Editor,
I got to attend the Lobo/Aggies game Wednesday night, and although the game was great, my experience ... not so much.
Recently the naming rights to the Pit were sold to WisePies, a local (yes, they’re local) pizza joint, and now their name is sprawled all over the Pit floor. Not only is their name on the floor, but Bank of Albuquerque’s and Verizon’s are, too. The Pit floor is starting to look more like a billboard than a basketball court.
As I watched the game, I kept getting distracted by the numerous advertisements that flashed across our LED banner lights during the game. Papa John’s, Geico, Xfinity and 20-something other advertisers fought for my patronage and attention while all I wanted to do was watch my beloved Lobos beat the Aggies. I find it appalling that I have to pay for a ticket just to get bombarded with ads.
With all that revenue coming in, why is the student section — about 450 seats — so small when they are the ones who really pay most of the bills? Can we please get back to just playing basketball? And if I have to endure this petty commercialism, can it at least be reserved for time-outs and halftime?
Sincerely,
Jeff Barkley
UNM student
