April 2, 2008

McNeese State has kicked off an "8 in `08" season football ticket campaign along with an incentive program for season ticket holders with the goal being to sell 8,000 season tickets this season.

Season ticket holders from the 2007 season will have until May 16 to renew their tickets and those holding season tickets will also be able to participate in a referral program that will earn them points toward gifts, the grand prize being a fully paid trip for two with the Cowboys to any one of their away games.

The Cowboys, the two time defending Southland Conference champions, play a 12 game schedule for the first time this season. Six of those games will be at home and six will be on the road including a season opening clash with North Carolina.

Home games include outings with Delta State, Cal Poly, Southern Virginia, Texas State, Nicholls State and Stephen F. Austin.

The cost of a season ticket is $102, up slightly from last year due to the natural rate of inflation along with the necessity of helping sustain the athletic department budget.

A family plan (two adults and two children) will be $204. Single game reserved seats are $18 and single game general admission is $14 for adult (ages 12 and above) and $6 for children (11 and under).

"In order to reach this goal of 8,000 season tickets this year, we need the help of our current season ticket holders," McNeese athletic director Tommy McClelland said. "Not only do we need them to renew their current level of season tickets but we are also asking them to invite their friends to purchase season tickets as well."

In the referral program, season ticket holders will receive points for new accounts. One new account is worth 10 points while each season ticket purchased by that account will be an additional five points.

Prizes will be: 2008 football media guide for 1-100 points; media guide and McNeese State official coaches game day polo shirt 101-200 points; media guide, shirt and one sideline pass to a home football game 201-300 points; media guide, shirt, one sideline pass and four tickets to each conference away game 301-400 points and media guide, shirt, sideline pass, four tickets to conference away game and entry into a drawing for the fully paid trip with the Cowboys, 401+ points.

Also, for each season ticket account (new or renewed) a yard sign will be given to be displayed in the account holders yard. The idea is to promote a competition and pressure between current season ticket holders and non-ticket holders.

Season tickets can be renewed by calling the McNeese ticket office using a credit card to renew. Fans can also mail in their renewals or renew in person at the ticket office.

Later this month McNeese athletic department personnel will be at satellite locations where season tickets can be renewed. On April 17 they will be in DeRidder at the City Savings Bank, on April 18 they will be in Jennings at the Jeff Davis Bank and on April 19 they will be at the Prien Lake Mall. Times for all three locations will be 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.