What A Deal! Cougars Put $5 Tickets On Sale For Boise State But ‘Preview For Pasadena’ Promotion Has Coach Mike Price A Little Jittery
The marketing department is billing it as “PREVIEW FOR PASADENA.”
Washington State football coaches and players are less ambitious, although they also hope Martin Stadium is filled to capacity for Saturday’s non-conference game against Boise State.
“Preview for Pasadena?” marveled center Cory Withrow. “It’s a little early for that.”
As part of an ambitious promotion designed to sell nearly 15,000 remaining tickets, WSU marketing director Ron Davis announced Monday that unsold tickets are available for $5.
A single-game reserved ticket usually goes for $20. General admission is $14.
By late afternoon, news of the promotion had yet to reach the office of coach Mike Price.
“Great deal,” said Price, when informed of the news. “For five bucks, huh? That’s awe some. I hope everybody takes advantage of this.”
However, Price was understandably squeamish about the Rose Bowl implications, and doesn’t want opponents to get the wrong idea.
At 2-0 in the Pac-10 and 3-0 overall, the 15th-ranked Cougars are in position to make a run for the postseason. With eight games left, however, the Rose Bowl race is only beginning.
Price cringed when handed one of the yellow promotional fliers being circulated around campus. Under the heading, “PREVIEW FOR PASADENA,” fans are invited to order tickets by calling (800) 462-6847.
“The preview for Pasadena gets a little scary, but the five-bucks-a-ticket is right down my alley.”
The promotion was conceived last week by athletic director Rick Dickson and others, according to Davis. Dickson was out of town Monday.
“It’s just to make a statement of how important it is for people to get a chance to come to see us play and see what we think is a great product this year,” Davis said. “I think it’s a way for us to have people see the football team who may not otherwise do it.”
About 22,000 tickets had been sold as of Friday, Davis said.
Martin Stadium holds 37,600. Ticket sales to upcoming games against California (Oct. 18) and Arizona (Oct. 25) picked up after WSU upset USC earlier this month. But the Boise State game is a tougher sell. “We want to start getting the mindset of a sellout mentality,” Davis said. “Will we do this any more this year? No. It’s a game that we have the flexibility to do it with.
“It’s really a good-will effort, but as much as anything, a chance to let people see what Cougar football is about. And maybe they’ll come back.”
Tickets in sections 4-8 are reserved for donor seating and are not part of the promotion, Davis said. Those who have already purchased tickets are not eligible for the promotion.
, DataTimes