Three hours before kickoff the next two home football games, K-State’s men’s and women’s basketball teams will host a free open practice.
“This will be the only chance that fans and students can see the teams before they start their season and exhibition games,” said Kurt McGuffin, senior associate athletic director of external affairs.
It will also be an opportunity to choose seats for season tickets.
“[There will be] colorful pieces of paper on seats that are open to buy, and if they like the seat, they can fill out the form and buy seats on the spot,” McGuffin said.
Women’s season tickets are $78 and the men’s season ticket package is $320. Under 1,000 tickets are still available for the men’s season.
For the women’s practice, doors will open at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 17, and autographs will be available from 4 to 4:30 p.m. That practice will be a full-scale practice, with drills and everything else done on the second day of practice, McGuffin said.
The men’s practice will be Saturday, Oct. 24, at a time yet to be determined because the kickoff of the game that weekend has not been scheduled. It will be a full scrimmage with officials.
The official first day of practice for both teams is Oct. 16.
McGuffin said the coaches are excited and hoping good attendance will result from the football crowd waiting for that game to commence.
He said Midnight Madness, which has been a celebration between teams and fans that marks the first day the NCAA allows basketball teams to begin practicing, did not work out this year. They had received feedback from fans about wanting to see an actual practice, so this set of open practices is the result, McGuffin said.
Fans will be able to obtain posters, schedule cards and get autographs at the event as well. There will also be promotions and raffles, including one for a free women’s season ticket. Also, those who attend the practice will get a buy one, get one free voucher for any non-conference game during the season.
The ladies will play their first game, an exhibition against Fort Hays State, on Tuesday,Nov. 3, at 7 p.m. Their regular season home opener will be a contest against Indiana State on Saturday, Nov. 14.
The men open with an exhibition game against Pittsburg State on Sunday, Nov. 8, at 3 p.m., and their regular season begins with Loyola Chicago on Friday,