An inconvenient rush (demand for Gore tickets crashes U of Toronto website)

[AlGore-08.com]

http://www.thestar.com/News/article/179465

Thousands out of luck as Gore talk sells out in minutes

Feb 08, 2007 04:30 AM
John Goddard
staff reporter

Overwhelming demand for tickets crashed the University of Toronto's UofTtix sales website yesterday when it received 23,000 hits in three minutes.

Thousands of would-be buyers were left empty-handed, including some who began lining up at the box office at 8:30 a.m. for a total of 900 tickets that were to go on sale at 11.

"We got inundated with calls and with people, and people trying to buy over the Web," box office attendant Kara Dymond said.

(snip)

"I think it's safe to say that Mr. Gore is quite possibly the hottest ticket in North America right now," said Ruta Pocius, spokesperson for the event and for a one-day symposium the same day

(more... )

[Erika]

1. The NY Times is doing an article about 10,000 Idahoans

seeing Gore. This, in Idaho. Everyone is waking up. We have to for those following us.

[rockymountaindem]

2. I didn't even hear about this

Honestly, it's like I'm always the last person to hear about anything around here at U of T.

The problem with the Toronto campus is that while we have gobs and gobs of space, it's all spread out around campus. We probably have enough classrooms to hold 40k people, but our biggest single indoor venue is only 2000 seats. Sadly, with our downtown location, there's nowhere we could expand except to build on some of our green-space, and nobody wants to do that.

[Captain Hilts]

4. UofT needs a larger, indoor facility, though I LOVE Convocation Hall. nt

[rockymountaindem]

7. You do?

Everybody hates that place. Small, dark, uncomfortable seats, obstructed views from some places... it's got it all in terms of bad places to hold events. Furthermore, the neo-clasiscal style clashes with the gothic style of Hart House, University College, Knox College and the Gerstein Centre. It's just out of place in general.

[Captain Hilts]

8. CHall clashes? How 'bout the new grad dorm, and the one at St. G and Bloor?

U of T has built some hideous buildings.

And I haven't even mentioned Robart's....
God, I LOVE the Upper Library at Hart House.

[rockymountaindem]

9. Yes, but

Those other buildings aren't on King's College Circle, which is sort of the middle of campus. Overall I like the fusion of styles, but having Con. Hall be the odd man out on the circle is kind of dumb.

[Captain Hilts]

10. The Med School is the hideous man out...But, yes, Con Hall doesn't look like...

UC, Knox, etc. True.

[Lisa]

11. a lot of Canadian universities are like this

Might have to do with how (in general) we don't have large sports facilities, etc. attached to campus. I remember being amazed by how big the football stadiums at U of Washington and U of Arizona were ... at my school in BC, we haven't even GOT a football team. If we had to assemble the whole university for whatever reason, it wouldn't be possible (even the theatre we use for graduations has to be scheduled in shifts).

I bet Gore could fill up the SkyDome. With U of T, York, and Ryerson ... and the Toronto high schools.

[Rabrrrrrr]

3. I spoke with my partner in Japan a few days ago - can't get tickets there

for any shows in the next few weeks. Every showing a few weeks out is already sold out.

[corporatemedia]

5. Draft AL GORE for President of the USA - PETITION Link.

Draft Al Gore

http://www.draftgore.com/

PETITIONlink

[burrowowl]

6. No! Create a Speicial UN Mission for him!

so he can work with all nations. Elect Kucinich or Richardon for President so that the U$ will DO SOMETHING GOOD!