long Beach athletic director, Dave O'Brien, said the athletic department had originally hoped to sell 750 of the section's season tickets, but that goal was exceeded about three weeks ago.

In order to purchase the package, patrons were required to make a $249 donation to the 49er Athletic Association for the first seat, plus $200 for each additional seat. The 14-game season ticket package - one exhibition in The Gold Mine, plus 13 regular season games - could then be purchased for $185, or $13.21 per game.

Edrington said a conservative sales goal for preferred-seating packages was set because CSULB has never had a facility like The Pyramid.

"When we exceeded our own goal, it was definitely a good surprise," the ticket manager said.

Edrington said people were hesitant, at first, to shell out so much cash, but many came around when they were told of a similar package for UCLA basketball that goes for $5,000.

"Once we explain that to customers, they understand," Edrington said. "It's kind of a shell shock at first, but they'll get used to it."

O'Brien said that selling 1,500 season tickets is not unrealistic, as 1,200 have already been sold.

Revenue from sales from preferred-seating packages is being channeled to the association to help cover building expenses for the $22-million structure, Husak said.

The money is also assist efforts to provide the maximum number of scholarships allowed by the National Collegiate Athletic Association for all sports, Husak said. Men's and women's basketball, men's and women's volleyball, softball and baseball are the only sports currently at maximum scholarship allowance.

Husak said about $16 million has been raised to pay for the structure, which will open with about 4,200 seats, plus 800 standing-room-only places. That leaves the university about $6 million short of paying the entire cost of The Pyramid.

Husak added a $2.7-million loan, to be paid over the next seven years, was taken out to acquire seating.

O'Brien also said he hopes to have some type of sponsorship, either from a corporation, foundation or individual, by the end of next year.

There has been speculation that The Pyramid won't be ready for its scheduled Nov. 30 opening, a men's basketball game vs. Detroit Mercy.

O'Brien said the contractor, Nielsen Construction Co. of San Diego, is confident The Pyramid will have the arena operational in time.

However, O'Brian said, there are no guarantees, and he said he has not made a contingency plan to hold the game at another venue, should The Pyramid not be ready.

By Nov. 30, O'Brian said, it will be ready, or at least, something close to it.

"If we've got two hoops, a hardwood floor, bathrooms and concessions, we're gonna play ball," he said.