Illinois sells 2,000 season tickets after hiring Lovie Smith

The University of Illinois recently announced that they have officially hired Lovie Smith as their new football head coach. There was a lot of speculation surrounding Smith being placed as the new coach, but ti was confirmed on on Monday. It seems as though the impact of the new head coach is already showing significance.

Illinois reported that they sold over 2,000 season tickets since making the hire.

“The hiring of Lovie Smith as head football coach has sent Fighting Illini fans into a frenzy,” the athletic department said in a statement on their website. “In the last 48 hours, the Fighting Illini Ticket Office has sold over 2,000 new season tickets for the 2016 football season.”

Illinois also stated that, “The popular I Fund Family 4-Pack – which included 4 season tickets and a $50 I Fund membership for $249 – are sold out, but there are still many ways for Fighting Illini fans to jump on board.”

The Illini fired former head coach Bill Cubit earlier this year after another losing season.

This isn’t the first time that the emergence of a new head coach has reinvigorated ticket sales. When current Michigan Wolverines head coach Jim Harbaugh was hired, Michigan reported higher ticket sales as well.

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*Featured Photo (above) credit to Associated Press

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