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Wednesday, December 12, 2007

Orange Bowl ticket sales limp toward finish

KU, Virginia Tech both have plenty left

By Ryan Wood

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'Hawks preparing for Orange Bowl despite weather woes

As freezing rain and icy temperatures continue to assault Lawrence, the Kansas football team moves forward with its preparations for a January trip to Florida.

After a furious sprint out of the gate, Orange Bowl ticket sales are limping toward the finish line with just more than three weeks to go.

Both Kansas University and Virginia Tech have tickets remaining for the Jan. 3 Orange Bowl. Virginia Tech assistant athletic director Sandy Smith said Tuesday the Hokies had sold around 15,000.

KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony, meanwhile, said at Tuesday's Kansas Athletics, Inc., board meeting that the Jayhawks had sold about 16,300 tickets.

Both schools are allotted 17,500, which are all together in Dolphin Stadium.

"It's slowed down," Smith said of Virginia Tech's sales. "I'm sure it has for (Kansas), too."

Athletic director Lew Perkins is confident that the tickets - which go for $125 each - will be gobbled up soon, perhaps within a week.

But just in case, Kansas has marketed the availability of seats for the game. Thousands of KU fans received an e-mail from "Mark Mangino" on Tuesday, which actually was an Orange Bowl reminder and an opportunity to announce that tickets remained on sale. The team's marketing campaign was adjusted to "This is what January was made for."

In addition, Kansas has started a small Web site, orangebowlbound.com, to promote the game.

About 10 percent of KU's ticket sales so far have been to students, and KU has offered student tickets for just $50. Perkins said KU plans to pay the difference.

Though the game expects to be a relatively full crowd in the 72,000-seat venue, online ticket brokers still have many available. Ticketsnow.com reports that the average price for Orange Bowl tickets through its site has dropped from $212 to $188 in recent weeks.

If Kansas doesn't sell its full share, the Big 12 Conference covers the cost of the remaining tickets. But both Kansas and Virgnia Tech are hopeful that all 17,500 will be scooped up at each school.

It just won't be in a hurry.

"It's a long way for everybody," Smith said. "It's really difficult to get a flight. That's a big tourist destination this time of year."

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Comments

rolo2383 (anonymous) says...

Fly to Tampa Bay. Our flight tickets are under $200 per person. It's not a long drive to Miami.

December 12, 2007 at 8:57 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

babyjayhawkfan (anonymous) says...

rolo2383, how long is the drive from Tampa? I am running out of ideas!

December 12, 2007 at 10:47 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

quigley (anonymous) says...

Weird how we have sold 16,300 tickets, the exact amount of seats in allen field house....hmmmm.......lets get some more fans there hawk fans!!

December 12, 2007 at 11 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

ohioburg (anonymous) says...

Wish I could make it.

Is this another case of having to be a Williams Fund member in order to be able to buy a ticket?

I know many fans have bought tickets through places like stubhub, etc.

December 12, 2007 at 11:09 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

Tampa to Miami is about three to four hours ... go south along the Gulf Coast on I-75, cross Alligator Alley, then take the turn pike to Dolphin Stadium ...

***

16,300 tickets, coincidence?

December 12, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Dr_Hawkenstein (anonymous) says...

I am sure they will sell tickets to whoever wants them. No Williams fund donation necessary. If I am wrong, then there truly is something wrong with the KU ticket system.

December 12, 2007 at 11:29 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

babyjayhawkfan (anonymous) says...

Thanks for the info sevenyearhawk.

December 12, 2007 at 11:40 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk_Jerry (anonymous) says...

Janurary 3rd seems like it's months away. New Year's Eve on South Beach sure is going to be a nice weather change from KC.

December 12, 2007 at 11:48 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

albraun (anonymous) says...

You don't have to be a member of the Williams fund. I'm not and never have been, but had no trouble purchasing tickets to the Orange Bowl through the KU site. No questions asked except for how to pay!

December 12, 2007 at 12:05 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

JBurtin (anonymous) says...

They offered them first to William's fund donors, then opened up the remainder to everyone after a few days.

December 12, 2007 at 12:10 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

bdsnook (anonymous) says...

I bought my flight 30 minutes after we were selected and my game tickets the following day. See you all there!!!

December 12, 2007 at 12:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawktriplegrad (anonymous) says...

West Palm Beach is another good flight alternative and much closer than Tampa. There are also much cheaper hotels in Miami Beach close to the Fontainbleau.

December 12, 2007 at 2:47 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

rolo2383 (anonymous) says...

Sevenyear is correct. It's like driving from KC to St. Louis. There are several of us splitting the cost of the car rental so in the end it won't be a whole lot for us to get down there and back.

December 12, 2007 at 4:02 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

Try one of the discount airlines also. You may have to drive a little ways tho. You can get a flight from Springfield or St louis to Orlando for about $150, then drive down. Thats if you live in the Lawrence/KC area.

December 12, 2007 at 4:43 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

sevenyearhawk (anonymous) says...

The highways are better than KC to St. Louis, but watch for alligators!!!

They will cause WORSE damage to your car than a deer!!!

At least this is what I was told while living there, they move slower, but are harder to see as they are low to the ground ...

December 12, 2007 at 4:55 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

kansas city to west palm beach $250

December 12, 2007 at 5:20 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

hey seven, how long from pbi to miami?

December 12, 2007 at 5:41 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

OklahomaJayhawk5 (anonymous) says...

Haha I couldnt imagine a story about hitting an alligator!!

December 12, 2007 at 5:59 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

babyjayhawkfan (anonymous) says...

just mapquested distance from West Palm to Miami...71 miles.

December 12, 2007 at 6:17 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Pbbut (anonymous) says...

If you're in the area, check out Allegiant Air from Springfield to FLA destinations. They are non-stops and very reasonable for the most part. The destinations are limited, but today I got two from Springfield to Orlando for a total of $312.60, depart the 2nd, return the 5th.

December 12, 2007 at 6:37 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

yovoy (anonymous) says...

is this game being played in dolphins stadium, or in the orange bowl? dolphins stadium is north of the orange bowl. so which is it? the one in little havana or the other one?

December 12, 2007 at 7:27 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

Jayhawk86 (anonymous) says...

dolphin stadium

December 12, 2007 at 7:29 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

yovoy (anonymous) says...

thank you. then my hotel reservations, er MOTEL, are pretty close to the game. lucky for me.

December 12, 2007 at 7:36 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

alexander_brian (anonymous) says...

We are flying Allegiant Air from Wichita to Orlando for $156 each roundtrip. Orlando is only about 3 hours away as well. The only problem is that flights only depart on December 29th and January 2nd. We are going the 29th to enjoy Florida in January. Hope to see everyone there sporting the Blue. Rock Chalk!

December 12, 2007 at 8:12 p.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

sevenyear...I thought that number was awfully coincidental too.

KUs magic number evidently

December 15, 2007 at 11:42 a.m. ( | suggest removal )

jross1972 (Joe Ross) says...

Im just surprised we've outsold VT thus far.

December 16, 2007 at 6:08 p.m. ( | suggest removal )