Posted on: Saturday, October 16, 2004

Courtside seats might be available this season

By Dayton Morinaga
Advertiser Staff Writer

Want a chance to watch a basketball game from the perspective of Jack Nicholson at a Los Angeles Lakers game?

Want to heckle the opposing players like Spike Lee does at New York Knicks games?

The University of Hawai'i is prepared to offer such courtside seats for UH men's basketball games this season at the Stan Sheriff Center.

"We're continuing to try and find different ways to create revenue," Hawai'i athletic director Herman Frazier said. "People have inquired about courtside seats in the past, so we decided to look into it. If there's a demand for it, we want to make it happen."

The UH athletic administration has prepared a proposal for the courtside seats, and will present it to the Board of Regents on Thursday or Friday. If approved, the seats would be available for all home games during the 2004-05 season.

A "price range" has been proposed at $2,000 to $8,000 for a pair of courtside tickets.

The seats would be set along the sidelines of the court, opposite the team benches. According to the proposal, there will be 44 front row seats available, and 24 second row seats.

"It's important to note that these seats will not displace anybody," Frazier said. "In fact, we're adding to the capacity of the arena because these are all new seats we are bringing in."

Frazier said several donors and sponsors of the UH athletic department were allowed to sit near courtside in the past, but only on a space available basis.

"This way, they are guaranteed to get that front row seat they want," Frazier said.

According to the proposal, parking and food concession accommodations would be included with a courtside seat purchase.

The tickets can not be made available until the proposal is approved by the Board of Regents.

Frazier said the courtside seats will be available only for men's basketball.

Reach Dayton Morinaga at dmorinaga@honoluluadvertiser.com 535-8101.