Despite the demand for tickets, the Barack Obama campaign said there will be no more tickets available for Saturday's town hall meeting in Irving Gym.
Gannet Tseggai, the Obama for America director of communications for Indiana, said the campaign had the more than 500 people still waiting in line to write down their names and telephone numbers to be contacted for tickets if they became available.
Everyone who obtained a ticket will be guaranteed admittance, Tseggai said, but ticket holders are encouraged to arrive early to better deal with the large crowd that is expected.
"The size of our audience is aimed to have a good conversation and discussion to ask questions," Tseggai said. "This is not the only time Sen. Obama will be in the Central Indiana area, and he is committed to bringing his message of change to the area."
The line of people continued to stretch around the block, even after the Muncie office gave away the tickets.
Sophomore political science major Michael Karafin, who waited since 1 p.m. Wednesday to receive his ticket, said the Obama office handled the situation the best they could.
"To an extent, I think it's fair everyone had an equal shot," Karafin said. "Everyone who wanted to see him had to show up early."
The Obama campaign announced his visit Tuesday night, five days after the campaign canceled the original date for a Muncie appearance because of "logistical reasons."
Tom Morrison, Ball State associate vice president for human resources and state relations, said Irving Gym was chosen because of specific qualities the Obama campaign was looking for.
"That was their primary interest," Morrison said. "They had different specifications a facility had to meet, ranging from security issues to crowd issues and the ability to hold the event in an open forum for the town hall meeting. We showed them a variety of facilities and that's what they chose."
Along with preparing the facility, Morrison said, Ball State will have other responsibilities to prepare for the senator's visit.
"This is a major event, so there are a lot of preparations involved," Morrison said. "From setting up the facility to security and public relations, there is a lot of effort involved behind the scenes."
According to a press release, Obama is on a three-day, six-city tour in Indiana. The Ball State event will be the final stop on that tour, the press release said.
Tseggai said Sen. Obama is ready to fight for the people of the Muncie area and explain how he will change Washington D.C.
"We are going to be making stops in various communities across the state," Tseggai said. "Town hall meetings are always a great chance for the people to listen and interact with Sen. Obama more directly. We have found that the more they talk with Sen. Obama, the more responsive they will be."
Obama is the first presidential candidate to speak on campus since Robert Kennedy in 1968.
Morrison said the 40-year drought makes the Illinois senator's arrival a big deal for Ball State students.
"The students get to see a major presidential candidate and experience a campaign firsthand," Morrison said. "Indiana doesn't always matter, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for some students."
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