One year after selling 1,800 season tickets in its final NCAA I-AA (Football Championship Subdivision), WKU is at an all-time high with 9,175 season tickets sold in 2007. In fact, through their first two home games, the Toppers have an average attendance of 17,532 — WKU is one of 27 (out of 120) I-A/FBS schools at or above 100 percent capacity through the first three weeks of the season.
“The results of our massive grass roots season football ticket sales campaign is easily among the most gratifying professional experiences of my career in collegiate athletics,” said the school’s Director of Athletics Dr. Wood Selig. “Such widespread support within our community — both corporate and individual — represents a tremendous vote of support and confidence of WKU’s decision to transition to the highest level of intercollegiate football competition. Our goal has always been to transition with success, and one vital measure of success is the visible support of our program by those in our region.
“We now have a solid base from which we can continue to expand our footprint of support.”
In addition to making the move to the I-A/FBS level, WKU made two different efforts to help drive interest and ticket sales. General admission season tickets were priced at $25. Additionally, every coach and student-athlete in the program who was on campus this summer participated in selling tickets door-to-door for two days the first week of August resulting in almost 500 season tickets sold.
The overall results were a better than 500 percent increase in season tickets sold, which is believed to be the highest in the country for 2007.
The Hilltoppers have three games remaining at Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium, beginning with an Oct. 27 matchup against North Carolina Central. WKU will also play host to Troy (Nov. 10) — which defeated Oklahoma State in the opening month of the season — and Morehead State (Nov. 17) in the final month of the season. Ticket are still available on a game-by-game basis, and a limited number of season tickets for the final three home games still remain.
