Another beautiful, sunny day greeted Gator fans on Sunday, when several hundred turned out to meet the 2008-09 Florida Women's Basketball Team, which hosted its first “Party in the Park.”
With so many fans attending the event held the City of Gainesville's Westside Park, the Gators hung out for an extra hour to sign autographs, pose for photos and interact with their fans.
The meet-and-greet, which was free and open to the public, also featured a basketball skills clinic for kids age 12-and-under, as well as an inflatable bounce-house.
Face-painting was provided courtesy of members of the Women's College World Series participant Gator Softball team and Florida cheerleaders brought mascots Albert and Alberta to the park for pictures!
“This was a phenomenal day and a phenomenal event,” said UF head coach Amanda Butler, who enters her second year at the helm of the Gator program. “We have so much to get excited about this season. We know how special this town is in its support of the Gators. To have this large of a turnout and this type of enthusiasm shown by Gator fans with the basketball season still being several weeks away, is a great sign of what we have to look forward to in November.”
The Gators, who last season tied the program record for the greatest one-year turn-around in history, return four starters and a total of seven letterwinners from last year's squad that won 19 games and earned a postseason bid – the first time UF has done so under a new head coach.
Florida plays one exhibition game (Fri., Nov. 7), before starting its 2008-09 season on the road at Florida Gulf Coast. The Gators then return to the O'Connell Center, where they open their home schedule against Jacksonville on Mon., Nov. 17.
2008-09 Women's Basketball Ticket Information
Purchasing Tickets
Tickets are available by calling the Gator Ticket Office at 800-34-Gator, ext 6800, or by visiting the main office located inside Ben Hill Griffin Football Stadium.
On game day, the O'Connell Center Ticket Office Window (located at Gate 1) opens for sales 60 minutes prior to tip-off, with doors open for fan entrance also one hour prior to the start of each game.
Season Pass Specials
Riding the success of last year's Season Pass packages, the University of Florida Women's basketball program has renewed the popular low-priced ticket bundles.
Season Passes allow fans to sit in the reserved section (lower Sections I and J). All Season Pass holders are permitted to sit in the section directly behind Coach Butler and the team (Section J) for no added charge. However, if the season pass holders prefer to sit in the upper arena seatbacks, that's fine too because a season pass is good for any seat in the arena.
Also returning for a second consecutive season is the Family Pass. For only $40, a family of four can attend every Gator women's basketball game (excluding double-headers) during the 2008-09 season.
Season Passes
Adult Season Pass................ $25
Child/Senior Season Pass...... $10
New Family Pack................. $40
(2 adult, 2 youth)
Gator Gold Card................ $60
Women's Basketball, Volleyball & Gymnastics
Individual Game Tickets
Game Reserved Seating......... $5
General Admission Adult......... $4
General Admission Child/Senior $2
The Gator Gold Card is not valid for the two doubleheader games scheduled with the men's basketball team (Nov. 20 and Dec. 10). For admission to those games, a men's ticket must be purchased. Basketball Season Pass holders will be given the option to purchase men's tickets at the time they purchase a Season Pass.
Tickets To Smiles
Fans and business looking for a way to give back to the community can be part of the Gators' Tickets to Smiles program. For $2, tickets will be given to underprivileged children to attend a basketball game. For more information, call 800-34-GATOR ext. 6600.
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