Arizona loses to UCLA at the Footprint Center

UCLA Bruins forward Tyler Bilodeau (34) shoot the ball over Arizona Wildcats forward Henri Veesaar (13) during the second half of the game at the Footprint Center, Dec. 14, 2024.

Arizona and UCLA drew a β€œcrowd” of 8,437 at the Footprint Center in downtown Phoenix last week. Capacity: 18,442. That’s 10,000 empty seats. Maybe UA and UCLA should rethink their neutral-court series. That would’ve sold out 14,664-seat McKale Center at premium prices. The Bruins have averaged just 4,830 fans a game at Pauley Pavilion this season. Yes, 4,830. There’s no reason to think next year’s Arizona-UCLA game at a Los Angeles NBA court will draw any more than 50% capacity either. All this ill-conceived neutral court series does is alienate the dues-paying UA fans at McKale.

Tennessee’s Jordan Gainey celebrates a last second win with teammates during a game against Illinois on Dec. 14, 2024, in Champaign, IL.

Manu

Arizona wide receiver Tetairoa McMillan lines up during the first half of a game against TCU Saturday, Nov. 23, 2024, in Fort Worth, Texas.


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