Men’s Basketball season tickets sell out
Photo by Chris Conway
Miles Wilhelm
Staff Writer
For many years on VCU’s Monroe Park campus, the hardest sought ticket was at the Landmark Theater, whenever big plays came to town. But this past week, VCU men’s basketball did something it’s never done in its storied history: sold out of season tickets.
In fact, demand is so high for tickets that VCU Athletics has created a waiting list filled with criteria such as donation amount and the date the person signed up for them.
Riding on the wave of success the program has undergone the past five years, particularly the Final Four run and keeping Shaka Smart in Richmond, there is major buzz growing for the team’s games. On top of that success, VCU’s move to the renowned Atlantic 10 conference has helped elevate the brand.
Fans are excited for what is supposed to be one of the toughest and most well-rounded schedules the team has ever played. There are even rumors of the Rams being ranked early in the regular season, a feat they haven’t done in decades.
Season tickets didn’t last long, with over 1,100 new season tickets sold and a 90 percent renewal rate from last year. There is an expanding list of suitors waiting for tickets to become available.
The VCU Athletics office came were fairly close last year, but only sold 500 new season tickets.
Clearly, the “Havoc” brand is one many people want to witness. The window of opportunity to get season tickets was from May until Aug. 29.
VCU is joining a rare club of NCAA teams that have sold out season tickets. Others who have done so include the likes of Indiana and Duke.
But it isn’t just the alumni and local fans demanding seats at the Siegel Center. Over the years, the Rowdy Rams have contributed greatly to the home-court advantage the Rams have enjoyed.
This year the cap for Rowdy Rams was set at 1,500, a number which was reached by just the third day of class.
For those who haven’t signed up to be a Rowdy Ram or gotten season tickets, it will be increasingly difficult to get into games at the Siegel Center this season. The team record for consecutive sell-outs lasted all year last season and looks to keep the record going starting Nov. 9.