By Chad Husted
Assistant Sports Editor
The line of students waiting for Paint Crew tickets wrapped around Mackey Arena well before the 9 a.m. opening of the ticket windows in the Intercollegiate Athletic Facility. With fewer than 2,000 tickets available for the Paint Crew section, student were eager to claim their spot.
Cameron Capper, a sophomore in the College of Science, said his group had someone in line since 8:30 a.m. and they had yet to get far enough through the line to be inside the building early Wednesday afternoon.
"We can hope that it's going to be worth it," Capper said.
Tom Nielsen, a sophomore in the College of Science and the Paint Crew's treasurer, said the Paint Crew officials were taking steps to ensure everyone would get a fair chance at Paint Crew seats. To keep people from jumping the line, the Paint Crew collected the group sign-in sheets before groups got to the window.
"Before we put this plan in place, they could easily hop up in front and say, 'Hey, we don't know you, but can we join your group,'" Nielsen said. "That just makes it unfair for the people who have been waiting since 9 a.m."
The long wait may have come from the ticket office printing the holder's name on each ticket. When a group reached the window, each game ticket for each person in the group was printed right then.
The demand for tickets was so high that Paint Crew officials knew at 9:30 a.m. that they had more fans in line than they had tickets. The officials told fans towards the rear of the line that they likely wouldn't be able to get tickets. Some stayed, hoping those in line ahead of them might have to leave, but most will have to settle for upper bowl tickets, Nielsen said.
According to Paint Crew president Dylan Reynolds, those students who didn't get a chance to get Paint Crew tickets still have the opportunity to be members of the Paint Crew, including the shirts, events and other member opportunities. The membership fee for the Paint Crew is $15.
"We kind of feel bad that there are people that got there before 9 ' the time it was supposed to start ' that aren't going to be able to join the Paint Crew," Reynolds said. "All the other (events) of the Paint Crew, except for the general admission seating ' students can still be part of the action."
The dedication of the students in line, as well as the quick sellout for the Paint Crew, made an impression on coach Matt Painter.
"The fact that the Paint Crew section sold out in one day demonstrates a loyalty to Purdue as well as a feeling of belonging with a season we hope will be very special," Painter said. "We are looking forward to giving the Paint Crew and all of our fans a season they will be proud to be a part of."
Published by the Purdue Exponent on October 16, 2008
No comments:
Post a Comment