1 month ago
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FRESNO, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – It’s official, Fresno State Bulldogs men's hoops volition beryllium playing astatine Downtown Fresno’s Selland Arena for the archetypal clip since 2009.
There, they volition look disconnected against CSU Bakersfield connected Nov. 30.
“We’re inviting everyone, fans, families, and erstwhile players, to travel backmost downtown, beryllium portion of an day of history, heritage, and hometown pride. Let’s battalion Selland Arena again and punctual everyone what the Red Wave is each about," announced Fresno State Athletic Director Garrett Klassy.
Selland Arena served arsenic the superior location for Bulldogs hoops from 1966 to 2003 — immoderate of that during the clip of legendary manager Boyd Grant, erstwhile the 'Dogs won the 1983 NIT National Championship, and during the tenure of the 1 and lone Jerry Tarkanian, who led Fresno State to six consecutive 20-win seasons successful his 7 seasons astatine the school.
Now, arsenic they volition beryllium backmost successful their historical location for the archetypal clip successful 16 years, the anticipation is it’s a triumph not conscionable for the team, but for the fans, and Downtown Fresno.
“We privation to physique upon the momentum we already person close present successful Downtown Fresno," said Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer. “Part of that program is Bulldog basketball. So, let’s make that excitement adjacent if it’s for conscionable 1 night.”
Still, adjacent 1 nighttime is different immense gully for downtown businesses similar successful the adjacent Brewery District.
Tioga-Sequoia has already committed to partnering with Fresno State for a pregame party. As a spot proprietor determination says, bringing successful much radical is crucial.
“Everything that we are capable to bash downtown that is amusive and affirmative is simply a payment to the full city," said Nora Monaco, a spot proprietor successful the Brewery District. “Having hoops astatine Selland Arena — that’s an astonishing thing, and I’m truly pleased to perceive it."
Mayor Dyer says the metropolis continues to put successful Selland Arena, including approving a caller $605,000 scoreboard this week.
He says Fresno State is invited to usage it anytime.
And Monaco hopes they do.
“We person visitors coming from Bakersfield and Visalia, and each implicit the area, to travel to these events. So, it not lone helps the radical successful Fresno, but it brings different radical and different interests to Fresno," Monaco shared.
While there’s thing acceptable successful chromatic astir aboriginal Bulldog games successful Selland Arena, for now, Bulldogs Head Coach Vance Walberg says helium would emotion to bring the squad backmost downtown each year.
