Fans have four ticket price options for Western Kentucky’s September 1 football season opener with the University of Kentucky at L.P. Field in Nashville, Tenn., WKU announced today. The game is being played on the opening day of the 2011 college football season and will be televised live on ESPNU at 8:15 p.m. central time, marking one of two national telecasts on ESPNU for WKU (at Middle Tennessee on October 6).
Fans who purchase two or more tickets by July 1 will receive $25 off the total price of 2011-12 men’s or women’s basketball season tickets.
Tickets in the club level may be purchased for $63, while lower level sideline seats are $43 and lower endzone seats are $38. Upper level seats are $28. Tickets may be purchased by visiting wkusports.com or by calling the WKU ticket office at 1-800-5-BIG-RED. The game is not part of the WKU’s season ticket package and provides WKU fans with the best flexibility on pricing and location.
“This is a significant game for our program in many respects,” WKU Director of Athletics Ross Bjork said. “September 1 marks the opening day of the 2011 college football season, we have a large alumni base in the Nashville region, and we are playing the University of Kentucky in an NFL stadium. This will be great exposure for our entire University in a tremendous environment, and we ask for a strong showing from the Hilltopper Nation to show the college football world we are ready for prime time.”
“We are excited to host the student-athletes, coaches and fans from Western Kentucky University and the University of Kentucky in Music City to kick off the 2011 college football season at LP Field," said Scott Ramsey, president and CEO, Nashville Sports Council. "It is a great opportunity to host this game on the opening night of college football and we are confident that the fans will have a great time visiting Nashville to kick-off their Labor Day weekend.”
Season tickets for the 2011 season, beginning at $36, are also available. The season ticket package includes WKU’s six games in Bowling Green: Navy (Sept. 10), Indiana State (Sept. 17) and four Sun Belt Conference games: Arkansas State (Oct. 1), Louisiana-Lafayette (Oct. 22-Homecoming), Florida International (Nov. 5), Troy (Nov. 26).
WKU is led by running back Bobby Rainey, who was named Sun Belt Conference Offensive Player of the Year in 2010 after ranking third in the nation in rushing (137.4 yards per game/1,649 total rushing yards). Rainey also led the nation in rushing attempts (340) and was named Honorable Mention All-American by SI.com. He also posted the second-most rushing yards allowed during the 2010 season by both Nebraska (155) and Kentucky (184), and only Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton rushed for more yards against the Wildcats (198).
WKU’s 2011 recruiting class was rated the number one class in the Sun Belt Conference by Rivals.com for the second consecutive year, with an all-time program high 11 of the 26 total signees rated as a 3-star player. WKU signed players from eight states (12 from Florida, most of any state) and eight position groups, including six offensive and defensive lineman, three running backs and tight ends, and two quarterbacks, wide receivers, defensive backs and linebackers.
