THE attendance at the University of Hawaii's football game against Cal State Northridge last Saturday at Aloha Stadium was 29,921. UH ticket sales could
be more fan friendlyIf there was a better way to get tickets to people who wanted them, it could have been considerably more. I can personally guarantee four more Rainbow fans in the house.
"The game started already while we were waiting in line," said a friend who attends about 10 to 15 UH sports events a year. "And it was a long line. We decided we didn't want to pay to see only part of the game, so we left."
I don't know if many others packed it in. But, 2-0 start notwithstanding, this is a program that can't afford to turn away any fans.
The above-quoted friend lives in Palolo. He and his buddies, also townies, work during the day. It is simply very inconvenient for them to go to Halawa to buy tickets during the week (and I've got to believe they're not alone). The Aloha Stadium box office is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The only other option is to order tickets by phone and put them on a charge card. There is a $2 per order fee for this (not counting whatever extra costs you might incur on the card), and the Will Call line at the stadium can be very long, also.
Manoa students can buy football tickets at the UH Campus Center for themselves and one guest in the student section, but there is no way other fans can get tickets in town.
"We would have a problem with double selling of seats," said Thomas Yoshida of the Campus Center.
THE computer system at Aloha Stadium is incompatible with the one used at UH, and there are currently no plans to coordinate the two.
"We could do it, but there's something else to look at in the big picture," Associate Athletic Director Jim Donovan said. "By August of next year, we're looking at online ticket sales. By then, there will be computers in many more homes. For us to spend on another system of ticket outlets would be investing an awful lot of money in something that will probably be obsolete soon.
"Within the next 24 to 36 months, people will be buying their airline tickets, bus passes and UH football tickets via the Internet," he added.
That doesn't mean the athletic department and Aloha Stadium are not addressing the immediate problem of how to get more folks to buy tickets and go through the turnstiles. Although things can't be more convenient right away, they are motivating the old-fashioned way -- via the pocketbook.
At this point, it looks like a $2 discount for tickets purchased this week for tomorrow's Wyoming game is a success.
"They've been selling like hotcakes," said stadium spokesman Les Keiter last night. "At the moment, we're well over 5,000 sold through the ticket windows. We had done less than half of that this time last week."
DONOVAN said he is confident that more than 40,000 total tickets will be distributed. Factor in the Rainbows' strong start and a conference opener against a relatively high-profile opponent, and no-shows should be at a minimum.
But, still, not everybody's happy.
"Most season ticket holders realize we're just trying to build up the crowd with the discount, but a few have been irritated that it doesn't affect them," Donovan said. "But we definitely want our season-ticket holders to know we appreciate them as our bread and butter. Starting next year, we will be passing on a discount to them in appreciation of their purchasing tickets for every game."
Stadium and athletic department officials are also considering a plan for future games to sell general admission tickets in the north end zone at a reduced price. This would speed up distribution, since there would be no haggling over seat location.
Dave Reardon is a magazine editor and freelance
writer who has covered Hawaii sports since 1977.
He can be reached via the Star-Bulletin or
by email at dreardon@hmsa.com.
