Stadium of Fire seats are a hot ticket in town

PROVO — Attention Martina McBride fans: Don't wait too much longer to buy tickets for the country music star's show on Independence Day.

All the good seats may soon be gone.

Tickets to this year's Stadium of Fire music and fireworks show, which went on sale Saturday, are selling at more than three times of the rate of last year, according to organizers.

At one point last weekend, said Carl W. Bacon, executive director of America's Freedom Festival at Provo, which produces the Stadium of Fire, up to 40 people were on hold waiting to buy tickets to the show.

"Last year was an excellent year for the Stadium of Fire," said Bacon. "But this year's ticket sales are going faster than ever in the 25 or so years I've been involved with the festival."

Last year's main act was Toby Keith, who insisted on singing the lyrics to the song "Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue (Angry American)," even though BYU officials frowned on an obscenity in one of the verses.

BYU owns the Marriott Center, home to the Stadium of Fire.

The crowd roared in delight when Keith sang the song — with all the words intact.

A wave of American patriotism, largely spurred by calls for support of U.S. troops fighting the war in Iraq, is prompting ticket sales, Bacon said.

The Stadium of Fire program also will be broadcast to U.S. troops around the world via the Armed Forces Network, Bacon said.

"I think people are feeling deeply patriotic and want to join in with 50,000 cheering supporters as a tribute to our troops serving all over the world," Bacon said.

The Stadium of Fire also includes the Osmonds Second Generation, the All American High Dive Team and a nine-nation fireworks display designed by PyroSpectacular, producer of the fireworks for the 2002 Winter Olympic Games.

Sean Hannity, a conservative radio-show host that is heard locally on KSL-1160 AM, will be the host of the show.

"Even though tickets are selling briskly," Bacon said, "there are still plenty of good seats left."

Tickets are $15, $20, $25, $30 and $40, with premium seats on the grass in front of the stage for $100 and $250. The premium seats come with a gift package that includes a pre-show dinner at the stadium, a parking pass, a commemorative family photograph, and many other valuable coupons totaling more than $200.

Tickets can be purchased at the BYU Marriott center ticket office Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. by calling 378-BYU1 or toll-free at 1-800-322-BYU1, or online at www.byutickets.com.

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