Mackey seating to undergo change before next season

Keith Thomas/Editor in Chief NEW VIEW: Beginning next season, the Purdue student seating section at Mackey Arena is changing locations. The area behind one of the baskets, where the Purdue band normally sits, is one of the locations being considered.

By Keith Thomas
Editor in Chief

Beginning next season Purdue student basketball fans will be relocating.

Following years of requests to give Mackey Arena a more student fan-oriented feel, the student seating section, which now consists of two separate areas, are being consolidated.

"The No. 1 thing that we heard from students, is ‘we want to sit together,'" said Greg Christopher, director of the John Purdue Club. "I think it's been something that has been discussed at least over the last three years and there's been a long standing desire to consolidate the students."

In the current seating configuration for Purdue men's and women's basketball games, the students are somewhat spread out throughout Mackey Arena. With the new layout, the student section will be one that figures to play more of a role in the game.

"It's something that would change the atmosphere," said Christopher.

Purdue men's assistant coach Jay Price said that is something he looks forward to seeing.

"We think it's fantastic," said Price. "Our students are the best fans around and that will give them their own squad.

"It'll make Mackey a very difficult place to play."

Although this will be a new concept for next season, Christopher said this is something the athletic department has been leaning toward for the past several years.

"Over the last 3-5 years, if a John Purdue Club member did not renew his or her seats, we would turn those over to students," said Christopher. "But, what you're going to see now is it done in one big swoop."

Once the seating swoop is complete, the students, according to Christopher will be more of a staple of Purdue basketball.

"We'd like them to be visible," said Christopher. "Not only in the arena, but on television."

Television exposure is one of the fueling factors for where to place this new student section as well.

Another, based similarly to schools such as Michigan State's "Izzone," where the students are louder and play like a sixth-man in the game, is at the request of Purdue men's coach Gene Keady.

"Coach Keady would like them somewhat in proximity to the visitors bench," said Christopher.

Although a few different locations are being considered, one possibility is moving the student section to the area behind the basket where the band is usually seated.

The band, too, would remain there and be more involved with the students.

The project, according to Christopher, is going to include a minimal amount of moving.

"Our goal is to make this happen, but not to cause complete upheaval in the arena," said Christopher. "Obviously some of the John Purdue Club members are going to have to move seats

"I think there'll probably be some negative reaction, but I think there will also be a lot of positive reaction."

Most involved in the project, believe this is a positive move for Mackey Arena.

"I think our students, now that they could be united, could be the best student section in the Big Ten," Price said.

Mackey seating to undergo change before next season

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