Utah Utes football: Ticket renewal period ends

SALT LAKE CITY — The renewal period has ended for 2011 Utah football season tickets and an unprecedented 98 percent of season ticket holders have renewed their seats for Utah's inaugural year in the Pac-12.

With the 32,000 in renewals, season tickets will not go on sale to the general public. Any available single-game tickets will go on sale on Aug. 1. In addition, some seats could open during the week of home games if the visiting team returns any unused tickets.

Last year, the Utes played before standing room only crowds in all six of their home games and averaged 45,459 fans a game-the second-most in school history — in 45,017-seat Rice-Eccles Stadium. The Utes have played to above-capacity crowds for the past three seasons, including a school-record 45,585 season average in 2008.

Regarding the coming season, 42,500 tickets are already reserved: 32,000 in paid season tickets; 7,000 in student tickets; and 3,500 for internal department and university use, player comp tickets, the marching band and trade-outs. Visiting teams will be allotted another 2,500 tickets, to bring the stadium close to capacity before the season begins.