9/18/01

More than 4,000 seats eliminated for Saturday's Houston game

• DeLoss Dodds on the loss of seats at Houston - Video | Audio

AUSTIN, Texas -- University of Texas Men's Athletics Director DeLoss Dodds expressed "outrage" late Tuesday at the communication path that preceded an announcement by the University of Houston on Tuesday. The announcement from the University's Office of External Communications stated that it would dismantle temporary stands that had been erected at Houston's John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium for Saturday's football game between Texas and the host Cougars. The release stated the seats had "failed to meet a university safety inspection on Monday."

The fans affected are those who have purchased game tickets that are in the sections 308, 309, 310, 315, 316 and 317, an area that is made up essentially of UT ticket holders.

Dodds said he communicated with officials at the University of Houston more than a month ago regarding fans' concerns about the safety of the temporary structure.

"We were assured that the seating was safe," Dodds said. "To receive this information today from third-party sources and to have this decision made without regard to the impact a blind announcement would have on our athletics staff - especially our ticket office - is simply unbelievable."

Dodds noted that UT has no issue with regard to UH finding that the stands are not safe.

"Obviously, the safety of the players, coaches, stadium staff and patrons are of utmost importance," he said. "But these are things that should have been determined months in advance."

Dodds also said UT has officially requested to have the game moved to Rice Stadium.

About 3:30 p.m., Dodds said he heard from other sources regarding the elimination of the temporary stands at Robertson Stadium. However, as of 5:10 p.m., the time of Dodds' statement, neither he nor any member of the executive staff had been notified directly by any individual representing the University of Houston athletics administration.

An official release from The University of Houston Office of External Communications was forwarded to the Texas athletics media relations office shortly before 5 p.m. on Tuesday. That release was not sent to the UT athletics director's office.

The UH release included information regarding the estimated 4,150 seats that will be lost to patrons who already hold tickets. In addition, the release noted that patrons should contact the UT Athletics Ticket Office regarding refunds.
As of 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, UT Athletics Ticket Manager Mark Harrison had not received notification from UH regarding the elimination of patron tickets. Texas has a contract for 10,000 tickets to the game and the entire ticket allotment has been sold.

Prior to receiving the release, Dodds said he had communicated with UT President Dr. Larry Faulkner and Vice President for Institutional Relations and Legal Affairs Patricia Ohlendorf. Faulkner had received word from the UH administration regarding the decision to dismantle the temporary stands.

Dodds said the UT Athletics staff met late Tuesday and will continue discussion early Wednesday to determine how to move forward regarding the contest and affected patrons.