Purdue football ticket sales down from last year

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (WLFI) - Purdue football kicks off Saturday at Ross-Ade stadium.

So how many season ticket holders will pack the stands? Not as many as last year.

"They're really fun. They're really exciting and overwhelming," said Purdue sophomore Heather Kristofzski.

That's how Kristofzski described the Purdue home football games.

Kristofzski didn't buy season tickets last year or this year.

"I didn't know if my friends would have them because I was going to make new friends here and then I watch them on TV," said Kristofzski.

Associate Athletics Director Tom Schott said Kristofzski may not be the only Boilermaker fan staying home to watch the games.

Schott says roughly 28,000 season tickets have been sold for this year.

He said that number is down by about 2,000 tickets from 2011.

He said the University will call season ticket holders who don't renew their seats and ask why.

He said the answers are usually all over the board.

"Families have more opportunities to do youth sports with their kids. Committing to seven Saturday afternoons is tough, certainly with every game being on TV. It's an alternative for people to stay home and watch," said Schott.

However, he's positive ticket sales will keep improving as the season starts.

"There's tremendous momentum coming off last year. Beating Ohio State here in overtime, beating IU for the Bucket, bring it back to West Lafayette, getting a bowl invitation, going to Detroit to win that bowl game, had a great recruiting class during the off season," said Schott.

Schott said tickets sales have improved since the students have been back on campus.

But one student who hasn't bought season tickets is senior Zach Holmes.

Holmes said he used to, but the excitement started to wear off and he became less and less satisfied with the team's performance.

"It was exciting that they went to the bowl game last year but, in general, I'm a little disappointed with some of the things I've seen overall. I'm hoping this year's better though," said Holmes.

Schott said around 6,400 students holding season tickets will be attending Saturday's game against Eastern Kentucky.

That number is down by roughly 900 tickets from last year.

Schott said individual tickets, three-game mini packages and season tickets are still available.

Head to Purdue Athletics' website to learn more about Purdue football tickets.