Lawmaker has sweet offer for game

A Louisiana senator is offering to sell his Sugar Bowl tickets

As University of Hawaii officials try to get extra Sugar Bowl tickets into the hands of Warrior season ticket holders, at least one Louisiana lawmaker is offering to sell four tickets at a bargain.

In a phone interview from Louisiana yesterday, state Sen. Heulette "Clo" Fontenot of Livingston, La., said he had been reading articles on how infuriated UH season ticket holders were after tickets for the Jan. 1 bowl game in New Orleans sold out at UH in two days last week.

Fontenot, a Louisiana State University season ticket holder, said he had to purchase Sugar Bowl tickets in order to purchase BCS Championship bowl game tickets in which LSU is playing Ohio State on Jan. 7.

Fontenot purchased four Sugar Bowl tickets and four BCS Championship tickets for a lump sum of $1,500. Costs for Sugar Bowl tickets through UH range from $125 to $145.

Fontenot said he will give preference to season ticket holders and students of UH and its opponent University of Georgia. The tickets are in the lower level of the Louisiana Superdome, he said.

He expects to receive the tickets about 10 days before the Sugar Bowl, or about Dec. 22.

Fontenot said those interested in purchasing tickets will have to show proof that they are in fact a season ticket holder or a student.

Meanwhile, prices for Sugar Bowl tickets are soaring on the Internet, with tickets as high as $1,050 a person for a four-ticket package on eBay.com.

UH officials said yesterday that additional Sugar Bowl tickets might be available Tuesday for season ticket holders who did not have a chance to purchase tickets.

An announcement will be made Monday on whether more tickets are available. If more tickets become available, they would be allocated to season ticket holders through a lottery.

Anyone interested in purchasing a ticket from Fontenot can e-mail him at fontenoc@legis.state.la.us.