by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
It’s unlikely the top-ranked Florida State baseball team will still be undefeated when they roll into town April 3 to play rival Florida at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville. After all, the 20-0 Seminoles would have to win 11 straight more games.
That said, the fact the Seminoles are playing well and they are playing the Gators is helping sell tickets.
“They (the Seminoles) are playing some terrific baseball,” said Mike Bouda, of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission’s Sports and Entertainment division. “I think they are that good. They are strong in all areas.”
So far, a little over 4,000 tickets have been sold for the 7:05 p.m. game and Bouda is looking for much more.
“I’d like a sellout,” he said. “I’d like to get 9,000 or 10,000 in there.”
The Gators are struggling. They are a young team that Bouda says is getting better. Regardless of their records, Bouda believes the rivalry between the two schools — no matter what sport — will help drive ticket sales as will a strong local alumni base for both schools.
Bouda said he’d like to make the game an annual event in Jacksonville and strong ticket sales this year will go a long way towards making that happen.
“We are real excited about the Florida State-Florida game. They play three times each year and we hope to make this the annual neutral site game,” said Bouda, explaining the teams usually split the games with two in Gainesville one year and two in Tallahassee the next. “There is no better spot for that third game than here.”
There’s good news for those who like a cold beer with their baseball. Bouda said beer will be sold until the end of the 6th inning at the Florida State-Florida game.
“I am hoping the fans will be respectful of that,” said Bouda. “I think they will be.”
Tickets for the game are $8.50, $12.50 and $15.50 and can be purchased through both school’s Web sites and the Jacksonville Suns’ Web site.
FSU’s success stretches across the entire Atlantic Coast Conference. According to Bouda, there are seven ACC teams in the current top 25. That level of competition bodes well for the ACC tournament, which is set for Memorial weekend at the Baseball Grounds.
Bouda said the format has been tweaked for this year’s tournament in an effort to have more prime time games, thus increasing attendance.
“I look for ticket sales to be strong for the ACC tournament, too,” said Bouda. “There will be four games Wednesday and two on Thursday and Friday in prime time. There are guaranteed four games Saturday and the championship game is Sunday.”