Nebraska is in an unfamiliar situation. The team can’t seem to sell Holiday Bowl tickets.
In another indication that the NCAA over indulges in bowl revenue capacity, the Nebraska Cornhuskers can’t give away Holiday Bowl tickets. As a Holiday Bowl participant, Nebraska is required to sell or purchase 11,000 tickets per their allotment agreement. As of today, only 7,500 have been sold. This means Nebraska is on the hook for $210,000.00. Well it doesn’t take one with a business and marketing degree to see why Nebraska can’t sell their share of tickets.
Here is why: Nebraska is set to face Washington, a team they already slaughtered earlier this season 56-21; traveling anywhere in Nebraska to sunny San Diego is extremely expensive; fans are still pissed they traveled all the way to Texas to watch their beloved team fall in the conference championship game; and, Nebraska will play Washington at home next season. So there is really no impetus to go to the Holiday Bowl, the same Bowl they went to last season.
To temper the lack of fan spirit, Nebraska officials are waiving the ticket service fees and throwing in free basketball tickets against Iowa State. Yes, you read correctly, the school is enticing fans with Cornhuskers basketball tickets. Incidentally, Nebraska is the bottom feeder of Big 12 basketball so its no wonder ticket sales have come to a virtual halt.
Nonetheless, officials in San Diego hope to fill the empty seats with military personnel stationed in the Southern California area. This actually is the smartest move, because those soldiers and sailors are certainly most deserving. It’s just unfortunate that the featured teams and bowl are less than desirable.
