Check out the ShoWare College Classic in Kent when the Seattle University Redhawks play the Evergreen State College Geoducks on Monday, Nov. 28.
It will mark the first NCAA Division I men’s college basketball game at the ShoWare Center. The game is at 7 p.m. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.
“Division I basketball speaks for itself,” said promoter Steve Turcotte, who helped bring the game to the city-owned arena. “The talent level is really good. It’s going to be a lot different than your ordinary high school game.”
Turcotte has lined up several high school basketball games the last two years at the ShoWare Center. He talked with Tim Higgins, ShoWare general manager, about also trying to bring a Division I college game to the arena.
They contacted Seattle athletic director Bill Hogan and found a willing participant.
“He (Hogan) looked at the building and liked what he saw,” Turcotte said.
Seattle plays its home games at the KeyArena at Seattle Center. The Redhawks decided to schedule the game against Evergreen State of Olympia in Kent.
Hogan said he hopes the game will persuade more fans from South King County and Pierce County to come to even more Redhawks games at the KeyArena.
“It’s a way to get our product out there,” Hogan said in a phone interview. “We’ll see how it goes. We’ll see what kind of reception we get.”
Turcotte gave a rough estimate about how many fans might attend.
“I think anywhere from 750 to 1,500 fans would be a good first time out,” Turcotte said.
Seattle, which lost its first two games this season under third-year head coach Cameron Dollar, finished 11-20 last season. The Redhawks, who play an Independent schedule, will join the Western Athletic Conference next season.
“We’re looking forward to going down there,” Hogan said about playing in Kent. “We’re fun to watch.”
Evergreen State, an NAIA school which plays in the Cascade Collegiate Conference, is off to an 0-5 start. The Geoducks were 8-20 last season.
Seattle’s starting lineup includes senior forward Aaron Broussard, a former Federal Way High School star. Evergreen features two players from Federal Way in senior guard Marcus Buren, who played at Thomas Jefferson and junior forward Travis Wagner, who played at Decatur.
Turcotte would like to see Seattle play a game each season in Kent.
“We’ll do one and see what happens,” he said. “We’d like to have at least one game a year out here.”
Turcotte added he would like to see more of a “marquee” team as an opponent in future years.
Hogan said he could see Seattle returning to Kent in future years for a game.
Back in the 1950s, 60s and 70s when Seattle drew more than 9,000 fans to games, Hogan said many of the fans came from South King County and Pierce County.
“We hope more people will travel up to KeyArena,” he said.
ESPN 710 Seattle will carry the Kent game on radio in the Seattle area with Dave Grosby and Gary Hill, Jr., calling the action.
Tickets are $30, which includes a VIP dinner in the Club Lounge, $25 for court side, $17 for reserved and $11 for general admission.
For tickets, go to www.showarecenter.com or visit the arena box office at 625 W. James St.
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