Flyer tickets moving fast

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The University of Dayton has obliterated its record for season-ticket sales in men’s basketball, and senior forward Chris Wright wants to make sure he and his teammates do what they can to produce plenty of satisfied customers.

“I’m going to go out there and play hard,” he said during media day at the Donoher Center on Wednesday. “If you’re going to pay the money to come see us play ... we’re not going to go out there and lay down.”

All those Flyer backers are certainly counting on that. UD has sold 10,552 season tickets for 2010-11, nearly 1,000 more than the all-time program high of 9,590 set last year.

That tally doesn’t include the 1,200 tickets set aside for students or partial ticket packages, meaning UD will have crowds in the 12,000 range for every home game even if it doesn’t make another sale.

“We’ve always had unbelievable support and always have had tremendous interest,” coach Brian Gregory said. “But I think the community has embraced this team because of the effort we’re giving, and we can’t lose sight of that.”

The Flyers, who begin practice Friday, averaged 12,259 fans last year and have been in the top 35 nationally in attendance since UD Arena opened in 1969.

“I know the guys and I are appreciative of that support leading into the season,” Gregory said. “It always makes the early part of the year more exciting when you know there’s a buzz about your team.”

Gary McCans, UD’s director of premium seating, said his annual goal is to sell as many season tickets as the previous year, but demand was higher this year because of the Flyers’ run to the NIT championship last spring.

“Outside of Dayton, I’m not sure how great the NIT was, but in the city of Dayton and surrounding areas, that finish was absolutely amazing,” McCans said, referring to road wins over Cincinnati and Illinois and conquests of Mississippi and North Carolina in Madison Square Garden. “The marginal Flyer fan or basketball fan got caught up in all that. Very few teams could do what they did on the road.”

McCans also believes Wright’s decision to return for his senior year rather than opting for a shot at the pros has helped. Plus, the Flyers are bringing in their best recruiting class in years.

“People see it’s all going in the right direction,” McCans said.

Season-ticket sales

*UD has the capacity to sell up to 35 more season tickets.