Frenzy Greets First Batch of Football Ticket Distribution; Tickets Still Available

The first batch of thousands of ODU football tickets were distributed to students on Monday, after a madcap campout behind the Ted Constant Convocation Center.

But student tickets for ODU's first home game in more than 60 years can still be found.

Tired, a little bedraggled, but still having a blast, a few thousand students lined up Monday, Aug. 24 in front of the Ted ticket office for tickets to the Monarchs' season opener Sept. 5 against Chowan University.

Dozens of tents on the concourse behind the Ted were evidence of the all-nighter many of the students had pulled. By daylight, the line of students snaked right around to the ticket office.

To be near the front, you had to get there early. How early?

"Me and my friends wanted tickets one, two and three, so we got here at 12:30," said Bill Copeland, a junior from Richmond majoring in engineering.

Oh, 12:30 a.m.?

"No, p.m. We've been here for 20 hours."

Students started queuing beside the basketball arena at 6 a.m., after a night of throwing Frisbees, singing songs, making new friends, and almost no sleep.

Dixie House, a junior counseling and human services major from Richmond, arrived at 5:30 Sunday afternoon. Her tent ended up second, ensuring great tickets for the first ODU game.

And the all-night slog? Fantastic. Well, except for the rain.

"It rained pretty hard around 10 p.m. Just enough to make everything muddy and disgusting," House said. "It was crazy. There were news crews out here all night, music playing. I got about two hours of sleep, and woke up when a news helicopter flew over."

The best part?

"There was so much school spirit. All you heard all night were ODU chants and songs."

Head coach Bobby Wilder and his staff arrived at 7:30 a.m. with boxes of Dunkin Donuts. Wilder said the atmosphere around the first game is fantastic.

"I went by last night at 11 p.m. and saw all the tents. It seemed like everyone was having a good time. I drove by at 6 this morning, and it looked like nothing had changed," he said.

"This is what football brings to a campus. That sense of community and spirit and pride in your school. A lot of people here didn't know the person next to them in line. Something like this helps you develop friendships that can last a lifetime."

Didn't get the precious ducats? Don't despair. Student tickets will also be available at the Campus Information Center (CIC) in Webb University Center beginning Tuesday, Aug. 25. Prior to the start of the fall semester, the CIC will be open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays, but closed Saturday and Sunday.

Student ticket distribution for the first game will end at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 2., or when the tickets are gone.

Student seating is limited, so students are encouraged to pick up their tickets by the deadline. Any remaining student tickets will be made available for sale to the general public beginning 10 a.m. on Thursday of game week.

Tickets for home games throughout the rest of the season will be available on the Monday two weeks prior to the game through 6 p.m. Wednesday of game week. Tickets may be picked up at the Constant Center box office from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Tickets will also be available at the CIC from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Student tickets are first-come, first-served.

A current ODU student ID must be validated for ticket pickup and for entry into Foreman Field at S.B. Ballard Stadium. One free ticket per student ID will be issued. Students may also purchase a second ticket for $10.

Student tickets are nontransferable. The resale or attempted resale of a ticket at a higher price than that appearing on the ticket is grounds for seizure and voiding without compensation. Tickets that are lost, stolen, counterfeited or obtained from an unauthorized source will be voided.

For more information about student tickets, call 683-5914.

ODU's first home game in more than 60 years, against Chowan University, kicks off at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 5.