‘We stand on their shoulders’ — Dayton AD praises fans for sold-out season

Now the streak will reach 44 games. Dayton announced Wednesday it has sold out all 16 home games in the 2022-23 season, the 54th for UD Arena.

“The credit really goes to this community and our fans going back decades,” Dayton Athletics Director Neil Sullivan said. “It is the fan who makes this work — the family who’s had tickets through multiple generations and their willingness to support our program through peaks, valleys, moments of joy, moments of defeat.

“We treasure them. We stand on their shoulders, and there’s really no other way to say it. So I think that’s first and foremost. That being said, our fan or season-ticket holders’ perception of the value they receive at UD Arena is important, and it’s our job to deliver on their expectations and their experiences. So our coaches have to deliver. Our players have to perform. Our entire staff at the arena is really candidly focused on delivering the best college basketball experience in the country. That’s what we try to do from operations to tickets. We’re not perfect. We don’t meet the expectation of 13,000 people every night — you can read my email inbox to know that — but we give our best and then try to improve through feedback and through partnership.”

Dayton’s last non-sellout was Dec. 17, 2019, against Drake. It sold out the last 11 games of the 2019-20 season and all 17 games in the 2021-22 season.

Dayton ranked 19th in Division I attendance last season, averaging 13,407 fans in 17 home games. That broke the UD Arena average attendance record of 13,364 set during the 2019-20 season. The previous record of 13,018 was set in the 2016-17 season. That broke the mark of 12,982 that had stood since the arena’s first season in 1969-70.

Selling out the season again was never really in doubt. Senior Associate Athletics Director Adam Tschuor said the season-ticket renewal rate in the lower arena was over 99% and over 90% in the upper levels. Fans can put down a $50 deposit to get on a waiting list for season tickets. About 363 fans remain on that waiting list. UD could not find tickets for all of them.

“It’s important for us to let those presale buyers know that just because they didn’t end up in the building as a full season-ticket holder this year they’re still important to us,” Tschuor said. “They’ll be at the top of the list for accommodation for next year.”

Those fans also get first chances to buy tickets for holiday tournaments or to buy tickets that students don’t use during the holiday break. For other fans, there are still other ways to attend games.

• Fans may find tickets being resold by season-ticket holders on Tickemaster.com.

• Tickets may also become available two days before games if 400-level tickets not bought by visiting fans or students become available. Announcements will be made on social media about the availability of those tickets.

• A limited number of group premium seat options (ranging from 10-29 tickets) are available on an individual or corporate basis. More information about group premium opportunities can be found by visiting www.daytonflyers.com or by contacting Dan Preuett at (937) 229-5112.

Dayton fans got their first glimpse of the team at the Red & Blue Game on Saturday. Fans will get another chance to see the team in an exhibition game against Capital at 7 p.m. Oct. 29. The Flyers open the regular season at 7 p.m. Nov. 7 against Lindenwood University.

The Flyers will start the season at No. 24 in the Associated Press top-25 poll.

“We run to expectations,” Sullivan said. “We don’t run from them. I think, at the same time, those inside the walls, seldom need to be reminded of any external expectations, right? We accept them. Every year, our expectations really don’t change. I know that sounds cliche and can sound somewhat naive, but there’s no game we play that we anticipate losing despite some seasons having more headwinds than others. I’m always appreciative when people recognize our players, and that’s important. But our mindset is, it’s not where we start but where we finish.”