‘Cram the Kohl’ benefits kids

The Wisconsin Women’s Basketball team is offering special deals to faculty and staff on tickets to help “Cram The Kohl” for the Badgers Big Ten Conference showdown against Minnesota.

The game also features an interactive sports exhibit and halftime show. Tip off is 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 20 at the Kohl Center.

University employees who show an ID at the Wisconsin Athletic Ticket Office can get one free ticket with each adult ticket purchased. This offer ends Friday, Jan. 18.

The event also stands to benefit Ronald McDonald House of Madison, which supports medically ill children and their families. If the game is a sellout, head coach Jane Albright will donate 25 cents for every person in attendance to that organization.

On Jan. 7, the Badgers, who have the best start in school history at 14-1 (as of Thursday, Jan. 10), were ranked fifth in the Associated Press’s national basketball poll — the team’s first top 10 ranking this year.

“Our seniors have never played before a sellout crowd and that’s one of the primary reasons we decided to try this new promotion,” says Albright. “We are so appreciative of the support we’ve had for women’s basketball in general, we wanted to create an even more exciting atmosphere.”

Wisconsin ranks 10th in the country, and third in the Big Ten, for attendance figures for women’s basketball, averaging 6,251 fans per game this season after eight home games. The team has played only once before a sellout crowd in the Kohl Center — Jan. 20, 1998, their first game in the new facility.

Several ticket deals are available for the upcoming game:

• Take a Kid to the Game: Fans can receive one free youth ticket with every regular-price adult ticket purchased.
• Group Tickets: Tickets cost just $2 each for groups of 10 or more.
• Scout Day tickets: Girl Scouts, Boy Scouts, Cub Scouts, Brownies and other scout groups can attend the game for $2 each.

Other game day activities also are planned:

• The “Spin It Spectacular” halftime show will feature nationally acclaimed entertainer Robyn Rodgers. Robyn has entertained fans at NBA and WNBA events across the country.
• The Big Ten “Dream Big” exhibit will be on display as part of the conference’s effort to promote girls’ participation in sports. Fans of all ages can take part in this traveling interactive exhibit, test their skills and winning prizes.

For more information, call the Wisconsin Athletic Ticket Office, (608) 262-1440 or (800) GO-BADGERS.