North Dakota State and jam-packed football stadiums have a lot in common these days.
NDSU, which has sold out its last four home games and is expecting to play in front of a sold-out Metrodome Saturday against the University of Minnesota, will also play in front of a sold-out crowd at California Poly on Nov. 10.
The Poly sellout is coming as a surprise to Bison fans traveling to the Great West Football Conference game.
Dave Jones of Fargo and three friends have had their flights to San Luis Obispo, Calif., booked for three months. They have hotel reservations. But they're in a bind for tickets.
"We're so used to going to other cities and not having to worry about having tickets," Jones said. "Nonetheless, it's definitely exciting compared to where we used to go like Augustana where you never had to worry about it before."
ADVERTISEMENT
There was not much of a worry for Cal Poly games until recently. NDSU's game at Poly two years ago drew 6,932 fans. Last year, Cal Poly averaged 7,874 for five home games.
The school set an attendance record of 11,075 in the season opener against Weber State (Utah).
Before that, the record was 9,387 against California Davis in 2004. But a major renovation at 11,750-seat Poly's Alex G. Spanos Stadium, a good team and the fact NDSU is the homecoming opponent has taken every ticket.
NDSU's allotment of 150, which is stipulated by the Great West, is gone.
"It sounds like it's sold out and no chance of anything opening up, either," said Josh Hemingway, NDSU's ticket manager. "It's a matter of running the risk, going out there and finding something."
Jones said he's contacted ticket brokers but to no avail, yet.
"If we have to scalp them, we'll scalp them," he said. "We're going no matter what. One of the guys came up with a plan of wearing Bison (coaches) gear, putting on a headset and walking out on the field with them."
Cal Poly ticket manager Cody Chaney said there are no plans to add portable bleachers or sell standing room tickets because of fire code.
ADVERTISEMENT
"They won't let us add any," he said. "We're at capacity."
Readers can reach Forum reporter Jeff Kolpack at (701) 241-5546.
Kolpack's NDSU media blog can be found at www.areavoices.com
Bison will play to sold-out crowd again in California Jeff Kolpack 20071018
