Carrier Classic organizers yesterday said that “most of the estimated 4,000 seats will go to the participating colleges, veterans and active-duty military members, the Wounded Warrior Project and sponsors of the event, who have yet to be named,” according to Warren Wise of the Charleston POST & COURIER. The Nov. 9 doubleheader will feature a women’s game pitting Ohio State against Notre Dame and a men’s game between Ohio State and Marquette. Bleachers will “rise on each side of the nearly 900-foot-long aircraft carrier Yorktown.” Event promoter Morale Entertainment Foundation Founder & Dir Mike Whalen said, “The actual availability to buy tickets by the general public will be minimal.” He said that the “actual number of seats has not been determined because the event still needs approval” from the South Carolina state Fire Marshal’s office and the town of Mount Pleasant. He estimates that about “500 tickets will be available for sponsors after the free tickets are handed out, and those tickets probably will cost about $500 each.” The event has “not lined up a TV network yet.” Whalen estimates that putting on the event will cost between $2-3M and he "hopes to raise enough money from sponsors to offset the cost and donate leftover proceeds to three military-related charities.” He said that preparations for the tournament “with seats, scoreboard and flooring will begin on Oct. 31, and they should not be as difficult as last year’s inaugural event on board the active aircraft carrier Carl Vinson near San Diego.” Whalen: “This year it’s going to be easier because we don’t have to worry about the ship going anywhere on active duty.” He “hopes to make it an annual event at Patriots Point through 2014” (Charleston POST & COURIER, 8/8).
