Chick-fil-A Kickoff Sold Out: Louisville Allotment Gone

Mark BlankenbakerAugust 28, 2015

The University of Louisville has sold out of its allotment of tickets to the 2015 Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game versus Auburn on Sept. 5 in the Georgia Dome.

Kickoff is set for 3:30 p.m. and will be televised to a national audience on CBS.

The Cardinals sold over 30,000 total tickets to this neutral-site contest, which is the first national neutral-site game of 2015 to sell out. Peach Bowl, Inc. and university officials also today announced both teams have completely sold through their allotments of and no tickets remain for public sale.

“To sell over 30,000 tickets to a neutral site game in September is a great testament to our terrific fan base and their willingness to support our program at any location,” Vice-President/Director of Athletics Tom Jurich said. “Having the opportunity to play a top-10 teams like Auburn in a game as prestigious as the Chick-fil-A Game, speaks volumes to the commitment of our fans and a great way to open the season.”

“When you get two historically successful, top-25 teams with fan bases as passionate as Auburn and Louisville, you know you’re going to have a tough ticket,” said Gary Stokan, Peach Bowl, Inc. president & CEO. “What a great way to kick off the season with an electric, bowl-like atmosphere with two ranked teams in front of a packed crowd in Atlanta and national TV audience on CBS.”

The Cardinals, ranked 25^th by CBS, will make their first appearance in the Chick-fil-A Game, while Auburn will play for the second time in a game that features two preseason top-25 teams for the second time.

“To open the 2015 football season in a sold-out venue like the Georgia Dome against a top-10 team is exciting for our program,” said Louisville head coach Bobby Petrino. “Our fans have a proven track record of supporting our football team no matter the location, so it’s not surprising they have responded the way they have to this exciting matchup. I know they will help create an outstanding atmosphere as we kick off the season.”

The teams will battle for The Old Leather Helmet Trophy, one of college football’s iconic rivalry-game trophies. Traditionally, winners of The Old Leather Helmet don the helmet on the field after the game, starting with the head coach and then rotating from player to player as the team celebrates its victory.

The nation’s longest-running kickoff game, the Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game averages more than 66,000 fans per game – higher than 30 bowl games from last year – and has sold out seven of its 10 matchups. The game’s team payout averages $4.3 million, which is higher than 21 bowl games last season. Television viewership is also traditionally strong with more than 40 million viewers tuning in to the series since 2008.

Past and future Chick-fil-A Kickoff Game matchups include:

Year: Match-Up: Winner:

2008 #9 Clemson vs. #24 Alabama Alabama 34-10

2009 #5 Alabama vs. #7 Virginia Tech Alabama 34-24

2010 #16 LSU vs. #18 North Carolina LSU 30-24

2011 #5 Boise State vs. #19 Georgia Boise State 35-21

2012 #25 NC State vs. Tennessee Tennessee 35-21

2012 #14 Clemson vs. #24 Auburn Clemson 26-19

2013 #1 Alabama vs. Virginia Tech Alabama 35-10

2014 #18 Ole Miss vs. Boise State Ole Miss 35-13

2014 #2 Alabama vs. West Virginia Alabama 33-23

2015 #25 Louisville vs. #6 Auburn