Now that Michigan's trip to the Rose Bowl is official, the
Michigan ticket office has opened registration for tickets to
student season-ticket holders. Beginning today, students can apply
for tickets to the game, either alone or in groups.

The Ticket Office will be organizing the sale of the tickets in
the same manner as for regular away games. Season ticket holders
can begin applying today, on the Ticket Office's website,
www.mgoblue.com/ticketoffice. A $15-surcharge will be added to the
ticket price of $125.

If the demand for tickets exceeds the number available, a
lottery will be held. But a group of students is considered one
application, so the entire group will be ineligible if their number
is not drawn.

In addition, students may only purchase tickets for themselves,
and not for friends or other non-students. A student ID and
alternate form of photo identification must be presented when
picking up tickets on Dec. 30 and 31 in Pasadena.

"The reason we are doing that is so the students who really want
to go can get tickets. We have a better shot of meeting the
demand," said Marty Bodnar, director of ticket operations for the
Michigan athletic department.

Many students oppose the athletic department's ticket prices
because no discount is offered for students. All tickets will be
sold at face-value price, prompting many students to seek other
means of purchasing tickets. LSA senior Maria Arnold is debating
whether or not to purchase tickets through the Pasadena Tournament
of Roses website, rosebowl.com.

"Michigan should support students and want them to go. Encourage
your students to have some school spirit," Arnold said.

Although rosebowl.com
sells tickets for $125, they must be purchased through
Ticketmaster, and students may encounter a surcharge there as well,
similar to the charge imposed by the Athletic Department.

Another problem for students is the high price of airfare. For
one nonstop roundtrip ticket to Los Angeles from Detroit, prices on
Expedia.com range from $581 up to $1,025. Prices vary depending on
the dates of departure and return.

"Airfare prices are absolutely ridiculous. The cheapest ticket I
could find was $550 roundtrip from Minneapolis to Los Angeles,"
Arnold said.

One option for students is buying a travel package, which
includes hotel rooms, airfare, and transportation. The University's
Alumni Association, which is also offering travel packages, has
already received approximately 4,000 requests for their bowl
packages, according to events manager Kirk Lutz.

Alumni, as well as students, faculty, and parents of Michigan
Marching Band members are eligible to purchase one of the
Association's five packages, which include hotel accommodations,
game tickets, and transportation. There is also an airfare option
in two packages and other additional add-ons are available, such as
tickets to the Rose Parade.

"Any time it's a Rose Bowl, numbers are higher than in other
years. Last year we took about 400 people to the Outback Bowl,"
Lutz said.

Yet the high costs of traveling, tickets, and accommodations do
not deter many students from making the trip to Pasadena. LSA
senior Burke Greer looked into packages offered by STA Travel,
located in the Michigan Union, but according to him they were "very
expensive." Greer will be traveling with friends, and staying at an
EconoLodge to cut back on costs.

"I'm a senior and this is my last chance. I decided to go no
matter how much (the cost)," Greer said.

But, some students are upset because priority is not given to
seniors or students with more credits. Some believe that the
lottery should favor these students.

"I think they should give priority to seniors. It's a hard call,
because the University is a community and everyone should be able
to go," Greer said.

All orders must be submitted to the website by 5 p.m. Wednesday
in order to be considered for tickets. Bodnar suggested that if
students have questions about the application process, they should
e-mail "mailto:mtickets@umich.edu">mtickets@umich.edu.

"We are monitoring all questions and will get back to students,"
Bodnar said.