The latest on Fountain Valley-Edison tickets
October 28th, 2009, 10:44 am · · posted by Steve Fryer
Parents at both schools are very angry that tickets were all sold, they tell me, before students got a chance to purchase them. This is always a huge game, but is more so this year because both teams are in the top 10 and both are going into this week with 7-0 records. The game is Nov. 6 at Orange Coast College (seating capacity is 7,600 there). It is Edison’s home game.
I have calls in, and left messages, to both schools’ principals to find out what actually happened with the ticket sales.
Craigslist has listings of FV-Edison tickets — $40-$55. That’s a lot of money for a high school football game (I saw Led Zeppelin for $9).
For the huge Servite-Mater Dei last week, at Santa Stadium (capacity 10,000) both schools had a very intricate, well-thought-out method for distributing tickets. That method will be in the Fryer column, online Thursday afternoon at ocvarsity.com and in the print OC Register on Friday.
Come back for updates on this situation.
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Steve, In fairness to Edison’s policy as far as students, Monday the school allowed only students to get their tickets. Tuesday, they opened up tickets for general sales at 7:00 AM and were sold out by around 10:00 AM (last year it took 3 days to sell out). I heard blocks of 50+ tickets were allowed to be sold to individuals and some of these must have found their way to Craig’s list. Last night, several football families were very upset that they couldn’t get tickets for the game, especially the senior families. I do believe they need to limit the tickets per student families and verify that the buyer actually has a student at the school (or allow pre-sale for families of the students). Not sure what happened at FVHS, but when Edison sold out I heard there were 400+ people in line to get tickets at that school!
I can tell you what happened – EDISON parents were buying tickets at Fountian Valley!!! And now THEY are the ones selling them for $50 on Craig’s List!! And contrary to rumor, it was NOT Kyle Middlebrooks buying 5o tickets.
Thanks; good info … I have calls in to the principals; Dr. Melendrez at Edison left a voice mail while we were taping our video segment.
I was one of the parents who was in line late last night to buy tickets to the Bell Game. My son is on the team. I was so disappointed in the manner this was handled that I am writing a letter to Dr. Melendrez. I owe her an opportunity to address some of the things I observed last night. However, I must admit I am tempted to post an open letter to Dr. Melendrez here in your Blog. I am sure what I observed last night is part of many football programs and bringing attention to this may do all of us some good.
Stay tuned.
I think the schools did a good job in selling the tickets. Edison offered them to all students on Monday as a pre-sale to the public.
When you have sales announced on daily favorites like OC Varsity and in the paper for a game as big as this -both teams in the top ten and undefeated – you have to expect a larger than usual crowd. When you add the fact of the 40th Anniversary Bell Game it increases. The alumni from both schools have always loved this game.
Many of the “blocks” of tickets that were sold were to groups such as the Alumni, they coordinated, planned and posted on face book to gather money for a few Alumni to stand in line. Seems fair as they were organized and prepared. Others were for groups of fans that attend all the games, not just the big ones, and usually buy their own tickets at the gate. Again there isn’t anything wrong with being organizing and prepared to send one person for a usual group of fans. One bad apple selling on craigslist doesn’t make the system bad nor does it mean that group sales of tickets are bad.
The problems comes with two great teams and one venue to small to hold all the usual and gaining fan base! Lets gather the energy to see if there is a solution to all the fans getting to enjoy the game.
Take photos of the hawkers and publish their pics in the news so everyone knows who is illegally hawking tickets. Have police respond to the craigslist sellers and catch them in the act.
I can tell you that the tickets at FV went on sale Tuesday. We have parents of players purchasing up to 50 tickets. By about 2:00, all of the FV tickets were gone.
We are being told that it is going to be up to Edison to decide if they want to move the venue to a larger location. I would think that they would want to.
This could be the first time (depending on this weeks games) that both teams have gone into this game undefeated!!!
Lets move this bad boy to Angel Stadium, they aren’t using it!!! HAHAHA
I can attest that some of the players parents who purchased in quantity did so for other senior player parents that could not get off of work. These people did not keep large quantites for their own families but distrubited them among those parents who’s boys are on the field.
Move it to Angel Stadium so the scalpers can’t make any money on the event!
Some parents asked that question yesterday and we were told Anaheim Stadium is “too big” and you don’t have a cozy game, or “too big” and you get lost in such a big stadium, you lose all school spirit. I am paraphrasing but that was the reason. We also inquired about the Home Depot Center and were told that stadium scoreboard is “terrible.”. I would rather get lost in the stadium or watch the game in a stadium with a “terrible” scoreboard. Many football parents needed tickets.
Chargerfan explained what happened the best. The fans that have been following the team since game one are the ones that had a student buy the tickets for the group. This was well planned out. It’s the people who didn’t realize how big the game is that’s complaining because they waited to late. I knew the tickets were going to sell out faster than the previous years because of the two schools records going into the game. I hate to say it but after last years game when Edison won after Kyle’s 90 yard kickoff return was called back, it was going to be a battle this year. Why didn’t the school see it? This is the first time in a long time that FV has had a team of this caliber. Even if there was a limit put on the ticket sales people would have found a way around that by having kids purchase tickets that don’t like football. The person selling the tickets on Craigs list should be dealt with legally.This should have been anticipated and planned out last year. The schools will definatly benefit if they change the venue to Angel Stadium.
Cerritos JC holds 12K…
Move the game to Saturday…
Saturday is Halloween.
Still, if they move it to Saturday, I’ll go.
Anonymous,
NOT THIS SATURDAY, November 7th. The game is scheduled for Friday the 6th right now.
They probably need to move the game to a larger venue. Home Depot Center is a great venue (whoever said the scoreboard is terrible has never been there), but is in use for the MLS playoffs the next twoo weekends. Angel Stadium would be a great choice…a flashback to the 70s and 80s heyday of this great rivalry.
Blng_blng … excellent idea!!!
So I asked Edison AD Bruce Belcher that, and a couple of other questions on the game … will update with a new blog entry in a few.
This game has always been huge and possible out sized it self at OCC. Angel Stadium is now and always been a terrible place for any football game. As far as Home Depot Center this is a Orange County game. Maybe Fullerton JC should lower their usage fee’s so games like this have a place to go. As for moving the game this year I do not believe C.I.F. would let that happen at such late notice. Some fingers were pointed at the Register for publishing ticket sales. I am sure this brought out the want a be’s. Go Chargers
TO CHARGER FAN.YOU ARE WRONG EDISON DID GOOD JOB LETTING STUDENTS GO 1ST.THEN WHEN YOU SOLD OUT EARLY MORNING YOU CAME OVER & BOUGHT ORS UP. EXAMPLE MY DAUGHTER WAS WAITING IN LINE(DIDNT GET TICKETS) EDISON KID SHE KNEW,TOLD TICKET TAKER LOST HIS ID & THEY SOLD HIM 15 TICKETS. FVGIVE STUDENTS FIRST PICK,THEN LIMIT TO 4 PER PERSON,NOT UNLIMITED,BOTH SCHOOLS CAN CUT THEIR LOSSES GET BIGGER STADIUM.PAY OCC CANCELLATION FEE.SELL MORE TICKETS NOW & AT THE GAME. HOME DEPOT WOULD BE GREAT.FV SCREWED UP,NOW FIX IT
EDI73 — We publish on-sale dates for concerts and sporting events all the time. People want that info.
Fryer,
If you knew the Register posted info on ticket sales why didn’t you read said info? Then you would know how the process was handled and wouldn’t look silly by reporting statements like, “Parents at both schools are very angry that tickets were all sold, they tell me, before students got a chance to purchase them.” That is just not true (at least at Edison).
Do your reporting before passing on second hand complaints by people not in the know. At least they might have a reason for not knowing how the tickets were to be handed out….unlike yourself.
I am a parent of a FV Student and she did not get her ticket or 3 more for our family. I love the fact that Edison sold only to Students on Monday and then opened it up to everyone else on Tuesday. At FV Students actually had a disadvantage. Tickets went on sale 30 minutes before first period and that didn’t give much time to make sure you weren’t late to class. I am not sure how long the line was that first 30 minutes, but the next time student had an opportunity was lunch time and the line was crazy. Students were told to get out of line and get to class. By the time 5th period was out, my daughter finally was able to get in line. However shortly after that it was announced that tickets sold out. I am not even sure how many students were even able to get tickets. It sounds like tickets mainly went to parents that were able to get in line, both from FV and Edison. There really should have been a better system in place. Tickets sale out every year but usually on day two. The fact that both teams are doing so well should have made the schools think ahead and already had the game moved. Just really poor planning.
Please just move the game so everyone can enjoy a great game.
THIS IS FROM THE FOUNTAIN VALLEY SCHOOL WEBSITE:
Some facts about the Fountain Valley vs Edison Bell Game Tickets
Because both teams are 7-0, interest and excitement is very high. Edison sold out their tickets in two hours (by 9:30), and we sold out in six (by 2:00). Rumors are rampant about ticket sales. Most rumors are gross exaggerations.
Ticket Sales Data 10/27/09:
Two large sales were allowed – one of 44 tickets and one of 39 tickets. They were sold as a block to two individuals who were purchasing for many families of current FV students. Administration verified and approved these sales.
There were four sales of 20-27 tickets (20, 20, 27 and 21). These buyers were also certified as FV affiliated.
There were four sales of 15-18 tickets (15, 18, 16 and 15). These buyers were certified as FV affiliated.
There were 14 sales of 11-14 tickets each.
The rest of the 2,000 + tickets were sold in small quantities to individual buyers. Students could only get one student ticket per valid FV id card.
More Ticket Sales Facts:
This year, FVHS is the visiting team. We received far fewer tickets than Edison because the stadium is much smaller on the visitor side.
We used the same process for selling tickets that we have for the past fifteen years.
We try not to sell tickets to Edison fans or parents. We ask questions and turn away those who are not supporting Fountain Valley. Having Edison supporters on the Fountain Valley side is problematic. It is possible that tickets were sold to Edison fans despite our screening, but not in bulk and not many.
We have never limited the number of adult tickets a person can buy (and have never needed to). If a person is buying a large quantity (more than 10) we verify that the person is affiliated with FVHS.
Students are only allowed to buy one student ticket per current FVHS ID card, and their names are checked off.
Seeing how fast adults were buying tickets, we made an announcement to students to buy them before they were sold out. We also started limiting purchases of adult tickets.
Golf fan — Many parents have written/told me they did not get tickets. And school personnel at both schools are under fire over ticket distribution. I am not trying to add to the problem, but trying to help people understand it. And maybe even solve it. Now, whether or not I possess the intelligence to be helpful is certainly up for debate.
The announcement was made during 4th period which is just before lunch. The line at lunch was so long, some students might have gotten tickets but most did not. They needed to wait until after their 5th or 6th period class, which by then the tickets were gone. Again, poor planning when this is the 40th anniversary, and both teams are 7 and 0.
Just move the game even if the date has to change.
Since 1969, a few of us have attended, played in this storied rivalry.Inall those years, I don’t remember not being able to attend the game for the reasons that have
Since 1969, a few of us have attended, played in this storied rivalry.Inall those years, I don’t remember not being able to attend the game for the reasons that have come about. Game needs to be moved to accommodate a lot of people who are missing out.
I heard from Edison athletic director Bruce Belcher that he will know by tomorrow morning if Cal State Fullerton will allow the game to be played at their stadium. He did say there was a prior event taking place but I think the university would make much more money from parking and concessions for a football game rather something else.
THIS IS FROM THE FOUNTAIN VALLEY SCHOOL WEBSITE:[
....We try not to sell tickets to Edison fans or parents. We ask questions and turn away those who are not supporting Fountain Valley. Having Edison supporters on the Fountain Valley side is problematic. It is possible that tickets were sold to Edison fans despite our screening, but not in bulk and not many....]
FVHS website comments are mostly ridiculous and just a weak attempt at damage control.
It states they “turn away those who are not supporting Fountain Valley.” As if the Edison parents gobbled up all the FV tickets while wearing green and yellow and chanting Chargers Chargers on the FVHS campus.
Also, if it is “possible that tickets were sold to Edison fans” despite the screening, how would FV administrators know it was “not many?” That makes absolutely no sense. FVHS fumbled. Bad plan.
Move the game to Anaheim Stadium!
I attended FVHS in the 80′s and played my varsity “Bell Game” at the stadium. It was a wonderful experience and one of the fondest memory from my high school years.
Took my kids to FVHS game against Tesoro earlier this year at OCC. They had a great time and I was hoping to take them to the big game agains Edison.
Hope they change the venue so more tickets can be available.