Vegas Bowl is hoping to move to 'next level'

LAS VEGAS — This town is show time.

And whether it's the Eagles, the International Salsa Dancing Championships, 'Mama Mia,' Blue Man Group, Wayne Newton or half a dozen smiling, suntanned magicians pulling rabbits out of a top hat, there's always a way to get a ticket if you know someone.

But in Las Vegas this week, that someone, the chief-in-charge, the big honcho of the Pioneer Pure Vision Las Vegas Bowl is Tina Kunzer-Murphy, and she is all tapped out.

And it's a stunner for Kunzer-Murphy.

When it comes to football in Las Vegas, whether it's bowl games or UNLV, there's always an endless supply of tickets to be given away to pals, buddies and acquaintances.

There are always tickets to be tossed to a politician, car dealer, hotel manager or anyone who can perform favors and ask for some in return.

But for BYU versus Cal tonight in Sam Boyd Stadium, there are no tickets left.

Kunzer-Murphy has worked on this bowl since its inception 14 years ago. She's been the executive director the past five years. She hopes to take it to the next level, now that the NCAA has put on the squeeze and demanded attendance at these lower-tier bowls. In 2006, the MWC champion will make Las Vegas home.

That's why a sellout this week is a very big thing for Las Vegas.

"It's unbelievable," Kunzer-Murphy said. "Everybody wants a ticket, and we're sold out. People in Las Vegas aren't used to that. Nor is our staff or the people I'm used to dealing with, so it's unusual, but it's exciting and it's awesome.

"We've been sold out for two weeks. Other than a few tickets here and there that we're trying to work with, we don't have any tickets. It's a real shock for people in Las Vegas, who are used to getting tickets."

BYU athletic director Tom Holmoe is kind of proud. BYU fans came through. After the Cougars beat Wyoming in Laramie and became bowl-eligible — before the Cougars were even invited to Las Vegas — more than 4,000 tickets were bought for the bowl by the following Monday afternoon. Within a week, more than 13,000 were sold by BYU's ticket office from an allotment of 8,000. In Las Vegas, another 11,000 tickets were purchased before Cal received an invitation.