Almost showtime: New seats to co-star in Tech-A&M game
Texas A&M suffered a surprising 62-14 loss Saturday at Kansas State, one week after K-State got crushed 66-14 at Texas Tech.
On the betting line, this week’s Tech-A&M game is a three-touchdown mismatch, but when they open the gates Saturday at Jones AT&T Stadium, the game won’t be the only story.
Tech athletic director Gerald Myers expects to see history made. Tech will be showing off its newly enlarged stadium for the first time, and Myers can’t wait.
Mickey Jones installs safety rails Thursday morning as construction for the new stadium seats in the northeast corner of Jones AT&T Stadium. Tickets for upcoming A&M and Oklahoma games are still available in this section.Thursday, October 15, 2009 (Photo by Geoffrey McAllister/Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
“That’s one thing that makes it even more special is we want to fill it up and set a stadium record against one of our top rivals,’’ he said Sunday. “We want to do that for that reason as much as anything.’’
The new capacity — with three sections apiece added in the upper-level northeast and northwest corners — will be about 59,000, making Jones AT&T Stadium the seventh largest in the Big 12 Conference. The record crowd for a Tech home game is 56,333 set last year against Texas.
“We hope we can easily break that record,’’ Myers said.
As part of the multi-phase stadium expansion plan, Tech spent $6 million to add the new seats. Work began in the spring.
In recent years, crowds in the low- to mid-50,000s range became common with the team’s success. In the future, Tech hopes to grow turnouts by a few thousand more.
“I don’t know that we’ll sell out every game,’’ Myers said. “I think with the increase in student enrollment and the way enrollment’s going to go (up) over the next few years, the growth of the whole area and the Lubbock community, I think we can sell out some of our premium games. We may not sell it out every game, but we’ll grow to it.’’
Going into the weekend, about 5,000 tickets remained for Saturday’s game, which has several storylines. Tech coach Mike Leach needs one win to tie Spike Dykes’ school record 82 coaching victories, and Tech needs one win to break a 68-year-old school record for consecutive home wins. The Red Raiders have matched it with 12 in a row.
Sunday also marked the first time this season for the Red Raiders to crack the national rankings — No. 21 in The Associated Press Top 25 and No. 24 in the USA Today coaches poll.
Trying to sell out the first game in the expanded stadium, Tech is offering group sales of 50 tickets for $50 apiece, both for the A&M game and a Nov. 21 home game against Oklahoma.
Myers said he’s not expecting every-Saturday sellouts — and capacity will exceed 60,000 after an east-side building comes on line next season. But he says a few sellouts a year against marquee opponents will help the budget and the aesthetics.
“That potential to generate revenue is greater with those extra seats,’’ he said, “and I think it really enhances the looks of our stadium. I think it makes it a more attractive-looking stadium from the interior as well as the exterior when it’s all finished.
“I think it’ll be one of the most attractive stadiums in college football. We’ve followed the plan. We have a symmetrical bowl that we’re developing. We’ve got a good plan for the future, and this is just part of it.’’
The new seating areas will be numbered as three new sections apiece in each corner — 109, 110 and 111 on the northwest side and 113, 114 and 115 on the northeast.
“I think the view from those corners are really good,’’ Myers said. “I think they’re exceptional. They’re a lot better view than I had thought they would be. Being up there in the stands and looking down on the field, they’re just great seats. I think fans will really enjoy those seats.’’
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I can’t believe the game wasn’t sold out in August!
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Margie
The ATM of today is not the ATM of old. This game is going to be a BLOWOUT. Get your popcorn ready. And be prepared for another K-State game this coming weekend.
WRECK EM TECH
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This game is not sold out because of ticket prices. Tech’s athletic dept., led by an old man who needed to retire years ago, does not care about the legion of fan’s that cannot afford $100 or more per ticket. It is outrageous. I am a Tech alumnus, a lifetime Red Raider fan, but I won’t pay those prices, even though I am financially capable. I honestly hope there are enough empty seats in the future to drive down ticket prices; but I am sure that won’t ever happen.
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Margie, the problem is the down-and-done program in College Station. And it’s not going to get better in my lifetime.
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A good story. Doesn’t the AJ take pictures anymore?
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I am a huge fan of the Red Raiders but I’m not financially or physically able to attend their football games, whether they are played in Lubbock or elsewhere. I think it’s pretty ‘poor’ of Texas Tech not to televise the Tech – A & M football game. They have televised some of the others this year but have chosen not to show this one on TV. Why? I really don’t understand their reasonings at all!!
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You want it full every game?? make the seats reasonable. How can an average family of 5 afford 400-500 dollars for 3 hours of entertainment? We love the Raiders but ouch!
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NaNaD. Tech does not determine what games are televised. That is determined by the networks and cable channels on a pecking order basis. I think all of us who live 500 miles plus from the campus would like to have it broadcast.
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actually Old Man–the scuttlebutt around here is that we could have it on TV just not a channel that pays the University abunch of money. so the desision was no so we could sell more seats and make more money.
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Welcome to almost big-time college football. Ticket prices will not go down until he product (Tech football) goes down, which I hope is not any time soon.
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Seems like televising the game would help recruiting.
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Techies, I’m sure you’ll have lots to celebrate Saturday, but do us a favor and put at least 100 on the board so we can get rid of this staff.
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I didn’t get to finish. If we are on TV, manhandling A&M, it might turn one or two of those defensive commitments our way.
There’s lots of great players in other parts of Texas that don’t give Tech a strong look.
Here’s our chance to sway some kids and maybe their parents.
Bring the prices down for this game, fill the seats and hammer the aggies.
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Yes, the game should be televised. Yes there are “politics” involved. Yes the tickets are priced too high. Yes it would be nice to fill the stadium with Tech fans. Bottom line — we still love our Red Raiders!! GO TECH — BEAT THE AGGIES!!!!
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Ticket prices are amazing at all venues where better teams play. I last saw a game for under $50 where Tech got their butts dusted by TCU in Fort Worth a couple years ago. Two weeks ago we were given tickets to the Arkansas vs A&M game in Arlington at the new stadium. Those tickets weren’t to bad but they weren’t great and they were marked as $300 each. We left after the bands played at half to beat the crowds home. Sad to say but I think outrageous ticket prices are here to stay. At least the prices for beer at Jones Stadium haven’t gone out the roof like they have at other stadiums. Do they even serve beer at Jones Stadium? Is it still called Jones Stadium? That’s right Jones AT&T Stadium.
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Maybe George W. & his pappy will come see this one with professor Gonzalez??
All their adoring Tech fans would have to watch them cheering for the Ags. Ouch! but Karma would surely be operating!
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Fire Gerald.
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From the Texas Tech offical site. As high as scapled tickets are going, the $95 is not that bad.
I am sure that the price is a payback for the cost of Tickets to Tech Fans at Kyle.
Oct. 8, 2009
LUBBOCK, Texas – Texas Tech fans that want to take advantage of new seating areas in the north end zone at Jones AT&T Stadium will get their chance beginning with the game against Texas A&M on Oct. 24.
Texas Tech officials have announced that the new seating in the northeast and northwest corners will be open beginning with the game against the Aggies. Those tickets are currently on sale for $95 each with group ticket rates also available.
The new seating in the north end zone signals the first major seating expansion at Jones AT&T Stadium since 1970 and will raise capacity to 58,930 with the addition of the 6,100 seats.
To purchase your tickets, log on to http://www.texastech.com or call the athletics ticket office at (806) 742-TECH. For information on group ticket rates, please contact Garrett Tressler in the external operations office at (806) 742-1195.
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Has anyone else heard that Sheffield is hurt?????
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who cares about this game everybody needs to watch florida beat mississppi st
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Tech should not lower the prices of this game to sell it out. Tech’s fans should go to the game to see the Red Raiders beat down ATM like no other time in the past. Every other big conference game has the exact same face value for such a ticket. Lowering the ticket price just lowers the value of what we are selling, Texas Tech Football. Why would any true Tech fan suggest that?!
There are ticket packages out there that make going to the games more affordable for those who need that. Tech’s season ticket prices are lower than other Big12 programs ticket prices. The tickets are partially what allow the program to build these expansions. Get with the times folks. WRECK ‘EM!!!
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Yeh, I heard a rumor that he has a broken foot. Hopefully it is like I said…A RUMOR.
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The ticket prices for many, if not most games, are PRE-DETERMINED by schools such as Texas A & M, Texas, Oklahoma, etc.! Texas Tech does NOT have total control over Ticket Prices. Period. You can blame the truly high-dollar Programs for this huge uptick in prices. Period. Being that Gerald Myers knows one heck of a lot more about the economic makeup of the Lubbock/South Plains Region, he would NEVER charge these prices if he had absolute control! He does not. Yet, there are plenty folks that will argue against the fact of the matter or do not know “it”. Everything is “O K”. The general situation at Tech, including the overall finances situation, are not completely dire. There has been a noticeable increase in “conversations” among Red Raiders fans…………which will also positively affect the composite situation into the future. It’s called “growing pains”, or some such. But necessary! nmredraider1 in Albuquerque
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TT will easily handle the Aggies – they are rebuilding (for the last 10 years). The real problem is that the raiders can’t get a real string of quality wins and be relevant in the big 12 south. I guess we should jus tbe happy consistently being the 3rd or 4th best teams in our division of our conference.
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I was an options seat holder in Jones Stadium for 20 years. I am a member of the Red Raider Club (For the last time). And served on a football committee under Spike Dykes for a number of years.
It has been a burden for tickets to go up so much in the past few years. But, I bit the bullet and paid it. But, when they doubled the required membership to the Red Raider Club AFTER the deadline for payment for season tickets deadline was due, THAT was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I asked for and received a refund on my tickets. The Red Raider Club refused to refund my money because it was a ‘donation’.
Now, I unequivically love the Red Raiders. But, apparently, the Red Raiders don’t love me. They haven’t called, asking why I didn’t renew. I won’t be missed until their first 6-5 season. But, by then, it will be too late. I won’t be back.
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Let’s all be a little careful with thinking any Big 12 game should be a gimme’! That can become a little “scary”……as Dana Carvey used to say in one of his noted characterizations! GO TECH!
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cough up the money you freeloadsers!!!!
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Could the fact that it’s not being televised be because A$M doesn’t want people to see the slaughter? Yes politics is in play.
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It would be funny if Tech lost Saturday…I would laugh.
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Tech’s ticket prices are well within the price range charged by other Big XII universities. My bet is that Tech’s season ticket packages are the cheapest in the Big XII (certainly the Big XII South). Tech fans have gotten way too spoiled by the relatively cheap ticket packages offered in prior years.
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AtleastIcanspell, we already gave you folks that laugh with Houston. Now Wreck’Em Tech!
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I am not sure what to think about the excitement of adding a measly 5000 more seats bringing the stadium to 59K when the UT stadium just expanded to over 101K complete with higher priced Club seating and luxury seating. Fine, your stadium may look the best and be the most symmetrical, but definitely not the biggest or the best. There is also no problems at UT with selling out the games as they are already sold out literally years in advanced. Also all the complaining over high ticket prices (though we are all complaining about that!!!) shows that tech is NOT prepared for the BIG TIME and probably never will be. UT (and A&M fans) are the real deal because they pay and travel, and the games are always good. tech now actually produces very good games, but the fans dedication has not caught up, and who knows if it will ever!
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In case you have not seen this, please check it out. Just adds to the joke that is Texas A&M!!!!!!!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNKTIkWxNQ0
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HornsFan – What is the population base within a 3 hour drive of Austin, College Station, or any other Big 12 school? I don’t have a problem not having the biggest stadium. I was among the 86,000 in Lincoln, Nebraska on Saturday, and I think a Jones Stadium crowd of 50,000 would have had more energy – even before the game got out of hand. Go Tech!
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My complaint is that you can not have it both ways in this community. We don’t have the base that Austin and Houston have therefore you can not charge what others charge and fill the stadium. So lets fill the stadium!! what ever it takes. I remember a few years back when season cheap seats were 99. We had some big stands then. do it again, fill it up. Fothat one who said “free loaders” I too have season tickets–for years–pay the “donation” and paid tuition for 3 students. I support tech. I also understand the economy of this area and wish that all the tech fans who wanted to take their families for a saturday outing to watch “their team” could do so. That said—Wreck ‘em Tech–and feel free to hang 70 on ‘em.
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Yeah Sticks is out for the A&M game. Potts better have learned some things while riding the pine. Go Tech!!!
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Of course UT sells more tickets. Austin is twice a big as Lubbock, and Austin is two hours from Houston, one hour from San Antonio, four hours from Dallas and Ft. Worth. Tech fans have to drive six hours or more to get back to Lubbock. Makes you wonder how they can only sell 100,000 tickets. Also, I guess if we had our share of the Permanent University Fund though we could still build a 100,000 capacity stadium. I do get a little fed up with getting put down by a bunch of snot noses who were born with a silver foot in their mouths. And then they wake up one day and believe that they have done something to be special. Tech is a very classy university, and we can all be very proud to be a part of this fine institution and alumni.
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Tech could be like SouthWest airlines………….adjust the prices to make sure every flight is full…………same thing with seating at
a ballgame!
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Collin
HAHA!!! Dude that was some of the funniest $hit i have seen in a long time. I am still laughing. Just like the saying goes. Texas AtM F@ggies!!
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Yes, it is true that the game could have been televised. Except, it is not as simple as all of you would make it out to be. First, it would not be the typical televised game. Tech (nor A&M) would receive the automatic payout for a network televised game. We did this for the KSU game to get it on FSN, thinking it would help get the A&M game on because we brought them viewers. However, because the Aggies have proved nothing about being a product anyone wants to watch this year, the game was not picked up. The option Tech had was to put it on pay-per-view. While some Red Raider fans would pay to watch, not as many would as people would like to think. Recruits definitely wouldn’t pay to watch when they can be watching so many other games for free.
For those complaining about ticket prices, for the most part, yes, tickets have increased over the past several years. That is a direct result to the product on the field and the economics of the athletic department. One, the team has been good; therefore more people want to see the product. If you are consistently selling out (and having the ability to sell more tickets if there are more seats) then you raise your prices. Two, the athletic department needs to keep a balanced budget. Travel costs, scholarship costs, etc. are all rising. Thus, the AD’s costs are rising. The only way to really cover that: football revenues. If you can’t understand that, then all you are looking out for is your pocketbook and not what is good for the program, athletic department, and school.
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Hey idiot horn fan,
The reason you have bigger stadiums and better facilities is you get more state funding than any other school in texas by far for some unknown reason. It has been this way for years. Its kind of like wondering why notre dame has great stadium/facilities….i’ll give you 1 guess- because they have a huge tv $$$$$ national contract that other schools dont get.
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solution would be for Mike to take a pay cut. How many millions does he need ANNUALLY?
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HornsFan,
There are approximately 16 million people within 3-4 hours of Austin. I doubt there are 1 million people within 5 hours of Lubbock. In addition, UT enrollment is 52k. Tech enrollment is 29k. Just a couple of things to consider when talking stadium size.
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Margie and all you others out there that think this is going to be a “blowout”…..you must not be paying attention to the injuries of the Tech Players. First two QB’s for the Red Raiders are still not medically released to participate this weekend. And O-line has been decimated with injuries.
Sure, we should win, but it won’t be a cake walk. We will only win because the Defense holds up well this week.
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Margie:
Its because they sell the tickets to big games like this in a “bundle” so that you have to buy a ticket to a lesser game (like new mexico and the like) in order to buy an A&M ticket. That is the predominant reason my family didn’t come to Lubbock for this game, which is a shame as they have never been to a Tech/A&M, Tech/UT, or Tech/OU game in Lubbock.
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Ya, but are the seats going to have a good view?
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Everyone quite bitc**** about the ticket prices.. If you dont wanna pay it then dont go! We will sell that sucker out in the future if we continue to win. The stadium will eventually be around 80,000 capacity and if we continue to win we will sell it out at that time too.. Im tired of hearing about the ticket prices, if you really wanna see “your team” then pay the damn price, if not stfu.. WRECK EM’
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