Chicago Sun-Times: State pols jump ahead in line for tickets (Illini)

[Tweed]

http://www.suntimes.com/output/news/cst-nws-illinitix27.html

To get into sold-out Assembly Hall these days, fans of the top-ranked Fighting Illini basketball team either have to camp out for scarce tickets or pay scalpers and ticket brokers as much as 13 times what the university charges for seats.

But some top state leaders and others with clout need only pick up the phone, ask for seats from the university and, sometimes on short notice, get Assembly Hall tickets handed to them for their $30-and-lower face value. For a select few, the tickets are free.

As demand for Illini tickets has rocketed off the charts, the university has dispersed more than 2,000 tickets to its trustees, dozens of state lawmakers, congressmen, lobbyists and even the son of indicted former Gov. George Ryan, who has booked most of the team's schedule.

Offering this kind of access to games that much of Illini Nation can only watch in their living rooms gives university administrators a valuable venue to mingle with the powers that be from Springfield, a U. of I. spokesman said."

I'm sure there are other bigger 'scandals' going on? :shrug:

[Radical Activist]

1. This is only done by

oh I don't know...EVERY other successful college football or basketball team in America. What a shocker!:eyes: