Football season ticket sales set record

8:51 a.m., July 15, 2004--Last year, the Fightin’ Blue Hens won an unprecedented 15 games and took home the Division I-AA national football championship. With each winning regular season and playoff game, tickets to the action on Tubby Raymond Field became must-have items for UD friends, fans and supporters.

This year, season ticket sales already are breaking records, with nearly 10,000 sold.

For more than 8,700 fans last fall, holding season tickets meant that they did not have to worry about missing any of the memorable moments that drew more than 188,000 fans throughout the season.

“Winning the national championship has had a lot to do with the increased interest in UD football,” Edgar Johnson, director of the Intercollegiate Athletics, said. “We are extremely pleased and excited about the increased interest in UD football by the entire state and the surrounding community.”

This increased interest also means that demands for 2004 season tickets, which reached 9,725 as of Wednesday, July 14, will continue to increase.

In defending its national title this fall, the Fightin’ Blue Hens will line up against six tough opponents at home, including New Hampshire, Towson, West Chester, Maine, William and Mary and Villanova.

The Blue Hens will once again field a team loaded with explosive talent and plenty of big-play potential. The offense features an outstanding corps of receivers and a rock-solid front line, while the defense, one of the nation’s best last year, returns three starters at linebacker, plus three All-Atlantic 10 selections.

While single-game tickets will be available beginning Monday, Aug. 2, the best way for True Blue Hen fans to catch all the action at Delaware Stadium this fall is to purchase season tickets now.

Curtis Krouse, marketing director for Intercollegiate Athletics, said that season ticket holders enjoy many benefits, including:

The same seats at all home games;
Special services provided by the season ticket office, such as ordering tickets over the phone for home and away games without extra per-ticket charges;
First opportunity to purchase playoff tickets; and
Opportunity to buy tickets to away games.

In addition, there are season ticket discounts for alumni and full-time faculty and staff.

“Family four-packs also are available in specific areas of the stadium,” Krouse said. “This is a great opportunity to buy a season ticket package and to introduce families to UD football.”

Special game day promotions scheduled for 2004 include:

Coca-Cola Day, 7 p.m., Thursday, Sept. 2 (New Hampshire);
Band Day/Fidelity Investments Day, 7 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 11 (Towson);
Freshman Family Weekend/Cingular Wireless Day, 7 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 18 (West Chester);
Homecoming/Seasons Pizza Day, noon, Saturday, Oct. 2 (Maine);
Parents and Family Weekend/WSFS Bank Day, 1 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 23 (William and Mary); and
Hall of Fame Day, 1 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 20 (Villanova).

Purchasers of season tickets also have the option of reserving portable chair backs by prepaying for the entire season. Cards will be issued that are redeemable at chair stands inside Delaware Stadium.

Season tickets range from $72 (north end zone) to $150 for the Family Four Pack, which includes seating in sections G and H for two adults and two children (ages 17 and under). For information on ticket availability, parking, group discounts and Blue Hen tailgate tents, call (302) 831-2257.

Article by Jerry Rhodes

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