Much Griz consternation ensues:
And here's the email I received today from the Eagle Athletic Association. I'd say mission accomplished.EWU ticket policy angering some Griz football fans
StoryDiscussionEWU ticket policy angering some Griz football fans
By FRITZ NEIGHBOR of the Missoulian missoulian.com |
.Some Griz football fans have worked themselves into a lather over Eastern Washington's current ticket policy, in which one can buy single game tickets - say, to Eagles' game against Montana on Sept. 18, in Cheney, Wash. - only if he or she joins the Eagle Athletic Association.
For example, two tickets for Sept. 18, which is the first game played on the new red turf at EWU's Woodward Stadium, come with the added price tag of a $120 donation to the EAA.
Guilty, says Eastern athletic director Bill Chaves.
"If you want to look through the lens of, ‘I want my ticket today,' than that is an accurate statement," Chaves said Wednesday.
Taking a step back, however, allows fans who can wait until Sept. 1 to avoid the EAA fees. Single-game tickets go on sale that day at 11 a.m. Mountain Standard Time, and while there may not be as many as in year's past, there will be quite a few left over. No EAA fees will apply.
Chaves said that Eastern's current policy has been in place for awhile, dating back to before he took over as AD in 2007. It's geared to raise funds and also drive up season ticket purchases, since a season ticket is comparable in price to joining the EAA for priority seats.
It possibly caught Griz fans by surprise because of the date of this year's game; it is the Big Sky Conference opener for both teams. The 2008 game in Cheney was on Oct. 11, and it drew 10,830 fans.
Another factor is that just 500 tickets were allotted to UM to sell, compared to around 2,000, by Chaves' estimation, for the last game in Cheney.
That may have helped Montana fans outnumber Eastern fans on the Grizzlies' last three trips to Cheney. Those games drew the top three crowds in stadium history, with a high of 11,583 in 2006.
An e-mail from EWU's ticket manager, Troy Kirby, said 72 percent of the tickets for the Sept. 18 game had been sold. Woodward Stadium normally has a capacity of 8,600 but increases to 10,800 with the addition of temporary bleachers. Using Kirby's math, some 7,700 tickets are accounted for.
That leaves roughly 3,100 left, and they'll likely go quick. The game may not be quite as maroon as it has been the past three trips - especially with that new turf - but there should be Griz fans aplenty.
And, Chaves hopes, more EWU supporters.
"Each year you're attempting to get as much season ticket support as possible," he said. "Then it's a known quantity of revenue coming in. Anything we can do to encourage ticket sales and donations to the EAA is a good thing for us.
"Certainly we want to try and get as many season tickets sold as possible. Obviously that's the goal."
Eastern had the turf completely installed as of Wednesday. Sports information director Dave Cook said the Eagles would practice on it for the first time Friday.
The Grizzlies, meanwhile, are 11 days from their 2010 opener at home against Division II Western State out of Gunnison, Colo. They had two sessions Wednesday - their final two at the South Campus fields - and have a scrimmage set for 9:15 a.m. Thursday inside Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
Griz coach Robin Pflugrad said he plans a short scrimmage this time around, after Saturday's run to 93 offensive plays, with more on special teams.
"Our legs are tired and this is showing up," he said. "We are lacking a little speed due to physical exertion. We've been out here running around for 19 practices, so that is going to show up."
The Griz did welcome receiver Sam Gratton back to practice this week, after a groin injury from the first scrimmage slowed him up. Dan Moore, who missed the second scrimmage with a concussion, is back at full speed.
Also seen at Wednesday's practice: Tackle Jon Opperud, though he sported a non-contact jersey.
Junior corner Donny Lisowski injured an arm in the first scrimmage but has returned to limited practice.
QUICK KICKS: Thursday at 6:30 p.m. fans are invited to the Great Griz Encounter at Caras Park. The 90 Griz who are participating in fall camp will be there, and Pflugrad will introduce UM's All-American and honors candidates ... Montana SID Dave Guffey pointed out that Gerald Kemp, converted recently from QB to RB, had 11 carries for 61 yards in UM's 49-17 win over Portland State last Sept. 19. ... Transfer corner Houston Roots was cleared to practice Wednesday by the NCAA clearing house.
Fritz Neighbor can be reached at 523-5247 or at fneighbor@missoulian.com.
[quote]
Only a few general admission tickets remain for the Sept. 18 matchup on the red turf between Eastern and Montana
Nearly 3,000 remaining reserved tickets were sold out within 23 minutes into the public sale this morning for tickets to the Eastern Washington University versus Montana football game on Sept. 18 at Roos Field (formerly Woodward Field) in Cheney, Wash. Capacity for the Big Sky Conference showdown is about 11,000.
According to Eastern ticket manager Troy Kirby, about 1,500 tickets were sold during a three-hour pre-sale Wednesday (Sept. 1) morning, and the remaining tickets were sold out 23 minutes after the public sale began at 10 a.m.
As of late afternoon, only 300 general admission tickets remained for the game, which will be the inaugural game on Eastern’s new red turf surface. Kirby said the visitor and end zone sections were nearly sold out prior to the public sale, and that there was a line of about 50 people waiting at the Spokane Arena box office.
Prior to Sept. 1, only season ticket holders and members of the Eagle Athletic Association (minimum contribution of $120) were eligible to obtain tickets to the game. The game will be televised locally on SWX in Spokane and throughout Montana via flagship station KPAX in Missoula.
Eastern’s last three meetings in Cheney against Montana were also sell outs. In 2006 a record crowd of 11,583 was announced, 10,830 attended in 2008 and 10,754 were on hand in 2004.
Kirby said the average order per customer was four tickets each. He lauded TicketsWest for the “tremendous job” they did in handling not only tickets on Wednesday, but also Eastern’s season ticket sale and donations to the EAA.[/quote]
