Fresh faces on the basketball team will not be the only change in The Convo this season. There will also be new seats closer to the action than any others.
Ohio Bobcat Club members will have the chance to see the action up close this year in a new way. The seats are located just 39 inches from the court for a price of $275 for the season. The seats are offered to Ohio Bobcat Club members who donate $600 or $900 to the organization.
As of Friday, 32 of 44 seats have been sold, and the athletic department will reserve a few seats for guests or members of various campus organizations.
For those who make a $600 donation, seats will be across from the Ohio bench and will include a personalized parking space beneath The Convo, pregame “chalk talk” with coaches and a Bobcat Black polo shirt.
For a donation of $900, members will sit at a table at center court and will receive in-seat food and beverage service.
Members’ seat locations will be based on priority points. Points are earned by factors including donations and ticket plans purchased.
“We’re wanting to provide the best fan experience that we can, both for our students, our alums, our local community and donors,” said Jim Harris, senior associate athletic director for development.
The seats also better the basketball experience for Ohio Athletics donors, Harris said.
“It’s really an opportunity to take care of those individuals that are taking care of us,” he said.
The idea for the seats was tested during a trial phase last year.
Before finalizing the use of the seats, a meeting was held to hear input from the pep band, the O Zone, cheerleaders, the dance team, Ohio Bobcat Club Advisory Board and the athletic department.
Recognizing the importance of the O Zone, Harris said Ohio Athletics conferred with other schools with student sections on the side of the court, such as Michigan State and Duke.
Harris said research showed that the seats at those arenas in highest demand were those directly in front of the students. O Zone President Courtney Cohen said she does not see the new seats as a problem for the O Zone.
“I think if anything, maybe it will get more people involved because maybe the people who are sitting down there will go right along with it,” Cohen said. “If anything, I would think it would be louder.”
O Zone treasurer Tim McVey said the seats should not interfere with the section as long as the university does not limit cheers.
“The only thing that I don’t want to happen is I don’t want the guys in green shirts to come in and say, ‘Oh you can’t say that because it might offend the people in front of you,’ when they have never had to say that before,” McVey said.
Several other Mid-American Conference schools have similar seats in their arenas, Harris said.
“We’re just changing and adapting with the times as this becomes more commonplace in the college landscape and something we’re interested in doing,” he said.
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