Tech sellout will not be a dilemma, says TCU athletics
By Danny Gillham
Sports Editor

The word “sellout” is not normally associated with TCU basketball at Daniel-Meyer Coliseum.

However with tonight’s game against Texas Tech at 8 p.m., the Frogs have sold out all tickets for the game and are expecting a capacity crowd.

The reason is Bob Knight. The legendary Red Raider head coach won three national titles at Indiana and had a career coaching record of 763-290 (.725) heading into this season.

Knight hasn’t made many stops in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during his coaching career, so the opportunity to see him live spawned a massive outcry for tickets.

Tim George, director of marketing for TCU Athletics, said when the schedule was announced, they anticipated the game being sold out.

“Texas Tech is a big draw around here,” George said. “Coach Knight obviously helps that out. We were looking toward this game as being a sellout.”

George said tickets for individual games went on sale Nov. 1. He said dates and the time of calls were taken with the orders to prioritize who received tickets first.

According to George, the tickets were gone on the first day, but the ticket office continued to take orders in case more became available.

Student tickets were also not easily obtained.

On Nov. 20, the 1,372 tickets in the student, faculty and staff section were given away starting at 8 a.m. All were gone by 11:15 a.m.

The men’s team has not had a sellout crowd since Jan. 29, 2000, when 7,201 saw the Frogs defeat Southern Methodist 92-75.

The last sellout at the coliseum was on Nov. 27, 2000. A record crowd of 7,262 came to see the Lady Frogs take on Tennessee, the defending national champions.

George also said the department is ready for the problem of seating.

There are some who have tickets for the women’s game at 5:15, but not the men’s game, he said.

To avoid the dilemma of those trying to stick around, George said, extra ushers and security are being brought in and will be there at the start of the women’s game. He said they will be checking tickets throughout the night, making sure everyone has a ticket for the men’s game and is in their proper section.

Danny Gillham