Dec. 21, 2009

QUEENS, N.Y. - College basketball fans would be hard-pressed to find a program to which a sweater has meant more. In conjunction with the 25th Anniversary of St. John's 1985 Final Four run and in celebration of the holiday season in Queens, STJ Athletics will hold an "Ugly Holiday Sweater Night" on Wednesday, Dec. 23, as the Red Storm play host to the Bryant Bulldogs at 7 p.m.

Those wearing their favorite ugly holiday sweaters on Wednesday can take advantage of a special discounted $10 dollar ticket. Over the course of the night's game - filled with prizes, contests, giveaways and potentially an "Ugly Sweater Parade" - the fan judged with the ugliest sweater will take home a special prize pack, including a St. John's Nike jacket to hide your hideous holiday sweater, courtesy of St. John's Athletics.

In addition, if enough fans fill the arena wearing their favorite ugly holiday sweaters, St. John's Athletics may get its name etched into the Guinness Book of World Records. Rutgers University set a record by arranging a gathering of 1,052 fans dressed as "Where's Waldo" last April. Currently, no record exists for the "Largest Ugly Holiday Sweater Party."

Also on Wednesday, St. John's Athletics will be holding a coat and sweater drive in the Carnesecca Arena lobby. Gently-worn coats and sweaters will be collected on the way into the arena from fans who wish to donate during the Christmas season. All coat and sweater donations will be distributed by St. John's student-athletes, in conjunction with Campus Ministry, during "Midnight Runs" to aid the homeless and also at St. John's Bread and Life.

Kris Kringle himself - Santa Claus - will be on hand to greet fans of all ages, and of course, Johnny The Thunderbird will be in the historic arena on Wednesday, perhaps making a fashion statement himself with an appropriately-sized ugly holiday sweater. Fans can become friends with Johnny or an "official fan" of St. John's Athletics on Facebook and get news, information, invitations to events and access to exclusive men's basketball video content - including game previews and recaps from the coaches and Red Storm student-athletes - by visiting www.facebook.com/stjohnsredstorm.

For season tickets, Mini-Plans and tickets for individual games at Carnesecca Arena, please call 1-888-GO-STORM (1-888-467-8676), visit RedStormSports.com or stop by the Carnesecca Arena Ticket Office between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays or on game days.

Individual tickets for St. John's basketball games at Madison Square Garden start as low as $15 and can now be ordered by calling Ticketmaster at 1-866-858-0008, visiting TheGarden.com or stopping by the MSG Box Office.

For information on ticket discounts for groups of 20 or more, please call STJ Group Sales at 718-990-2142.