Tickets go on sale Monday for the Aug. 30, Norman High-Norman North football game – the 15th annual Crosstown Clash, which will be held again at the University of Oklahoma’s Memorial Stadium. Tickets also will go on sale for the district’s annual Taste of Norman event, which will directly precede the football game and be held just east of the stadium at the Mosier Indoor Practice Facility.
NPS Superintendent Dr. Joe Siano said both the game and Taste of Norman are events that Norman residents will enjoy regardless of whether they have students currently enrolled at NPS.
“This football game and Taste of Norman are occasions we look forward to every year,” he said. “Both are opportunities for our entire community to come together and enjoy an exciting sporting event, world-class marching bands, pom and cheer squads and some really great food.”
General admission tickets for the football game are $7 for adults, $4 for NPS students and $4 for university students with picture ID. Tickets will be sold at the gate and at Taste of Norman. However, to avoid long ticket lines, fans are strongly encouraged to pre-purchase tickets, which can be done during school hours at both NHS and NNHS and at NPS’ Athletic Office, 131 S. Flood, from 7:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Thursday and 7:45 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday. Only cash and checks will be accepted.
Stadium gates will open at 6 p.m. and entry is subject to security check. As each high school serves as the home team every other year, this year’s home team is NNHS and its fans will enter at Gate 5 on the stadium’s West side. NHS fans will enter at Gate 7. Parking will be at the Duck Pond Lot (east of the stadium and north of OU’s track) and Levels 3-6 in the parking garage. Per OU’s procedures, no free re-entry will be allowed.
NPS Athletic Director Frank Thompson said this year’s matchup is as exciting as last year’s.
“Having this game at OU gives our student athletes a great, unique opportunity to play in a Division I, high-profile stadium,” he said. “That is an extraordinary experience for them and we appreciate our partnership with the university.”
Taste of Norman
While the community may take opposite sides during the Crosstown Clash, everyone can unite under the banner of great food at Taste of Norman, 5:30 to 7 p.m.
Sponsored by Republic Bank & Trust and supported by Marc Heitz Chevrolet, Taste of Norman tickets will be $15 (which does not include the ticket price for the football game). Children under 5 will be admitted free.
The event will feature delectable food from 32 popular area restaurants like Legends, Interurban, Ted’s, The Mont, and Victoria’s. Proceeds will benefit the band programs at both high schools and organizers hope to top the nearly $25,000 raised at last year’s event, which was attended by nearly 2,000.
Tickets will be sold at the same locations and times as game tickets, as well as at Republic Bank’s location at 401 W. Main.
NPS Fine Arts Director Brad Benson indicated the event is a win/win event for students and teachers and raises a third of the NPS band program’s budget. Both NHS Band Director Jim Meiller and NNHS Band Director Trent Davis underscored its importance to their student musicians.
Meiller said, “It is an invaluable event for us, funding needs such as fuel, instruments, audio equipment, software and more specialized needs such as music clinics, awards and camps.” Added Davis: “It would be very difficult for us to run our programs at the highest caliber that we do without the support of the generous patrons who attend this event and support our students.”
