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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Tom Uribes

March 1, 2003

(559) 250-8459

Selland Arena’s Farewell – A Double Doozie!

University Bids An Old Ally Adieu With A Championship Finish; Save Mart Center Grand Opening Is On The Horizon

FRESNO (MARCH 1, 3002) — 37 years and counted -- like champs!

Fresno State said “goodbye” to an old friend –- Selland Arena –- tonight with gratitude, appreciation and a championship to boot.

The first-place Dog’s battled the second-place Nevada WolfPack clinching the 2002-03 Western Athletic Conference title with a 107-99 double overtime storybook victory.

After the breathtaking win, Coach Ray Lopes, who is in his rookie season as a head basketball coach, directed his team in cutting down the nets – getting Fresno State President John D. Welty and Athletic Director Scott Johnson in on the act.

Special activities, including a presentation to the City of Fresno and Mayor Alan Autry, marked the 543rd and final regular season game at the downtown city-owned facility –- the Bulldogs’ home-away-from-home for men’s basketball since 1967 and on occasion for the women’s team as well.

Next year, the ‘Dogs will play in their new Doghouse … the Save Mart Center on campus.

Halftime activities included the introduction of a 33-member Grand Opening Committee appointed by President Welty that will plan and organize a series of grand opening festivities in the fall.

The massive 16-500 seat structure (18,000 for concerts) on Shaw and Chestnut is on schedule for completion in November.

Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Pete Mehas and Maurine Jones, wife of former Secretary of State Bill Jones, have been named co-chairs of the Grand Opening Committee that includes representatives from the university, Bulldog Foundation and members of the community. (See story and list of committee members).

Also prior to the 7:15 p.m. tip off, the members of the Bulldog Foundation unveiled a banner installed this year under the scoreboard that counted down the number of regular season games left in Selland.

During the game’s timeouts, former Fresno television newscaster John Wallace emceed and announced tidbits about Selland Arena -- roaming the arena randomly asking Red Wavers for special memories about Selland.

At halftime, the university presented the Office of the Mayor with an honorary All Access credential to all athletic events at Save Mart Center so future Fresno mayors, representing the people of Fresno, will always be welcome at Save Mart Center, said Fresno State athletic director Scott Johnson.

“This is a token of appreciation for providing a home for the Bulldogs the past 37 years,” Johnson said.

Other halftime activities included a second special presentation and the unveiling of the top three Bulldog games at Selland as voted by fans over the past few weeks on www.gobulldogs.com, the Athletic Department’s web site.

The all-time memorable game announced at halftime was the Feb. 19, 1984 thrashing of national powerhouse UNLV Rebels of Jerry Tarkanian, 68-43.

But tonight belonged to Selland Arena and the Bulldogs – especially the four seniors who were honored before the game.

Clinching the WAC championship gives Fresno State Coach Ray Lopes a crowning finish to his rookie year as a college head coach.

For former Fresno State employee Tom Kane, tonight’s finale in Selland Arena was a special occasion.

Until he retired in August, Kane was Fresno State’s events coordinator for most of his 38-year career, including working with the basketball team when it moved to Selland as well as at the North Gym where the ‘Dogs played prior to the move.

“I have a lot of fond memories in Selland Arena,” Kane said. “The community has a lot of fond memories.”

Named after former Fresno Mayor Arthur E. Selland, the arena first opened in September 1966. Originally built at a cost of $10 million, the arena underwent a $10 million expansion project prior to the 1984-85 season, when its capacity grew from 6,582 to 10,132 seats.

The Bulldogs have gone 405-136 (.749) all-time at Selland, including a 13-1 mark this year.

Kane went to work at Fresno State in 1966, the year before the move to Selland, as a news writer in the Information and Printing Office under public affairs director Ed Piston.

He was assigned to the basketball team and not only handled sports information, but coordinated its game operations, either at the North Gym or Selland. He was later named news bureau manager then became Fresno State’s sports information director. After that he was athletic events coordinator before his final title expanded to facility and events coordinator.

Kane is quick to credit the City of Fresno and its convention center staff, remembering how in the early years he and a member of the maintenance department would sweep the floors together.

“Ernie Valdez was great to work with,” Kane said of that maintenance staffer who went on to become executive director of the Fresno Convention Center, which houses Selland, until he retired this year.

“Ernie and his staff were awesome,” Kane said. “They worked well with us, took care of us and bent over backward for us. They were as good in the beginning as they are now. Tremendous.”

Kane recalls the early years, hauling equipment and other necessary supplies the 11 miles downtown before and after games and even having to stand at midcourt with the flag for the National Anthem if the color guard was unable to make it.

One of the games that stands out for Kane is the 60-55 victory over Cal when forward Eddie Adams sank two clutch free throws to earn the monumental win over the Pac-8 powerhouse on Dec. 7, 1977.

“One of the biggest thrills was watching our players every year play up to and beyond their expectations, such as when Eddie shot those winning free throws,” Kane said. Adams went on to become Kane’s colleague, working in the Fresno State Human Resources Department before moving to CSU, San Marcos a few years ago.

He said the finale was emotional for many Red Wavers and was looking forward to seeing fans who have been along for the ride since the North Gym days such as ticket-holders Joe and Della Tacchino and Bud Richter.

After tonight’s game ended, Kane stuck around and, one last time, did what he always did before leaving Selland long after a game was over and the last reporters departed.

“Jack Mize and I walked around the arena and locker room, inspecting and making sure everything that belonged to Fresno State was put away,” he said. “We wanted to leave it the way we found it because those people were so good to us.”

He watched as his successor, Mike Rupcich, gave the signal to the city staff that all is well and, for the last time, that it was time to turn off the lights for the champion Fresno State Bulldogs in the storied and championship venue, Selland Arena forever linked to the Fresno State basketball.

• Selland Arena fun facts

(NOTE: Tom Kane will talk about some of his Selland Arena memories on KMJ’s Dog Talk show at about 5:30 p.m.).

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Friday Version of story (includes Grand Opening Committee members)

Grand Opening on Horizon for Save Mart Center!

Committee prepares for exciting events; Last chance for PSLs

By Tom Uribes

244-plus days and counting!

As loyal Bulldog fans sit in the familiar seats of Selland Arena one last time tonight, melancholy is tinged with a thrill of knowing that a brand new Doghouse is on the horizon … literally!

The Save Mart Center has materialized from a fly-through video into a dream-come-true for the Red Wave and the Central Valley. The Save Mart Center is on schedule for completion in November 2003.

And the team on the floor getting ready for the first ceremonial tip-off sometime in November is the 33-member Save Mart Center Grand Opening Committee that is preparing an exciting list of activities to usher in the 18,000-seat state-of-the-art facility.

In January, President John D. Welty appointed a 33-member Grand Opening Committee and they have been charged with the responsibility to plan and organize a series of grand opening activities

Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Pete Mehas and Maurine Jones, wife of former Secretary of State Bill Jones, were named co-chairs of the group that includes representatives from the university, Bulldog Foundation and members of the community.

“The success of the Save Mart Center project at Fresno State is a demonstration of our university's role as the premier educational and cultural center of Central California and demonstrates in a very tangible way the degree of community support the university enjoys,” Welty said. “It is fitting that our grand opening committee reflect this community participation.”

And as the committee gears up for the big opening, Clark Construction is proceeding to keep the $100-plus million, 450,000-square-foot Save Mart Center project on schedule and on budget.

In recent months, passersby have seen the large cranes erecting the structural steel and trusses inside the bowl that will support the structure’s roof.

The four lobby entrances have taken shape complete with mission-style roof tile while the rest of the exterior façade evolves. Clark is now installing the precast concrete for the lower bowl seats. Thereafter, the bulk of the work will focus on interior finishes including installation of the ice floor.

The 92-foot Larry A. Shehadey clock tower -- the signature landmark of the Save Mart Center – will soon undergo framing for its exterior façade.

And, while the construction crews make rapid progress, the Personal Seat License Office is closing in on completing one of the most successful collegiate seat license campaigns.

“We are approaching 85 percent sellout of the available Personal Seat Licenses,” reports Richard Enns, coordinator, who said his office is answering more than 20 inquires a day from interested fans, mostly via email.

In addition, there are less than 50 of the 1,100 center court Arena Builder seats still available. A recent sneak preview at the site provided the Arena Builders and prospective buyers a chance to see inside the construction site and get a glimpse of where their seats are.

Enns said sales are brisk for PSLs and warns that with increased interest from the construction progress combined with the success of our athletic teams, some fans may find themselves without a seat in the Save Mart Center unless they act soon.

Enns encouraged prospective buyers to act soon by calling the PSL Office at (559) 244-2990 or visiting the Save Mart Center Web site at www.savemartcenter.com, which he said has played a key role in the sale of seat licenses. Seating availability can be viewed on the web site, which is updated regularly.

The Save Mart Center will accommodate approximately 16,000 spectators for Bulldog athletic events, including 2,000 seats for Fresno State students. Last week, the students began meting to determine how to allot tickets for the “Bulldog Pound.”

The project has enjoyed great success in attracting major corporate sponsors and donors, raising more than $100 million in private funding.

For more information about personal seat licenses, call the PSL Office at (559) 244-2990. –By Tom Uribes

Save Mart Center – Grand Opening Team

California State University, Fresno

CO-CHAIRS

DR. PETE MEHAS - Fresno County Superintendent of Schools

MAURINE JONES - Community representative (wife of former Sec. of State Bill Jones)

MEMBERS

University Representatives:

WILLIAM FASSE, Academic Senate

DR. JAMES WALTON, California State University, Fresno Association Board of Directors

JACQUELYN K. GLASENER, Alumni Relations

RYAN JACOBSEN, Associated Students, Inc.

DEBORAH ADISHIAN-ASTONE, California State University, Fresno Association, Inc.

VIRGINIA GUERRERO, Save Mart Center

SCOTT JOHNSON, Athletic Department

ROBERT BOYD, Facilities Management

ROSIE GUTIERREZ, Office of the President

DAVID MOLL, Public Safety

ANNETTE HARVEY, Staff Assembly

DR. PAUL OLIARO, Student Affairs

DR. PETER SMITS, University Advancement

MARK AYDELOTTE, University Relations

SHELLY CHA, University Student Union Board

Community Representatives:

BOB DUNCAN, Save Mart Center Campaign Co-Chair

BILL CHALTRAW, Bulldog Foundation

VERN PLETZ, Bulldog Foundation

SCOTT AGAN, Pepsi Bottling Group

VINCI RICCHIUTI, California State University, Foundation Board of Governors

GARY SMITH, Pollstar

TOM KEES, Save Mart Supermarkets

KEITH WESTERN, Citibank

GREG SCHUH, Fresno Falcons

FRED RUIZ, Ruiz Foods

PAM FOBBS, community member

BETSY REEVES, community member

LARRY BALAKIAN, community member

JOHN MADRID, City of Fresno mayor's office

JOE FLORES, Mayor - City of Clovis

CHARLIE PHAFF, KMPH-26

Staff Support

JOANN COLLINS, Fresno State

MICHELLE BARRY, Fresno State

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