With just a little time left, Kansas University is approaching a long-lasting record for season- ticket sales.
As of about a week ago, KU had sold 27,200 season tickets for the 2006 football season. That’s 500 more than last year’s final total of 26,700.
Certainly, KU’s 5-0 mark at Memorial Stadium in 2005 – which was rewarded with a Fort Worth Bowl berth – has something to do with the increase. The Jayhawks set an attendance record in 2005 with an average of 43,675 fans, which included large crowds in games against Missouri, Nebraska and Iowa State.
The appeal seems to have carried over. KU associate athletic director Jim Marchiony said by KU’s records, the best year for season-ticket sales was 1969, when 27,700 were sold.
KU is just 500 away, and is shooting to break the all-time record before the Sept. 2 season opener.
Seven games are on the 2006 home schedule – Northwestern State, Louisiana-Monroe, South Florida, Texas A&M, Oklahoma State, Colorado and Kansas State.
¢ New bowl: The new bowl game in Houston, which will feature a Big 12 Conference team, has been named the Texas Bowl.
The game will feature a Big 12 team against either a Conference-USA or Big East team or TCU out of the Mountain West Conference. It replaces the old EV1.net Houston Bowl, which failed after financial problems earlier this year.
Fiesta
Cotton
Alamo
Holiday
*Gator
*Sun
Insight
Independence
Texas
* – Only one of these two bowls may select a Big 12 team each season.
The Texas Bowl is eighth in the Big 12’s pecking order, and will be played Dec. 28 at Reliant Stadium in Houston. It will be televised by the NFL Network.
Other bowl games affiliated with the Big 12 include the Fiesta, Cotton, Alamo, Holiday Gator, Sun, Insight and Independence Bowls. All will be played after Christmas.
¢ Up next: Kansas will hold its fan appreciation and kid’s day today at Memorial Stadium. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and admission is free.
The Jayhawks will be finishing up practice when the gates open and fans are welcome to watch the end of it. KU coach Mark Mangino will address the crowd afterward, and kids will be invited to participate in drills at the end of practice.
An autograph and photo session will follow on Kivisto Field. It will be the last chance to see KU’s football team in action before next week’s season opener.
