Trump campaign distributes rally tickets through website

General admission tickets to President Donald Trump�s rally Thursday at the Show Me Center are being handled exclusively by the Trump campaign, a local congressman�s office said Friday.

Tickets cannot be obtained from the Show Me Center box office, Southeast Missouri State University spokeswoman Ann Hayes said.

Those seeking to attend the free-admission event must go online to www.donaldjtrump.com/rallies/mo-sept-2018 and follow instructions to obtain tickets, both the office of 8th District U.S. Rep. Jason Smith, R-Salem, Missouri, and the Trump campaign said.

According to the Trump website, a maximum of two tickets can be obtained per mobile phone number.

Tickets are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis.

Doors open at 4 p.m. for the 7 p.m. event. Smith�s office advised that people should arrive early to get in line.

A representative for the Trump campaign, Mark Serrano, did not return an email and a phone message left by the Southeast Missourian on Friday.

University president Carlos Vargas-Aburto said in an email Thursday to faculty, staff and students Trump�s visit is not a university event.

The Trump campaign has rented the Show Me Center for the rally, Vargas wrote.

�As this is a rental by a third party, the Trump campaign will be handling all ticketing, sales of merchandise, security and media promotion,� he said.

�The U.S. Secret Service will dictate expectations and requirements for use and restrictions on buildings, parking lots and other university facilities,� Vargas said.

�As these details become clearer to us, we will evaluate what decision, if any, need to be made concerning activities, events, parking or other university related matters,� he said.

Vargas added �all of this is developing quickly� and the university will �do our best to share appropriate information.�

Thursday�s rally will mark the second time a sitting president has visited the Show Me Center.

President Ronald Reagan spoke at the arena Sept. 14, 1988. All of the approximately 6,500 tickets for that event were snapped up within days before Reagan�s visit, the Southeast Missourian reported.

Public demand for tickets to the Reagan event outpaced the number of available tickets.

A university student told the Southeast Missourian a day before Reagan�s visit he was offered lunch in exchange for a ticket.

The newspaper reported students were being offered from �$5 and a six-pack (of beer)� to $20 and $30 for a single ticket, the newspaper reported.

Unlike general admission procedures for the Trump rally, the university and the Show Me Center office were involved in distribution of tickets for the Reagan visit, according to the Southeast Missourian archives.

mbliss@semissourian.com

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