May 12, 2010
By Doug Richards
UCFAthletics.com
Click here to secure your season tickets for the 2010-11 campaign
ORLANDO, Fla. (UCFAthletics.com) - The UCF men's basketball team averaged a school-record 5,411 fans in 2009-10, helping the Knights rank 17th in the nation in average attendance increase. The Knights enjoyed an increase of 1,020 spectators per game this past season.
UCF was one of 20 schools on the NCAA's largest average attendance increase list, which was released Wednesday. Kansas State posted the largest increase (2,943) in the country. Fellow Conference USA program UAB followed the Knights in 18th on the list with an increase of 1,017 supporters per game.
A program-best 81,161 fans attended 15 games at the UCF Arena in 2009-10. The previous record was 78,253, which was set in 16 games in 2007-08, the inaugural campaign at the arena. UCF's average was an increase of 23 percent from a year ago, as the Knights averaged 4,390 spectators in 2008-09.
Two of the top-three crowds in program history were recorded during the campaign, including the 9,460 fans who watched the Knights host Marshall on Jan. 13. That crowd was the second-largest since the UCF Arena opened.
Expect more impressive crowds at the UCF Arena in 2010-11, which will serve as the program's first campaign under new head coach Donnie Jones. Recognized as one of the country's premier recruiters and a rising star in the coaching community, Jones was selected as UCF's head coach in late March.
The UCF ticket sales office is currently accepting season-ticket deposits for the campaign at (407) UCF-1000 or online at UCFAthletics.com.. By placing their deposit now, fans will receive a free 2010-11 NIKE Knightmare t-shirt with their ticket purchase. Season tickets start at just $99.
For the latest news on the Knights, log on to UCFAthletics.com - the official site for UCF varsity sports. The site, which also contains ticket and Golden Knights Club donor information, is also the home of UCF's new online apparel store. Also visit UCFPhotos.com, the exclusive fan source for UCF action sports pictures.