Utah Basketball Sees Renewed Interest in Season Tickets Following Alex Jensen’s Appointment
Mar 17, 2025, 10:19 AM | Updated: 1:25 pm
Alex Jensen, head coach of Utah, talks on the bench during the second half of their game against the Brooklyn Nets February 4, 2022 at the Vivint Smart Home Arena (Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
(Photo by Chris Gardner/Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY—The University of Utah has a storied basketball tradition, and hiring former Runnin’ Utes legend Alex Jensen not only provides a direct connection to a significant part of that history but also an excellent coach to lead the team into an exciting new future.
Not only has Utah hired an NBA assistant, but they’ve also welcomed home one of their own. Jensen has long been considered Utah’s dream hire. After missing out on him four years ago, Utah wouldn’t let this opportunity slip by.
This move speaks to a newfound commitment to the program, greater expectations for it, and the school’s desire to contend at the top of the Big 12 Conference. His arrival has already made an impact on Utah basketball’s future.
RELATED: Utah Athletics Announce Plans For Relocation Of Huntsman Center, New Arena
Utah is already feeling the impact of Alex Jensen’s hire in season ticket requests
The hiring of Alex Jensen as the new head coach for Utah men’s basketball has generated a significant surge in public interest, signaling a potential shift in momentum for the program. While the road to re-establishing the program’s former prominence remains challenging, early indications suggest Jensen’s arrival has meaningfully energized the Utah basketball community.
“We’ve had a few hundred people who we’ve never had in our database before express interest in Utah basketball season tickets,” Patrick Nowlin, Utah’s Chief Revenue Officer & Deputy Athletics Director, shared with KSL Sports. “To get people from outside our ecosystem is always a great sign, and the number we received right off the bat was very inspiring.”
“It’s somebody coming home and is part of the Utah family that has really struck a chord with our fanbase,” Nowlin shared. “Our momentum is moving at a pace that is showing us a lot of growing interest, not only in people from outside, but internally within our known database as well.”
This surge in interest extends beyond new prospective ticket holders. Longtime supporters are also re-engaging with the program, a critical development as the athletic department works to reinvigorate its relationship with the community.
“We’ve also had a number of season ticket holders from past seasons, who have maybe let them lapse, want back in,” Nowlin shared. “It’s not just new and former season ticket holders, but alumni, as in former players, want back in as well. So, there is momentum from all areas heading in a positive direction.”
Restoring the Huntsman Center atmosphere
Re-engaging previous supporters is a crucial step, as Utah basketball has historically benefited from a loyal fanbase. The challenge in recent seasons has been maintaining that loyalty amid underwhelming performances. Jensen’s arrival seems to have rekindled a sense of optimism within the program’s long-term supporters.
“With an arena the size that we have, we have a lot of work to do to be able to fill it all,” Nowlin said. “The history of the arena, and more importantly, the importance of the history to our fans, we understand that it’s a very historic building, and we want to restore the atmosphere that our history shows us where it should be. We want to provide our fans that best atmosphere we can.”
Despite these positive developments, Nowlin acknowledged that Utah basketball faces a substantial challenge in reviving the game-day atmosphere at the Huntsman Center. With a seating capacity exceeding 15,000, the arena has historically been a loud and energetic environment — but recent seasons have seen dwindling attendance.
“We’re continuing to focus on how we can provide a great experience for fans, we’re committed to doing that,” Nowlin shared. “We can’t just expect them to show, we know we have to give them reasons to come beyond just the product on the court.”
Capitalizing on season ticket interest
“We’ve also seen a growing number of alumni support from former players who want to get back in. So the momentum is there from people in different areas saying, ‘I want back in,’ and it’s been great to see.”
The increase in alumni support is particularly encouraging, as those with deep ties to the program are crucial in maintaining the program’s legacy and stability. Alumni engagement can often lead to mentorship opportunities for current players, increased fundraising efforts, and stronger community ties that help reinforce the program’s identity.
“The fan engagement here has been phenomenal, and those two things do correlate,” Nowlin shared. “The more season ticket holders we have, the more we’re going to raise in our Crimson Club levels. Right now, we’ve seen an uptick in the people who are interested in it, and as we move into the next phase of the process with it, we’ll then be able to quantify it.”
In addition to ticket sales, the university has seen encouraging growth in financial contributions to the men’s basketball excellence fund. This fund plays a vital role in supporting team operations, enhancing facilities, and providing resources that help the program remain competitive at a high level.
“We’ve already seen an uptick in the men’s basketball excellence fund,” Nowlin said. “Those are folks who are working closely with Rob Clark and his team.”
The excellence fund is the revenue share fund that will be used to support and compensate student-athletes. Each athletics program has an excellence fund, and supporters can donate directly to it. That fund will be crucial to the future of the men’s basketball program.
Ute fans, help us welcome our own 𝘼𝙡𝙚𝙭 𝙅𝙚𝙣𝙨𝙚𝙣 back home at his introductory press conference!
𝙄𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙤𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙮 𝙋𝙧𝙚𝙨𝙨 𝘾𝙤𝙣𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙣𝙘𝙚
🗓️: Monday, March 17
🕰️: 6pm
📍: @HuntsmanCenter
🅿️Info: https://t.co/cwSN68bYMq#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/JSkLnVUcfS— Utah Basketball (@UtahMBB) March 12, 2025
The road ahead for Utah basketball
While Jensen’s hiring has re-ignited excitement around the program, the coaching change alone won’t be enough to drive long-term success.
“The conversations we’ve had with fans have just been so positive,” he shared. “There is a genuine excitement about his return, but we know we have to take this wave of momentum and carry it all the way through.”
That is a good reminder that this is just the starting line for the basketball program. Despite all the work up to this point, for Utah basketball to truly reestablish itself as a college basketball force, it will take an ‘all in’ approach from administration, alumni, coaches, players, and fans.
Rebuilding a competitive team, sustaining the atmosphere in the arena, and strengthening ties with the community will be vital to turning this initial momentum into a lasting culture.
