Bham paper: "unprecedented numbers of free tickets"

skyscraper · Post by **skyscraper** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:29 pm

http://www.al.com/sports/index.ssf/2012 ... sales.html

The BBVA Compass Bowl is offering unprecedented numbers of free tickets to Saturday's game due to low sales by Pittsburgh and SMU.

Pittsburgh distributed approximately 2,500 of its allotted 10,000 tickets, similar to last year's appearance in Birmingham, team spokesman E.J. Borghetti said. Pitt would not disclose how many of those were sold and how many were complimentary tickets.

SMU did not provide ticket counts from its allotment of 10,000 and declined to be interviewed for this article.

The BBVA Compass Bowl is providing up to four free tickets to first responders from last spring's tornadoes in Alabama. Members of fire, police and rescue squads can pick up tickets at Gate 13 of Legion Field on Saturday starting at 10 a.m. Military and veterans can also continue to receive four free tickets.

For the first time, the bowl is offering up to two free tickets to students, faculty and staff at UAB, Samford, Birmingham-Southern and Miles.

Pittsburgh and SMU, which replaced the SEC in Birmingham's bowl, were each required by the bowl to buy 10,000 tickets at $50 apiece. Pitt's distribution of 2,500 tickets means the school will lose more than $375,000 from ticket sales.

This figures to be the largest financial losses from ticket sales for two BBVA Compass Bowl teams.

Eddie P · Post by **Eddie P** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:45 pm

The jedi will purchase smu's remaining tickets.

Junior · Post by **Junior** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:46 pm

they make it sound like SMU is hiding something. this isn't a murder investigation.

skyscraper · Post by **skyscraper** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 7:54 pm

Junior wrote:they make it sound like SMU is hiding something. this isn't a murder investigation.

Yeah, the way they phrased that wouldn't comment line made me laugh.

Dutch · Post by **Dutch** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 8:55 pm

Ohhhhhhhhhh! another thread about bad attendance. puhleez. :roll:

Pony Fan · Post by **Pony Fan** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:07 pm

Maybe June should buy them

that's great raplh · Post by **that's great raplh** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:14 pm

Maybe we can build an ipf out of the unsold tickets.

Dutch · Post by **Dutch** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:38 pm

i think they should shut down all tailgates at every vehicle 30 minutes prior to kickoff. that will get people into the game.

Dutch · Post by **Dutch** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:38 pm

it wouldn't hurt if they marketed the game to people in Birmingham and the surrounding areas.

LHS81 · Post by **LHS81** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:40 pm

ECU had a virtual bowl. How about a virtual sold out BBVA Bowl?

Dutch · Post by **Dutch** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:46 pm

i wonder how well the virtual sales were

ponyscott · Post by **ponyscott** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:55 pm

Oh C'mom Birmingham..what did you think?....that fans would come out of the woodwork to come to Alabama in early January?......we will be there in force from SMU....we will do better than Pitt!

austinponie · Post by **austinponie** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 9:56 pm

So....
Accepting an invitation and getting skinned on lost ticket revenue..
Equals paying for your own marketing on TV??

Pony ^ · Post by **Pony ^** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:16 pm

lets be honest...this game will be boooooring.

Dutch · Post by **Dutch** » Thu Jan 05, 2012 10:37 pm

Like almost every other bowl this year. Including the BCS champ game