LUBBOCK, Texas — If Texas Tech thought football ticket
sales were good in 2008, things appear like they will go to a whole new level
in the first season under new head football coach Tommy Tuberville.
Tech athletics announced Wednesday that the ticket sales
office reached a record in season ticket sales for the upcoming year with a
total of 30,709 sold and growing by the minute.
It is the second time in three years that season ticket
sales have set a new mark after preseason sales hit 30,092 before the amazing
2008 season when Tech went 11-1 and earned its second Cotton Bowl berth in four
years.
“We couldn’t be happier with the enthusiasm that our fans
have for this football program,” Tuberville said in
the release. “If you haven’t
purchased your season tickets yet, it’s not too late. They still have plenty of seats. We want to make sure that Jones AT&T Stadium is full
every time we step out on the field.”
The growing interest in Tuberville
and the new regime at Tech is one of many things to help spark the record
numbers. Tech is expected to finish a new East Side expansion project by the
opening kickoff against SMU on Sept. 5, as well as the addition of 6,100 seats
in the northwest and northeast end zones of the stadium, which were added just
before the Texas A&M game last season.
Tech set a record for attendance against A&M with 57,333
in attendance. That number broke the previous mark set in 2008 in the historic
game against then-No. 1 Texas (56,333).
Expectations are not only high for Tuberville
and the team but also for Tech assistant athletic director for ticket
operations Dave Welsh, who expects Red Raider fans will help shatter the
attendance record and push the number to more than 60,000 fans in a single game
this season, more than likely in the third week against Texas (Sept. 18).
“It just shows the fans we have and the faith in coach Tuberville,” Welsh said. “From the day he was hired, it’s
been that way since day one. It’s just a great reflection of the fan base and
the excitement around this season.”
The 30,709 season tickets sold in addition to the 12,548 student allotment brings the total to 43,257 total
seats before the season begins. Welsh said usually 1,000 tickets will be sold
for visiting team fans each game with an estimated 3,850 tickets available at
the most to visiting team fans, usually only for the Texas or A&M game each
season.
This year is also the first chance for students to purchase
special season ticket plans of their own, giving them the option of having
guaranteed seats in either of the two corner sections of the North end zone
(Sec. 109-111 or Sec. 113-115). Welsh said students have already purchased 579
season tickets with that plan.
He also noted that there is no estimation as to how many
season tickets might be sold before the SMU game. Tech sold out of season
tickets just nine days before the opening game in 2008.
“It’s uncharted territory,” Welsh
said. “It will be really interesting to see what happens at this rate if it
keeps going. If the numbers continue to go through the roof then we may be in
the same situation where we are actually out of season tickets.”
Fans can still purchase season tickets online at www.texastech.com
or by calling the athletics ticket office at (806) 742-4412 or (888)
GO-BIG12. Fans interested in club
seats or one of the few remaining suites in the new East side building should
contact the Red Raider Club at (806) 742-1195.
Travis Cram is the Managing Editor for RaiderPower.com. Follow his
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