Build the program and they will come.
Grand Canyon men's basketball already has sold out its season tickets for the 2017-18 season, displaying the anticipation for the program's first season of Division I postseason eligibility after two consecutive 20-win seasons.
Well before the Lopes' season begins in early November, 7,205 GCU Arena seats were claimed by the general public's season tickets and the student body's season tickets. Last season, GCU ranked 23rd nationally among Division I programs for home attendance capacity (97.3 percent) and averaged 6,817 fans per home game.
"One thing I don't worry about is our crowd, but it's obviously great to have a season-ticket sellout," GCU head coach
Dan Majerle said. "The students always come out in force, but to get that backing from the season-ticket holders is awesome."
GCU Arena will play host to 19 games for the 2017-18 men's basketball season. Given the sold-out season tickets, a GCU home game will be the Valley's toughest sports ticket, but there are limited options.
Lopes ticket alternatives:
- A five-game holiday package will take advantage of prime seating that becomes available during the GCU students' holiday breaks. A $50 ticket will get a seat in the front five rows of two sections that normally are reserved for students. Purchasing the tickets for those five games (Nov. 18, 20 and 25 and Dec. 18 and 21) also will put the buyer on a priority wait list for 2018-19 season tickets. They can be purchased by calling 602-639-8999 or visiting http://www.gcuarena.com.
- A limited number of $5 standing-room-only tickets also will go on sale for all home games. Those mezzanine-level access tickets will go on sale Oct. 12.
- GCU also has a home-city game. The Lopes play St. John's in Phoenix at Talking Stick Resort Arena on Dec. 5. Those tickets are available at a discounted rate here.
"We've always had crowds and we continue to build them," Majerle said. "It's just going to add to one of the best atmospheres in all of college basketball. The interest is great, and hopefully we'll keep it going and have a terrific year."
Follow Paul Coro on Twitter: @paulcoro.