Post by Barefoot In Kailua on Sept 17, 2004 2:41:00 GMT -5
49ers' new digs look big-time
LBSU plays home match tonight at Long Beach Arena
By Bob Keisser
Staff Writer
Two months after throwing a successful U.S. Olympic swim trials pool party in a parking lot next to the Long Beach Arena, the city will conduct a dry run tonight for the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships that will be hosted by Long Beach State at the arena in December.
The 49ers will host Arizona State tonight at 7:30 at the arena, fulfilling the NCAA's requirement that the host school play one regular-season game in the championship venue and giving the university and arena operators a dress rehearsal for the title weekend.
Neither needs the practice. Coach Brian Gimmillaro's Long Beach State squad has been a powerhouse in NCAA volleyball for almost two decades, winning national titles in 1989, 1993 and 1998 and hosting NCAA regional tournaments seven times since 1992.
The downtown area that includes the Long Beach Arena is one of the busiest centers in the nation. Between the arena, convention center and theater, the complex hosts 700 events a year, from hockey games and rodeos to symphonies and concerts, including the Beastie Boys show earlier this week.
"This is our biggest venture as an NCAA host,' said 49ers athletic director Bill Shumard. "To give you an idea how important these things are, we bid and got this event six years ago. The national coaches association with its 2,000 members hold their convention as part of the tournament, so it's a very important event.
"We have a good rapport with the NCAA with what we've done as a host for the women's regionals at the Pyramid, the men's volleyball championships (in 2001 and 2003) and the last two years as a regional host in baseball. And this is a great volleyball community.'
David Gordon, general manager of the Long Beach Arena, said hosting a volleyball game isn't much different than hosting a basketball or hockey game, and the arena has been the home of the minor-league Long Beach Ice Dogs since 1996.
A basketball court will be placed on the floor and then covered by the volleyball sports court the 49ers use at the Pyramid. Seat risers will be moved closer to the ends of the courts, and tables will be placed along the court for officials and the media.
"We're used to hosting a variety of events, but it's always good to have a practice run, so we can go over the things we'll need to do in December,' Gordon said. "I've been here since 1989, and the first game I saw in the arena was a Long Beach State basketball game against Purdue (a 70-69 49ers win). We've hosted a lot of games since then.'
The arena hosted the NCAA's West regional men's basketball tournament in 1986 and 1990, the women's West regional in 1986, and the Big West postseason tournament from 1989 to 1993. It was also home to the 1984 Olympic Games volleyball tournament.
Long Beach State, which used the arena as its home court during the '70s, last played a game there in the 1993 Big West men's basketball tournament, where the 49ers beat Fullerton, UNLV and New Mexico State on consecutive days to earn a trip to the NCAA tournament.
The 49er basketball team played its last regular season game there in 1992, against UNLV. The largest home crowd in Long Beach State basketball history was 12,987 at the arena for its 1973 game against Marquette.
Gimmillaro's volleyball squad, playing in the arena for the first time, is among the national leaders in volleyball attendance, averaging 2,000-plus per game at the Pyramid as recently as 2001. The 49ers have been part of three of the four largest crowds at NCAA women's volleyball championship games.
The 1998 national title game between the 49ers and Penn State in Wisconsin drew a record 13,194. The 1993 title game between the 49ers and Wisconsin drew 11,114 at Penn State, and the 2001 title game against Stanford at the University of San Diego was attended by 10,067.
The NCAA is hoping to return to record crowds in Long Beach after drawing 7,261 for last season's title game in Dallas and 6,451 in the 2002 title match in New Orleans.
"We're close to meeting our NCAA guarantee regarding sponsorship and feel good about ticket sales,' Shumard said. "We included it as part of our own season ticket package, and schools in the Pac-10, Big West and West Coast Conference featured it in their ticket brochures.
"Our goal is to average 10,000 per session. Everyone knows Southern California is a late-buying sports town, but it's a great volleyball community. USC is the two-time defending champion. UCLA has a great team, and we think we have a shot. There are a lot of other powerful teams out there that travel well. We think we'll put on a great show.'
Tickets are available for the tournament at Long Beach State and the Long Beach Arena. Price is $40 for an all-tournament pass, $25 for youths and seniors. Admission to tonight's game is $9, $5 for kids and seniors and free for LBSU students. The first 1,000 fans receive a 49ers T-shirt.
LBSU plays home match tonight at Long Beach Arena
By Bob Keisser
Staff Writer
Two months after throwing a successful U.S. Olympic swim trials pool party in a parking lot next to the Long Beach Arena, the city will conduct a dry run tonight for the NCAA Women's Volleyball Championships that will be hosted by Long Beach State at the arena in December.
The 49ers will host Arizona State tonight at 7:30 at the arena, fulfilling the NCAA's requirement that the host school play one regular-season game in the championship venue and giving the university and arena operators a dress rehearsal for the title weekend.
Neither needs the practice. Coach Brian Gimmillaro's Long Beach State squad has been a powerhouse in NCAA volleyball for almost two decades, winning national titles in 1989, 1993 and 1998 and hosting NCAA regional tournaments seven times since 1992.
The downtown area that includes the Long Beach Arena is one of the busiest centers in the nation. Between the arena, convention center and theater, the complex hosts 700 events a year, from hockey games and rodeos to symphonies and concerts, including the Beastie Boys show earlier this week.
"This is our biggest venture as an NCAA host,' said 49ers athletic director Bill Shumard. "To give you an idea how important these things are, we bid and got this event six years ago. The national coaches association with its 2,000 members hold their convention as part of the tournament, so it's a very important event.
"We have a good rapport with the NCAA with what we've done as a host for the women's regionals at the Pyramid, the men's volleyball championships (in 2001 and 2003) and the last two years as a regional host in baseball. And this is a great volleyball community.'
David Gordon, general manager of the Long Beach Arena, said hosting a volleyball game isn't much different than hosting a basketball or hockey game, and the arena has been the home of the minor-league Long Beach Ice Dogs since 1996.
A basketball court will be placed on the floor and then covered by the volleyball sports court the 49ers use at the Pyramid. Seat risers will be moved closer to the ends of the courts, and tables will be placed along the court for officials and the media.
"We're used to hosting a variety of events, but it's always good to have a practice run, so we can go over the things we'll need to do in December,' Gordon said. "I've been here since 1989, and the first game I saw in the arena was a Long Beach State basketball game against Purdue (a 70-69 49ers win). We've hosted a lot of games since then.'
The arena hosted the NCAA's West regional men's basketball tournament in 1986 and 1990, the women's West regional in 1986, and the Big West postseason tournament from 1989 to 1993. It was also home to the 1984 Olympic Games volleyball tournament.
Long Beach State, which used the arena as its home court during the '70s, last played a game there in the 1993 Big West men's basketball tournament, where the 49ers beat Fullerton, UNLV and New Mexico State on consecutive days to earn a trip to the NCAA tournament.
The 49er basketball team played its last regular season game there in 1992, against UNLV. The largest home crowd in Long Beach State basketball history was 12,987 at the arena for its 1973 game against Marquette.
Gimmillaro's volleyball squad, playing in the arena for the first time, is among the national leaders in volleyball attendance, averaging 2,000-plus per game at the Pyramid as recently as 2001. The 49ers have been part of three of the four largest crowds at NCAA women's volleyball championship games.
The 1998 national title game between the 49ers and Penn State in Wisconsin drew a record 13,194. The 1993 title game between the 49ers and Wisconsin drew 11,114 at Penn State, and the 2001 title game against Stanford at the University of San Diego was attended by 10,067.
The NCAA is hoping to return to record crowds in Long Beach after drawing 7,261 for last season's title game in Dallas and 6,451 in the 2002 title match in New Orleans.
"We're close to meeting our NCAA guarantee regarding sponsorship and feel good about ticket sales,' Shumard said. "We included it as part of our own season ticket package, and schools in the Pac-10, Big West and West Coast Conference featured it in their ticket brochures.
"Our goal is to average 10,000 per session. Everyone knows Southern California is a late-buying sports town, but it's a great volleyball community. USC is the two-time defending champion. UCLA has a great team, and we think we have a shot. There are a lot of other powerful teams out there that travel well. We think we'll put on a great show.'
Tickets are available for the tournament at Long Beach State and the Long Beach Arena. Price is $40 for an all-tournament pass, $25 for youths and seniors. Admission to tonight's game is $9, $5 for kids and seniors and free for LBSU students. The first 1,000 fans receive a 49ers T-shirt.
