By Alabama Public Radio
Tuscaloosa AL – Overwhelming demand for 2007 UA football tickets has left thousands of University employees without a seat. UA faculty and staff members submitted more than 9300 requests for tickets, that's nearly double the normal amount requested. Athletics officials had set aside about 4500 tickets for the group, which is roughly the same amount set aside last season. That means around 4800 ticket requests have been rejected. No full-time UA workers will received the maximum 4 ticket allotment. Instead they will receive 2 ticket packages. Part-time or temporary employees who started working after 2000, as well as full-time employees not eligible for retirement matching money, will not get tickets. Requests from those employed at UA affiliates like the Alabama Credit Union and the Geological Survey were also turned away. Back in April, student tickets sold out in less than 48 hours. Another stadium expansion has been included in the University's 5-year development plan, but no firm committment has been made to increase the stadium's capacity.