Season opener deemed a sellout; Fremont Street hosts festivities

Friday, Aug. 30, 2002 | 10:09 a.m.

UNLV announced Thursday that all tickets have been sold for Saturday's season-opening football game vs. No. 25 Wisconsin, and that the school has made 2,500 standing-room-only tickets available.

Standing-room tickets can be purchased at the Thomas & Mack Center box office today through 5 p.m. On game day, any remaining standing-room tickets can be purchased at the Sam Boyd Stadium box office beginning at 10 a.m. while supply lasts.

Parking lots at Sam Boyd open at noon, more than than five hours before the 5:45 p.m. kickoff. Tailgating spots on the new grass field northwest of the stadium will be available for $5 per vehicle.

The preferred route will take fans east on Russell Road (past Boulder Highway) directly into the stadium. Other routes include east on Tropicana directly into the stadium, east on Gibson Road (past Boulder Highway) directly into the stadium or east on Sunset Road (past Boulder Highway), then left on Burns Road to the stadium.

The thousands of Wisconsin fans who made the trip can get a dose of Badgers mania starting tonight at the Fremont Street Badgerfest.

The four-hour Badgerfest featuring a performance by the Wisconsin marching band will start at 4 p.m. at Fremont Street downtown outside the Golden Nugget. The performance will begin at 5:15.

Before kickoff, Badgers fans can get a taste of home at the Las Vegas Badger Blast tailgate party hosted by the National W Club. A buffet of bratwurst, cheese and beer will be served from 2:30-5:15 p.m. on the east side of Sam Boyd Stadium.

About 20,000 brats are expected to be cooked on the Johnsonville Big Taste Grill, the world's largest grill measuring 45 feet long and six feet in diameter provided by Johnsonville Brats.

Party-goers will be entertained by the Las Vegas-based Tommy Rocker Band and the Wisconsin marching band. In addition, team mascot Bucky Badger and the Wisconsin cheerleaders will make an appearance.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the event with proceeds benefitting the Wisconsin athletic department. Fans can call (608) 262-7717 for advance tickets or purchase them tonight at the Badgerfest.