U. sellout expected — without freebies

When Utah hosted California on Sept. 11, a more-than-capacity crowd of 46,768 fans was on hand at 45,000-seat Rice-Eccles Stadium.

But you couldn't exactly call the game a "sellout." That's because about 20,000 of those tickets were freebies given out at local high schools.

Tonight's game against No. 19 Oregon should be filled to capacity or close to it — with paying customers. While tickets still remain, the U. is encouraging fans who don't yet have them to get them early today because there aren't many left.

Longtime University of Utah director of ticket sales Dave Copier has had busy weeks before, but nothing like this.

"It's been a madhouse," Copier said.

Tonight's game likely will be the biggest grossing single-game — not including BYU games — in U. history, according to Copier and Marc Amicone, the U.'s assistant athletic director for marketing.

While the ticket office has been hopping to sell tickets, it also has been busy moving — from the Huntsman Center to the south end of Rice-Eccles Stadium at the Olympic Park.

To make things even busier, Wednesday was when season ticket re-orders for basketball games were due.

"With the new ticket office and with new computers and everything, it's been crazy," Copier said. "But this is what we work for — bringing 45,000 paying customers to football games."

The U. has been running specials — including one sponsored by the Deseret Morning News, where five reserved seats could be purchased for $45. Other reduced-price "comeback" tickets were offered to fans who attended the California game for free.

But the biggest reason there has been such a demand for tickets this week is Utah's 3-1 record and its back-to-back narrow wins over Cal and Colorado State.

"Coach (Urban) Meyer has sparked the excitement of the city and of the student body," Copier said. "He's gone out of his way to speak to students on campus, and because of that the student section will be full."

"There is excitement, the team is playing well and we have nationally ranked Oregon coming in — and that doesn't happen every game," Amicone said.

Like the California game, tonight's contest will be on national cable television (ESPN2) — a fact that Meyer says helps him in recruiting.