The SEC is among several conferences that have begun pushing back against required ticket purchases at bowl games. The postseason games for years have required participating teams to buy a certain number of tickets -- typically 8,000-10,000 tickets per school -- as part of the arrangement between the events and the conferences. However, beginning next season, SEC schools will pay for an allotment of tickets to cover the main travel party to the bowl. Participating schools and conferences then will direct the general fan base to buy tickets from the bowl’s website. The schools no longer will sell tickets or worry about prioritizing seat location based on donations. Minimum ticket allotments will not affect bowls in the CFP, but they will come into play for the next tier of games with SEC tie-ins, like the Vrbo Citrus Bowl and Outback Bowl. The conference has not yet said how the new ticket minimums will be determined, but schools are glad with the prospect of getting out from under the bowl ticketing business.
Read more from Smith's SBJ College newsletter every Tuesday and Thursday.
