Free student tickets ready next week for XU arena debut

An Oct. 12, 2012, photo of the nearly completed Convocation
 Academic Center at Xavier University of Louisiana

NEW ORLEANS — Xavier University of Louisiana students can pick up free tickets Oct. 22-26 at XU Student Services (room 305 of the University Center) for the season-opening basketball doubleheader in the new Convocation Academic Center.

Dennis Cousin, XU's athletics director, said Wednesday that students with a valid XU identification card can pick up one free ticket for the Nov. 3 games featuring Xavier's men against Morehouse at 1 p.m. and Xavier's women against Johnson & Wales (Fla.) at 3 p.m.

"These are first-come, first-served tickets," Cousin said. "We hope our students will take advantage of this opportunity to be part of something special as we move into our new arena. These five days will be the only opportunity for XU students to get a free ticket to the opening games."

Students and everyone else — including faculty, staff, alumni and fans — may purchase additional tickets for $10 each at The Barn and at the cashier's office on the third floor of Xavier South. Those tickets will go on sale Thursday.

Nov. 3 activities will include tailgating starting at 10 a.m. and a ribbon-cutting and blessing of the facility at 11:30. Former Gold Rush basketball players will be introduced at halftime of the men's game, and former Gold Nuggets basketball players will be introduced at halftime of the women's game.

By Ed Cassiere, Sports Information Director
VISIT: XULAATHLETICS
VISIT: XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA

The Xavier Gold Rush and Gold Nuggets compete in Division I of the NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) as a member of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC). Xavier fields men's teams in basketball, cross country, tennis and track and field and women's teams in basketball, cross country, tennis, track and field and volleyball.