Iowa voids 200 tickets due to Illinois student section lying to ticket office

This weekend’s game between Iowa and Illinois at Carver-Hawkeye Arena is sold out, and 200 members of the Fighting Illini student section were planning to be in attendance. However, Iowa voided the tickets — and it turns out there’s much more to the story.

It all started when The Orange Krush put out a statement saying it legally purchased 200 tickets for the game and Iowa voided them out. The six-paragraph statement blasted the Iowa athletics department and acknowledged the charity work the student section does, which is a key factor in who makes the trip.

“It is highly unfortunate for our group that this trip has been canceled because we were looking forward to it since receiving the tickets in the mail in October,” the Orange Krush said. “It is highly unfortunate for the 150 students that collectively fundraised a total of $2,649.41 for local charitable organizations in order to be invited on this trip.

“Most of all, it is highly unfortunate that the University of Iowa and their athletic department refused to face the consequences of the mistake THEY MADE in selling tickets to a billing address in Champaign, Illinois.”

But it turns out the Orange Krush purchased the tickets another way. It apparently posed as the Illinois chapter of the Boys & Girls Club, and that’s why the tickets were voided. Iowa explained what happened in a statement Wednesday night and said the tickets have been donated. The athletic department also issued refunds to the Orange Krush, although it didn’t name the group specifically.

“The Iowa athletics department became aware of a discounted group ticket order for the Illinois-Iowa men’s basketball game on behalf of an Illinois chapter of the Boys & Girls Club,” the statement read. “In following up with that organization, it became clear that this was not factual. When contacting the individual who made the original ticket order, they admitted to falsely ordering tickets under the non-profit organization.

“Iowa Athletics has refunded the original ticket order and donated tickets to the Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids. We look forward to welcoming these kids to a sold-out Carver-Hawkeye Arena this Saturday.”

Illinois student section: Iowa ‘refused to face the consequences’ of mistake it made regarding 200 voided tickets

According to the Orange Krush’s statement, the timing of the decision to void the tickets meant the group couldn’t cancel its charter buses. It also called out the athletic department and athletic director Gary Barta for its “cowardice” for the decision.

“It is disappointing, without a doubt, that we will not get to be there in person to see the game this Saturday,” the statement read. “However, we take it as a great compliment that the Orange Krush is a strong enough section to be so feared that an opposing athletic department is willing to sacrifice $5,400 and ruin a sellout in order to turn us away.

“Gary Barta and staff, we issue great thanks to all of you for the adoration you have shown the Orange Krush through your cowardice.”

Iowa and Illinois will square off Saturday at 2:30 p.m. ET in Iowa City.