Ticket Sales Steady for Esperanza-Los Alamitos

Advance ticket sales for Friday’s Empire League showdown at Valencia High between the county’s top-ranked high school football teams, No. 1 Esperanza and No. 2 Los Alamitos, have been steady each day, according to school administrators.

Jerry Halpin, Los Alamitos vice principal, said the school had sold 2,214 of its allotted 3,500 pre-sale tickets through Wednesday.

“(Coach) John Barnes took 250 tickets to our booster club meeting last night and sold them all in about five minutes,” Halpin said. “We asked for 250 this morning and sold them. (Quarterback) Tim Carey’s parents bought 40 tickets for their friends and family.”

Paul Preston, Esperanza activities director, said the school has sold about 1,500 tickets and added, “We were inundated at the ticket window all day.”

Preston said the school would continue to sell its allotment of 3,500 tickets daily at the school’s activities office, but added, “We can’t guarantee seating to anyone once both schools sell 7,000 pre-sale tickets. There will be tickets on sale on game night, but they’ll be standing-room-only tickets.”

Preston said standing-room tickets will go on sale at 5:30 p.m. Friday. The gates are scheduled to open at 6.

“We’re advising everyone that if they want a seat, they should arrive early,” he said.

Bill Clark, Southern Section administrator, said the section lists the seating capacity of the Valencia football stadium at 6,000.