Las Vegas Sun

March 19, 2024

Rebels Football:

UNLV football season ticket sales could spike because of new coach Sanchez

Tony Sanchez New UNLV Head Football Coach

L.E. Baskow

Tony Sanchez is announced as the new UNLV football team head coach by athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy and director of media relations Mark Wallington in the Stan Fulton Building ballroom on Thursday, December 11, 2014.

Tony Sanchez New UNLV Head Football Coach

Tony Sanchez is announced as the new UNLV football team head coach by athletic director Tina Kunzer-Murphy and director of media relations Mark Wallington in the Stan Fulton Building ballroom on Thursday, December 11, 2014. Launch slideshow »
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A new coach should attract new season ticket holders for UNLV football.

When the university in early February begins its marketing push for ticket sales for the 2015 season, officials anticipate the positive feedback they’ve received on the hiring of coach Tony Sanchez will translate into a spike at the ticket office. Tickets go on sale starting Monday.

“There is definitely some new interest and enthusiasm,” said Darryl Seibel, UNLV senior associate athletic director, external relations.

“There are a number of exciting things happening around UNLV football — not only through Tony’s hiring, but the assistants he has brought into the program.”

Tickets for the six-game 2015 home schedule range from $79-$210 through the end of February. On March 1, they are $99-$230. That’s for the entire season, not one game.

By comparison, a ticket for Cirque du Soleil’s “The Beatles Love” at the Mirage range from $98.50 to $180.

“The layout of our stadium is such where there really isn’t a bad seat,” Seibel said of Sam Boyd Stadium.

For sections 127-129, there’s a priority donation of $50 or $75. The $79 tickets are mostly endzone seats. Last year, UNLV averaged 15,674 per game.

UNLV opens its home schedule Sept. 12 against UCLA. On Sept. 26, it will host Idaho State of the Football Championship Subdivision. Dates for Mountain West games against Boise State, Hawaii, San Diego State and San Jose State will be determined by the league.

Despite finishing with seven wins in 2013 and advancing to a bowl game for the first time in 13 seasons, season ticket sales only briefly increased last season to 4,038. In 2013, they had 3,901 season ticket holders.

That could change with Sanchez, whose contract calls for a $10,000 bonus for every 5,000 season tickets sold over the previous year’s number.

Sanchez and his assistants have been aggressive in drumming up fan interest. They packed a local bar with supporters earlier this month for a meet-and-greet. They’ve also taken to social media to post updates on the program, using the Twitter hashtag #NewEra to rally interest.

One marketing promotion reads, “Our city never stops working, why should we? Rebels football. A new era begins.”

“The overall interest and enthusiasm for the program a month into his tenure is evident,” Seibel said. “We think that will translate into season ticket activity.”

Visit unlvtickets.com or call 702-739-3267 for ticket information.

Ray Brewer can be reached at 702-990-2662 or [email protected]. Follow Ray on Twitter at twitter.com/raybrewer21

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