Update- Wednesday, September 25, 2019:
On-campus ticket sales for the 201 9 Cortaca Jug have concluded, with a total of 2,785 tickets being sold to Ithaca College students, faculty, and staff over four days of sales.
IC Community Scoops Up Cortaca Tickets
By Matthew Price ’20, Maddie Veneziano ’20, September 19, 2019
Overwhelming on-campus demand for tickets required sales to be extended for an extra day.
Nearly 400 students picked up their Cortaca Jug tickets Wednesday night.
Nearly 400 students picked up their Cortaca Jug tickets Wednesday night.
Update- September 23, 2019:
Last Friday, for a third consecutive day, student, faculty, and staff turnout for 2019 Cortaca Jug tickets remained strong. Approximately 600 tickets were sold, bringing the total for on-campus sales this fall to more than 2,600.
For some students, the opportunity to attend the game at MetLife Stadium was a few months in the making: “My tour guide also told me about it when I was touring the campus, so that was a big inspiration,” said Emily Rose ’21, who is a transfer student. “And I didn’t have football games at my high school since it was so tiny, so I thought this was super cool.”
Other students are looking forward to spending time with their classmates and friends, and the camaraderie that will come from the day. “I think it’ll be fun just to be in the atmosphere of it,” said Juhi Kapoor ’20. “I went to football games back in high school and it was fun being there with friends.”
“I have never seen anything like this. This has exceeded my wildest expectations.”
Susan Bassett ’79, associate vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports, on the excitement surrounding Cortaca ticket sales.
Update - September 20, 2019: Demand for 2019 Cortaca Jug tickets remained high last night, as students continued to jump at the opportunity to watch the Bombers and Red Dragons at MetLife Stadium.
The appeal of this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is drawing in students who have never experienced a game in person before. “It’s my first football game, and it’s in MetLife, so that’s the way to go.” said Heetisha Inderjeet, ’20, an international student from Mauritius. “It’s also [my] senior year, so it’s checking off as many bucket list things that you have to do at IC.”
Peter Somol ’21 will also be getting his first taste of Bomber football this November. “I’ve never been a huge fan of going to college games,” he said. “But this one is at an NFL stadium, so it’ll feel as close to an NFL game as it can get.”
Taking the Cortaca rivalry to a bigger stage isn't just going to appeal to players and coaches either. “My friend plays for Cortland, and we kind of have a rivalry going,” said Anthony Alsante, ’21. “My friends from home are friends with the kid from Cortland, so it’s always fun for us to watch because we have a competitive thing. We always talk smack to each other. So it’ll be fun, and it’s good for school spirit.”
Update - September 19, 2019: On-campus ticket sales for the 2019 Cortaca Jug resumed at 11 a.m. today, and turnout remained strong. More than 200 tickets were sold to students, faculty, and staff members. Ticket sales will resume this evening at the A&E Center at 6 p.m. and will continue until 9 p.m.
Husband and wife duo David Harker, Ithaca College's director of civic engagement, and Kelly Dowd, the college's director of engagement and constituent relations, bought their tickets early on Thursday. This is going to be Harker's first Cortaca Jug.
“I grew up in New Jersey as a Giants fan,” he said. “I have not been to MetLife Stadium, but I hear it is really awesome. It is exciting that this great rivalry is going to be at this amazing showcase and great stadium with lots of excitement, attendance, and attention from both IC and Cortland, but also the entire Division III football world.”
Cortaca Merchandise Available
Cortaca Jug 2019-branded T-shirts and other merchandise is available for purchase at the campus store and also is available on the website at www.ithaca.edu/cortaca-shop.
Wednesday, September 18, 2019: For three hours on Wednesday, September 18, lines of Ithaca College students, faculty, and staff snaked throughout the Athletics and Events Center, as members of the campus community eagerly snapped up tickets for the historic Cortaca Jug matchup between the Bombers and Red Dragons at MetLife Stadium on November 16.
A total of 1,060 tickets were sold Wednesday night. Coupled with the tickets sold to students at check-in during Move-In Day last month, a total of 1,200 tickets have been purchased on campus. Ticket sales resume at 11 a.m. today, September 19, in the A&E Center.
For many students, the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presented by Cortaca being played at MetLife Stadium was well worth the wait for tickets. “To think that a D-III school is going to play in one of America’s most prominent stadiums?” said Matt Sosler ’23. “[I’m] psyched up. I am looking forward to great football and a great experience.”
Moving the game off-campus also provides students an opportunity to introduce their families to one of Ithaca College’s most iconic traditions. Meghan Treanor ’22, who was a placekicker on her high school football team and is from nearby New City, New York, is planning to have her family members join her in cheering on the Bombers.
“If [the game] was up here, they would never do that,” she said. “So I get to share a part of my college experience with them.”
Students who make the trip to MetLife Stadium will be joining what is expected to be the largest gathering of Ithaca College alumni in one place.
Students who make the trip to MetLife Stadium will be joining what is expected to be the largest gathering of Ithaca College alumni in one place.
The turnout and excitement level was so high, it even surprised Susan Bassett ’79, associate vice president and director of intercollegiate athletics and recreational sports. “I have never seen anything like this,” she said. “This has exceeded my wildest expectations.”
Marco Fontana ’20 was front-and-center throughout the evening. The sport management major spearheaded the ticket sale effort, and worked with a team of students to make sure that tickets and information about the game were distributed.
Fontana, of course, is also a supporter of the football team, and is excited about the game. “This is my senior year,” he said. “One of the first distinct memories I have of college is the first Cortaca I went to with all my friends. This is our last ride, so it is going to be really great to sit with all of them and celebrate.”