Fans Line Up at ‘Aud’ to Buy Single-Game Comets Tickets

People began lining up as early as 3:30 Saturday morning at the Utica Memorial Auditorium in anticipation of the 10 a.m. start of single-game ticket sales for the inaugural Utica Comets season.

A line of nearly 200 people stretched around The Aud by 10 a.m. when tickets went on sale.

"Everybody was orderly and excited," said Don Liable of UticaComets.com. Even team owner Rob Esche got in on the action as he was helping Comets staff hand out donuts to people on line.

"This has been 20-years in the making for people who had to travel for hockey," said Liable. "Now, pro hockey fans in Utica have a team of their own."

Some 200 fans waited in line for hours to purchase single-game Utica Comets tickets on Saturday, October 4, 2013 (Photo by Benjamin Keeler for WIBX)

The Comets home opener is scheduled for Wednesday, October 23rd against Albany. The new AHL team will play their first three games of the season on the road starting next Friday in Rochester. A limited number of $30 seats on the bus to the inaugural game are available by calling the Comets office at 790-9070. Single-game tickets can also be purchased online.

Don Liable will be a weekly guest on First News with Keeler in the Morning, with game-to-game updates on the Comets, starting this week.