October 7, 2004
TO: Fans, Friends, and Supporters of LSU Athletics
FROM: Skip Bertman, LSU Athletics Director
By now most Tiger fans are aware of the improvements we are making to Tiger Stadium, which is evident by the massive construction project in the west stadium parking lot. Everyone knows about the new club seats and press box to be added by the 2005 season, as well as the new Football Operations Center at the Charles McClendon Practice Fields.
Now that basketball season is about to begin, we hope you’ll take notice of the improvements we have begun to make at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Maravich Center opened in 1972 and few changes have been made over the years. I made it a priority to address that situation when the athletics department took over management of that building on July 1 of this year.
The first improvements you will see are on the concourse of the arena. We have divided the concourse into four quadrants and given each a name: the Pete Maravich Pass, the Walk of Champions, Heroes Hall and the Midway of Memories.
Pete Maravich Pass is dedicated to the memory of the great Pistol Pete. This building has been named after Maravich for over 16 years, but there has been little else done in recognition of his many accomplishments. In the Pete Maravich Pass you will see photographs — some of which have never before been seen by the public — you will read about him and you will see video of him in action.
The other three quadrants are dedicated to each of the sports that compete in the Maravich Center: men’s and women’s basketball, volleyball and gymnastics. Photographs and histories of the great moments, individual athletes and coaches for each of those sports are on display, as well as plasma video screens for you to enjoy your favorite sports in action.
We have upgraded the concession stands on the concourse and there is a new Tiger FanZone where you can buy LSU merchandise and get free promotional items at athletics events. We want the concourse of the Maravich Center to be an exciting destination point that will add to the enjoyment of LSU Athletics, not just a corridor you pass through on the way to your seat.
The next phase of improvements will come next year when the seats in the arena are replaced, the unattractive acoustical paneling around the top of the arena is replaced, and handicap accessible seating is added at new locations. We will also upgrade restroom facilities and address problems with the heating and air conditioning systems.
We hope these improvements to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center will make your experience at LSU Athletics events more enjoyable.
MEN’S BASKETBALL
Season tickets to men’s basketball go on sale next Wednesday, October 13, at 8 a.m. They can be purchased online at LSUsports.net, in person at the LSU Athletics Ticket Office and by phone at (225) 578-2184. Middle level seats are $216 per season ticket and upper level seats are $186 each.
The 2004-05 men’s basketball season will feature 15 regular season games and two exhibition contests, beginning with a four-team all-Louisiana Tournament on Friday, November 19, and Sunday, November 21. Other top non-conference opponents this year will include West Virginia on November 27 and Ohio State on January 15. Plus the Tigers face the always challenging SEC schedule.
I’m excited about our men’s basketball program and hope you will see them in action this year. Head coach John Brady has made some changes within his coaching staff and is bringing back a strong core unit of players led by seniors Xavier Whipple and Antonio Hudson, junior Darrel Mitchell and last year’s SEC Freshman of the Year Brandon Bass.
Coach Brady’s recruiting class includes three top newcomers from Baton Rouge, Glen “Big Baby” Davis, Garrett Temple and Tyrus Thomas. Including Bass, sophomore Darnell Lazare, and new walk-on David Fleshman, six Baton Rouge natives will be wearing the purple and gold this year.
WOMEN’S BASKETBALL
Final Four Fever hasn’t faded for the Lady Tigers as they head into the 2004-05 campaign. Tickets are on sale now for LSU Lady Tiger basketball and can be purchased online, at the ticket office and by phone for only $75 each.
New head coach Pokey Chatman returns the heart and soul of the Final Four team with All-American Seimone Augustus and All-SEC senior Temeka Johnson back for another year. And by now most of you know about 6-foot-5 freshman center Sylvia Fowles. Yes, what you’ve heard about her is true: she can dunk the basketball.
The 2004-05 Lady Tiger season will be an exciting one, highlighted by visits to the Maravich Center by SEC powers Georgia and Tennessee. The regular season starts November 11 and 12 with the Women’s Sports Foundation Classic that includes Maine, Virginia and Arizona State in the tournament field. Tickets for that tournament are $25 each and are not a part of the season ticket.
I hope you will join us for two exciting basketball seasons at the Maravich Center.
We welcome your comments, so write to us at LSUvision@etigers.net. Although we cannot promise a response to every e-mail we receive, please be assured that every letter will be read. Thank you for your continued support of Tiger Athletics.