WSU ticket sales off

PULLMAN – Based on initial returns, it appears the football season-ticket base at Washington State will shrink for a fourth consecutive year this fall.

Though the process is still a few weeks from its completion, about 500 accounts were not renewed from 2006, which, based on an average of more than three tickets per account, would leave WSU down anywhere from 1,500 to 2,000 tickets at this point.

“The experience is, of those 500 accounts, about 150 of those are going to come back to us in July or August,” said WSU director of ticket operations Dan Meyer, citing the fact that those who do not renew in the spring often know they can still purchase season tickets closer to the start of the season.

The Cougars also have not yet touched a waiting list of 200 people who have indicated an interest in season tickets for the fall, so much ground could be made up during the summer. But after hitting a record high with 15,424 season tickets doled out in 2004, the number has dropped to 14,679 and then to 13,777.

WSU may be hurt by a home schedule that is not considered as exciting as some of those from years past, with only five home games on the docket and just two of them coming before Oct. 27.

Any concerns in the ticket sales department for WSU are at least partially mitigated by the continued interest in men’s basketball season tickets for next season. Already, 245 names are on the waiting list for next season, a number Meyer speculated could go well higher by summer’s end.

Meyer added that a pricing structure for the 2007-08 basketball season could be completed by the end of the month.

April showers

Two days after temperatures soared higher than 70 degrees, the Cougars found themselves practicing Monday in a bizarre mix of wind and precipitation that eventually had them calling it quits on a practice that was intended to be shorter than usual regardless.

“You saw the enthusiasm. The kids worked hard,” head coach Bill Doba said. “But I finally had enough of it. Got too cold.”

WSU would have moved its practice indoors, but the school’s facility was already set up for the track team. As a result, the Cougars found themselves in the midst of a hail storm at one point.

“Hail, sleet, everything,” said second-string quarterback Gary Rogers, shaking his head. “Aside from the weather …”

Notes

The Cougars have three practice sessions left this spring, going again this afternoon and then again on Thursday. … Saturday’s spring game will be at 1:30 p.m. in Martin Stadium and, as always, is open to the public. … WSU could get some of its injured players back in time for that final scrimmage, but the gathering of Cougars watching from the sidelines in street clothes is still probably going to be significant to protect against aggravating injuries.