Arizona State Increases Seating Capacity At Basketball Arena After Team's Hot Start

Arizona State Univ. recently "removed the wall that circled the top" of Wells Fargo Arena, "blocking off the highest rows," in an attempt to deal with increased ticket demand for men's basketball, according to Doug Haller of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The decision "increases the arena’s capacity by about 4,000 seats to 14,100." The plan is to "keep it down for the rest of the season." ASU’s strong start "caused all this." ASU is currently 13-2 and has risen as high as No. 3 in the AP Top 25. After recent losses they are ranked No. 11. To help create a more "intimate atmosphere," ASU in '10 "erected the wall, which features photos of the school’s athletic standouts." It "lowered the arena’s capacity to 10,734." Even so, the team "usually sold out only one game, the annual clash with rival Arizona." Tomorrow’s game against Oregon tips off at 8:00pm MT and will be ASU’s "first home conference game." Entering this week, ASU ranks third in the Pac-12 in home attendance, "averaging 7,919 fans" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 1/9).