LOUDONVILLE, NY – The highly anticipated 2020-21 Siena Basketball season is just around the corner, as the reigning MAAC Champions look to defend their title. For the ninth consecutive year, Siena Basketball fans who simply make a deposit to either renew or purchase new season tickets for the upcoming 2020-21 season prior to Sept. 25 will be entered to win great prizes, which will be awarded each Friday throughout August and September.
 
The "8-for-80" promotion debuts on Friday, Aug. 7, and honors the milestone 80^th season of Siena Basketball which is currently set to commence in November. Siena debuted with a 52-47 win over Niagara in the Winter of 1938 and, after pausing for three seasons due to World War II, has cultivated a storied history which has captivated fans both in the Capital Region and beyond for 10 decades. Siena celebrates its 80^th season with seven NCAA Tournament berths, seven conference championships, five NIT appearances, and a pair of national postseason tournament titles (1950 National Catholic Invitational Tournament, 2014 College Basketball Invitational) to the program's name.
 
The eight weekly prizes include Siena Basketball gear, a Summer Camp scholarship, Practice Experience, two tickets to the KeyBank Siena Basketball Celebration, a signed basketball from the team, a Watch Party, a concession credit and FREE parking for each home game, and the Grand Prize to be awarded on Sept. 25 of a Gameday Experience which includes four premium seat tickets, a catered pregame meal, chalk talk, and the opportunity to attend pregame shootaround. Given the current complexities and uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, in the event that any prizes are unable to be redeemed during the 2020-21 season, they will be honored for the 2021-22 season.
 
All fans who make a deposit to either renew or purchase new 2020-21 Siena Basketball season tickets prior to Sept. 25 will automatically be entered to win. Normally, a $50 deposit is required, however, given the current global challenges, fans need only to make a deposit of any monetary denomination they are comfortable with at this time, whether it be as little as $1, the full $50, or anything in-between. Winners will be drawn each Friday, so the earlier the deposit is made, the better a fan's chances are of winning a prize.
 
Current season ticket holders who have either already renewed their seats or purchased new season tickets will automatically be entered into the contest starting Aug. 7. Visit sienasaints.com/8for80 for more information and for a listing of winners as their names are drawn each Friday. Participants in the contest are given one entry per account, and may only win once.
 
Fans looking to renew or purchase new season tickets can conveniently do so by contacting the Siena Fan Relations Management Center by phone at (518) 487-2202, which now includes a text option, by e-mail at sienatickets2@siena.edu, or online at sienasaints.com/tickets. Existing season ticket holders looking to renew can do likewise, or simply utilize Ticketmaster's account manager tool.
 
Additionally, Siena is transitioning to the use of mobile tickets this season. Mobile tickets are the safest, easiest, and most flexible and convenient way to both utilize and transfer tickets. They reduce the risk of lost, stolen, counterfeit, or forgotten tickets, and allow for contactless entry into the Times Union Center which is of greatly added benefit during the COVID-19 pandemic. Fans who do not have access to a smartphone will be able to work with the Siena Fan Relations Management Center on an alternate delivery method for their tickets.
 
The health and safety of our student athletes, coaches, staff, and you – the Siena faithful – is our number one priority. We have been working closely with the Times Union Center to develop a safe social distancing seating model, should it need to be implemented for this season. Additionally, should there be a potential disruption of any part of the season, options are available for season ticket holders to either transfer the value of their impacted tickets to the 2021-22 season, transfer all or a portion of the value of tickets to the Saints Alive! Athletic Fund which supports our student athletes and coaches (may be tax deductible), or request a full refund for impacted game(s) tickets. PSP partners also have the option to transfer all or a portion of the value of their tickets and seating donation to the Saints Alive! Athletic Fund.
 
Excitement entering the 2020-21 season surrounding the reigning MAAC Champions is at a fever pitch. The Saints are set to welcome back three starters from last year's title-winning squad which posted a 20-10 overall record including a 15-5 mark in the MAAC, highlighted by the return of First Team All-MAAC selections Manny Camper and Jalen Pickett (Player of the Year). Siena is also set to welcome nine talented newcomers to this year's squad including five transfers and four true freshmen, as they look to build upon the nation's seventh longest active winning streak of 10 games, and an unblemished 14-0 record at the Times Union Center from a season ago.