‘We should be at Bowlin Stadium cheering them on’: Nebraska Softball season ticket holder priced out of postseason

LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — The Nebraska softball team is on the precipice of hosting its first regional since 2013.

The games begin Friday, and while the Husker fan base is pumped and ready to cheer on the Big Red, some fans who haven’t missed a game all season long will now have to watch it elsewhere.

Josh Sandmeier is one of many Nebraska softball season ticket holders who say they struggled to get a seat.

He says they got an email from the university stating that the highest donors had the right to choose first, in a tiered structure based on a point system.

Sandmeier’s slot came up at noon.

“There were some seats available in reserved seating, but every time I clicked on a pair, they were immediately gobbled up,” said Sandmeier.

According to the university, all season ticket holders had the opportunity to purchase tickets. Plus, 1,000+ tickets were available to the public at 3 p.m., when they first went on sale.

But Sandmeier’s biggest concern is being “jumped in line.”

“With softball and baseball, you could get reserve seats at the beginning of the season. Those same people high up on the Husker Athletic Fund donation points system did not choose to do that. That’s where the problem is,” said Sandmeier. Now that the teams are hot going into the postseason when everybody wants to go to them, now they’re just able to skip ahead right in front of the line.”

Brooke Bly, who has been a baseball season-ticket holder since Haymarket Park opened over two decades ago, says that if Nebraska baseball hosts a regional, she expects a similar process.

But, at the same time, she understands the perspective from both sides.

“I get both sides. I get why they’re trying to give the donors a little bit of perks, but then on the flip side, your season ticket holders are the ones who’ve been invested all season,” Bly said.

All games have been sold out this weekend.

But, whether it’s at the stadium or on the couch, Sandmeier says they will be cheering on the Huskers.

“We’re going to watch it on TV. Nevertheless, we’ll be there to cheer them on from the living room, Sandmeier said. “But, it’s not the same. We should be at Bowlin Stadium cheering them on.”

Sandmeier also says there were general admission seats available on SeatGeek, but the price was too high for him and his wife to purchase.