As students flock to Yost Ice Arena today to purchase Rose Bowl tickets, University administrators will cross their fingers and hope they are able to live up to their promise of providing every student with a ticket.
"If all 20,000 student season-ticket holders want to go to Pasadena, then we're going to have a shortfall," said Keith Molin, senior associate athletic director.
Walter Harrison, Vice President for University Relations, said he expects that 5,000-7,000 students will show up during the next two days to buy tickets. If more students show up, the ticket office will accommodate students by dipping into the tickets allotted for alumni.
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Tickets will be on sale today and tomorrow from 12-7 p.m. To purchase tickets, students need to appear in person with a valid student ID. Tickets can be paid for with cash, check or money order.
Students who purchase tickets will get a voucher that they will need when picking up their tickets in Pasadena. Seating assignments will be given on a first-come, first-served basis in Pasadena when students pick up their tickets, which will be available at the Rose Bowl on Dec. 31 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Students do not need to be with the students they plan to sit with in Pasadena when they pick up their ticket vouchers tomorrow at Yost.
"There's no reason to camp out (tomorrow)," Molin said.
Students who are unable to pick up their tickets on Dec. 31 can get them the day of the Rose Bowl.
But the Pasadena pick-up prevents students whose flights aren't scheduled to land in California until after 4 p.m. from getting the first-picked seats.
"The cheapest air we can get is on the 31st, so that puts us at a disadvantage," said LSA senior Meredith Frank, who will fly into Los Angeles at 7 p.m. on Dec. 31. "I think the whole voucher system is ridiculous. We're all able to go and pick up tickets (today) at Yost, but not in Pasadena."
But Kinesiology senior Kyle Dobbs said he was glad he won't have to worry about getting in line early today just to get a good seat.
"I think it's a nice way to control, here in Ann Arbor, mobbing," Dobbs said. "I think it's a more relaxing way for us here on campus who are trying to think about grades."
Students with spouses need to present a marriage certificate or registered domestic partnership agreement if they want to purchase a ticket for their spouse. Students with dependent children can purchase tickets for their children upon presenting their child's birth certificate.
Members of an official party, including University President Lee Bollinger, members of the University Board of Regents, executive officers, the chair of the faculty's governing body, members of the Board in Control of Intercollegiate Athletics and Gov. John Engler and their spouses will receive Rose Bowl travel packages. The packages are funded by Rose Bowl receipts, Harrison said.
Second priority for tickets goes to the estimated 2,000 parents of football players and band members, and coaches' wives who want to attend the Rose Bowl.
The third priority group is students, followed by faculty and staff who are season ticket holders. Major alumni donors have the next priority, followed by alumni who live on the West Coast. The remaining tickets will go to any other alumni who want tickets.
With nearly 400,000 University alumni, Harrison said he is doubtful that any of the 8,000-11,000 alumni tickets available will be available to members of the last group.
Helen Peters, assistant executive director of the Alumni Association, said the demand for alumni tickets is "nuts."
"Both of the phone systems that we set up to handle calls have been unable to deal with the volume," Peters said.
Travel agencies are also scrambling to accommodate Wolverine fans, but are running out of spaces on direct flights to Los Angeles.
"If you want to fly non-stop, you're fortunate to find anything for $1,000," said Boersma Travel's Deanna Kierczak.
12-02-97
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