Notes: Ticket prices soaring for UCLA-Nebraska
UCLA officials are expecting a crowd of around 55,000 for this weekend's home-opener against Nebraska.
Although if it weren't for soaring ticket prices for the marquee matchup, the Bruins might have had a shot at getting a crowd closer to the 91,136 Rose Bowl capacity.
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According to SeatGeek.com analysis, Saturday's average ticket is selling for $125.94 on the secondary market, a 21 percent increase over the Bruins average home ticket price. The game is also expected to be the fourth-most expensive UCLA home game since 2009.
Take a look at some of the other eye-popping facts and statistics gathered by SeatGeek.com that could affect the overall attendance this weekend:
--Unquestionably, this weekend's game is the most sought after ticket in Los Angeles with the average seat selling for $125.94 on the secondary market (21% more than UCLA's $104.34 home ticket price average). It is also far and away the most expensive UCLA season opener played at The Rose Bowl, trumping 2010's matchup against Stanford for which tickets averaged $57.10.
--The matchup is additionally poised to be the fourth-most expensive UCLA home game since 2009 - rivaling only last year's game against Texas ($146.76 average) and the 2010 ($133.71 average) and 2012 ($179.21 average) matchups against USC for the top honor. It is the only non-USC game that is expected to sell out this season and continues to see historic ticket prices on the secondary market. Only one other UCLA home game against a non-USC opponent since 2009 has averaged ticket prices over $100; historically these types of games fetch around $69.27.
--Currently, the two most expensive ticket listings on SeatGeek include a $562 general admission seat in Section 125 and a $556 seat in Section 4, Row 24. This represents a 739% markup above the attributed $67 face value - unprecedented for a UCLA home game.
--Finally, we looked at our shopping traffic for the game over the past four weeks and found the majority (59%) of all ticket shoppers coming from California, but also a fair amount from Nebraska (16%). Nebraska fans tend to travel well, and it's likely they'll be represented well in the Rose Bowl this weekend.
Kickoff for Saturday's big game is slated for 4:30 p.m.
Keeping it clean
On a national stage, in primetime television against a storied program, many felt this was the week for UCLA to break out some new alternate uniforms.
But head coach Jim Mora said not so fast with all of that. The Bruins are planning to stick to their original home jerseys this weekend, and that's likely not going to change anytime soon.
"Traditional UCLA blue and gold," Mora said of his team's attire this week. "It'll be fun to see it."
Earlier this year, recruits told BruinSportsReport.com they had seen an all-black UCLA uniform prototype, but if there is such an alternate jersey, it looks like it will remain in the closet this week.
Big visitors coming
It looks like the list of official visitors is just two for this week: four-star offensive lineman Kenny Lacy and three-star athlete Jalen Ortiz.
Unofficially, however, BSR has learned several big-name prospects are planning on taking in the game, including 2014 linebacker Dwight Williams, three-star receiver John Ross, four-star safety Tahaan Goodman and Washington commits OL Poasi Moala and receiver Demorea Stringfellow.
Stay tuned to BSR on Saturday for a full list of visitors.
Short Shots
-A scout from the New York Jets was in attendance at Thursday's practice.
-UCLA outside linebacker Anthony Barr had hoped to get the cast / club off his broken hand this week, but on Thursday, he still had the big wrap attached to his left arm. It looks as if he'll have to keep it on for at least one more week.
-School is not set to start at UCLA until the final week of September, meaning a large portion of the Bruins student section will likely be missing Saturday. Of that, Mora said, "Those things should be irrelevant."
-Mora has heaped some heavy praise on Nebraska quarterback Taylor Martinez this week, calling him everything from "developed" to Jeff Garcia. On Thursday, the head coach said he hopes one day Brett Hundley will have similar success as Martinez: "We hope one day that Brett is operating at the efficiency that Taylor is right now."