Opening Weekend Is Here For Pavilion at Ole Miss

Photo courtesy of Joshua McCoy / Ole Miss Athletics

After a year and a half of construction, The Pavilion at Ole Miss officially opens its doors this weekend amidst a celebration of Rebel Basketball, which includes a ribbon-cutting ceremony, the first men’s and women’s games and a reunion of past players.

Tickets for all three games are available at www.OleMissHoops.com.

Rebel Nation’s first experience in the new $96.5-million arena will come Thursday as the Ole Miss men face Alabama. Tipoff is set for 8 p.m. CT, and doors will open at 6:30. As with all men’s games in The Pavilion this season, the first 1,000 students in Club Red will receive a unique gameday t-shirt. The game will be televised by ESPNU, and SEC Network will have live reports from The Pavilion throughout the day.

All former Ole Miss men’s and women’s basketball players are invited back for the opening weekend, and a number of events have been scheduled for the group. Among the highlights is a an honorary jump ball prior to Thursday’s game at 7:30 p.m., featuring the first African-American student athletes from the two programs – Coolidge Ball (men) and Peggie Gillom-Granderson (women).

Ball and Gillom-Granderson are also special guests at the ribbon cutting ceremony for The Pavilion on Saturday at 5:15 p.m., at the north entrance. Other speakers include Athletics Director Ross Bjork, Chancellor Jeffrey Vitter, Head Women’s Coach Matt Insell, Head Men’s Coach Andy Kennedy, Brad Easley from BL Harbert International, Alan Perry from the State Institutions of Higher Learning Board and Ole Miss Athletics Foundation member Shepard Smith.

Saturday’s ribbon cutting will be followed by the Rebel men’s matchup with Georgia at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 5:30. SEC Network will televise the action. The first 7,500 fans will receive special coins commemorating The Pavilion’s opening weekend.

The coins will also be distributed to the first 1,000 fans on Sunday as the Ole Miss women’s team makes its debut in The Pavilion against Florida on the SEC Network. Game time is 1 p.m., and gates will open at 10:30 a.m., with the serving of a Sunday brunch in the courtside club. In addition to game tickets, brunch tickets are also available at www.OleMissHoops.com.

The Pavilion at Ole Miss opening weekend schedule:

• Thursday, January 7, Ole Miss men vs. Alabama – gates open 6:30 p.m.; honorary jump ball 7:30 p.m.; tipoff 8 p.m.
• Saturday, January 9, Ribbon cutting ceremony – 5:15 p.m.
• Saturday, January 9, Ole Miss men vs. Georgia – gates open 5:30 p.m.; tipoff 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, January 10, Ole Miss women vs. Florida – gates open and brunch begins 10:30 a.m.; tipoff 1 p.m.

Facility highlights of The Pavilion at Ole Miss:

• More than 225,000 total square feet
• Seats approximately 9,500 fans and includes 1,700 premium seats
• Houses men’s and women’s locker rooms measuring almost 1,500 square feet
• Features largest center-hung video display board in college sports with nearly 2,400 square feet of LED
• Concourse highlighted by the C Spire Speedzone, which includes Steak ‘n Shake, Raising Cane’s; Rebel Locker Room by Lids and a ticket office
• Includes five-story parking garage with more than 800 spaces

Courtesy of Ole Miss Sports Information

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