Football: Rockets Break Season Ticket Record
8/18/2001 12:00:00 PM | Football
Aug. 18, 2001
Toledo, OH - With less than two weeks remaining before the home opener against Minnesota, the University of Toledo has sold 9,227 season tickets, a record for the school, according to athletic ticket manager Roseann Croop.
The previous high mark for season tickets was 9,118 in 1991, according to Croop. Last year the Rockets sold 8,327 season tickets.
Croop said she expects season ticket sales will continue to be strong right up to game night against Minnesota on Aug. 30.
"We've been selling a lot of season tickets in the past few weeks," said Croop. "I think the pace will pick up as we get closer to the Minnesota game."
Sean Briner, assistant athletic director for maketing and sales, said he hopes the Rockets can sell another 1,000 season tickets before Aug. 30, putting UT well over the 10,000 mark. Briner added that new sales are at 888. "We originally set a goal of 500 new season ticket sales for this year, and we've smashed that," said Briner.
Croop also reported that sales for the Minnesota game continue to be brisk. About 8,400 tickets remain for that game. UT is hoping for a sell out in the Glass Bowl, which officially seats 26,248. But with the addition of extra bleachers in both end zones, as well as standing room sections, the Rockets expect attendance to be well over 30,000 for the game. With a student turnout of around 10,000 and strong walk-up sales, the Glass Bowl record of 34,900 could be eclipsed, according to Croop.
"With good weather, we might even have a chance at the MAC record," said Croop. That mark is 36,361, set in Western Michigan's home opener vs. Indiana State last year.
One reason for the increased interest in the Rockets this year is a team that has been tabbed pre-season favorites to win the Mid-American Conference championship. First-year Head Coach Tom Amstutz has 18 returning starters from a team that went 10-1 a year ago, including All-MAC quarterback Tavares Bolden and All-MAC tailback Chester Taylor.
The Rockets completed their first scrimmage on Saturday before a crowd of about 500 people at Carter Field. Toledo will next scrimmage on Tuesday morning. The next scrimmage that is open to the public will be on Thursday, Aug. 23 at 3:00 p.m. Location for that scrimmage likely will be Carter Field, though it could be in the Glass Bowl if the new turf is ready.
