The Univ. of Nebraska basketball team just finished a 15th straight season without an NCAA Tournament bid, but is “on track to set what apparently is a school record for season-ticket sales,” according to Lee Barfknecht of the OMAHA WORLD-HERALD. Public sales for the '13-14 season at NU's new Pinnacle Bank Arena as of Tuesday were at 10,355, which is a 49.7% increase "from last season’s 6,917 at the Devaney Center." If NU “reaches the average of 1,500 in student sales it has the past 15 years, it would boost the count to almost 12,000 with six more months of sales time ahead.” Records show “what is believed to be a school-record of 12,000 season tickets for the 1992-93 season -- the third year of a four-year NCAA tournament run.” NU Exec Associate AD Marc Boehm said that school records “only indicate comprehensive sales totals to the general public, not to faculty, staff and students.” Boehm: “The numbers have exceeded our expectations somewhat. Our internal goal going into Pinnacle Bank Arena was 11,000 season tickets sold.” He indicated that the “curiosity factor” of the new $180M arena is “driving demand.” Boehm also cited the “enthusiasm” of basketball coach Tim Miles and “the affordability of tickets.” An upper-bowl season pass "goes for as little" as $85 for 17 games "with no donation.” Boehm: “We wanted to make it very, very affordable. When you can buy a season ticket for $5 a game, that’s a pretty good deal” (OMAHA WORLD-HERALD, 4/10).
