BOWLING GREEN, Ohio — Bowling Green State University is rolling out 20 changes to the basketball game-day experience at the Stroh Center this season, from cheaper concessions and $3 tickets to a returning blimp, the university’s athletics department announced Thursday, October 29.
The 2026-27 season tips off Monday, November 2, with the Bowling Green women’s team hosting Georgia Southern and the men’s team traveling to Georgia State, according to BGSU Athletics. The changes cover concessions, in-game entertainment, ticket deals and promotions across both programs’ home schedules.
On the concessions side, BGSU Athletics said core items at all Falcon athletic events will carry new fan-friendly pricing averaging about a 30 percent reduction. The Falcon Grill will rotate limited-time offerings through the season, a new BGSU Dining point-of-sale system is designed to shorten lines and accept student Falcon Dollars, and the beverage lineup expands to include Stella Artois and SuperLyte Blue Chill alongside premium non-alcoholic options.
Inside the arena, the Freddie Blimp will fly again this season — now with a McDonald’s sponsorship — dropping coupons over the crowd, according to the announcement. Alumna Laura Sandlin returns as the in-arena host for women’s basketball, local radio personality B Wills hosts the men’s games, and DJ Javi will provide music for both programs. Fans can also upload photos to the videoboard, use a selfie station behind section 107, and hear a pep band presence from the university’s marching band throughout the season.
The ticket offers are the biggest draw for families. Five games across the two schedules will sell $3 tickets: the women host St. Thomas on December 15, Fresno State on December 28 and Buffalo on January 9, while the men host Miami (Ohio) on December 16 and Cornerstone on December 22, BGSU Athletics said. The men’s “Streaking At The Stroh” promotion returns for a second straight season — buy an individual ticket starting with the Niagara game, attend and see a Falcons win, and the next game’s ticket is free for as long as the streak and the attendance continue.
A new Falcon Family Pack covers weekend conference games except Toledo: four reserved sideline tickets, $20 in food vouchers and a parking pass for $80, according to the announcement. Every home game for both teams will carry either a ticket promotion or a theme.
Two dates anchor the promotional calendar. On January 23, the women’s team welcomes back the 2006-07 Sweet 16 team against Toledo for its 20th anniversary, and on February 13 the men’s program runs “Operation 5K,” a push to sell out the Stroh Center against Buffalo, BGSU Athletics said. Basketball Bingo is also planned at select games.
What happens next is Monday’s tip-off: the women open at home against Georgia Southern while the men start on the road at Georgia State, and Stroh Center crowds get their first look at the new pricing, hosts and promotions as the home schedules build toward the January and February feature dates.
Photo: Bhockey10, CC BY-SA