Game tickets

almost impossible

to find
By Scott Nicholson
nicholson@wataugademocrat.com

Though the Appalachian State University football team had all along set its sights on the championship game in Chattanooga, Tenn., the seats for the game were still up in the air.

David Jackson, ASU assistant athletic director of public affairs, said the hosting agency for the championship game began fielding informal ticket requests from colleges a couple of months ago, long before anyone knew who would emerge from the playoffs for the title tilt.

As the playoffs narrowed the field, game officials began formalizing the ticket requests.

Jackson said ASU requested the maximum amount of tickets, knowing from its participation the last two years that plenty of black-and-gold-clad fans would want to make the trip.

While the anticipated road to the championship game was a little rocky, the ticket process couldn’t have worked out better, as ASU managed to snag 7,800 tickets, ensuring at least a third of the crowd would be rooting for the Mountaineers.

ASU’s allotment of tickets for the national championship game in Chattanooga was sold out in seven hours of priority sales to students, Yosef Club members and season-ticket holders by noon Saturday. The game is Friday night.

ASU’s opponent, Delaware, also sold out its allotment of tickets, or 3,000 total. The school had requested the same amount of tickets as in 2003, when the Fightin’ Blue Hens won the national championship, but had to return 200 unsold tickets that year. This year, tickets were in higher demand, and Delaware officials allowed students to buy up to 10 tickets apiece.

There are no more ticket sales to the general public through the ASU ticket office, and tickets could be difficult to find through any avenue. If more tickets become available through the week, people can purchase them through the Chattanooga ticket office, but it’s an unlikely prospect given the current frenzy.

Jackson said the hosting agency sells on its own any tickets not allotted to the participating colleges, and said Southern Conference schools generally have strong turnout for the championship game. Additionally, Chattanooga is geographically convenient for many schools that are perennial contenders.

Capacity for Finley Stadium is 20,668, and another 1,800 standing-room-only tickets were approved for sale by the NCAA.

ASU’s 2006 appearance in the title game yielded a turnout of 21,216, the highest since the game came to Chattanooga in 1997. In 2005, total attendance was 19,119.

Online sites have reportedly offered tickets as high as $350 for a pair of the $20 tickets. One person, who registered on eBay Dec. 11, posted four tickets at a starting bid of $1 million.

Season tickets for the next football season go on sale in late spring through the ASU ticket office.