Tickets Go On Sale for Astros College Classic
12/6/2002 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
 |
|
HOUSTON — The Houston Astros will play host to some of the top teams in college baseball with the 2003 Astros College Classic, presented by the Houston Chronicle. Held in conjunction with Astros FanFest, the six-team tournament will feature nine games at Minute Maid Park from February 14-16, 2003. Tickets for the event go on sale Tuesday, Dec. 10.
Alabama, Baylor, Houston, Louisiana-Lafayette, Rice, and Texas A&M make up the field in the tournament's third year. Five of those teams - Alabama, Baylor, Houston, Louisiana-Lafayette, and Rice - advanced to the NCAA Championships last year, and Rice (No. 5), Houston (No. 10), and Alabama (No. 13) closed the 2002 season ranked in Baseball America's Top 25, with the Owls participating in the 2002 College World Series.
The Crimson Tide (51-15, 20-10 SEC) will open its 2003 schedule at the Astros College Classic, playing UL-Lafayette, Houston and Rice in consecutive days. Houston and Rice played in NCAA Super Regionals last year, with Rice advancing to the College World Series.
The Crimson Tide won the SEC Western Division championship last season and captured its fifth SEC Tournament championship (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2002) under Jim Wells.
Astros FanFest also returns with family activities surrounding the Classic. The winter baseball carnival offers fans the opportunity to meet Astros players, play interactive baseball games, participate in baseball clinics, and watch some of the nation's best college baseball teams. FanFest will run Saturday-Sunday, Feb. 15-16 from 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and the purchase of a ticket for either day's baseball games will be good for admittance into FanFest. A complete lineup of FanFest activities will be released at a later date.
Tickets for the Astros College Classic and the Astros FanFest will be available at the Minute Maid Park Box Office beginning Tuesday. Single ticket prices are $30 for the entire tournament and $12 for daily admission on Friday-Sunday. Children's tickets, for ages 4-14, are $15 for the tournament and half-price ($6) daily. Student tickets are also half-price ($6) and are only available at the Box Office with a valid student ID. Special seating areas are available by contacting Astros Ticket Services at (713) 259-8500, while all other tickets will be General Admission and good for seating on the Main Concourse only. The Box Office is open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are also available by telephone through toll-free number: (877) 9-ASTROS (877-927-8767), on the web at www.astros.com, or at any of the Astros' regular Houston-area outlets (Oshman's SuperSports/Sears Hardware).
2003 ASTROS COLLEGE CLASSIC SCHEDULE*
Fri., Feb. 14 UL Lafayette vs. Alabama 11 am
Baylor vs. Houston 3 pm
Texas A&M vs. Rice 7 pm
Sat., Feb. 15 ASTROS FANFEST 10 am - 6 pm
Alabama vs. Houston 11 am
Texas A&M vs. UL Lafayette 3 pm
Baylor vs. Rice 7 pm
Sun., Feb. 16 ASTROS FANFEST 10 am-6 pm
Alabama vs. Rice 11 am
Baylor vs. UL Lafayette 3 pm
Texas A&M vs. Houston 7 pm
* All times subject to change
