DAYTON – Any Opening Night is a special one, and with expectations high for the 2019-20 season, Saturday night will be no different for the University of Dayton.  But not all of the expectations will lie with the team on the court.  When the Flyers begin the 2019-20 season against Indiana State Saturday night, the University will be celebrating the 50th anniversary season of UD Arena, and the completion of a three-year, $76.2 million Arena Transformation Project.

The game is sold out, and doors will open at 5 p.m. ET, two hours before the game's 7 p.m. tip-off.  That will give fans time to enter with Arena with the new security procedures in place, sample the new concession items as well as some of their old favorites and be in their seats by 6:45 p.m. when the Arena Rededication ceremony will begin.  The rededication will consist of a brief blessing of the Arena and a celebration linking the past to the present with members of the Arena's first team in 1969-70.

And then the fans will be ready to come out of their seats when a special pre-game presentation will take place just before player introductions.  At halftime, Dayton's (and all of basketball's) favorite halftime act, "Red Panda" will perform.

As for the team itself, the Flyers are expected to contend for an Atlantic 10 championship and a berth in the NCAA tournament.  Three returning starters – All-Atlantic performers Obi Toppin and Jalen Crutcher, along with fifth-year graduate Ryan Mikesell -- are back, along with returning veterans Trey Landers and Dwayne Cohill.  Five veteran redshirts – Jhery Matos, Rodney Chatman, Jordy Tshimanga, Ibi Watson and Chase Johnson – and one freshman – Moulaye Sissoko – round out the scholarship players on the roster.

Fans who cannot attend the game can listen to it on AM 1290 WHIO Radio, and watch it in the Dayton and Cincinnati markets on Spectrum News 1 or on-line on ESPN+.

While the Indiana State game is sold out, tickets remain for UD's next home game on Saturday, Nov. 16 against Charleston Southern.