Fans of MSU or Kentucky basketball without tickets to the schools' Dec. 13 matchup are officially hard-pressed to find a ticket because "The BasketBowl" is sold out.
After season-ticket-holders and university donors from both schools claimed the first 50,672 seats, the remaining 19,028 tickets allotted to the general public on July 8 sold out in a span of four days, according to the Ford Field Ticket Office.
But there are 5,000, $14-tickets being held for MSU student season-ticket holders, said John Lewandowski, MSU assistant athletic director for media relations. Of that total, 4,000 will be seated next to the court on field level, said Matt Larson, MSU assistant sports information director.
Those tickets will be sold in late August, Larson said.
"The BasketBowl" ticket sale shattered the world record for the amount of people expected to attend a basketball game.
Exactly 69,700 tickets have been sold for the game, according to MSU ticket manager Chris Besanceney. Ford Field capacity is 65,000 for football games and is expected to fit 69,700 fans for the basketball game.
"We're excited to know the game sold out in July," Lewandowski said. "It's amazing the way fans responded to it.
"A lot of us believed we'd sell out, just not in the middle of July. It's unbelievable."
With additional student sections along the court, Ford Field suite holders and game-day personnel, the attendance mark is expected to be pushed beyond 75,000.
Patrick Affholter, Spartan basketball season-ticket holder and MSU Alumni Association member, purchased his tickets in June, one week after they were on the market. He bought eight tickets a few weeks before fans in the general public could get their hands on them.
"I think it's great," Affholter said. "Izzo does a great job. This is a way to showcase our team."
In a statement released on July 11, MSU head coach Tom Izzo added "The BasketBowl's" speedy sell-out is due to the fans.
"I tip my hat to the Spartan fans and the basketball fans throughout the state of Michigan who have embraced this event," Izzo said in a statement.
Izzo also said moderately priced tickets might have been key to them selling out so quickly.
The 19,028 tickets reserved for the general public were $8 to $14.
"The environment promises to be electric," Izzo said in the statement. "It should be a very special weekend in Detroit."
