For the third straight year, Seton Hall Athletics and Pirate Blue are running their '30 for 30' program in April.
The objective of the contest is the chance to reward those willing to renew their men's basketball season tickets for the 2014-15 season.
To be eligible to win, a non-refundable $150 deposit must be placed by April 30.
"We developed '30 for 30' in April two years ago as a way to incentivize our men's basketball season ticket holders to renew sea- son tickets early, as well as attract new season ticket holders," Kelly O'Neil, assistant athletic director for marketing and promotions, said. "By developing a month of great giveaways and experience prizes, we are able to reward our loyal fans as they continue to sup- port our men's basketball program as season ticket holders."
A new winner is announced each day for the entirety of April. One of the early lucky winners this month is Nick Romano.
Romano, 54, won a party suite for himself and up to thirty-nine others for a men's basketball game at the Prudential Center next sea- son.
A season ticket holder since 1970, Romano and his family have been mainstays at Seton Hall University and its basketball games.
"Seton Hall has always been in my blood," Romano said. "My dad graduated from Seton Hall in 1943, I graduated in 1983 and my daughter will be graduating this year."
Like his ownership in season tickets, Romano has also been a consistent participant in the '30 for 30' contest.
However, this marks the first year Romano has won a prize in the contest.
"I have entered the '30 for 30' contest for three years and this was the first year that I have been lucky enough to win a prize."
Besides Romano's party suite, O'Neil said there are a variety of other standout prizes that contestants could win.
Prizes like a parking pass to the Prudential Center's VIP parking deck for all of the home games, a staycation package at the Hilton Short Hills Hotel and Eforea Spa, and even two all-session passes to next year's Big East Tournament at Madison Square Garden highlight the lineup of gifts.
O'Neil said she got the idea after seeing the University of Missouri running a similar campaign for its football season tickets.
"We are always looking for ways to reward our loyal Pirate fans, and think this month's campaign allows us an opportunity to do so," O'Neil said.
Other contest winners so far includes Tracey Knewitz, who won two club seats to a New Jersey Devils hockey game, George Manuelian, who will be awarded a lunch with Seton Hall Athletic Director Pat Lyons, Mike Gratale, who won tickets to next season's men's basketball Media Day at Walsh Gym and Leo Zatta, who received a one-night stay at the Hilton Short Hills Hotel and Eforea Spa.
In addition to the prize con- test, athletics will continue its annual Donor Matching Day on April 30. Any donation made to Pirate Blue that day will be matched at 30 percent.
David Heim can be reached at david.heim@student.shu.edu. He can also be found on Twitter @Da- vidHeim12.
