In anticipation of receiving one ticket for the Ball State, Indiana University match-up on Dec. 31, about 50 students set up tents and have been camping out in front of the Worthen Arena box office for more than 24 hours. The groups began camping out following the Cardinals' exhibition home opener with Team Nike on Wednesday evening.
Ticket Manager Joe Carr said the arena lobby will be open at 7 a.m. on Friday. Students will then be able to stay inside until 8 a.m. on Saturday when the box office opens and students can start picking up tickets to the game.
There will be 2,500 tickets distributed to Ball State students for the game. The athletics department is going to allot 100 seats for Indiana University to hand out among fans and alumni.
Nearly 15 of the die-hard fans outside the box office Thursday night were playing football in the yard in front of the arena to pass the time. Junior Paul Lowe was among the first students to arrive on Wednesday.
"I have gone to most all of the games in the past three or four years," Lowe said. "I came at three in the morning before (to stand in line), but never overnight. I want tickets for this game mainly because there won't be too many opportunities to see Ball State and IU."
The students said they were using blankets, wearing insulated clothing and using space heaters in order to battle the elements and stay warm. The Athletics Department has also been allowing students to use bathrooms just inside the front doors of the arena near the ticket office.
"We got here around 11 p.m. (Wednesday) night," Tyler Oatess said. "I'm hoping we can get front row tickets. They (the tickets) will probably all go within the first hour."
"I'm going to wear a plaid Bob Knight sweater every game this season," Lowe said. "I will also bring signs and wear an afro wig."
Carr said students have not camped out in line for tickets since the 1995-96 season when the team hosted the Michigan Wolverines. In that contest, the Cardinals fell to Michigan by a score of 80-52.
Carr also said the ticket office usually allows students to pick up group packages but will not offer such services for this particular game because of the strong demand.4420*+â-º*FBALL STATE IU 11.08.02DNEditorial442SORT.+â-ä2AUDT
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