Arizona State Univ. officials yesterday said that there are "approximately 10,000 seats left" at the 71,000-seat Sun Devil Stadium for Saturday's Pac-12 Championship Game against Stanford, according to Mike Sunnucks of the PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL. ASU officials said that there are "lower bowl, end zone and loge seats available" (BIZJOURNALS.com, 12/4). Meanwhile, in Phoenix, Dianna Nanez reports the stadium is "getting a makeover per Pac-12 rules that require a neutral atmosphere that does not favor one team over the other." Some "fan-frenzy-inducing traditions and ASU decor are nixed." However, "rumors that Stanford's name will be painted in the team's Cardinal red on an end zone and that Sparky and the ASU pitchfork logos are being erased from the field are just that -- rumors." Pac-12 CMO Danette Leighton said, "The pitchfork in the center is not going away. Neither is the 'Arizona State' in the end zones, and the Sparkys are still there. Teams competed for the home-field advantage and that matters. Arizona State has earned that." Nanez notes the Pac-12 Championship Game logo is "painted in two spots near the center of the field." Conference officials will "control the Jumbotron, ensuring that both teams get a turn in the spotlight" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/5).
GEORGIA ON YOUR MIND? In Atlanta, Michael Carvell noted tickets for Saturday's Auburn-Missouri SEC Championship Game at the Georgia Dome are "by far the most expensive" of this weekend's conference title games. SeatGeek data showed that "an average ticket is selling for around $400." The cheapest tickets on StubHub.com "are $193, while you can get a much better view for up to $3,636." There are also suite tickets "for sale for $20,000" (AJC.com, 12/4).
