ANCHORAGE - The University of Alaska Anchorage will host a two-fold celebration event on campus this Friday, Sept. 9, at the Wells Fargo Sports Complex. The evening begins with the Arena Celebration at 4:30 p.m., immediately followed by an all-Seawolf Meet & Greet. Both events are free and open to the public.

The Arena Celebration will commemorate moving forward with the building a much-needed sports facility for UAA and the Anchorage community. UAA's new sports arena will be designed to offer training facilities for all Seawolf athletic programs and a competition venue for Seawolf basketball, volleyball and gymnastics. Once open in 2014, the arena will also serve as a recreational and performance space for UAA students and the Anchorage community.

The celebration begins at 4:30 p.m. and will include remarks from Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell, Anchorage Mayor Dan Sullivan, UA President Pat Gamble and UAA Chancellor Tom Case, among others. The first 500 attendees will receive a commemorative "Golden Ticket" credential, which can be redeemed for a free ticket to the first-ever Seawolf athletic event held in the new arena.

Following the celebration, an all-Seawolf student-athlete meet & greet will be held from 5:30-7 p.m. at the WFSC. That event will afford attendees the opportunity to meet and chat with student-athletes and coaches from all 11 Seawolves sports teams. There will be free autograph books for the kids, plus hot dogs and drinks.

In honor of the celebration, the UAA Campus Bookstore, located adjacent to the Wells Fargo Sports Complex, will offer a special 25 percent discount on all Seawolf apparel from 4:30-7:30 p.m.