When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3
Where: John R. Emens Auditorium
John R. Emens Auditorium has sold about 1,300 tickets to the Lynyrd Skynyrd Homecoming concert, out of a possible 3,309.
Lynyrd Skynyrd will perform at Emens Auditorium at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 3, after the Ball State vs. Toledo Homecoming football game.
Emens began a buy one ticket, get one free promotion for Ball State students, which started on Sept. 16 and ends Sept. 30.
Kristi Chambers, the auditorium's assistant director of marketing and communications, said she always tries to give discounts to students, but the promotion was the promoters' choice, not hers. Concert promoters don't always offer special deals right away, she said.
"In this case [the promoters] saw student interest so they gave us the [buy one, get one free] discount," Chambers said.
Lynyrd Skynyrd, a rock band, formed in 1964 in Jacksonville, Fla. After three of its members died in a plane crash in 1977, the remaining band members took a hiatus until reuniting in 1987 for a reunion tour. Lynyrd Skynyrd is known for performing “Sweet Home Alabama” and “Free Bird.”
There is usually a concert for Homecoming Week each year, but Chambers said Lynyrd Skynyrd was not specifically selected by anyone at Emens. Last year, country singer Easton Corbin was scheduled to perform but cancelled last minute. In 2013, 3,300 tickets were sold for Florida Georgia Line's Homecoming performance.
"The promoters just bring us possible shows," Chambers said. "If they think it's a good fit, they'll come to us."
Max Gernhard, a junior business administration major, said he didn’t know about the promotion before but is now interested in purchasing tickets.
“I’ve always liked Lynyrd Skynyrd,” Gernhard said. “They’re classic.”
Ball State freshman and marketing major Damon Barnes said he has no interest in attending the concert after the game. He said he doesn’t know enough songs by Lynyrd Skynyrd to enjoy the concert.
"I like 'Free Bird' and 'Sweet Home Alabama', but that's all I know," Barnes said.
Two musicians will open the show, adding a “local spark,” Chambers said. Ben Gallagher, a country singer based out of Nashville, Tenn., and The Easthills from Rushville, Ind., will perform before Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Chambers said she expects more tickets to sell by the end of the week. She said they only bring in performers they expect will appeal to audiences.
"We go into events with an expectation," Chambers said. "We want to be able to pay for it."
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