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Social media erupts as Orange Krush and University of Iowa clash in epic ticket battle

The rivalry between University of Iowa and University of Illinois reached a flashpoint over the sale of tickets to Saturday's men's basketball game

IOWA CITY, IOWA: The longstanding rivalry between the University of Iowa and the University of Illinois reached a flashpoint surrounding the sale of tickets for the Iowa-Illinois men’s basketball game, scheduled for Saturday, February 4. As per a statement by, Orange Krush, the Illinois Fighting Illini basketball student section, the University of Iowa had invalidated its 200 tickets, bought in October, against "the spirit of the competition and rivalry" of the Big Ten Conference. 

In response to Orange Krush's statement, the University of Iowa stated that the tickets were falsely ordered and "Iowa Athletics has refunded the original ticket order and donated tickets to the Boys & Girls Club of Cedar Rapids." It didn't take long for Twitter to pick up on the controversy, with some users taking sides while others were simply amused by the banter.

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What really happened? 

The conflict between Iowaand Illinois began after the Univesity of Illinois canceled 200 tickets allegedly purchased by Orange Krush in October, claiming they were falsely ordered. According to the statement released by Orange Krush, Iowa students had raised a total of $2649.41 for local charities to be invited to Orange Krush's 20th annual trip to Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City to watch Saturday's game between Illinoisand Iowa. "Unfortunately, the University of Iowa Atheltic Department...invalidated all 200 tickets that the Orange Krush had legally purchased," the statement said. Orange Krush went on to criticize the University of Iowa, saying, "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."

However, the University of Iowa, refuted Orange Krush's allegation, stating that they bought the discounted tickets falsely under the non-profit organization. "The Iowa Athletics Department became 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. In following up with that organization, it became clear this was not factual." The Department informed that Iowa Athletics refunded the original ticket order and donated the tickets to the Boys and Girls Club of Cedar Rapids. 

'We got some good old fashioned Big 10 ticket drama'

The epic ticket battle between Orange Krush and the University of Iowa has now erupted on social media with several users expressing their opinions. Barstool sports writer Bobby Reagan wrote, "We got some good old fashioned Big 10 ticket drama from Illinois/Iowa. Orange Krush does this yearly, Iowa rejects them, new tweet says this isn't true. I love schools hating each other." Commenting on it, one user wrote, "cannot get over the fact that it took 150 Illinois students to raise $2,600 (less than $18 a kid) and as a reward for those efforts they spent $6,000 on charter buses alone."

Commenting on the University of Iowa statement, one user opined, "Here to provide some clarity, the tickets were discounted simply for being a group order, not because of their claimed status of being a Boys and Girls club. Student groups typically lie about their name to ensure they can get the tickets at all." A second user wrote, "OrangeKrush is also non-profit, and you canceled them so close to the game that they can't cancel the bus. You know students do this between schools, and you can't take the heat. Why didn't you check this in the fall?" and a third opined, "You guys are soft. Don’t make it sound like the discount was because it was the boys and girls club. If they had tried to buy them under the orange crush you wouldn’t have sold them the tickets. Keep trying to save face."

Commenting on Orange Krush's tweet, a user wrote, "They bought them posing as the Illinois Chapter of the Boys and Girls Club to get a discount.. IA canceled the order when they found out and donated the tickets to the B&G Club in Cedar Rapids." A second user commented, "So in theory, can IL not allow any ticket purchases from the state of IA next season when they come to Illinois? Even parents and other family of players?" "This is an unfortunate situation. The things people do out of FEAR," wrote a third. 

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