MANHATTAN, Kan. – With anticipation growing for next Saturday’s special 2015 Purple/White Spring Game at Sporting Park in Kansas City, Kansas, K-State Athletics officials have announced numerous details surrounding the game, including former Wildcat letterwinners Larry Brown and Clarence Scott serving as honorary captains.
Brown, a fullback from 1967-68, served mainly as a blocking back his first season before gaining more carries as a senior. In addition, he was part of the team that played the first game at then-KSU Stadium on Sept. 21, 1968, a 17-7 win over Colorado State. He later went on to play eight seasons for the Washington Redskins, leading the NFL in rushing in 1970 and being named NFL MVP in 1972.
A defensive back from 1968-70, Scott also played in the first game at the home of now-Bill Snyder Family Stadium. As a senior in 1970, he earned First Team All-America honors from Sporting News and Look Magazine in addition to being a First Team All-Big Eight honoree. Drafted 14th overall in the 1971 NFL Draft by Cleveland, Scott played 13 seasons in the NFL and helped the Browns earn four playoff appearances, while he was a 1973 Pro Bowler. He also is a member of the K-State Athletics Hall of Fame.
There are multiple activities available outside the stadium prior to the game, while fans unable to attend the game can watch live on K-StateHD.TV or listen on the K-State Sports Network. Details include:
Pregame Fan Zone
Located in the Sprint Plaza on the west stadium prior to the game, the Pregame Fun Zone will feature:
– Merchandise sales
– A live radio remote by Sports Radio 810 WHB
– Inflatable games
– Futsal court soccer game with K-State women’s soccer head coach Mike Dibbini and assistant coach Gabe Romo
– Various sponsorship tables, including a race car from Kansas Speedway
– Photo booths with free photo strips
– Various kids activities, including face painters, balloon twisters, games, crafts and putt-putt
– Tables from university units
K-StateHD.TV
Fans unable to attend the game can watch live on K-StateHD.TV with audio from the K-State Sports Network. Fans wishing to sign up to primarily watch the Purple/White Spring Game can purchase a monthly subscription for $9.95.
K-State Sports Network
A total of 11 K-State Sports Network affiliates (listed below) will carry the Purple/White Spring Game. A special pregame show will begin at 2:30 p.m., as the Voice of the Wildcats, Wyatt Thompson, and former K-State quarterback Stan Weber will call the action with Matt Walters providing updates from the sidelines.
Tickets/Parking
All non-premium public reserved and general admission seats for the game have been sold, but three ticket options remain available. Standing-room only tickets are on sale for $10 to the public, $5 for groups of 20 or more and $5 for K-State students. Also open is the Bud Light Landing in the southwest corner of the stadium priced at $75 per ticket, and the Field Club in the lower level of the west side priced at $150-$175 per ticket. Both of those premium options include food and drink service. In addition, there are a limited number of suites open. For information, fans can call the K-State Athletics Ticket office at 1-800-221-CATS.
Approximately 6,000 complimentary parking spaces are available and located at several lots in The KC Legends area, including Kansas Speedway and CommunityAmerica Ballpark. Lots will open at 12 p.m., and tailgating is permitted with the exception of the Nebraska Furniture Mart and Cabela’s (Lot D) lots. Sporting Park stadium gates will open at 1 p.m.
Ahearn Fund members who received a voucher for the Boulevard Members Club at Sporting Park may access the club beginning at 2 p.m. Space is limited to the first 2,000 fans and the club will remain open throughout the game.
The 2015 Purple/White Spring Game is the culmination of 15 practices in the month of April. The Wildcats, who return 46 letterwinners and 12 starters, are looking to build off a 9-4 campaign in 2014 that ended with their third top-20 finish in the last four years.
K-State opens its 2015 home schedule on Saturday, September 5, against South Dakota. The other six home games are against five teams that advanced to bowl games in 2014, including a pair of top-10 foes in TCU (No. 3/3) and Baylor (No. 7/8).
The priority deadline for season-ticket purchases is next Friday, April 24. A limited number of single-game tickets go on sale online only on June 22, while fans can purchase by calling the ticket office beginning June 24. All seven home games are anticipated to sell out quickly and extend the Bill Snyder Family Stadium sellout streak to 27 games.
— KSU Sports Information —