Hoops fans will travel how far?

USU boosters have a quick trip; BYU, Utah not so fortunate

Published: Monday, March 16, 2009 11:35 p.m. MDT
 |  E-MAIL | PRINT | FONT + - 

While organizers of the NCAA men's basketball tournament say they try as best they can to place teams in areas of the country that will minimize travel costs for schools and fans, two of Utah's three teams in the Big Dance aren't so lucky.

Both Brigham Young University and the University of Utah will hop on cross-country flights this week, and with the economy the way it is, a lot of people appear to be settling for watching it in HD on their couch.

"We have a few people making the trip to Miami," U. assistant athletics director Zack Lassiter said. "We don't have a lot of alumni in the Florida area and I think it is tough to make last-minute travel plans all the way across the country."

Lassiter said they did not have a lot of inquiries Monday when the tickets went on sale for donors and Crimson Club members. The tickets are available to the rest of the general public on Tuesday, which could bring more interest.

Utah and BYU were both allotted 350 tickets that they are responsible for selling. Teams have opportunities to pick up extra tickets at times, but the rest of the tickets may be purchased through the venue directly.

Despite the sputtering economy and the game being in Philadelphia, BYU had already sold all of its allotment by Monday afternoon.

Story continues below

"The ticket office told us that the demand was equal to the last couple of years that the men have gone to the tournament," BYU associate athletic director Duff Tittle said.

While Tittle didn't know exactly where all the tickets sold are going, he did acknowledge that BYU is a slightly different dynamic.

"I would guess that there is a good mix," Tittle said. "We will have some coming from Utah as well as family and friends of players from all over the country, but I am sure there are a lot of people from the East Coast, whether they are BYU alumni or members of the (LDS) Church that will be there too."

In 2001 the NCAA implemented a system designed to limit travel for teams and fans. The design was to make the tournament more split up with only eight teams placed at each first-round site. The only thing that makes that difficult is the NCAA rule that teams from the same conference can't meet until the regional final, which leads to some teams being sent far from home.

But it isn't just the Cougars and Utes that have to deal with playing outside of their region of the country. Both of their first-round opponents (Texas A&M and Arizona) will be dealing with the same thing.

As for Utah State University, playing Marquette, Boise is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Logan, and all day Monday USU officials were answering ticket inquiries.

"It will be in the thousands when it is all said and done," Utah State assistant athletics director Doug Hoffman said of ticket sales. "Last time we played in Boise a few years ago in the tournament, we had 3,000 or 4,000 people there."

E-MAIL: ethomas@desnews.com

Recent comments

Hey I'm Afraid...

Just like your Cougs right?

Go aggies....

edaw33 | March 19, 2009 at 1:06 p.m.

USU will embarrass themselves against Marquette. I hope they lift...

I'm afraid | March 17, 2009 at 11:31 p.m.

I would even make the drive to Boise from downtown Salt Lake if I...

I'm rooting for all Utah teams | March 17, 2009 at 11:00 p.m.

Image

USU fans, seen here trying to get BYU's Gavin MacGregor to miss a free throw in December, will be headed to Boise if they want to see USU play.

previousnext

Latest comments

BYU is afraid to play in front of the media public every year and that is why...

Will one, just one of you AGW believers prove that the earth is warming!...

Wondered what 1 would do if given and oppurtunity to play a professional...

Letters: Fools in Washington

Like most people I am progressively sicker with the way congresses are...

Man trapped in Nutty Putty cave dies

I have explored Nutty Putty before as well as other caves around the State....

Ywa Zionz has it share of deaths but the difference is that Zions National...

Actually a lot of conservatives did NOT want this war and still don't....

All these Ute fans are setting themselves up to be humiliated. Oh, and by...

this is a senseless death that didn't have to happen. my heart goes out to...

Musicians leave audience in awe

The band was awesome!! Thank you, Caleb, for allowing a member of the Little...

Advertisements