North Carolina State University Athletics
2-Game Tower Package Gives Back
10/16/2009 12:00:00 AM | Football
One of the most visible signs of Wolfpack pride on NC State's campus has been lighting the Memorial Bell Tower red after Wolfpack victories. It's a long-standing and storied tradition that athletics is proud to be a part of as often as possible.
Like so many NC State fans, alumni and students, athletics is supportive of the student-led initiative to complete the Bell Tower. So athletics and student leadership have developed a partnership to contribute a portion of the proceeds from the sale of unused student tickets during the Thanksgiving weekend home football game against UNC-CH. This effort will directly help with the, "Finish the [Bell] Tower Fund" , a project led by the 2010 senior class.
The surplus of student seating will go on-sale to the general public today in a two-game package with the November 7 Maryland contest.
"Athletics is providing more seating than usual for a Thanksgiving Day game and we feel this, coupled with the fundraising effort, is a win-win for the students," Jay Dawkins.
As in years past, athletics reviewed the number of tickets allotted to students for games during fall break and Thanksgiving weekend, since the majority of students are out of town for these games. With 9,250 tickets available to students and 8,000 of these through the general online distribution, there are often upwards of 4,000 unused student seats for Thanksgiving weekend. Determining the number of tickets to cut often creates a difficult dilemma.
"Cut it too little and there are unused seats, preventing the general public from attending the game and leaving seats empty," said Brian Kelly, assistant athletics director for ticket operations. "Cut it too much, and you may turn away a higher percentage of students than we prefer.
"It is always a delicate balance."
Athletics appreciates the work student leaders have done in determining the right number of tickets during these rivalry games during fall break and Thanksgiving. Student Body President Jim Ceresnak says "being a year with a rivalry game it was important to err on the safe side and increase the traditional out-of-session ticket holds."
While the Bell Tower funding is in its early stages, the small financial contribution is perhaps less important than the awareness created for the effort to finish the Tower. "Jim and Jay's plan to help market these seats for the UNC-CH game is commendable," said Dick Christy, associate athletics director for external operations. "Athletics applauds their efforts and is excited to be in a position to support this initiative financially."
If you would like to support these efforts, log-on to GoPack.com and purchase a ticket package today.
Here are student attendance figures over the past four years for similar games:
2005-2009 Fall Break
- 4,786 student tickets average
2005-2008 Thanksgiving
- 2,798 student tickets average
(i.e.: ECU in 2006, 3,402 student tickets used)
2005-2008 out-of-session average
- 3,361 student average
2009 Thanksgiving game Student Ticket Hold
- 6,400 student tickets
