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The Daily Tar Heel

Tar Heel football ticket sales not slowed by NCAA investigation

Although the NCAA investigation has turned the football program on its head, athletic and business officials said neither football ticket sales nor Franklin Street profits have suffered.

Rick Steinbacher, UNC assistant athletic director and guest speaker at Thursday’s Friends of the Downtown meeting, said that though the investigation was never something that he thought the athletics department would have to deal with, it has not had a negative impact on support for the football program.

“Our ticket sales are strong,” he said. “We have been blow away by the support of our fans.”

So far this year, three out of the six home games have sold out.

Though he could not comment on the investigation, he said it is a very stressful time for the athletic department. However, Steinbacher said facing the investigation will help make the department stronger.

“We will fix the issue, and we will deal with it in the right way,” he said.

Many Franklin Street business owners said that they have not directly been affected by the ongoing investigation.

“Football is always good for downtown,” said Pat Evans, chairwoman of the downtown business networking group.

Genny Wrenn, whose father owns the Shrunken Head Boutique, said customers have mentioned their hopes that Tar Heel fans, athletes and students can all move on.

“My customers are true Tar Heels and stick it through thick and thin,” Wrenn said.

Heather Frazier, retail division manager of Johnny T-Shirt, said that although the current investigation has definitely been on people’s minds, it hasn’t affected business.

Actually, she said, contrary to expectations, sales have picked up.

“We haven’t noticed a downturn attributed to the investigation,” she said. “People seemed just as excited.”

But Christian Campbell, director of the Tarheel Book Store, said he’s noticed a decrease in sales in the wake of the football team’s losses.

And although UNC fans are among the most loyal there are, he said, many customers still harbor concerns about the team’s future.

“Once we get closure of the investigation, more people will come in,” he said.

Contact the City Editor

at citydesk@unc.edu.

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