Though they haven’t played a game yet, it appears that new Emporia State University football coach Garin Higgins and his staff already have taken a big victory by winning more fans.
ESU football season-ticket sales are right on schedule — a fact that ESU Ticket Manager Greg Larson said was encouraging.
“We’re right under where we were last year dollar-wise — within $100 or so — and we’re three weeks from the start of the (home) season,” Larson said. “I’m pretty pleased with the progress so far.”
Reserved tickets have been the source of the biggest boom in sales, as more of those seats have been sold this season than in any of the previous five years.
With the interest he’s seen so far, Larson said he fully expected this year’s numbers to eclipse those from last season.
“I think any time you’ve got a program with any sort of change — whether it’s new players or new coaches, whatever it may be — there’s a certain segment of the football patrons that are going to be excited about that,” Larson said.
The enthusiasm has extended to the Hornets’ latest Saturday scrimmages, when many fans have shown up to get their first glimpse of the team.
Don Weast, ESU assistant athletic director for media relations, said the open practices had seemed to draw more interest than in the past.
“There’s been 100, 150 people coming in on Saturday mornings when the temperature’s hovering around 90 or 100 degrees with humidity,” Weast said. “Those fans are out there and are excited about it.”
The ticket sales have the potential to grow even more if the football team starts the season well.
The Hornets will have already played two games on the road — against Western (Colo.) State and Central Oklahoma — before taking on Southwest Baptist in the home opener on Sept. 15.
To purchase tickets, fans can call (620) 341-NEST or go to the ESU ticket office in the Memorial Union.
Those who have already ordered their tickets should receive them soon. Larson said his office began mailing tickets out on Wednesday.