A game of rivalry between Iowa men’s basketball team and the Illinois Fighting Illini this weekend took an interesting turn after the Hawkeyes announced Wednesday that they canceled 200 tickets purchased by the Illinois student section after claiming they were falsely purchased «on behalf» of a Boys and Girls Club. local.
the orange krush, The largest student-run charity released a statement on Twitter Wednesday night revealing that the group lost nearly $6,000 after receiving late notice from the Iowa athletic department that the purchase of tickets to the Iowa game Saturday had been cancelled.
Members of the Illinois Fighting Illini Orange Krush student section wave their Daily Illini newspapers as the Iowa Hawkeyes are introduced before the start of a Big Ten Conference game on January 25, 2017 at the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois.
(Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
«Unfortunately, the University of Iowa Athletic Department notified us today that they have voided the 200 tickets that Orange Krush had legally purchased. It is very unfortunate for our group that this trip has been canceled because we have been looking forward to it ever since we received the tickets in the mail. in October,» the lengthy statement read in part.
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«It is very unfortunate for the 150 students who collectively raised a total of $2,649.41 for local charities to be invited on this trip. Above all, it is very unfortunate that the University of Iowa and its athletic department refused to face the consequences of the mistake they COMMITTED by selling tickets to a billing address in Champaign, Illinois, contrary to the spirit of competition and rivalry, two salient attributes of the big Ten Conference, to make this decision.»
According to the statement, the loss of funds is the result of travel accommodations that cannot be fully refunded due to late notification.
«Any organization cannot bear to lose a fifth of their annual budget, and we are no different. This means that, financially, we cannot afford to switch to another destination, even if there were enough tickets available.»
The student section has made 19 trips to opposing arenas in support of the Fighting Illini; Saturday was to be his 20th trip since 2002.
Minnesota Golden Gophers center Daniel Oturu, #25, shoots a free throw with the Illinois Orange Crush student section with signs behind the basket during a college basketball game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and the Illinois Fighting Illini on January 30, 2020 at State Farm. Center in Champaign, Illinois.
(James Black/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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However, Iowa responded shortly thereafter with its own statement, accusing the group of purchasing the tickets under false pretenses.
«The Iowa Department of Athletics learned of a request for discounted group tickets to the Iowa-Illinois men’s basketball game on behalf of an Illinois chapter of the Boys and Girls Club. In following up with that organization, it became clear that this was not real. When upon contacting the person who placed the original ticket order, they admitted to falsely ordering tickets under the non-profit organization,» the statement read.
«Iowa Athletics refunded the original ticket order and donated tickets to the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids. We look forward to welcoming these kids to a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena this Saturday.»
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Illinois senior and Illini Pride vice president Kilton Rauman told The Associated Press Thursday that the group routinely uses a fictitious identity to purchase tickets for its annual road trip to an opposing stadium.
The Orange Krush student section reads The Daily Illini newspaper while introducing themselves to the visiting team before the start of the Big Ten Conference college basketball game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Illinois Fighting Illini on February 7, 2020 at the State Farm Center in Champaign. , Ill.
(Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
He said he called Iowa in September to ask for discount group tickets to «a boys and girls club» and when the tickets arrived at the mailing address for the Illinois athletic department, he was «surprised» it had worked.
«Obviously, it didn’t work out the way we expected,» Rauman continued. «There was no malice behind it.»