It’s official: students can sit court-side this basketball season
By Emily Turner
Staff Reporter

'This basketball season students will have the chance to sit directly behind the Horned Frog bench and cheer on the men’s and women’s teams.

Athletics director Eric Hyman confirmed Thursday afternoon that student seating in sections G, H and I in Daniel-Meyer Coliseum will be extended down to the court behind the TCU bench, which was moved in front of the student section for this season. The change will relocate 75 season ticket holders who will have first priority for sections E and F, ticket manager Chip Heiss said.

The Athletics department hopes the change will move rowdy students closer to the floor and create a home court advantage.

“We are going to be in a difficult conference this season,” Hyman said. “We want students to be a part of it and to feel that it is their program.”

Hyman said he does not think previous court-side fans will be upset. The new seating arrangement was requested by the Student Government Association and the athletic department.

“We are trying to accommodate everyone as best as we can and make this a win-win situation,” Hyman said.

SGA passed a resolution Tuesday asking that students be allowed to sit near the court during games. SGA parliamentarian Brian Casebolt, a senior political science major, said SGA played a critical part in informing the athletic department of students’ concerns toward the basketball program.

“Because the athletic department has entrusted in us by giving us great seats, we need to show up and
support the program,” Casebolt said.

Some season ticket holders did not mind the change.

“If this gets more students to come to the games, I am all for it,” said Jon Hellburg, a season ticket holder for 20 years. “There really isn’t a bad seat in the place.”

Head women’s basketball coach Jeff Mittie said he hopes students respond to the court-side seating and wants to see it make a change in the program.

“If students sit on the court, it could make a fun atmosphere for fans and a tough atmosphere for opponents,” Mittie said. “I hope (students) are close enough so I can high five them after the wins.”

Emily Turner