UPDATED: Orange Krush’s annual road trip stymied by Iowa | Sports
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CHAMPAGNE — Nineteen times, the Orange Krush snuck into an opposing arena wearing the opposing team’s colors, only to peel off their outer layer to reveal their true identities just before the tip-off.
This year, the Illinois student basketball chapter planned their biggest trip yet, ordering 200 tickets for Saturday’s game in Iowa, four times the amount they usually bring.
The trip will not take place.
“Unfortunately, the University of Iowa Athletic Department informed us today that they have invalidated the 200 tickets that the Orange Krush had legally purchased,” the group said in a statement late Wednesday. “It is very unfortunate that the University of Iowa and its athletic department have refused to face the consequences of the error they made in selling tickets to a billing address in Champaign, Illinois. It is against the spirit of competition and rivalry, two outstanding attributes of the Big Ten Conference, to make this decision.
Orange Krush statement: pic.twitter.com/etb13geis1
— The Orange Krush (@TheOrangeKrush) February 2, 2023
In order to attend the trip, the students had to fundraise for local charities, and they ended up raising $2,649.41, according to the release.
Because the cancellation happened so close to game day, the band won’t be able to cancel the buses they chartered for $6,000, which the statement said is one-fifth of its budget.
The loss is so great that the group will not be able to make another trip, the statement said.
Later Wednesday night, Iowa Athletics released a statement via the Hawkeyes men’s basketball Twitter account, noting that the tickets were purchased under false pretences and would instead be donated to the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids.
The Krush – whose name was not mentioned in the tweet – will receive a full refund but will not be in “a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena this Saturday,” Iowa officials wrote.
“The Iowa Athletic Department has become aware of a discounted group ticket order for the Iowa-Illinois Men’s Basketball Game on behalf of an Illinois chapter of the Boys and Girls Club” , the statement said. “Following up with this organization, it became clear that this was not factual. Upon contacting the person who ordered the original ticket, she admitted to having wrongly ordered tickets for the purpose organization. non-profit.”
A statement from the Iowa Athletic Department regarding Saturday’s game against Illinois: pic.twitter.com/8gzZmf87Ns
— Iowa Men’s Basketball (@IowaHoops) February 2, 2023
The Krush called the news “disappointing” but added: “We consider it a great compliment that the Orange Krush is a section strong enough to be so feared that an opposing athletic department is willing to sacrifice $5,400 and ruin a sale in order to turn us away.
“(Iowa Athletic Director) Gary Barta and staff, we thank you all for the adoration you have shown the Orange Krush through your cowardice.”