What’s the going rate for the possibility of making a lifelong memory? When it comes to this weekend’s renewal of the Third Saturday in October rivalry, there seems to be no capping the cost of admission.
It’s certainly a seller’s market. One friend advertised four lower-level seats for $1,000 each on Facebook and had multiple potential buyers within minutes, and as of Thursday afternoon, the cheapest ticket on StubHub.com was $358.
But for several Chattanooga-area folks who have been University of Tennessee football season-ticket holders for decades, being inside Neyland Stadium on Saturday to watch their beloved Volunteers possibly end a 15-year skid against Alabama is priceless.
“It wouldn’t matter how much money I got offered, selling my tickets ain’t happening,” said Joe Scruggs, a retired postal worker who has had two UT season tickets in section QQ of Neyland since 1975 and has missed fewer than five home games during that time — but never a Southeastern Conference matchup.
“My mom, dad and son all went to UT, and my sister played on Pat Summitt’s first Lady Vols (basketball) team. My parents had season tickets since 1966, and my 95-year old mother didn’t miss a home game until 2019. It’s just something our whole family has enjoyed for as long as I can remember.”