The Fresno State Bulldogs will return to Selland Arena for the first time in 16 years on Nov. 30 against California State University, Bakersfield, for a special non-conference game.
Fresno State Athletics held a conference with Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, Fresno State Athletic Director, Garrett Klassy and men’s basketball Head Coach Vance Walberg on Friday, Oct. 17 to disclose their plans for the matchup.
Walberg, Klassy and Dyer have a shared goal for this matchup: to sell out Selland.
Klassy said the idea took off after a night at Copper River Country Club with the mayor, who showed immediate interest in a partnership.
“Fresno State and the city of Fresno share one heartbeat, and that heartbeat started right here at Selland Arena,” Klassy said. “My call to action for all of you — everyone watching this today — on Nov. 30, we’re inviting everyone, fans, families and former players, to come back downtown to be part of an afternoon of history, heritage and hometown pride.”
Dyer encouraged fans to not only show up for the game, but the local business community as well.
“When you come, come early,” Dyer said. “Experience some of our venues that we have downtown, our restaurants or Brewery District … and then come out and support the Bulldogs.”
Tioga-Sequoia is one of many hopeful vendors hosting a pre-game or tailgate-type of event before the game, according to Klassy.
The preparations at Selland are already underway for the big game — on Oct. 16, the city approved putting money into new lights, paint and even a $600,000 scoreboard.
Klassy said that a logistics meeting from earlier this week also opened discussions about court logos, throwback elements, uniforms, shooting jerseys, mascots and courtside seating.
The Bulldogs’ last full season in Selland Arena was 2002-03, after playing there since 1966. Both Dyer and Klassy believe this will be a great opportunity to unite the younger and older generations of Bulldog basketball fans, through both the nostalgia and the revamping of Downtown Fresno and Selland Arena.
“We need to get the players and the people involved from the Boyd Grant era and the Jerry Tarkanian era back here,” Klassy said. “This is a time when we can honor the past, and we want to honor all of them.”
The game will be especially nostalgic for Walberg, who played at Selland in 1986-87. Even as a high school coach, Walberg said his team’s goal was always to get to Selland, where the championship games were held each year. As a former Roadrunner, he hopes for nothing more than to sell out the arena and beat his alma mater.
“I would think that there’s going to be plenty of Roadrunners that come up here for this game, but hopefully not many of them can get in, because I want the Red Wave to sell this thing out first,” Klassy said.
Season ticket holders had the first chance at access to buy these tickets and received an email with instructions on how to do so on Friday morning. Tickets for the general public are now available for sale.
For Bulldog fans who are unable to attend the game in person, it is expected to be televised.
“We want to bring as much exposure as possible for this game,” Klassy said. “Those details haven’t been worked out, but there will be access, at least in Fresno, to see this game, either through a streaming device or maybe a television station as well.”
Tipoff is set for 2 p.m. on Nov. 30.