Any idea on how they're going? Last year, riceowls.com had a running tab on the tickets sold.

I hope we're doing way better than Houston:

twitter.com/Joseph_Duarte/

"As of Monday, Houston has sold 1,300 tickets for the Jan. 4 @BBVACompassBowl against @VandyFootball"

Well, as I mentioned in a post late last week when I last spoke to Marc Laney, they were for whatever reason keeping things close to their vest, and not disclosing how ticket sales were going. IMO, this was a sign that it was not going as well as hoped.

Anyway, today was the day they were supposedly allocating tickets to those who ordered/purchased them.

I bought my three today. I asked the sales representative over the phone how sales were going, and he said they were "steady". He told me that either yesterday or today, someone purchased 84 tickets to the Liberty Bowl.

For how much longer are they selling tickets? I can't go to the game, but I want one anyway. I'm going to frame it with all of the Rice articles from the newspaper over the last two weeks. I don't get paid until Friday.

Just got email notification that my tickets are being shipped by UPS.

I wanted to pick them up at Tudor, and they shipped them anyway.

I asked - more than once - what delivery service they were using this year and was told USPS. I was even told that they wanted to avoid the fiasco of Fedex requiring sign for delivery - and they shipped them anyway.

It's only out of loyalty to the university that I continue to buy tickets through Rice, so they get credit for sales. The amateurness and imcompetence is infuriating, and nothing.ever.changes.

ETA: I got another email - from UPS - that the shipment has been cancelled. That's good, I think. But be advised that apparently it's package delivery again this year, not mail.

When you originally bought the tickets, did you specify Will Call as the delivery method?

I only ask because you said you wanted to pick them up at Tudor. I selected Will Call because I want to pick them up in Memphis since I will be out of town for most of December, and I am concerned if they are shipping things that were designated for Will Call or "Pick up at Box Office" or whatever.

(12-18-2013 01:01 PM)Frizzy Owl Wrote:  Just got email notification that my tickets are being shipped by UPS.

I wanted to pick them up at Tudor, and they shipped them anyway.

I asked - more than once - what delivery service they were using this year and was told USPS. I was even told that they wanted to avoid the fiasco of Fedex requiring sign for delivery - and they shipped them anyway.

It's only out of loyalty to the university that I continue to buy tickets through Rice, so they get credit for sales. The amateurness and imcompetence is infuriating, and nothing.ever.changes.

ETA: I got another email - from UPS - that the shipment has been cancelled. That's good, I think. But be advised that apparently it's package delivery again this year, not mail.

I had initially asked for mail, but changed that to pick-up when I called again to add to my order. So if you said will-call in the first place you're probably ok. I would never have agreed to shipping in the first place except I was assured they would be using mail this year.

I am a bit worried as last three bowl games are a reasonable/no drive from Houston and plenty of alums in DFW or other reasons to go. Just a bit out of driving range for most (but not all), ok flight options (but not great like Dallas, Houston or NO and more $$) and is on NY Eve. I still think we sell more tix than many others in bowl games but the travel and cost factor will limit results of what we saw last year.

Quote:Joseph Duarte ‏@Chronicle_Owls 4m
#Rice has sold 2,600 tickets for the Dec. 31 @AZOLibertyBowl against Mississippi State

JD just tweeted...

Quote:Joseph Duarte‏@Chronicle_Owls3m
#Rice has sold 2,600 tickets for the Dec. 31 @AZOLibertyBowl against Mississippi State

Quite honestly, I cannot believe it's that low, what with the free student tickets and all those on the Parliament claiming they've purchased (along with the size of their block of tickets). I hope it's either a misprint or JD misunderstood.

Positive spin - Rice is doing ~twice as well as Houston despite a significantly smaller alumni base whose geographic distribution is undoubtedbly much further from the bowl location.

Negative spin - well that sucks and is worse than expected/hoped.

That's depressing.

I immediately went over to the ticket web site and bought/tried to buy four more tickets. Can't tell whether I was successful or not, though; figure I'll have to call the ticket office Thursday morning.

Well, considering this isn't a major hub for Rice alumni and the fact that the air travel doesn't look that inviting, this isn't a surprising number.

Bought 4 to donate to the community today. Didn't realize that was an option.

(12-18-2013 08:43 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  Well, considering this isn't a major hub for Rice alumni and the fact that the air travel doesn't look that inviting, this isn't a surprising number.

Looking at the 10-hour drive myself (but not alone), and have to be back at work Thursday.

(12-18-2013 08:43 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  Well, considering this isn't a major hub for Rice alumni and the fact that the air travel doesn't look that inviting, this isn't a surprising number.

The air options are horrendous

I won't be going, but I just went to the website and donated a ticket.

(12-18-2013 11:40 PM)NoodleOwl Wrote:  I won't be going, but I just went to the website and donated a ticket.

Why not, I am?

(12-18-2013 10:03 PM)Rick Gerlach Wrote:  

(12-18-2013 08:43 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  Well, considering this isn't a major hub for Rice alumni and the fact that the air travel doesn't look that inviting, this isn't a surprising number.

Looking at the 10-hour drive myself (but not alone), and have to be back at work Thursday.

To clarify, we ARE going to the game. Looking back at the wording, that wasn't necessarily clear.

(12-18-2013 10:54 PM)texowl2 Wrote:  

(12-18-2013 08:43 PM)d1owls4life Wrote:  Well, considering this isn't a major hub for Rice alumni and the fact that the air travel doesn't look that inviting, this isn't a surprising number.

The air options are horrendous

Orbitz did pretty well for me. My only gripe was arrival back in Houston @ 10:00 PM, Jan 1. Gotta work on the 2nd and that was the only connection I could find when I booked.