Kansas State University - Royal Purple Yearbook (Manhattan, KS)

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PIGSKIN PANIC CONTINUED FROM PAGE 20 Athletic department officials applauded the adoption of identification scanners, which prevented ticket sales staff from writing thousands of social security numbers and quickened the ticket-buying process. Scanners allowed 700 purchases an hour. Although additional scanners would be used during the 1999 ticket sales to increase productivity, a rule permitting students to purchase tickets for up to three other students of the same class level with proper student identification cards was debated. While many students took advantage of the policy allowing them to purchase tickets for friends, some saw it as an opportunity to make a profit and sold extra season tickets at prices ranging from $150 to $500 a sheet. I don ' t think scalping entered any of our minds, Carol Adolph, intercollegiate athletic agency manager, said. We looked at the pros and cons during meetings, and that issue never came up. We learned very quickly and were very disappointed. Just like tickets, the supply of $30 ICAT passes diminished quickly. During combo ticket sales Aug. 28, more than 2,500 passes were sold, prompting the ICAT board to increase the number of passes available. Even after increasing the original supply by 300, the ICAT board was left with about 200 of the total 2,800 passes on Saturday morning. ICAT Olympics Sports Director Toni Parks, junior in mass communications, said the demand for ICAT passes surpassed expectations. We were expecting to sell about 600 the first day and have a good 1,400 left the next day, Parks said. It was amazing. We never expected it. It totally broadsided us. Since K-State football headed into the season as a top-ranked team, Adolph said she knew ticket demand would far exceed its supply. While K-State dealt with growing pains of athletic success, molding a fool-proof ticket system would consume athletic department officials ' time for the rest of the season. Parents called angry that their children didn ' t get tickets, Adolph said. I asked them if they could think of a better system. They didn ' t have an answer. For right now, neither do I. Ticket Frenzy Fast facts about ticket sales Total tickets sold 8,828 students purchased tickets Combo tickets 4,700 of all tickets were sold as combos ICAT Sold out after 2,800 students bought passes Combo ticket sales $160 per ticket for a gross of $752,000 Football ticket only sales $98 per ticket for a gross of $404,544 Total revenue $1,156,544 from sales of student tickets 22 student life Juniors wait outside the corrals in line for season football tickets Aug. 29 in the Bramlage Coliseum parking lot. Corrals were set up to keep students of the same grade classification together and to reduce line jumping. Students with a senior or above classification received priority on the second day of the sales. Juniors were still in line when the last ticket was sold, leaving underclassmen who had not purchased combo tickets, ticketless. The ticket sales process went faster because the sales staff did not have to write out thousands of social security numbers. The athletic purchased new scanners to help keep lines moving. The scanners allowed 700 purchases an hour. (Photo by Clif Palmberg)

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21 ticket sales Seniors stand in line outside Bramlage Coliseum, Saturday Aug. 29, in hopes of purchasing football tickets. At 7 a.m., the line of students streched to Kimball Avenue and began to weave its way into the Vanier Football Complex parking lot. Many students arrived early in the evening on Aug. 28 in order to camp out overnight to secure a position near the front of the line. by Clif Palmberg)

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Marty Slagle, junior in food science and industry, looks in shock at her husband, Nathan, after discovering the person in front of them purchased the last student season ticket. More than 8,000 tickets were available, and students could purchase up to four sets of tickets at a time, allowing for quicker sales. (Photo by Clif Palmberg) Steve Stewman, junior in psychology, smiles at his luck when he hears he will receive the last football ticket. Stewman waited in line for more than six hours Saturday. I got here at 6:30 a.m. Someone told me the wrong line, so I went through the senior line. Then, I had to go back to the junior section and go through the line again, he said. I came with my girlfriend, who is a senior, and she got her tickets and left with the car and my keys. Stewman received tickets, but he was unable to buy another set for his roommate. (Photo by Clif Palmberg) 23 ticket sales