Florida’s season-opener vs. Georgetown at on the U.S.S. Bataan off Jacksonville is almost sold out, according to event organizer Alan Verlander.
“We’re pretty much done,” said Verlander, the executive director of the Jacksonville Sports and Entertainment Committee.
Verlander said because of the change of platform on the Bataan, seating capacity for the game was reduced from 8,000 to 4,000. With reduced capacity, tickets sold quicker. Verlander expects a full sellout next month when tickets are provided for the event’s title sponsor.
Ticket packages for the event started at $1,000 and included tickets to an NFL game between the Jaguars and Colts in Jacksonville on Nov. 8. The Florida-Georgetown game will follow Nov. 9 at Naval Station Mayport.
When capacity was initially announced at 8,000, there were to be 5,000 tickets for servicemen and 3,000 for the general public.
”We’re working on reducing those ratios,” Verlander said. “The nice thing is that we will have jumbotrons on the base and after the pregame concert they will show the game on the big screens. So there will be a game-day atmosphere for those who can’t make it on the ship.”
Verlander said that the event is still in negotiations with a big-name entertainer for the concert and hope to get a deal finalized next week.
