Aug. 14, 2008

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - UC Santa Barbara Athletics is kicking-off its men's and women's basketball season ticket sales campaign this week, announced Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing, Joe Castiglia. A highly anticipated men's home game against powerful North Carolina highlights the package.

Overall, the men's team has an exciting 15 home game slate, including its Nov. 21 match-up against the Tar Heels, the preseason favorite to win the National Championship. The women's team, led by first-year head coach Lindsay Gottlieb, will be looking for its 13th Big West Championship in the last 14 years and will host 17 games at the Thunderdome

UCSB basketball season ticket holders receive many valuable benefits. By purchasing a season package, tickets are priced $3.00 less for each game than if purchased on a single-game basis, and season ticket holders reserve the same seat for the entire season. As part of the men's package, season ticket holders will also receive UNC tickets for $9.00, or $26.00 off the single game ticket price. Season ticket holders will also receive $10.00 in Gaucho Bucks towards purchase of the latest UCSB Athletics gear, and they are invited to special season ticket holder events. The most exciting incentive this year is that season ticket holders for the men's and women's teams have the first opportunity to purchase additional tickets for the UCSB-UNC game at $35.00 each.

Current UCSB students will be allotted 2,500 tickets to the game against the Tar Heels. Information on distribution of those tickets will be released at a later date. For non-students the only guaranteed way to secure tickets to the UNC game is to purchase season tickets.

Season ticket holders will have the opportunity to purchase, in advance, the same number of tickets to the UNC game as the number of season tickets they own. For example, if the ticket holder has four men's basketball season tickets they are eligible to purchase up to four additional, at $35.00. Also, women's season ticket holders will have the same opportunity. After season ticket holders have been accommodated, remaining tickets to the North Carolina game will be sold on a priority basis, based on the following order: Men's Priority I, Men's Priority II, Men's General Admission, Women's Priority I, Women's Priority II, and Women's General Admission.

Additional UNC tickets must be purchased at the time season ticket purchase. If the game sells out before a priority ticket holder's level has been reached, the ticket holder will be notified and their money will be refunded by September 30.

If tickets for the Tar Heel game remain after season ticket sales they will be included in a "Gaucho Mini-Pack" offer. Information on the mini-pack offer will be released after Oct. 1, 2008. Following the sale of the "Gaucho Mini-Pack" any remaining tickets left will be put on sale November 3, 2008. Single game tickets for the UNC game are $35.00 each and all seats are reserved. For more information, contact the UCSB Athletics Ticket Office at 805.893.UCSB.