Loyal fans camp out for first shot at tickets

The students camping out for Penn men's basketball team season tickets last night said they felt more like they were at a slumber party than in the dank hallway of the Palestra. About 200 Quaker fans played card games, did homework, and even made new friends while waiting for the ticket box office to open at 6 a.m. today. Although many of the students dragged sleeping bags and mattresses with them from their dorms, most said they got very little sleep while waiting in line. The students said, though, that hours of sleepless tedium and fast food was a fair price to pay for season tickets for the two-time repeating Ivy League basketball champions. "There are certain sacrifices one makes for Jerome Allen," said College sophomore Jared Minsk. "There is so much Jerome Allen did for us." "People think we're crazy now, but they're going to be jealous when we're in the first three rows," said College freshman John Rosenfeld, who, like many Quaker fans, began waiting for tickets last Thursday after learning of the ticket sale. Students began waiting in line Wednesday night in order to secure a place in line. One member of each four-person group had to be in line at all times to claim the spot. Yesterday, after 6 p.m., two members had to be in line, and at midnight today, the Palestra required all members be present. "I'm going to be out here for 20 hours straight," said Engineering freshman Cathy Byrnes. "My feet have been numb for hours and I don't think I'm ever going to be able to stand up again." Some of the students who described themselves as "die-hard" fans said they were too excited about watching the Quakers play to think of their discomfort. "There's something about being a fans that allows you a certain craziness," said Wharton freshman Adam Stein-Sapir. "It's Quakermania." "I definitely consider myself a super fan," said College junior Chad Haller, who painted different parts of his body for basketball games. "I have no shame in my fanaticism." Engineering freshman David Tannenbaum said he thinks getting season tickets will increase his sense of self-worth. "Getting a good seat for a home game would increase my marginal utility by a large amount," Tannenbaum said. Last year, a series of fights broke out in line when ticket sales began because of a lack of organization. The new distribution system was aimed to prevent this from happening again. "Last year we almost got killed," College senior Debby Winokur said. "There's no mosh pit this year -- it's like a big sleepover."