MAAC Sets New Attendance Record at Times Union Center for 2009 Citizens Bank MAAC Basketball Championships
MAAC Sports
Edison, N.J. ? The Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference set a new attendance record of 50,820 for the 2009 Citizens Bank MAAC Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y., which was held from Thursday, March 5 through Sunday, March 9.
Attendance for the five-day tournament, which was won by the Siena College men’s team and Marist College’s women’s team (entitling both to automatic NCAA Tournament bids), exceeded the old record of 50,620 set in 2000 at the Times Union Center.
“It is interesting to note that no single game set a record for attendance, rather each of the individual men's and women's sessions increased incrementally to establish the new overall record,” Richard J. Ensor, Commissioner of the MAAC, said. “We are grateful to all of the MAAC schools and their fans, and the residents of the Albany region for supporting this year’s sensational championship tournament.”
Ensor said the MAAC and the staff of the Times Union Center are to be commended for developing marketing and promotional efforts this year to provide numerous purchase options for MAAC basketball fans.
“Setting a new attendance record in today’s economic climate is a tremendous accomplishment,” he said.
Among the ticket options were all session passes, individual session passes, kid’s tickets for as low as $8, and a $60 family four-pack, which included four tickets, four hot dogs, four sodas and parking.
“Siena pride continues to thrive today more than ever and the record breaking ticket sales are evidence of this,” Fr. Kevin Mullen, O.F.M., Ph.D., said. “People are still choosing to come out and support the Saints even in these trying economic times. The Siena community itself had a strong showing at the MAAC Championship game, with one-third of our students in attendance, as well as about one-third of our faculty and staff.”
“The Times Union Center and the MAAC are always striving to sell out the venue,” Bob Belber, General Manager, Times Union Center, said. “Tremendous progress was made toward that this year. We saw more fans from out-of- town schools than we have ever seen before and hope that the number increases next year.”
The 2010 Citizens Bank MAAC Basketball Championships will take place at the Times Union Center.