The one that started it all: General Admission tickets for the 2024 Battle at the Burr meet between Howard University and cross-town rivals Georgetown University in Washington, DC have effectively sold out in less than four days.
Tickets went on sale on August 15th at 9:00 AM, and as of August 19th at 9:00 AM, only $200 VIP tickets are still available. Those tickets include an invite to the Friday night reception and VIP seating at the meet.
This is the 3rd edition of the meet that reinvigorated collegiate swimming dual meets. While it wasn’t the first dual meet in NCAA history with 1,200 fans, it was the first one in a while that caught the imagination of the sport the way this one did, complete with a DJ, full fan and team engagement, mid-meet television interviews, and even an overflow crowd in the adjacent gymnasium.
This was the full treatment.
Now, the rest of the country is trying to imitate it as it has suddenly become an emergency to prove the relevance and interest in college swimming amid changes in NIL and pay-for-play rules in the NCAA.
And the excitement around the meet hasn’t been at the expense of the teams’ long-term goals, either. The Georgetown men have won three straight Big East Championships, and the Georgetown men in 2023, at the end of the first Battle of the Burr season, won their first conference championship in swimming & diving in 34 years.
For too long, this kind of excitement has been pushed aside as a distraction, as an unnecessary burden on athletes and staffs. But as the world has changed, that attitude will no longer be rewarded.
Battle at the Burr III: let’s go.
Swimming against Howard was always the most fun meet of the year. Great environment and awesome energy
Kudos to both Howard and Georgetown! Programs and departments across the country need to follow their lead. Looking forward to the meet.
No Kyle Sockwell mention…
Most annoying thing about Kyle Sockwell is him glomming onto other peoples’ work and insisting that he become the center of attention.
This has been a sick meet for years without his involvement. Just because he’s going doesn’t mean he has to be the focal point of the meet.
Kyle has done so much to promote the sport and increase it’s popularity amongst social media. There was a serious void in the swimming social media space and he’s done an excellent job to fill it. On top of that, he’s also an extremely great dude and takes time to meet with kids and fans and just talk to them.
I don’t neccesarily agree with OPs comment but your ragging on Kyle after what he’s done is ridiculous
Agree with my comment? Never said Kyle deserves all the credit. Just pointed out he wasn’t mentioned.
Where did I say that? I don’t agree with you bringing up Kyle in the first place, but way to put words into my mouth!
You said almost verbatim in the second paragraph. I pointed out a fact. Not much to agree or disagree with
If my platform can help amplify stories (like Battle at the Burr) in swimming, I’m gonna do that and I’m never gonna apologize for it.
What you don’t know (because you aren’t in the meetings I’ve had with Howard) is that I’ve made it a point to treat this meet differently for the exact reasons you mentioned above.
Howard built this, not me, but I’ll absolutely use the platform that I’ve worked hard to build to help tell the story of what THEY’VE built and I’m fired the fuck up to be part of it this year.
thank you for putting these keyboard warriors in their place. Keep up the great work.