Texas Tech Bracing For Late Ticket Push
August 23, 2000 | Football
Aug. 23, 2000
LUBBOCK, Texas - The Texas Tech ticket office is bracing for a late run on tickets for the beginning of the Mike Leach era of Red Raider football. The Red Raiders host New Mexico Saturday evening at Jones SBC Stadium.
Texas Tech athletic director Gerald Myers said the run on tickets will be needed if a proposed television blackout for the game is to be lifted for Lubbock and surrounding areas. Myers said about 35,000 tickets had been sold and 10,000 more will need to be sold lift the blackout. The game will be televised regionally by FOX Sports Net and will kick off at 7:07 p.m. CDT.
"We made a financial commitment to our football team and the Texas Tech community to support this game," Myers said. "I am confident Red Raider fans will step up to welcome a new, exciting era of Texas Tech football and help provide a college scholarship along the way."
The game between Tech and New Mexico is billed as the Transamerica Hispanic College Fund Football Classic, with the 25-percent of the proceeds going toward the Hispanic College Fund, a national organization whose central purpose is to provide higher education opportunities for the Hispanic community.
Tickets for the game are $35. Myers said that NCAA formulas for exempt games, not Texas Tech, dictated the price of the ticket.
Per NCAA legislation for exempt 12th games, a sellout would ensure each participating institution a $600,000 payout. The beneficiary of the game, in this case the Hispanic College Fund, is guaranteed 25-percent of the gate.
Myers said that exempt games are traditionally played in stadiums larger than Jones SBC Stadium, which seats just over 50,000. He said ticket prices for the game were set to help meet the NCAA-mandated financial commitments that are more easily met with larger venues.
"At the dawn of a new era in Texas Tech football history, the excitement level surrounding the program is better than I ever remember," Myers said. "We want everybody to be a part of it, preferably at the stadium, but at least through television. In this situation, unfortunately, we can't have one without the other."
Tech is offering an alternative to the base $35 ticket price. Fans may purchase a Family Pack for $99,which includes four tickets, four hot dogs and four soft drinks. Tickets may be purchased at the ticket office or by calling (806) 742-TECH or 1-888 GO BIG 12.