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THS coach Mike Battles, superintendent Brock Nolin and THS principal Chet Stewart discuss the season opener on WTLS Monday

THS sets ticket limits for Reeltown opener

By Michael Butler

Tallassee has put a cap on the number of tickets that will be sold for the football team's season opener vs. Reeltown. The game, scheduled for Thursday, Aug. 20 at J. E. "Hot" O'Brien Stadium, will be the first meeting between the two schools on the gridiron since 2003.

A total of 2,200 tickets will be pre-sold in the weeks preceding the game. Each school will receive equal 1,100 ticket allotments.

"We are excited to host this game for the first time in many years," Tallassee City School acting superintendent Dr. Brock Nolin said. "While we certainly wish this landmark game was held under different circumstances, these are unprecedented times. The Tallassee City Schools Board of Education in consultation with the Tallassee City Schools Administration and Athletic Department have worked diligently to host a safe and comfortable event for both fan bases. Due to Gov. Ivey’s mask mandate, we ask that all attendees observe this ordinance. This will be a limited capacity event."

THS season ticket holders from last year will have the first option to purchase from Monday, Aug. 3 through Friday, Aug. 7 at the high school office during regular business hours. If any reserved seats remain, they will go on sale to the general public the following Monday, Aug. 10.

Reserved seats include regular season home games only and are non-refundable should the season not be completed. The cost per packet is $65. Tallassee has capacity for 190 lower tier reserved seats and an additional 275 seats in the upper tier.

Based on recommendations by the Alabama High School Athletic Association, prior to sale of general admission seating to the public, participants would have a set allotment of tickets for their families. Participants include coaches, players, band members, cheerleaders and dance team members.

"The (AHSAA) has asked that all limited capacity events offer preference of attendance to the families of student participants," Nolin noted. "Tallassee City Schools will honor that request."

All tickets are $8 each.

Remaining tickets for the general public will go on sale on Monday, Aug. 17 from 4-5:30 p.m. at the high school.

Nolin spoke of additional ticket buying opportunities for the first game.

"Any tickets that are left over after our general admission sales, if we have anything left, would be open to the students on Aug. 19 and 20. That would be up until game day. I don't really anticipate us having any left."

Nolin said the highest number of tickets sold for a single game last year was approximately 1,400. He added that ticket sales have not exceeded the 2,500 count for any contests at Tallassee during in Mike Battles tenure as head coach.

Nolin issued a seating capacity chart based on 25-inch spacing per seat that put O'Brien Stadium's capacity at 3,236.

"We are allowing rough 68% capacity at the event. We asked that all Tallassee Tiger fans access the gate nearest the fieldhouse and that all Reeltown fans access the south gate near the Tallassee City Schools Career Center located at 302 Gilmer Avenue.

"Reeltown's administration and ours will meet and go through all of our protocol," Nolin said. "Mr. (Robby) Glasscock is going to touch base with their band director. If they want to set up in the stands that's fine, or they can come up with an alternate area like we're doing. They can work that out between themselves."

The Pride of Tallassee will set up in the south end zone and face the THS fans.

"That way the band can space out," Nolin added, "and go back and forth to the field without having to go through everybody."

Whether or not limitations on tickets will be extended after the opener will be evaluated at a later date. Tallassee's second home game is slated for Sept. 11. It will also be "Senior Night," which is usually observed for the last home game of the season.

Tallassee's annual "Tiger Night" which traditionally takes place the week before the season begins has been canceled.