Despite an imperiled economy and 21st century ticket prices, Oklahoma fans have proven a loyal bunch. Or, to be accurate, an almost perfectly loyal bunch.
Wednesday, the university announced the 2009 renewal rate for football season tickets has come in at a staggering 99 percent.
In all, 69,000 season tickets are sold annually to the general public and another 8,000 are sold to OU students. It is from that pool of 77,000 season tickets that the renewal rate is set.
According to OU ticket office officials, the average renewal rate for football season tickets is about 96 percent, and the figure that has never dipped below 94 percent during the Bob Stoops era of Sooner football.
OU officials were complimenting the university’s fan base Wednesday.
“When we speak so glowingly about their dedication and support of our program, it’s not just lip service,” OU athletics director Joe Castiglione said. These numbers illustrate why we praise them the way we do.
“They’re remarkable. We don’t have all the figures but it wouldn’t surprise me if that renewal rate led the nation.”
Sooner football coach Bob Stoops chimed in.
“They’re incredible,” he said of the fans. “The love they have for the program is overwhelming, and it means so much to us. From a coaching perspective, it’s rewarding to me to hear our players talk about (the fans). They can’t wait to tell people what it’s like to play in front of that crowd in Norman.”
It should be noted, however, that Stoops has also taken the fans to task. Last season, in the week leading up to a critical game against Texas Tech, he didn’t question the fans devotion, but their intensity inside the stadium.
The result may have been the loudest game day Saturday in program history.
Apparently, they’ll just about all be back for the coming season.
OU Sports
Sooner fans unrivaled in their loyalty
- OU Sports
-
-
Schedule easing up for Sooners
For some time, the Oklahoma women have been done no favors by their schedule. That may still be the case, but not for much longer....
-
Sooners using roller-coaster season as motivation
Oklahoma’s women’s gymnastics team has been anything but consistent. After dominating its season opener, the Sooners fell to No. 7 Oregon State and No. 9 Nebraska before trouncing then-No. 2 Arkansas....
-
Sooners open season with World Series aspirations
The Sooners haven’t even taken the field yet, but there is already talk of a national championship floating around the Oklahoma locker room. The Sooners will take the first step toward that goal when they open the season at 1:15 p.m. ...
-
Sooners have to eliminate mistakes that are costing them wins
It was a typical practice for Oklahoma on Thursday. The long workout had a lot of energy and precision. It mirrored many it has had over the last three months....
-
Move to Big 12 is chance at stability
Maybe this Internet thing’s really going to make it after all. Maybe even as a news source....
-
Sooners struggling to make climb
Oklahoma left the Lloyd Noble Center floor feeling an emotion that has become far too common on Monday. The 71-68 loss to Missouri was another tough loss in a season that’s getting tougher every day....
-
Sooners quartet needs help from teammates
How well did Oklahoma play Monday night? So well, even after missing 14 of 23 free throws, Steven Pledger, one of the nation’s best sharpshooters, had an open 3 to send the Sooners into overtime against No. 4 Missouri....
-
Sooners good enough everywhere but the free throw line
Steven Pledger sank to the floor with his face in his hands as the buzzer sounded. He couldn’t believe the 3-pointer he took with about 1 second remaining didn’t go through the net. It wasn’t the only thing running through his mind after ...
-
Last season ended in first trip to College Word Series since 2004
Hunger. Passion. Those were the two words most often repeated at the Oklahoma softball squad’s Media Day on Monday. And it’s those two traits that the Sooners are bringing to the 2012 season, which kicks off on Friday....
-
Campbell has another big night when Sooners needed her to step up
Scoring Oklahoma’s last nine points in a narrow victory over Texas Tech, freshman Sharane Campbell had been instrumental in front of the home crowd in one victory already this season....
- More OU Sports Headlines
-
Schedule easing up for Sooners
