FARMVILLE, Va. – Hundreds of Lancer basketball faithful streamed into the Joan Perry Brock Arena on Saturday morning for season-ticket seat selection day, many of them laying eyes on the new building for the first time. But Allen Franklin may have been the only one who had been there for the same ritual at the re-opening of Lancer (later Willett) Hall, 42 years ago, in 1981.
 
Franklin, who worked for 33 years in Longwood University's post office, was first in line that day four-plus decades ago, and has been a Lancer season-ticket holder ever since, attending men's and women's games with his wife Sharon. They came by Saturday morning to pick their seats (third row, just off center court) in the magnificent new arena on the center of campus, following the Grand Opening ceremony on Friday.
 
"I was like, 'wow, this is big time,'" said Franklin, who lives in Farmville, gazing across the arena from his chosen spot, recounting his first glance of the inside. "This is going to be fantastic. It's going to bring a lot of people in. The push last year to really get alumni to come back really helped start that, and this is going to be great. And it's going to be great for the morale of the players."
 
As a supporter of the women's team, Franklin said he's especially excited the season tickets are being sold as a package for both teams, which he hopes will drive attendance for both programs.
 
Like many fans Saturday, after picking his seats, Franklin lingered afterwards to talk with fellow fans going through the same ritual, and to check out the lower levels of the building too -- the locker and team rooms, coaches' facilities' and other amenities.
 
"It's even more beautiful than I expected," he said.
 
Season tickets are still available for purchase. Visit go.longwood.edu/seasontickets.
 
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