Des Moines Register
07-10-07
To see ISU home game, Democrats turn to U of I
By RANDY PETERSON
REGISTER STAFF WRITER
Iowa State University athletic director Jamie Pollard is sticking to his word even if it means standing up to influential state politicians.
When House Speaker Pat Murphy, a Dubuque Democrat, told ISU officials he
wanted to purchase 175 tickets at face value for the Iowa-Iowa State football
game in Ames, Pollard said no problem: Buy 175 season tickets.
Unwilling to go that route to secure tickets for a political function held each of the
past 10 years in conjunction with the Big Game, the Democrats approached the
visiting team.
They purchased 175 of the University of Iowa's 4,000-ticket allotment and will be
sitting among Hawkeye fans during the Sept. 15 game at 50,000-seat Jack Trice
Stadium in Ames.
"They're treating everybody the same at Iowa State," Murphy said. "We were
treated just like anyone on the street trying to buy tickets for the game."
Pollard declared this winter that the only way to get into the stadium for the Iowa
game is with a season ticket, which ranges in price from $150 to $350 for the
general public.
"Not budging," he said.
Pollard made the move to increase the sale of season tickets during coach Gene
Chizik's first season, figuring hearty Iowa fans would pay big bucks to see a
game usually played to a sellout crowd.
About 33,530 public season tickets had been sold through Monday, 2,800 more
that last year's record total, but none to Murphy and his colleagues.
They shopped elsewhere.
"We scouted around," he said. "Just like football coaches scout to find the best
talent, I was looking for the best buy."
Murphy looked toward the U of I for the tickets, which he said were purchased
out of a joint House and Senate account used for fundraisers.
"We've got plenty of tickets left in our allotment," said Mark Jennings, Iowa
associate athletic director. "People are not knocking our doors down for this
game yet."
The host school sets the ticket price, which is $90 for this game. Single-game
tickets in the stadium for Iowa State's six other home games range in price from
$40 for games against Kent State and Northern Iowa to $60 for games against
Texas and Oklahoma.
"I'm not sure why we haven't sold our allotment yet, but I think Iowa fans are
saying enough's enough - I'm not going to pay $90 to go over there," Jennings
said. "Maybe they're making a statement, but my guess is that eventually we will
sell out of our allotment."
Murphy emphasized that his group paid full price, $90, for each ticket.
"And the tickets we purchased will be in the stands, too," he said. "We didn't get
any special deals."
That's the point, Pollard said.
"If people want to sit in the stadium, they're no different than anyone else," he
said. "They'll have to have a ticket."
No ifs, ands or spotlight-seeking presidential candidates - no entry without a
season ticket, even if your name is Obama, Giuliani or Clinton.
"They'll have to do what everyone else does if they want to sit in the stands,"
Pollard said. "No exceptions."
How to watch the Big Game in person
SEASON TICKETS: (seven games) A total of 33,530 have been sold to the
general public and Iowa State University students and staff through Monday,
according to athletic department officials.
CORPORATE SALES: Purchasers of corporate tents outside Jack Trice Stadium
can buy up to 50 tickets per game (2,000 maximum for the ISU-Iowa game).
BAND MEMBERS: Band members and band staff from both schools will occupy
620 seats.
ISU RECRUITS: Athletes scheduling recruiting visits during the game occupy
350 seats.
FAMILY SECTION: Players from both teams can place names of four family
members on a pass list for each game. Those passes will fill about 780 seats.
Note: These numbers are based on last season, previous Iowa-Iowa State
games in Ames, actual counts through Monday, and estimates for this season.
Reporter Randy Peterson can be reached at (515) 284-8132 or
randypeterson@dmreg.com