Excitement Boosts Season Ticket Sales

PROVO -- With just under four weeks until the start of the 2002 football season, BYU officials are reporting they have sold nearly 28,000 season tickets. That total is more than 2,000 ahead of last year's mark.

Tony Jewkes, director of athletic marketing at BYU, contributes the increase in sales to last year's electrifying season.

"It seems there is a renewed excitement," Jewkes said. "I think a lot of people last year wanted to wait and see how Coach Crowton would do. After last year's 12-2 season, expectations are high and the fans are excited."

Although the number of ticket sales has increased, Jewkes said there are plenty of seats still on hand for those who are still interested in purchasing season tickets, but they better act fast.

"We still have about 11,000 end zone seats available," he said. "And for those who like to sit on the public sideline, we still have about 1,500, but they better act soon because as the season gets closer, those seats could go quickly."

While the 2002 season football ticket sale began April 1, individual (home) game tickets will be available to the general public beginning Tuesday, Aug. 6 at 9 a.m. (MDT).

All-Sport passes go on sale to full-time BYU students and spouse cardholders beginning Tuesday, Aug. 27 from 8 a.m.-7p.m. (MDT). Thereafter, All-Sport Passes will be sold to part-time BYU students, UVSC and BYU-Idaho students beginning Wednesday, Aug. 28 from 8 a.m-7 p.m. (MDT). Students need to make their purchase in person at the Marriott Center ticket office, using proper identification (spouses may purchase in the other's behalf with valid identification). All-Sport Passes are $75 for students. There is a limit of two passes per student.

Jewkes said they are still waiting to see how many students will come out to buy All-Sport passes, but in the meantime, 18,000 are being set aside specifically for the students.

Individuals who had season tickets last year and would like to renew for the 2002 season, or individuals who would like Cougar Club or faculty-staff seating, can secure tickets by calling 378-BYU1 or 1-800-322-BYU1.

Additionally, new orders for public sideline and endzone seating may be purchased over the internet at the BYU ticket office's web-site (http://ticket.byu.edu) or at the Marriott Center ticket office.

The Cougars open the 2002 season on Thursday, Aug. 29, beginning at 5:30 p.m. (MDT) against Big East foe Syracuse.