TICKETS TO SDSU OPENER NOT HOT
More than 10,000 still unsold 10 days before Ohio game
When ordering tickets on TicketMaster’s website, a pause without completing the transaction generates the following prompt: “Tickets are selling fast. Get yours now before they’re gone.”
That may be the case for a hot ticket, like, say to a Taylor Swift concert.
When it comes to San Diego State football tickets, such notifications represent something of a stretch in the truth-in-advertising laws.
SDSU’s 2023 season opener Aug. 26 against Ohio is now 10 days away. A search of TicketMaster.com for single-game seats reveals that more than 10,000 tickets remain for the contest at 32,500-seat (35,000 capacity) Snapdragon Stadium.
More than half of the available seats are on the east (visitor’s) side.
Ticket prices for the game against the Bobcats range from $30 to $110, not including ticket fees that run from 22 to 33 percent, increasing costs to $39.95 to $134.30 per ticket.
A number of additional seats also have been set aside for those interested in purchasing season or miniseason-ticket plans.
Season-ticket sales went past the 10,000 mark last month and SDSU officials were hopeful of reaching 12,000 season tickets by the season opener.
There are 5,000 free tickets set aside for students, who return to campus Monday for the beginning of the fall semester.
Typically, 2,000-3,000 tickets also are set aside for opponents, though that number is expected to be lower for the Ohio game given the travel distance for Bobcats fans.
With current ticket-buying trends, an in-house crowd in the low 20,000s is expected for the game.
SDSU plays seven of 12 games at home this year, opening the season with three straight contests at Snapdragon.
There also are more than 10,000 seats available for the Sept. 2 game against Idaho State and more than 7,000 seats remaining for the Sept. 9 game with UCLA.
Fans can get ticket information at goaztecs.com. They also can call the SDSU ticket office at (619) 283-7378 or email aztix@sdsu.edu.
SDSU officials reported an announced crowd of 34,046 (26,816 turnstile) for the 2022 season opener against Arizona in Snapdragon Stadium’s debut.
Scrimmage thoughts
Given a couple of days to review the Aztecs’ scrimmage Saturday night at Snapdragon, SDSU coach
Brady Hoke said, “We’re improving as a team. It was good to see some big plays (by the offense), you know, still got to do a better job of taking care of the football.”
There were six touchdowns and four field goals in the workout. There also were four turnovers, including an interception and a fumble that were returned for touchdowns.
It should be noted that the Aztecs ran the equivalent of two games’ worth of
plays.
“Defensively, we stopped the run a little bit better,” Hoke added. “I think the first group wasn’t too bad.”
Injury updates
Starting defensive end Garret Fountain continues to wear a brace on his right elbow, but he showed progress.
Fountain participated in some drills, though he has not yet been cleared to practice.
Hoke said he believes Fountain is still on track to play in the opener.
Others who are sidelined include redshirt freshman quarterback Liu Aumavae and redshirt freshman running back Lucky Sutton (Cathedral Catholic High School).
Aumavae was the only one of six quarterbacks who did not play in Saturday’s scrimmage. He has been sidelined since last week when he injured his right index
finger on a defender’s helmet in practice.
Sutton was spotted midway through the scrimmage being escorted to the locker room. He appears limited by an undisclosed leg injury.
Linebacker Zyrus Fiaseu returned to practice after missing the past two weeks with an undisclosed injury.
Wide receiver Raphael Williams Jr., a junior transfer from Western Carolina, and safety Kyron White were not at practice.
Return to Snapdragon
The Aztecs will hold a closed scrimmage today at Snapdragon Stadium, a workout Hoke said the Aztecs and staff will focus on the kicking game.
It is the last opportunity for players to impress their coaches in game-like conditions before the two-deep depth chart comes out. Practice on Monday shifts to a game-week routine.