Virginia expecting "a crowd in the mid-40,000s" for home opener vs #7 UCLA

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UVa's football team is coming off its second straight losing season, and fifth in six years, and ticket sales were expected to be sluggish in 2014.

That's been the case. Virginia kicks off the season Saturday at noon against No. 7 UCLA at Scott Stadium. As the opener approaches, UVa's season ticket total is approximately 23,500. This season will mark the first time since 1995 that fewer than 25,000 season tickets are purchased.

"We understand our performance on the field needs to improve and our record over the last several seasons has turned some fans away," Virginia Director of Athletics Craig Littlepage said. "We're thankful for the thousands of fans that have made their commitment to Virginia football. Everyone's support is important to the success of the program, from recruiting to providing a home field advantage for our team."

Not since Sept. 12, 1998, when a crowd of 42,800 saw the Cavaliers defeat Maryland 31-19 at Scott Stadium -- whose official capacity then was 40,000 -- has a UVa home opener drawn fewer than 50,000.

That streak is likely to end this year, too. Athletics department officials are expecting a crowd in the mid-40,000s for the game against UCLA, based on single-game ticket sales and student attendance, which is generally highest for the first home game of the season.

The 2008 season-opener against Southern California, by comparison, drew an overflow crowd of 64,947, a Scott Stadium record.

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